MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Scavengers (RID)

2022-12-19T04:52:06Z

Spark Mandrill:

{{faction|decepticon}}
{{noname-designation}}
{{disambig3|Scavenger}}
[[File:TRID_E_43_Scavengers.jpg|right|thumb|300px|"We take. We don't bother.]]

They say that one man's trash is another man's treasure, but if the "'''Scavengers'''" come calling then they'll probably take your treasure and trash ''you''. This scuzzy [[Decepticon]] crew makes a living stealing—ahem, ''salvaging'' the [[Autobot]] relics and technology left over from the [[Great War (Prime)|Great War]], and to them [[Earth]] is a treasure trove just waiting to be exploited. Under [[Clawtrap]]'s tight-fisted leadership, there's no trick too dirty or move too underhanded when it comes to defending their findings from their foes.

Recently, they've struck up a partnership with a group of strange "[[Weaponizer (RID)|Weaponizer]]" [[Mini-Con]]s, although the slightly more altruistic Mini-Cons view this as a partnership of convenience, not particularly happy about working with a gang of violent Decepticons.

The Scavengers include:
* [[Clawtrap]] (leader)
* [[Paralon (RID)|Paralon]]
* [[Thermidor]]
* [[Scatterspike (RID)|Scatterspike]]

==Fiction==
===2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
{{groupstub}}

==Toys==
===Robots in Disguise (2015)===
[[File:TF-RID2015-Warrior-Class-Paralon.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Warrior Class Paralon]]
*'''Paralon''' (Clash of the Transformers Warrior Class, 2016)
*'''Scatterspike''' (Warrior Class, 2016)
*'''Thermidor''' (Warrior Class, 2017)
:Three out of the four Scavengers were made available in the ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' toyline, with Paralon released as a [[Toys"R"Us]] exclusive. All three toys feature [[5 mm post]]s that allow them to wield their associated Mini-Cons, or any compatible weaponry.
{{--}}

==Notes==
*It is ambiguous as to whether "Scavenger" is an official group name or if the aforementioned bots are just scavengers, lowercase.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Scavengers''' (スカベンジャーズ ''Sukabenjāzu'')

[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2015) subgroups]]

Hardhead (G1)

2022-12-09T00:24:13Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Regeneration One */

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Hardhead}}
:''Hardhead is an [[Autobot]] [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:TFU Hardhead.jpg|upright=3|thumb|upright=1.9|No, my toy's head looks nothing remotely like this, why do you ask?]]
'''Hardhead''' is a soldier to his core. A soldier with a stubborn streak a [[Units of length|megamile]] wide. He's stubborn to the point of rejecting outright any path but his own, any idea that goes against his natural instinct or inclination (namely fighting), and any advice he didn't come up with himself. He doesn't talk much, and when he does, it tends to be blunt and terse, if not outright rude. A soldier doesn't waste time on social niceties when there's a war to fight.

Perhaps surprisingly, given his limited social aptitude, Hardhead has found a good companion in [[Duros]], his [[Binary bonding|binary-bonded]] [[Nebulan]] partner, who enjoys warfare just as much as Hardhead does. The two mesh so well, it's been said that theirs may be the best match among all the Autobot-Nebulan teams.

Sometimes he works with the [[Partner Drone]] [[Tankette]].

{{quote|So what? They call me Hardhead. And that's really '''''all''''' you need to know.|Hardhead is unimpressed with [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]'s bragging|[[Devastation issue 4|''Devastation'' #4]]}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Stephen Keener]] (English), [[Eiji Itō]] (Japanese)|[[Franz Rudnick]] (German, ''The Rebirth, Part 1''), [[Hans-Rainer Müller]] (German, ''The Rebirth, Part 2''), [[Albert Augier]] (European French), [[Georges Atlas]] (European French, "The Rebirth, Part 2")}}
[[File:Rebirth2-Welcometotheclub.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|This is what my head looks like. Sometimes.]]
After the resurrection of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], the Decepticons practically disappeared for a time. On Cybertron, Brainstorm used this reprieve to experiment on pairing Transformers with human partners, though his efforts did not convince Hardhead or [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]]. Shortly after the exercise, Optimus Prime contacted them, notifying them of the Decepticons' return. They had stolen the [[Key to the Plasma Energy Chamber]] and were on their way to the chamber itself on Cybertron. Unfortunately, the chamber's activation would destroy Cybertron. Hardhead and several other Autobots commandeered a ship to head off [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] before they could reach the Plasma Energy Chamber, and they managed to retrieve the Key, but an energy surge smacked the Autobot ship out of Cybertron's orbit and far into space.

Hardhead and the others crash-landed on a strange planet named [[Nebulos]] and were quickly taken captive by an underground resistance movement that believed the Autobots were machines controlled by the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]], who ruled Nebulos. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 1}} After Hardhead volunteered to become a Headmaster, he was partnered with Duros. Their first test run against the Hive machines was a cracking success with the pair working to take one down. They followed that up by taking part in the liberation of some Autobots who had been captured by Decepticon forces, easily outclassing their foe. He was the first to welcome Optimus Prime when the Autobot leader arrived on the planet. The Autobot Headmasters and Targetmasters managed to get the stolen key back from the Decepticons, only for [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] to reveal himself. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}}

With the key back in Decepticon hands, the Autobots headed back to Cybertron in an attempt to regain it. It looked like the Decepticons were planning to open the Plasma Energy Chamber, and the Autobots suddenly found themselves abandoned by their partners. Stuck in [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]], Hardhead and the others tried to storm Scorponok to rescue [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]] and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]], but were easily captured. [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] came to the rescue with [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], and the Autobots were free for all of thirty seconds before they were overwhelmed by the energies from the opened Plasma Energy Chamber. Luckily they had Spike and the Nebulons to close the chamber and bring about a new [[Golden Age]].

Hardhead, Duros and the other Headmasters later returned to Nebulos to begin the work of reclaiming and rebuilding the planet. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}

====''Wings Universe''====
{{Wingsnote}}
[[File:Termination ObsidianPromotesCityCommanders.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7]]
During the Machine Wars, Hardhead was promoted to Autobot City Commander by [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]]. He defended one of the city-states of Cybertron against the onslaught of [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s clone soldiers. {{Storylink|Termination}}
{{-}}

===Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
{{note|In Japan, Hardhead is a small robot who transforms into a head and controls a larger, lifeless [[transtector]] body. The ''Headmasters'' toyline referred to the small robot as '''Ros''', with "Hardhead" being the name of the combined small robot/transtector form, though this distinction is hardly ever made in fiction.}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Masato Hirano]] (Japanese), [[Simon Broad]] (English), [[Enrico Carabelli]] (Italian)}}
[[File:HM7 Hardhead learns to transform.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3]]
Four million years ago, Hardhead was among a group of [[Cyberdroid|diminutive Cybertronians]] who departed Cybertron under the leadership of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]], seeking to escape the eternal war that had consumed the planet. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Alas, engine trouble caused their craft to crash land on the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]], an inhospitable world whose murderous environments and wildly changeable atmospheric conditions threatened the lives of the Cybertronians almost as soon as they stepped off their ship and were caught in a desert of sinking sands. Fighting against the odds, the Cybertronians made several technological quantum leaps to survive on Master, including the creation of larger, lifeless Transformer bodies called [[transtector]]s. Hardhead and many of his comrades underwent rigorous physical and mental training to master the art of [[transformation]], learning to transform into heads that connected to the transtectors and placed them under their control. {{storylink|The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery}} Hardhead was one of ten warriors who became one of these "Headmasters", but unfortunately, half their number soon rebelled against Fortress's leadership and sided with a traitor named [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] against him. Via the Decepticon ninja [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]], Scorponok soon forged an alliance with the Decepticon leader, [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}}

[[File:HM2 Hardhead small robot.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2]]
In the year [[2011]], when Galvatron launched his latest attack on Cybertron with the added power of his new Decepticon Headmasters, Hardhead and his fellow Autobot Headmasters traveled to the planet to help their comrades defend their homeworld. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} He helped [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] fight [[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]]. After the battle concluded with a Decepticon retreat, the Headmasters went to [[Athenia]] for introductions with the rest of the Autobots. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} They soon joined [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] on [[Earth]] to search for the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and fought [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] while Hot Rod retrieved their prize. They returned to Cybertron with the Matrix, and witnessed [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] sacrificing himself to save [[Vector Sigma]] and Hot Rod becoming Rodimus Prime once more. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}}

[[File:HM4 Hardhead.jpg|thumb|upright=1.55|And sometimes, my head looks like this.]]
When the Decepticons developed the [[Madmachine]], the Headmasters were all ready to storm over to [[Chaar]] and destroy it. Instead Rodimus had [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] resurrected as Twincast, and the Headmasters went to Cybertron to delay the Decepticons and their machine long enough for Twincast to find a way to destroy it. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}} Out on patrol in space, Hardhead and Chromedome first found stowaways in the form of [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], and then retrieved a couple of [[Beastformer]]s floating in space. The latter led the Headmasters to the planet [[Beast (planet)|Beast]], where they found the natives had been subjugated by the Decepticons. Joining with [[White Leo]]'s rebels, they helped free the natives from Decepticon rule. {{storylink|Rebellion on Planet Beast}}

[[File:HM8 Hardhead.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.55]]
After the Decepticons directed a metal-warping meteor named [[Metamorphose]] at Athenia, the Headmasters accompanied Daniel on a mission to destroy it and ended up tangling with the Decepticon Headmasters. {{storylink|Approach of the Demon Meteorite}} Lured to the planet [[Praum]] by a distress call, the five Headmasters fell into a trap laid by Scorponok. It was only by remembering their struggles back on Master that they performed a Cross-Head on and escaped the trap so they could fight the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery}} When Earth's major powers were threatened by a mysterious blackmailer, the Headmasters attempted fruitlessly to track the culprit down, until a clue led them to the fact it was Sixshot. They joined [[Raiden]] in cornering Sixshot in [[Japan]] and saw the Decepticon off. {{storylink|Terror! The Six Shadows}}

The Headmasters continued their training, with Hardhead exercising on a treadmill. When the Decepticons were reported to be heading for Earth, he and Chromedome went there to investigate, and when it turned out that the Decepticons were heading to Cybertron to secure the supply of [[cybertonuron]], the pair joined the other Earth-based Autobots in heading there too. The Decepticon Headmasters mysteriously ran off mid-battle {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} and the Autobots tracked them down. They followed the trio to Vector Sigma's chamber, where the Decepticons had planted a number of bombs. Unable to defuse them, the Autobot Headmasters headed to the surface and raised the alarm, allowing the planet to be evacuated before it was destroyed. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}}

[[File:HM11 Hardhead sings karaoke.jpg|thumb|upright=1.55|''Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down'']]
At the party to celebrate the completion of the [[Sol 1]] satellite, Hardhead got drunk, bullied Twincast into providing music, and "treated" everyone to some karaoke. When the Decepticons attacked the launch, Hardhead and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] double-teamed [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and the satellite was successfully launched, though a short time afterward, the Decepticons stole it. The Headmasters tried to retrieve it, but were eventually forced to destroy it to prevent it being used for evil. {{storylink|The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok}} The Headmasters followed that up by helping save the residents of the South American village of [[Pan]] from a nearby erupting volcano. {{storylink|The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts}} They also faced a huge [[buridanka]] plant as it attacked [[San Francisco]], though it wasn't until Fortress pulled out the [[Master Sword]] that they were able to defeat it. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}}

[[File:HM15 Hardhead aims gun.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire a hundred shots or only ninety-nine? Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I kinda lost track myself. But being as this is a metal shard-firing shatterblaster, the most powerful rifle in the universe, and would blow your head clean off, you've gotta ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?]]
When reports came in of the Decepticons being up to something on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], hardhead and the other Headmasters traveled there in [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]. After tangling with [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] they rescued Daniel and found out that the Decepticons were planning to blow the entire planet up. Interrogating the Decepticons led them to a crater which naturally turned out to be a trap. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger}} With Maximus, [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] and Highbrow out of commission, Hardhead and Chromedome fought on. Despite the help of Raiden and the other Headmasters once they were better, the Autobots were faced with the arrival of Scorponok's new transtector, and were unable to prevent the Decepticons destroying the planet. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears}}

[[File:HM17 Daniel and Wheelie have fun with hoses.jpg|thumb|upright=1.34]]
Despite Fortress's orders, Chromedome and Hardhead made an attempt to attack Chaar by concealing themselves aboard Maximus and heading toward the planet while the ship was on patrol. They were intercepted by the forewarned Decepticons, who sent them back to Maximus in a hurry. Hardhead took part in the Autobot strike on Scorponok's coronation, and was witness to the return of [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|Return of the Immortal Emperor}} Following a distress call from the planet [[Sandra (planet)|Sandra]], the Headmasters attempted to take a shipment of [[energon]] there. When they were ambushed by the Decepticons ''en route'', Hardhead and Chromedome used their transtectors as decoys while they went on ahead to deliver the energy. {{storylink|SOS from Planet Sandra}}

As part of [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]]'s plan to negotiate with the Decepticon, the four Headmasters accompanied him to [[Shangri-La Island]] on Earth as an escort. When the Galvatron who met with Spike turned out to be an impostor, Hardhead and the others rescued [[Carly]] and Daniel before attacking the Decepticons. During the escape, Sixshot destroyed the [[space bridge]] network, and the Autobots set out in pursuit in Battleship Maximus. {{storylink|Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!}} When the Decepticons invaded [[Hive (planet)|Hive]], the Headmasters set out to assist, but the Hive ships mistook them for enemies, and even Hardhead, Chromedome, and Brainstorm trying to reason with them didn't help. After Chromedome went on ahead and persuaded the people of Hive that the Autobots were on their side, the other Headmasters were allowed to help fight off the Decepticons. {{storylink|Fight to the Death on Planet Hive!!}}

[[File:HM21 Hardhead splitscreen.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.34]]
The Autobots followed the Decepticons to [[Twin Star]], where it turned out that the planet the Decepticons were attacking had already been evacuated of population and energy. {{storylink|Battle for Defense of the False Planet}} They next followed an SOS to planet [[Daros]] where they helped overthrow a corrupt government and fight off the Decepticons. {{storylink|Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!!}} Hardhead and Chromedome were put to work fixing Battleship Maximus's weapons systems, and completed repairs by the time they had to go rescue Highbrow and expel the Decepticons from the idyllic world of [[Paradise]]. {{storylink|Head Formation of Friendship}} They again tangled with the Decepticons on the [[Pirate Planet]], though it ultimately turned out that the planet's energy was long gone. {{storylink|Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship}}

[[File:IRiskMyLifeForEarth-Letgoofme.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Humpty Grumpty.]]
As the Decepticons returned to Chaar, their mission complete, so the Headmasters returned to Athenia. They were unable to get to Earth in time to prevent Sixshot from killing [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]], but fought the ninja off with a fearsome counter-attack. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}} The emboldened Decepticons began striking across the globe until the Headmasters tracked Galvatron down in [[Alaska]]. Using information passed on by [[Punch (G1)|Punch]], they defeated the Decepticon leader and buried him beneath the ice. {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg}} New information pointed to the Decepticons trying to destroy Earth altogether. As Chromedome had been relieved of duty by Fortress, Brainstorm took Hardhead and Highbrow to face the Decepticons on [[Kamchatka Peninsula]]. They didn't fare well until Chromedome completed Highbrow's research, discovering Scorponok's weak point. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}}

With the Decepticons having abandoned Earth, the Autobots set about repairing the damage they'd done. Hardhead and Chromedome attempted to remove a number of bombs from a mine, but when Chromedome accidentally activated one, the pair had to perform a head switch to get them out safely. As they transported the bombs to a safe location in space, the Headmasters encountered a ship of refugees from Master. The refugees attempted to help dispose of the bombs but were caught in the explosion. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}} The refugees from Master became bonded as [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]]s with three newly arrived Autobots, who turned out to have a low opinion of the Headmasters. Nonetheless, the Headmasters returned to their home world to fight the Decepticons. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 2)}}

[[File:HM30 Hardhead in hiding.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|We don't know why he's smiling, because we can't see what he's doing behind that rock.]]
After the Decepticons ransomed Wheelie for information on the Master Sword, Hardhead and the other Autobots were unsuccessful in keeping said information out of the Decepticons' hands, even after Wheelie was rescued. {{storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}} The Headmasters worked on finding Scorponok by searching for unique energy wavelengths and even found the cavern where he was constructing the [[Zarak Shield]], but were too late to prevent its completion. {{storylink|The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide}} Hardhead and the others went along with Chromedome's plan to rally the population of Master against the Decepticons, only for the whole plan to go wrong when Scorponok popped up in the middle of a major city and defeat Fortress Maximus. {{storylink|Operation: Destroy the Decepticons}}

As the Decepticons left Master to head home, the Autobots gave chase. When Daniel was inadvertently ejected during a battle, the Headmasters eventually traced him to [[Daira]], though they had a hard time believing that he'd been looked after by Sixshot. {{storylink|My Friend Sixshot!}} When Sixshot challenged Chromedome to a duel, the other Headmasters tried and failed to talk their comrade out of it. They were unable to follow him to lend help, as it turned out the whole thing was a diversion while the Decepticons headed for Earth. {{storylink|Duel on the Asteroid}}

[[File:Hm35 chromedome hardhead hypnotised.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?]]
By the time the Autobots reached Earth, the Decepticons had begun erecting [[Death Tower]]s made from [[crysmagnetal]] around the globe, discharging energy from their tops. The Headmasters had their hands full attending to the crash of Spike and Carly's plane in the Andes Mountains. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}} The Autobots headed for [[Egypt]] where they tangled briefly with the three Decepticon Headmasters and failed to stop another Death Tower going up. As a last ditch effort, the Headmasters joined the entire Autobot army in a counter strike on the Decepticons at the [[Arctic|North Pole]]. Hardhead and Chromedome were saved from [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]]'s hypnotism by Twincast and his cassettes. As Fortress Maximus was caught in the energies preparing to tear the planet apart, Hardhead and the other three Headmasters attempted a Head Formation to give him more power. It was only when the other Autobots joined in that they succeeded, and the Decepticons' satellite was destroyed. With the Decepticons having fled into space, the Autobots left Earth to pursue them. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}

====''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon====
Archive footage of a battle in space involving Hardhead was used to educate the future [[Headmaster Junior]]s about the [[Master Wars]]. {{storylink|Birth! Headmaster Jrs}}

====''Legends'' comic====
In a dream, Brainstorm told the [[Legends World|Legends Universe]]'s [[Rattrap (BW)#Transformers Legends comic|Rattrap]] the story about how he and other diminutive Autobots, including Hardhead, fled [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] because of the war and settled on Master. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 9|Bonus Edition Vol. 9}} Hardhead tried to calm a jealous Chromedome down when he was getting upset over the fact that Brainstorm had gotten an upgraded body. {{storylink|Transformers 2015 Brainstorm Chapter|Brainstorm Chapter}}

In [[2021]], Fortress's Autobots were fighting a returned Scorponok in space when the Decepticon's machinations infected them all with [[blackball]]s that shrunk their bodies, threatening to ultimately collapse them in on themselves. Hardhead and the other Headmasters were forced to abandon their transtectors before they disappeared, then traveled to the Legends Universe to have new ones built. {{storylink|Headmaster Chapter Prologue}} On arrival, the Autobots joined forces with the local [[Axalon Trading Company]] for transtector production and became normal office workers. Hardhead enjoyed this peaceful lifestyle, wishing he could stay there forever, but accepted that he was fated to be a warrior after his transtector was finished and he was tasked with defending the city from an incoming meteor. Though his weapons were ineffective, he was able to destroy the meteor with a mighty headbutt, at the cost of injuring his true body. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 21|Bonus Edition Vol. 21}}

Hardhead set out when Skullcruncher was causing a ruckus in the city, revealing that the Decepticons had come to the Legends Universe as well. Learning that Skullcruncher was suffering from narcolepsy, he worked with Twincast to neutralize the Decepticon with a lullaby. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 22|Bonus Edition Vol. 22}} He was unable to defeat Galvatron, however, and had to be bailed out by [[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 25|Bonus Edition Vol. 25}} He later manned Twincast-turned-Blaster's battle station as he battled [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]], and sang during their victory concert. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 27|Bonus Edition Vol. 27}} Hardhead enjoyed playing sumo wrestling with Rattrap, and was bested one day when the rat powered up by using [[Master-Brace]]s to transform into a Headmaster. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 28|Bonus Edition Vol. 28}} While out drinking with Chromedome, Hardhead offered to help Weirdwolf put up posters for his lost pet/transtector, only to end up throwing them in a river during a fight with Chromedome. The two were then knocked out by Weirdwolf's partner, [[Rarigo]], and towed back home by Tankette. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 30|Bonus Edition Vol. 30}} Fortress later told the hot-blooded Chromedome to be more like Hardhead, who'd settled down after finding a "wife" in Tankette. Hardhead also fought alongside Fortress Maximus during his battle with [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 31|Bonus Edition Vol. 31}}

Hardhead watched as Chromedome flew around the office on [[Moguru]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 32|Bonus Edition Vol. 32}} When Highbrow shut himself in his room, obsessed with research, Hardhead and Chromedome were disappointed and tried in vain to lure him out. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 33|Bonus Edition Vol. 33}} Hardhead was among those hypnotized into mindless servants of [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 34|Bonus Edition Vol. 34}} While watching the ''[[Transformers: Convobat Amazon Showdown]]'' film with Highbrow, he pondered if Convobat was a real person in some alternate universe just like them. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Convobat)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}} He was hypnotized ''again'' by [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundblaster]] into attacking Twincast, but while he and the others were cured, Soundblaster used the [[Zodiac]] to force their transtectors into immobile "base modes" before they could capture him. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 36|Bonus Edition Vol. 36}} He was present when the long-absent Brainstorm joined them in Legends Universe, {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 39|Bonus Edition Vol. 39}} and helped defend the Maximus from the [[Astroforce]] until they fell to their own hunger. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 40|Bonus Edition Vol. 40}}

While cleaning their transtectors, Hardhead, Chromedome and Brainstorm were attacked by three look-a-likes of themselves who locked them in their transtectors, explaining that they were [[Nebulan|Nebulons]] who needed robotic bodies to form heads for their battle with [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]]. The Headmasters agreed to help by controlling the transtectors from their cockpits while the Nebulons formed the heads, with Hardhead working with his doppelganger [[Duros]] to help defeat Zarak. As they said their goodbyes, Hardhead asked their visitors if they really were aliens, prompting them to remove their helmets to prove it. {{storylink|LGEX Headmaster Set Chapter}} He later helped with the construction of a new [[Godbomber]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 42|Bonus Edition Vol. 42}} When [[Scourge (RID)|Black Convoy]] and the [[Dimensional Patrol]] locked away everyone's transtectors, the Autobots resisted and took down some of his [[Black Convoy Mass Production Type Drone|drones]], modifying them into transtectors so they could fight back until Black Convoy turned on the Patrol. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Scourge 2)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}} During [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s attack on the city, Hardhead and the other Headmasters attacked the Decepticon Headmasters who had rebuilt him, but were defeated by Trypticon himself. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 43|Bonus Edition Vol. 43}}

Hardhead was driving on the streets of [[Akihabara]] after it was rebuilt as Neo Akihabara City in the wake of Trypticon's destruction. {{storylink|Targetmaster Chapter Prologue}} He was later among the Transformers knocked out by [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]]'s [[anti-electron]] assault. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 55|Bonus Edition Vol. 55}}

====Wars comics====
Hardhead was present on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] when [[the Fallen]] attempted to steal [[Vector Sigma]]. {{storylink|Train Wars}}

===''TV Magazine'' comic continuity===
====''The Great Transformer War''====
While significant Transformer battles were being waged on [[Earth]] and across space, Hardhead and the other Headmasters were battling their Decepticon counterparts on the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]]. Thinking that the three Decepticons had escaped them by leaping into a chasm, Hardhead began raging, and nearly wound up fighting with [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] when the other Headmaster told him to calm down. Luckily, he was able to direct his anger back upon the Decepticons when they came bursting out of the ground beneath the Autobots' feet. The Decepticons didn't fare terribly well in the battle, which abruptly ended when the Decepticon ninja [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] arrived and instructed them to follow him back to [[Chaar]]. The Decepticons fled into space, but Hardhead and his fellow Autobot Headmasters quickly gave chase aboard the battleship ''Maximus'', heading for Cybertron rejoin the larger Transformer war. {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 3|The Great Transformer War #3}}

====''The Headmasters'' comic====
On [[Athenia]], Hardhead attended the unveiling of the [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] memorial statue. He and the other Headmasters of Justice also waylaid a Decepticon bombing attack on the planet. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 1|The Headmasters #1}}

Venturing to [[Beast (planet)|Beast]], Hardhead and the Headmasters of Justice investigated an SOS from their allies. On ground patrol, Hardhead and Chromedome were assaulted by [[Reprogamma]]...the Fever Vegetation! Luckily, [[Kane]] and the Beastformers were able to cut them free. Through quick thinking and teamwork, the Headmasters, [[Trainbot]]s, and Beastformers successfully drove the Decepticon forces off of Beest and back to [[Chaar]]. {{storylink|The Decisive Battle of Planet Beast!}}

Headhead and the Headmasters next traveled to an Alaskan energy refinery, where the Headmasters of Evil managed to temporarily get the drop on them, separating the Masters from their [[Transtector]]s. Through quick thinking and teamwork, the Autobot Headmasters reunited with their Transtectors and defeated the enemy. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 2|The Headmasters #2}}

The Trainbots joined Hardhead and the Headmasters on an undersea mission where they found [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]], [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullcruncher]] and the [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]]s stealing(?) energy from subaquatic vents. They also found a giant robot squid lying in wait. Through quick thinking and teamwork, the Headmasters and Trainbots dismantled the squid and stopped the Decepticons' scheme. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 3|The Headmasters #3}}

In a battle with [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]], Hardhead and the Headmasters of Justice failed to prevent the Six Clan ninja from stealing food rations. And kidnapping [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]]. By accident. Way to go, guys. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 4|The Headmasters #4}}

During the Christmas season, Hardhead and his friends entertained the patients at a children's hospital until the Decepticons arrived. Through quick thinking and teamwork...aw, you get the picture. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 6|The Headmasters #6}}

On Earth, Hardhead and the crew of the Battleship Maximus helped put out a fire so that [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]] and [[Artfire]] could concentrate on battling the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 7|The Headmasters #7}}

====''Super-God Masterforce'' comic====
Several years after the end of the Headmasters' war on Earth, a new Autobot [[Supreme Commander]] named [[Ginrai (human)|Ginrai]] was appointed, and flown to [[Athenia]] for his coronation. Hardhead was present for the ceremony, and then helped to fight off a Decepticon attack upon the planet. {{storylink|The Battle Begins! The Earth-Space Alliance Army}}

When [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] and [[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]] were about to be defeated while defending the [[Godbomber|Bomber Project]] from [[Jin (Masterforce)|Jin]], [[Mirai]], and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], Hardhead and the other Autobot Headmasters showed up with the Godcannon in tow. Using the cannon, they were able to defeat their opponents. {{Storylink|Headmasters VS Masterforce}}

Soon after, when the Decepticon [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]] made his way to Earth, Hardhead, the other Autobot Headmasters and [[Raiden]] pursued him, but were defeated in battle in Earth's orbit. {{storylink|God Ginrai's Amazing Divine Combination!}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Hardhead-RingofHate.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|Highbrow's forehead is right!]]
A long time ago, on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Hardhead was part of an Autobot strike unit led by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]]. This unit operated out of a cave dug into the [[Manganese Mountains]], and often worked to foil the schemes of their primary nemesis, [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]]. Their last major mission on Cybertron was to upset a slave march to the [[smelting pool]]s. After that, however, Fortress Maximus revealed to the Autobots that he had grown sick of warfare, and planned to escape the endless ring of hate by immigrating to a new world altogether: [[Nebulos]]. Initially, Hardhead was outraged and accused Maximus of cowardice for even conceiving of leaving the war before it was finished, but he was quickly chastized when [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] reminded him of how valiantly their leader had fought on the battlefield that day, and every day prior for countless [[Units of time|vorns]]. With some convincing, Hardhead and many others chose to join Fortress Maximus on his quest for peace. Peace is rarely an Autobot's lot, though, as an innocent mishap combined with some xenophobia among a few of the Nebulan rulers to bring war to the Autobot camp's doorstep. Hardened warriors like Hardhead and [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] immediately fell into old habits and started fighting back, but Fortress Maximus abruptly ended their gunplay and ordered an all-out retreat.

Despite these setbacks, Fortress Maximus was determined to wage peace, not war. He brought an envoy of Autobots, including Hardhead, to the Nebulan capitol of [[Koraja]] to once again plead for peace. When the Nebulans still were not totally swayed after he and his Autobots disarmed, Maximus removed his own head from his shoulders, leaving his body deactivated and inoperable in the Nebulans' care. Hardhead and three other Autobots joined their leader in his gesture. It was this gesture which finally ushered in a cease fire with the Nebulans. {{storylink|Ring of Hate!}}

Fortress Maximus, Hardhead and the others had their separate heads and bodies detained inside a bunker outside Koraja, as so-called "prisoners of peace", while the Nebulan leaders conversed with them and also the remaining Autobots (under Kup's supervision) in the [[Folassian Forest]] beyond the city. Maximus had successfully convinced [[Galen]], head of the [[World Watcher]]s, of his good intentions, but the paranoid Lord [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]] distrusted the Autobots at every turn, and was committed to removing them from Nebulos even if he had to fake their crimes in order to do it. He even went so far as to summon the Decepticons to Nebulos, hoping that they would rid the planet of their Autobot problem.

[[File:Loveandsteel-runfortmaxrun.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
Upon the Decepticons' arrival, Scorponok and his henchmen began to lay siege to Koraja, trying to get at the inoperative Fortress Maximus and his men. Galen and Council Guard Commander [[Duros]] arrived at the Autobots' bunker to rapidly consult them on options. The allies eventually settled on a radical solution involving bio-mechanical engineering—Galen and several other volunteers were bionically reconstructed to transform into duplicates of the Autobots' severed heads, allowing them to [[Binary bonding|binary bond]] with the Autobots' bodies and share both physical control and tactical analysis with the original Autobot personalities. Duros was one of the first volunteers for the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] process, and was binary bonded to Hardhead. Duros quickly adjusted to the raw power and military might of his new body, using Hardhead's laser-guided cannon against the Decepticon aggressors. {{storylink|Broken Glass!}} {{storylink|Stylor's Story}}

Their status as the saviors of Koraja made Duros and the others an instant hit among the populace, but Nebulos's rulers were still wary of the Transformers, especially now that their presence had led Nebulans themselves to wage war for the first time in over 10,000 years. Galen and his men did their best to assuage the fears of the [[Council of Peers]]. When the [[Horrorcon (G1)|Horrorcons]] and [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] attacked the [[Splendora]] resort, Hardhead and [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] joined their Autobot comrades, the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]], in fending off [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] and zapping [[Apeface]] and [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]] into submission. The devastation left in the wake of their battle did little to discourage the council's antipathy, however. When the Autobot Headmasters went on a rescue mission to recover Lord Zarak and his followers (who had been prisoners of the Decepticons since their arrival), a detachment of Council members insisted on accompanying them. Unfortunately, Zarak had entered into a bargain with Scorponok, and by the time Hardhead and the others reached the [[Plains of Thok]], the Decepticon Headmasters had been born. Although Zarak / Scorponok endangered the council members by using them as a diversion to gun down the Autobots, [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]]'s hypnotic gaze had scrambled the other Nebulans' minds so much that Zarak was able to convince them that Galen's men were the evil ones, and he manipulated the Decepticons into becoming Nebulos's new "champions". {{storylink|Love and Steel!}}

Duros and the other Nebulan Headmasters were held captive by Zarak in Koraja, alongside their disabled Autobot counterparts. Despite his hunger for power and growing battle-lust, however, Zarak still ultimately wanted what was best for Nebulos. Realizing how a continued war between the Autobots and Decepticons would truly affect the planet he loved, Zarak freed Duros and the Autobot Headmasters, sending them back to their comrades in the forest. Galen had reached the same conclusions as Zarak, and gathered his men back aboard the Autobot ship ''[[Steelhaven (G1)|Steelhaven]]'', to leave Nebulos behind to rebuild in their absence. Sure enough, Zarak/Scorponok and the Decepticons chose to follow the Autobots into space. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}}

''Before leaving Nebulos, Hardhead and Duros witnessed a duel between Fortress Maximus and Scorponok, with overall victory between the two factions at stake. However, the clash turned out to be a distraction set-up by the Decepticons to steal a fuel convertor. With it in hand, the Decepticons left for Earth, forcing the Autobots to follow.'' {{storylink|The Final Conflict}}

{{note|The events in this UK story differ in significant ways to the [[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]] mini-series.}}

[[File:Hardhead-WorldsApart.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|Got to... SHEEAKK!]]
''Before they left, however, the Autobot Headmasters had another encounter with their Decepticon opposite numbers. After the [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]]s were captured by the Decepticons for analysis and dissection, Hardhead and the Headmasters went out looking for them, only to run into the Decepticon Headmasters on the way. Hardhead was nearly knocked off the road when Mindwipe's hypnotic stare sent Brainstorm crashing into him. Despite being shaken by the impact, Hardhead still managed to defeat both [[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]] and [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullcruncher]] by himself. The Autobots regrouped to follow Mindwipe, the last of their attackers, who was apparently fleeing for safety. After entering the Decepticons' [[Fortress of Despair]], however, Hardhead and the others realized they had been led into a trap, and were confronted by the might Scorponok and the Decepticon Targetmasters. In order to help even the odds, Hardhead freed the Autobot Targetmasters. With their help, the Autobots eventually overcame the Decepticons and fled back to base. {{storylink|Worlds Apart!}}''

[[File:Trialbyfire-fortmax-disassemble.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|And I'll form the head! Fortress Maximus's head, that is. With tools.]]
After leaving Nebulos, Hardhead and the crew of ''Steelhaven'' followed an Autobot distress call to the planet called Earth. During the long journey, they had Fortress Maximus heavily upgraded into a larger, more powerful body. Even the militaristic Duros was a bit unsettled by the new war-like outlook of their leader, Galen, but he insisted he was merely changing to fit the circumstances they had been dealt. Upon arrival, Fortress Maximus, Hardhead and the other Headmasters took a shuttle down to Earth's surface, and located the caves in [[Mount St. Hilary]] where the distress call had first been broadcast. They also found the broadcaster himself, an Autobot named [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]] whose [[brain module]] had been retrofitted into a tiny electronic toy car. [[Toy Soldiers!|Long story]]. Scorponok and the Decepticon Headmasters had also come to Earth after the distress call, however, and a battle broke out. The battle proved costly, as Galen died protecting an Earthling from Scorponok. He passed on his control helmet to this boy, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], leaving Fortress Maximus and the Autobots in his hands. It was Hardhead who first suggested that Spike was the group's new leader. {{storylink|Trial by Fire!}}

In the weeks that followed, ''Steelhaven''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s crew united with the other Autobots on board the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. Unfortunately, the Ark's commander, [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]], was difficult to deal with, and so their meetup resulted in a [[Code of Combat|ritual battle for Autobot supremacy]] between him and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Hardhead disembarked along with the rest of the ''Steelhaven'' crew to watch the fight. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

[[File:Edgeofextinction-hardheadbombburst.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|That's gonna leave a mark.]]
''During the [[Time Wars (event)|Time Wars]], Hardhead was among the Autobot strike team gathered by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], Grimlock and Fortress Maximus to engage [[Galvatron (G1)#Marvel Comics continuity|Galvatron]] for the fate of two time periods, several associated planets, and the universe at large. Unfortunately, the future Autobots of [[2009]] arrived before the battle began, and the [[mass substitution]] effect created by [[time travel]] shunted Hardhead into [[Limbo]] for the duration.'' {{storylink|Time Wars}}

Hardhead was next seen on Cybertron for the final united battle against [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]. Working with the Decepticon [[Pretender]], [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]], he was in the process of moving a surface-to-air missile battery into position when Unicron touched down on the planet's surface. The Planet-Eater's massive foot indiscriminately crushed Autobot, Decepticon, and weapon flat. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}}
{{-}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{NoteRG1}}
[[File:Autobot headmasters natural selecton.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|Seriously,
this guy's got more faces than a Quintesson.]]
After the death of Duros/Hardhead in the war against Unicron, Hardhead's original head was attended to in [[Project Lazarus]] on [[Nebulos]]. Scientists led by [[Borx]] attempted to create new bodies for the remaining Autobots, but were unable to achieve the proper "biometamechanical synthesis" to integrate the two. Unfortunately for them, they sought the tech necessary on the [[Plains of Thok]] at the facility where the Decepticon Headmasters were created. The original [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]] was reactivated by their snooping, and he took control of the planet. With the aid of Grimlock's [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]]-soaked [[CNA]], who he had captured while seeking a new body for himself and the other Nucleon victims, Scorponok completed another project—to create a "[[Gene Key]]" which could mute the consciences of Autobots, turning them into "Decepticons". The rebuilt Hardhead was one of the three subjects he demonstrated this on, along with [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] and [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]], and as soon as they were freed, they proceeded to attack Grimlock for wearing an Autobot symbol. After Hardhead had been stomped on a bit by Grimlock, Scorponok stopped them, as Grimlock was now working for him under blackmail anyway. They proceeded to travel to Cybertron to begin converting the populace into Decepticons. As soon as they landed at [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]'s [[Civil Defense Hub]], the twisted Autobots shot the shocked [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] in the face. Leaving him for dead, they then marched in and began killing [[Cybertronian Civil Defense|Civil Defense Force]] members until the coast was clear for Scorponok. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Two}}

[[File:Autobot headmasters destiny.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8]]
After taking over the Civil Defense Hub, they began corrupting Autobots, and passed around Gene Keys so the effect continued to spread. Once the chaos was well under way, Hardhead, Highbrow, and Brainstorm were recalled to the Iacon Civil Defense Hub alongside Grimlock. There, Scorponok sought to assure himself of the Dinobot's loyaly; Grimlock was ordered to execute [[Punch (G1)|Punch]], who was immune to the key's effect, while the others looked on. Grimlock found himself unable to go through with the deed, {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Three}} and was ordered to stay put while the rest of Scorponok's troops saw through their master's plan. Predictably, Grimlock disobeyed orders and went on the run. Hardhead trailed him to the [[Nursery (Cybertron)|Nursery]] and readied to execute the Dinobt, but was disabled when Grimlock released the unstably combusting [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Four}}

After the Gene Key's effects were reversed, Hardhead became horrified by what he had done. He voluntarily submitted himself for trial and imprisonment as a war criminal. {{storylink|Destiny, Part One}} Nevertheless, he and the others took up arms in defense of Cybertron when [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and his [[Warworld]] arrived. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Four}} He later helped drive off the [[Primum Fugae]] when they attacked the Dinobots' new settlement. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 2}}

Hardhead was among the Autobots who assaulted [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s Hub, {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 4}} and later returned to a Cybertron infested with [[Shadow-leech|shadow-demons]]. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 5}}
{{-}}

====''Transformers '84''====
[[File:Fortress maximus secrets and lies.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
In the early days of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] after the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s launch, Hardhead was one of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]]'s troops when they were attacked by [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]]'s troops. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 3|Secrets & Lies #3}}
{{-}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
[[File:HeadlessChromedomeandHardhead-ASO.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.0|Headlessmasters...available at yard sales near you!]]
While the Autobots planned for an elaborate sabotage scheme designed by [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] to eliminate a Decepticon installation, Hardhead complained about the fancy stuff and wished they could just rush in and blow stuff up. {{storylink|Decepticons at the Pole}}

During a period when the Autobots on Nebulos were low on lubricant, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] dispatched Hardhead and [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] to search for a legendary lost lake of oil. They searched a possible valley with their Headmaster partners, but [[Stylor]] reported back with no luck. Looking for Duros's return, Hardhead transformed into his headless [[robot mode]] to get a better view across the plains. When Duros returned with a clear signal on his geo-sensors, the Headmasters traced the spot. Hardhead used sonic shell as a non-inflammatory means of drilling down to the reservoir. Duros and Stylor entered the tunnel and found a vast source of oil for the Autobots to claim. {{storylink|Autobots Strike Oil}}
{{-}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[Escalation issue 3|''Escalation'' #3]]}}

[[File:Escalation6 Hardhead AVENGE.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Hardhead makes his own decisions!]]
Hardhead was [[Reproduction#2005 IDW continuity|constructed cold]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}} He was a career soldier, intended as a problem solver who got things done fast. To him, this meant he had no future, as some day the war will end, and he would be a walking reminder of it, something to be quietly done away with. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}} He was part of the [[113th Battalion]] and took part in a massive battle against [[Black Shadow (G1)|Black Shadow]]. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement (issue)|Rules of Disengagement}} He also participated in the [[Battle of Junkion]]. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 2: A Lonely Pillar on the Plain|A Lonely Pillar on the Plain}}

[[File:Devastation4 Hardhead.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Hardhead answers his own questions!]]
Prior to the [[Brasnya]] incident, Hardhead was ordered by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] to [[Earth]] on the ''[[Ark-32]]'', along with [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]]. {{storylink|Escalation issue 3|Escalation #3}} The two arrived right in the middle of the battle, although Hot Rod sped away after the [[facsimile construct|facsimile]] before Hardhead could stop him to report their presence. He engaged in battle with [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], {{storylink|Escalation issue 4|Escalation #4}} causing severe damage to the shuttle [[Triple Changer]] and continued to hound him to such an extent that [[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]] had to call in [[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|reinforcements]]. {{storylink|Escalation issue 5|Escalation #5}} When [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] seemingly defeated Optimus Prime, Hardhead attempted (futilely) to damage him with repeated cannon blasts. {{storylink|Escalation issue 6|Escalation #6}}

Hardhead would eventually regroup with his teammates after the battle and was among them during [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]'s surprise assault on the ''[[Ark-19]]''. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1|Devastation #1}} He bravely (if futilely) attacked Sixshot, along with the rest of the Autobots before being beamed back to the ''Ark-32''. {{storylink|Devastation issue 3|Devastation #3}} {{storylink|Devastation issue 4|Devastation #4}} Due to injuries and separate missions, Hardhead found himself to be the only active Autobot besides [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]—and neither were happy to hear that Optimus was withdrawing them from Earth to [[Garrus-9]]. {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation #5}} Hardhead went to retrieve Hot Rod and the others, blowing up a [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] that was attacking Hot Rod. Hot Rod refused to go though, wanting to see the Headmaster mystery to the end. Hardhead reluctantly let him go and took [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] and [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] back with him. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}}

[[File:SpotlightHardhead HardheadsHeadshot.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Hardhead expresses his own feelings!]]
Soon, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] discovered that he logged a message during his visit to [[Gorlam Prime]]—of which he had no recollection—and asked Hardhead for help. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}

Before leaving for Gorlam Prime, Nightbeat told Hardhead of his fears that he may be compromised, and that if he threatened Hardhead or anyone else, he should terminate Nightbeat. Arriving on Gorlam Prime, Nightbeat and Hardhead discovered virtually the entire planet's population had frozen in a chrysalis-like state and were in the midst of undergoing some kind of evolutionary cycle. Before they could explore further, however, they were beset upon by dozens of [[Micromaster]]s, all of whom immediately targeted Hardhead.

[[File:Nightbeatexecuted.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Hardhead shoots his own comrades!]]
Escaping from their attackers, the two Autobots fled deep underground. Once they neared the portal to the [[Dead Universe]], [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] took remote-control of Nightbeat and tried to kill Hardhead with a point-blank shot between the optics. Fortunately, Hardhead lived up to his name and took the shot with minimal damage. As Nightbeat was joined by more Micromasters, Hardhead took the opportunity to retreat deeper into Gorlam Prime's underground caverns.

There, he discovered the portal to the Dead Universe. As the mind-controlled Nightbeat caught up with him, Hardhead realized he had nowhere else to fall back to. When told to surrender, Hardhead responded by shooting Nightbeat through the head with a pinpoint shot and then plunged through the portal, ready to face whatever dangers lay on the other side. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}}

[[File:DeadUniverseHardhead.jpg|thumb|upright=0.55|Hardhead rises from his own grave!]]
Having become a permanent resident of the [[Dead Universe]], Hardhead did not resurface until Jhiaxus's plans were well underway. However, he did manage to catch the Cybertronian scientist who was fleeing the onslaught of [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]]. Preventing the madman's escape, he explained to the hyperviolent Autobot that Jhiaxus couldn't truly die here on the threshold between the material world and the Dead Universe. That suited Arcee fine, as it let her indulge her revenge fantasies to their utmost. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

Hardhead remained at Arcee's side as she happily killed Jhiaxus over and over again, though he was more interested in investigating some ancient catacombs discovered in the depths of Gorlam Prime. After some time had passed, the portal to the Dead Universe began to act strangely, luring the inhabitants of the planet into wandering through it. Seemingly due to his connection to the Dead Universe, Hardhead was immune to this apparent hypnosis, and he pinned Arcee down to keep her from following the others. Once the entire population of Gorlam Prime was gone, the portal emitted a flash of light and changed shape, knocking Hardhead and Arcee out cold. After they awoke, they left to investigate the catacombs and figure out what happened. {{storylink|Heart of Darkness issue 2|Heart of Darkness #2}} Eventually, they detected [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] and his troops entering the portal's chamber and attacked them. {{storylink|Heart of Darkness issue 1|Heart of Darkness #1}}
[[File:Heart of Darkness2 HardheadVSCyclonus.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Hardhead delivers his own lame dialogue!]]
Hardhead took on [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], defeating both of them, but was brought down by Galvatron, who was drawing on power from the Dead Universe. He urged Arcee to flee and warn the Autobots, and was then captured by Galvatron, who invaded his mind and read his memories. {{storylink|Heart of Darkness issue 2|Heart of Darkness #2}} Having presumably fallen under Galvatron's control, Hardhead joined the army he was building to defend the universe from [[D-Void]] from the Dead Universe. He accompanied Galvatron, Cyclonus, and a [[generic]] or two to the planet [[Dykayra]] to scout out a sight of an incursion of D-Void. {{storylink|Heart of Darkness issue 3|Heart of Darkness #3}} There, he and the others fought with [[Nova Prime|Nemesis Prime]], resurrected and controlled by D-Void. Hardhead survived the battle and was later air-dropped onto [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the army's first line of defense. {{storylink|Heart of Darkness issue 4|Heart of Darkness #4}}

[[File:Hardhead Chaos Part4.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Hardhead crashes his own ship!]]
Hardhead was somehow freed from Galvatron's influence and reunited with Arcee. Thanks to Galvatron tapping into his mind with the [[Darkness (G1)|Heart of Darkness]], Hardhead had a solid understanding of the connection between it, D-Void, and Galvatron himself. Aboard Arcee's shuttle in Cybertron's orbit, they addressed the survivors of the destroyed [[Kimia Facility]], expounding on Cybertron's current predicament. Some, like [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] and [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]], had trouble grasping the complicated scenario, but Hardhead finally broke through to [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]. The group of Autobots set upon the task of preventing Galvatron from unknowingly doing D-Void's bidding and turning Cybertron into a massive portal for the Dead Universe to bleed through.

Bringing their shuttle into Cybertron's crumbling atmosphere, everyone but Hardhead and Arcee bailed out when it was decided to fly under the planet's surface. Following a large access tunnel directly to [[Vector Sigma]] and the core, Hardhead crashed the shuttle directly on top of Galvatron. Galvatron dug himself out from under the debris and took both Hardhead and Arcee on, quickly defeating them. {{storylink|Chaos Part Four: Genesis|Genesis}}

After the Chaos war ended and Galvatron was defeated, Hardhead was subjected to tests by Brainstorm, who concluded that his connection to the Dead Universe was gone and as such he was no longer undead. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} Hardhead briefly considered joining Rodimus's quest for the [[Knights of Cybertron]], only to change his mind when he learned that the crew was full of freaks. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}} Instead he joined forces with [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], and [[Garnak]] to take custody of the catatonic Jhiaxus and leave Cybertron to keep it safe from his brand of evil. After a while, their ship picked up a distress signal from the planet [[Arduria]], which caused Jhiaxus to awaken and begin screaming 'Pax'. In response, Hardhead called Optimus Prime, who had changed his name back to Orion Pax in the aftermath of the Chaos Event. Together, they investigated the situation on Arduria, only to fall victim to a Decepticon trap. Attacked by [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]], Hardhead and Orion were unable to prevent Jhiaxus from begin rescued by [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], but upon deducing that the Decepticons were hunting down the fruits of [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]'s [[Regenesis]] program, they pursued them to the [[Lenocinium Velnero System]]. {{storylink|Syndromica (1)}}

[[File:Garnak and Hardhead Syndromica 2.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|Hardhead makes his own discoveries!]]
Hardhead, Pax, Wheelie, and Garnak, after months of searching for Jhiaxus, came across another Decepticon ship just as it entered planet [[LV-117]]'s atmosphere. {{storylink|Syndromica (2)}} This ship was manned by the [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] trio, who had just stolen it out from under [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] and Wheeljack on Cybertron. {{storylink|Night and the City}}

Hardhead and his companions chased the stolen Decepticon ship to LV-117's surface only to arrive, to their surprise, many years after the ship they had just followed to the surface has crashed. Almost immediately, Orion Pax disappeared from the company of his companions to find himself shifting non-linearly through time, which, fortuitously, enabled him to gain a firmer understanding of what Jhiaxus and Bludgeon were planning. Pax, after a month away, temporally stabilized and returned to his friends, who had waited on LV-117 for his return at Wheelie's staunch insistence. Hardhead then let Pax know how long he had been gone and informed him that Jhiaxus and his followers had returned in Pax's absence, stolen the crashed Decepticon ship, and were gone again. The quartet set out once more to hunt down and stop Jhiaxus, Bludgeon, and Monstructor. Hardhead attempted to pilot the ship out of the planet's orbit at the same angle by which they had entered, but despite his best efforts, another two weeks was lost leaving orbit. {{storylink|Syndromica (2)}}

[[File:HardheadShootsWheelie Homecoming.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Hardhead shoots his own comrades! Again!]]
As Jhiaxus had mentioned Gorlam Prime during their last encounter, the four Autobots made their way to the dead planet. On the way, Hardhead, like all cold constructed Cybertronians, was nearly killed by [[Chief Justice]] [[Solomus|Tyrest]]'s [[universal killswitch]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}} After recovering and arriving on Gorlam, he showed his companions the mysterious catacombs he'd explored years earlier, leading to the discovery of another Regenesis ore within them. Hardhead's own theory was that Jhiaxus had built the catacombs to make the planet more like Cybertron, but they found it went deeper than that when Wheelie began disintegrating on touching one of the buildings, forcing Hardhead to amputate his arm. Another battle with Monstructor led to the revelation that the underground city was in fact a dormant [[Titan (group)|Titan]] infused with [[Ore-2]], and unfortunately Orion Pax played right into Jhiaxus's hands by awakening it. {{storylink|Homecoming (IDW)|Homecoming}} As the unleashed Ore-2 destroyed Gorlam Prime, Pax's group escaped on the ''[[Skyroller]]'' and were rescued by the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]''. Hardhead was unhappy to find Cyclonus there. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}}

Learning that a Dead Universe portal had opened on Cybertron, Orion Pax elected to enter the still active Gorlam Prime portal alongside Hardhead, Rodimus and Cyclonus to investigate. Having nothing but mistrust for Galvatron's former minion, Hardhead called Cyclonus a coward and accused him of abandoning them when the group was attacked by [[cyberwraith]]s within the Dead Universe. {{storylink|Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|Black Metal}} He was also pretty rude to Rodimus for abandoning Cybertron in favor of some quest, only to learn that it was in fact the ''Lost Light'' crew who had recently saved him from death by killswitch. To the surprise of everyone, most of all Hardhead, the group was then approached by none other than Nightbeat, {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} having "survived" his death at Hardhead's hands by falling through the Dead Universe portal and becoming undead. Even so, he remained a sleeper agent of Nova Prime's, and by following him Hardhead and the others found themselves led into a trap. {{storylink|Finest Hour: Dark Cybertron Chapter 5|Finest Hour}}

[[File:HardheadDies NoExit.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.0|Hardhead meets his own fate!]]
Trapped in a containment cube by Nova, the team improvised a plan to distract their captors and smash their way out using Orion Pax's strength and Hardhead's skull. The plan succeeded, only for the force field to reseal itself before anyone other than Hardhead could escape. Hardhead suddenly found himself alone against Nova Prime, who crushed his fist and with it the force field generator allowing him to survive within the Dead Universe. Exposed to the malevolent and lethal universe around him, Hardhead's body disintegrated and scattered on the winds. {{storylink|No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6|No Exit}}

Arcee asked Optimus Prime about Hardhead's death, to which Optimus assured her that he had personally taken care of his killer. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 3: The Mind Bomb|The Mind Bomb}} When [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] later accused Arcee of not knowing what it was like to lose someone, Arcee found herself admitting that Hardhead's death had affected her, but couldn't tell if they had ever really been happy during their time together. {{storylink|The Transgressors}}
{{-}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
[[File:Hardhead Kreon.JPG|thumb]]
Hardhead was at [[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]]'s {{w|hanami}} party, where he was singing with a microphone. Presumably he was inebriated. {{storylink|Soundwave's Trap? Stop Operation Brainwash Humanity!}}

===''TransTech''===
In [[Primax 806.30 Gamma|one universe]], Hardhead was binary-bonded to the [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] operative [[Tank (G.I. Joe)|Tank]], joining up with the [[Screaming Eagles]] against the forces of [[S.K.A.R.]] in a globe-spanning confrontation. Ultimately, the Screaming Eagles emerged victorious, ushering in a new Golden Age for Earth. {{storylink|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 2016/05/01}}

===''Titans Return'' marketing material===
When [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Squeezeplay (G1)|Crashbash]] attacked [[Velocitron]] during the planet's biggest race, Hardhead and Furos fought alongside [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] to repulse the invaders, defending [[Haywire|Hyperfire]] from Decepticon abduction. {{storylink|Titans Return: The Power of the Titan Masters}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
At some point, Hardhead posed in a group photo with many Cybertronians, including [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]. {{storylink|Open Comms}} He served with [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] and the [[Great General]] [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]] during the [[War of the Threefold Spark]]. {{storylink|Escape Part Three}}

==Commercial appearances==
*Hardhead was among several Transformers who left the war on Cybertron behind, to blast their way to the distant planet [[Nebulos|Nebulon]]! There, Hardhead allowed the "intelligent Nebulon" [[Duros]] to become his head. Fierce battles between Autobots and Decepticons resumed on the alien sphere as Headmasters and Targetmasters of both factions faced off against one another. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Headmaster comic book|Headmaster comic book commercial}}
*Hardhead, [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]], and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] awaited their [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] partners as [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] sent out a Decepticon alert. Once [[Duros]] was aboard his vehicle mode, Hardhead sped off to come to blows against the Decepticon Headmasters. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Headmasters|Headmasters commercial}}
*A stone sculpture of Hardhead was savaged by [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullcruncher]] and [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] as part of their training. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Decepticon Headmasters|Decepticon Headmasters commercial}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: The Headmasters''===
Hardhead was kidnapped by the Decepticons and held captive on the Jail planet by [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]. He was rescued by [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] and his other comrades, and in turn helped rescue those who were still imprisoned. Once they had reunited, Hardhead and the others met with [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] for the last battle against [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. {{storylink|Transformers: The Headmasters (video game)|Transformers: The Headmasters}}

===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
{{voiceactor|[[Strings Kozisek]] (English)}}
{{Note|Hardhead was available as a playable character in the Autobot campaign during the second playthrough.}}
{{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
The Autobot Headmasters including Hardhead hunted for [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s ghost by tracking the electro-magnetic spikes which signaled his manifestations. They were able to prevent him passing over into the physical world, and scattered the Decepticons who had aided him. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine (Legends)|Ghost in the Machine}} When the Decepticons aimed to get hold of the [[Key to the Plasma Energy Chamber]], Hardhead and his fellow Headmasters made off with it but soon crashed on Earth. They were aided by the [[Earth Defense Command|EDC]], who patched them up and helped them fight off [[Apeface]] and [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullcruncher]]. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Earth Defense Command}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
{{anchor|Generation 1}}
[[File:G1-toy Hardhead.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|I don't get it either. Not like I have a "hard head" to draw.]]
*'''Hardhead''' (Headmaster, [[1987]])
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-102'''
**''Accessories'': "Duros" Headmaster partner "Tank Commander", 2 "[[Shatterblaster|Shatterblasters]]"
{{toydesigner|[[Takashi Kunihiro]] (TakaraTomy)|[[Kunio Okawara]] (concept artist)}}

:Hardhead transforms into a Cybertronian self-propelled artillery gun. Like many Transformers of this era, he can store his rifles in [[5 mm post|5mm peg holes]] in his [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]], and his Headmaster partner, [[Duros#Generation 1|Duros]], can ride inside his cockpit. Duros transforms into his head, which, when attached to Hardhead's [[robot mode]], activates a simplified, spring-loaded [[Tech Spec]] meter hidden under a panel on his chest. (The panel is very susceptible to breakage however, so it's advised you don't open it.) This [[gimmick]] works with any other Headmaster "pilot" figure, and will display different levels dependent on which Headmaster figure is plugged in.

:In robot mode, Hardhead is unusually tall for a toy of his price point, as the tank basically flips on end and extends to transform. As to be expected, Hardhead has rather limited articulation.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1987/Autobot/Hardhead/hardhead.htm More information on Hardhead at TFU.info]''
::*''[http://www.seibertron.com/transformers-toys/gallery/g1-1987/hardhead/14/1/ Image gallery of Hardhead at Seibertron.com]''
::*''[http://www.botchthecrab.com/archive/instructions/autobot/1987/instr_hardhead.jpg Instruction booklet for Hardhead at Botchthecrab.com]''
{{-}}

===''Universe'' (2008)===
[[File:TFU08-toy Hardhead.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|It feels like a pizza-disc launcher is missing.]]
*'''Hardhead''' (Ultra Class, [[2009]])
**''Series:'' '''Generation 1 Series'''
**''Accessories'': Shield
:Hardhead is a mostly green [[Walmart]] [[exclusive]] [[redeco]] of ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' Ultra Class [[Onslaught (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Onslaught]], and transforms into a six-wheeled SWAT assault truck with positionable mine-scoops and a rotating double-barreled turret on top. When the button on his rotating turret is pressed, electronic lights in his head and turret flash and one hears either machine gun fire or a siren sound, either of which are continuous if held down. Rolling the vehicle's middle left tire activates a third sound effect of him causing extensive property damage on something unfortunate enough to get caught under his wheels. A looped driving sound will then be continuously played until the tire stops rolling, when a final sound of the vehicle driving away/to a halt is played. He comes with a riot shield, which can either connect to a flip up tab on his left arm in robot mode, or store on top of his turret in either mode. The small flap at the top of the shield is used to access the turret's button, either by pressing on the flap itself, or by flipping it open and pressing the button directly. A button on his right arm spring-deploys an arm-mounted weapon. Instead of blending in with the rest of his colors, his shield stands out entirely black with a messily painted "no" sign on top of a similarly made Decepticon symbol with seven tally marks below it.

:The robot mode [[Kibble#.22Faux-parts.22|cheats]] somewhat, having a second tow-winch on his belt-buckle immediately below his vehicle hood, while the actual vehicle mode winch splits in two to form his shoulders.

:Hardhead uses the later version of Onslaught's electronics that doesn't cut off quickly.

:This mold was [[retool]]ed into ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' [[Clench (G1)#Timelines|Clench]]. The Clench tooling also served as the basis of the non-toy ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' incarnation of [[Torca (BW)#Beast Wars: Uprising|Torca]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/TFUHardhead/hardhead.htm More information on ''Universe'' Hardhead at TFU.info]''
::*''[http://www.seibertron.com/transformers-toys/gallery/classics-universe/hardhead/1933/1/ Image gallery of ''Universe'' Hardhead at Seibertron.com]''

===''Generations''===
*'''Hardhead vs. Ratbat''' (unreleased Toys"R"Us exclusive 2-pack, planned for ca. 2011)
[[File:Hardhead-in-WarpathInstructions.jpg|thumb|Hard-to-get.]]
:This figure would have been a [[Retool#Gang-molded alternate parts|pretool]]/redeco of ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class [[Warpath (G1)#Generations|Warpath]], utilizing the alternate head sculpt depicted in some of the steps in Warpath's instructions. It was inteded to be released as part of a [[Toys"R"Us]] [[exclusive]] two-pack with [[Ratbat (G1)/toys#Generations|Ratbat]], a redeco of ''Generations'' [[Scourge (G1)/toys#Generations|Scourge]] that would have similarly used that toy's alternate head sculpt. The intended deco sheets for the two figures were revealed by the unofficial [[Pete Sinclair|Pete]]'s Robot Convention on Facebook in 2020, but later taken down again at the request of Hasbro.
{{GenerationsDeluxeWarpathMold}}
{{canceledtoy}}
{{--}}

===''Titans Return''===
[[File:TitansReturntoy-Hardhead.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|He's on his way to run over some alien nests.]]
*'''Hardhead & Furos''' (Deluxe Class, [[2016]])
**''Accessories:'' "Furos" Titan Master, rifle, tank turret
{{toydesigner|[[John Warden]] (Hasbro)}}

:Part of the first wave of ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'', Hardhead transforms into a futuristic tank of made-up model. Although his tank treads are merely molded detail, he possesses set of hidden wheels underneath the front of his vehicle mode and in his rear tank treads that allow him to roll. His non-firing turret can be opened to reveal a seat that allows any [[Titan Master]] figure to man it in both modes, with the cover also featuring a pair of angled pegs for a Titan Master to (somewhat insecurely) peg onto, and his rifle - which, interestingly, seems to be generally modeled after a real-life [[wikipedia:Heckler & Koch G36|Heckler & Koch G36C]] subcarabine - can plug on top of his larger gun. He sports four pegs on his treads that allow any Titan Master figure to attach to his vehicle mode. The rifle can also be mounted on one of these pegs. All this means that, assuming one doesn't count the still-accessible neck port, Hardhead's vehicle mode can accommodate a grand total of ''seven'' Titan Masters at once.

:Hardhead comes with his Titan Master partner [[Duros#Generations|Furos]], who fits into his vehicle mode cockpit and transforms into his robot mode head. As with other ''Titans Return'' toys, Hardhead can accommodate any Titan Master figure in both robot and vehicle mode. In robot mode, he can either use his larger gun on his shoulder (as shown in the picture) or carry it in his hand, though due to its size it can make the figure somewhat unstable. Due to the placement of the plug for Titan Masters to attach, Hardhead can be fully transformed into vehicle mode without removing his head. His head socket is a bit on the tight side; turning Furos's head 180° before inserting him will make for a smoother fit. However, this should be done with caution, as grooves in the neck port can scratch the paint off of Furos' face with repeated use.

:Hardhead was redecoed as [[Quake (G1)#Generations|Quake]]. The toy also served as the model for the non-toy ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' incarnation of [[Tankor (BM)#Beast Wars: Uprising|Tankor]] and as [[Bludgeon (G1)#e-HOBBY comics|Bludgeon]] in "[[Cybertron Magna Convoy]]".

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2016/Autobot/TRHardhead/hardhead.htm More information on ''Titans Return'' Hardhead at TFU.info]''
::*''[http://www.seibertron.com/transformers-toys/gallery/titans-return/hardhead/4110/1/ Image gallery of ''Titans Return'' Hardhead at Seibertron.com]''
{{--}}

===''Legends''===
[[File:TF-Legends-LG21-Hardhead.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb]]
*'''Hardhead''' ([[July 23]], 2016)
**''ID number:'' '''LG21'''
**''Acessories:'' "Ros" Headmaster, rifle, tank turret, Tankette Partner Drone
:''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' Hardhead is a redeco and retool of the ''Titans Return'' mold, featuring a more G1-accurate paintjob and a new headsculpt based on the look he has in the ''The Headmasters'' anime. He comes with [[Tankette#Legends|Tankette]], a redeco of the Titan Master vehicle accessory that originally came with [[Horri-Bull#Generations|Terri-Bull]].

::*''[http://higekumatoytoy.blog60.fc2.com/blog-entry-2657.html Legends Hardhead at Alfes's Toy Blog]''

{{-}}{{anchor|LGEX}}
[[File:TF-Legends-LG-EX-Headmaster-Set-Hardhead.jpg|thumb|]]
*'''Headmaster Set''' ([[February 19]], [[2017]])
**''ID Number'': '''LG-EX'''

:Debuting as a [[Wonder Festival]] 2017 [Winter] exclusive, this Headmaster version of "Hardhead" is a redeco of ''Titans Return'' Furos, and is the only Japanese release of this particular tooling. Called "Hardhead" by the packaging, this toy is depicted as Duros from "The Rebirth" by its [[LGEX Headmaster Set Chapter|pack-in mini-manga]], and is decoed to color-match the above ''Legends'' body figure.

:"Hardhead" was released along with [[Grimlock (G1)/toys#Legends|Grimlock]], "[[Stylor#Legends|Chromedome]]", [[Brawn (G1)/toys#Legends|Gong]], [[Flywheels#Legends|Flywheel]], and "[[Arcana#Legends|Brainstorm]]".
{{--}}

===''Retro Headmasters''===
[[File:TF-Generations-Retro-Headmasters-Hardhead.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Hardhead''' (Deluxe Class, [[2020]])
**''Accessories:'' [[Duros#Retro Headmasters|Duros]] Headmaster, rifle, tank turret
:Released as part of the ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)#Retro Headmasters|Retro Headmasters]]'' line, Hardhead is a redeco of the ''Titans Return'' Deluxe Class toy in G1 toy accurate colors and utilizes the ''Headmasters'' anime face included in the ''Legends'' figure.

:Along with the rest of the ''Retro Headmasters'' toys, Hardhead is a Walmart exclusive in Canada and the US. This figure also serves as the basis for ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]'' [[Hardhead (SG)|Hardhead]].
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:G1HardheadOriginalHead.jpg|upright=1.5|thumb|More like... Squathead...]]
*In the television [[commercial]] for [[Marvel Comics]]' ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]]'' limited series, the Autobot and Decepticon Headmasters are shown having different head designs than the ones their Nebulan partners would later turn into. These designs were seemingly never used in any other piece of ''Transformers'' media. The [[Character model|models]] for most of them, however, turned up in the excellent ''[[Transformers Generations (guidebook)|Transformers Generations]]'' guidebook.
*As had been (snarkily) pointed out on the captions on this page, the design of Hardhead's toy head doesn't match any of his fictional appearances. The biggest difference is that the toy has a mouthplate whereas the cartoon and comics all show him with a mouth, but there are lots of other variations in shape and detailing.
*In late 2013, upcoming product listings inadvertently released to the public included 'TRA GENERATIONS DLX HARDHEAD A9252', although this figure was ultimately never announced or released.<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/96540-monzos-mega-hasbro-customer-service-listing-breakdown/ Hasbro customer service listings summary] by [[User:Monzo]]</ref> Considering that a [[Nightbeat (G1)#Generations|Nightbeat]] [[retool]] of the contemporary ''[[Transformers (2010 toyline)#RTS|Reveal the Shield]]'' [[Jazz (G1)/toys#Transformers (2010)|Jazz]] mold was also originally planned for the same assortment, it seems likely that this Hardhead toy would have been based on the previously unreleased 2010 ''Generations'' Warpath pretool.
*Kreon Hardhead's appearance is, like all the cameo Kreons, based on existing parts, including the [[Hound (Kre-O)|Hound]] helmet and a shoulder cannon accessory. His singing while drunk is based on his counterpart in the Japanese ''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]'' cartoon.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Ros''' (ロス ''Rosu''), '''Hardhead''' (ハードヘッド ''Hādoheddo'')
*''French:'' '''Tête-Dure''' (Canada, "Hard-Head")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Keményfej'''
*''Italian:'' '''Blindobot''' ("Armoredbot")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Tǐetóu''' (Taiwan, 鐵頭, "Iron Head"), '''Lǎowángù''' (China, 老顽固, "Old Stubborn")
*''Russian:'' '''Tverdolob''' (Твердолоб, "Diehard")

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Dead Universe]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Transformers]]
[[Category:Kre-O Autobots]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Legends Autobots]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:Super-God Masterforce Autobots]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Titans Return Autobots]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Wal-Mart exclusives]]
[[Category:Wings Universe Autobots]]

Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity

2022-09-04T13:52:43Z

Spark Mandrill: /* The Chosen One */

{{factions|senator|decepticon}}
{{suite}}
[[File:StarscreamIDWF22-Infiltration4cvrA.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|"BANZAAAAI KICK!"]]

Ever the opportunist, '''Starscream''''s boundless ambition drew him into the nascent Decepticon movement and catapulted him through the ranks as Cybertron collapsed into endless war. Though an intelligent, capable leader in his own right, Starscream struggled to distinguish himself from the shadow of [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]–a relationship that ended with Megatron invariably reminding Starscream of his place after several failed coups and bungled stints at leadership.

Following the end of the war and the revitalization of Cybertron, Starscream found the burden of leadership placed on his shoulders once more after a wayward [[Titan (group)|Titan]] declared him Cybertron's "Chosen One", destined to reunite and rebuild their ruined world. A subsequent series of crises saw Starscream leaving the Decepticons forever, establishing himself as the "High Chancellor" of Cybertron's growing [[NAIL|neutral population]] and carving out a new anti-factionalist government in the ruins of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. But even after finally achieving his dream, Starscream still seems to be the same person he's always been: self-serving, prideful, treacherous, and perfectly willing to cheat, lie, and step on other 'bots to get his own way. His stubborn refusal to change his ways for the greater good is a constant thorn in the side of his reluctant allies.

Beneath it all, though, Starscream struggles with the ramifications of his morally dubious actions and the growing shadow of his future legacy–a struggle that, in the end, he may not win.

{{First|[[Infiltration issue 0|''Infiltration'' #0]]}}

{{quote|What kind of monster '''are''' you?|quote2=A '''goal-oriented''' one.|[[Stardrive]] and Starscream|[[Shining Armor issue 1|''Shining Armor'' #1]]}}

__TOC__
==Fiction==
===There at the beginning===
[[File:OP19-YoungStarscream.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0]]
Starscream was [[Reproduction|constructed cold]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}} As with all constructed cold Transformers, Starscream's [[spark]] carried genetic instructions for a "natural" shape, but the circumstances of his birth meant that his Spark was simply implanted into one of many identical, pre-constructed bodies. Over the course of his life, Starscream developed a predilection for periodically changing bodies; [[Windblade (G1)|some]] would interpret this as a sign that his spark was still trying to find its "true form," {{storylink|Your First Mistake}} while [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|others]] would simply write it off as a sign of his vanity. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 2: Another Mine|Another Mine}}

In his early life, Starscream studied at the prestigious [[Nova Point Academy]], but eventually moved to the city of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], where he became a street hustler running scams for his personal gain and ran afoul of a young police officer named [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]]. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 4: The Hallowing|The Hallowing}} Unlike most members of Cybertron's [[flight class]], Starscream took pride in his [[alternate mode]], and, eventually, his silver tongue landed him a handsomely-paying job as a precinct [[Senate|senator]] in [[Vos (polity)|Vos]]. {{storylink|Starscream: The Movie (comic)|Starscream: The Movie}} Disappointed by the lack of fame or respect this job offered, he spent most of his time drinking and reluctantly attending political rallies when he could be dragged away from the bar. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 4: The Hallowing|The Hallowing}} Eventually, Starscream grew tired of politics and used his political connections to embezzle a vast sum of money from his constituents before deserting his post. He used his new fortune to recruit a pair of [[Outlier (group)|outliers]] named [[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Thundercracker]] from the [[Jhiaxian Academy of Advanced Technology]]. After arranging their release from the school, he convinced the duo to undergo extensive rebuilds so that they'd look like him, a way to confuse any taxpayers who tried to pursue him. {{storylink|Starscream: The Movie (comic)|Starscream: The Movie}}

[[File:MegOrigin3 seekers.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.5]]
Some four million years ago, he became a fan of the [[Gladiatorial combat|gladiatorial games]] that existed in Cybertron's underworld, {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} and came to idolize the rhetorician-turned-gladiator [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] for his teachings that Transformers didn't ''have'' to [[Functionism|accept their lot]] in life. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} The trio were eventually approached by [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]]; {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} seeing Megatron's nascent uprising as good a place as any to lose himself, {{storylink|Starscream: The Movie (comic)|Starscream: The Movie}} Starscream and his two lackeys believed that they were joining Megatron's team in the arena, but, after pledging allegiance to the Decepticon leader, learned that their leader had other plans for them: his [[Decepticon]] movement required air support as they made the move from activists to insurgents and beyond. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}}

[[File:MegatronOrigin4 StarscreamKillsSenate.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
Early on, the charismatic and cunning Starscream was tasked with recruitment of others to the Decepticon cause; significantly, he was the one assigned to approach the disenfranchised [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Senator Shockwave]] and bring him into the fold. {{storylink|Shockwaves}} Starscream was also given another key Senate-related task when he and his fellow Seekers were ordered to capture Senator [[Decimus]], who would then supposedly be executed at Megatron's next recruitment rally. When security forces intervened in the rally and arrested the Decepticons, Starscream bargained for his freedom by offering to reveal all of Megatron's plans. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} However, this turned out to have ''been'' Megatron's plan—brought before an emergency assembly of the Senate for questioning, Starscream, together with Soundwave, executed the Senators with Starscream personally executing [[Proteus]] himself. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}} The two then freed every prisoner in the building, with Starscream arming the prisoner and even presenting Megatron with his the [[fusion cannon]] that would become his signature weapon. He then joined in their attack on [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]], during which he bested [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]. The battle culminated in Megatron's defeat of [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], whose body Starscream dumped in front of Sentinel's men in a fly-by. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}}

Following the ascension of [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]], the Decepticons were forced back underground for a time but continued their militarization: arming sympathizers with weapons—ostensibly in the name of "self-defense"—Starscream coordinated several illegal arms shipments from off-world suppliers, showing off his handiwork to a shocked [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]]. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 3: Behind My Bleeding Back|Behind My Bleeding Back}} When it became clear that Orion's Autobots would crack down on this gunrunning, Starscream rigged the latest arms shipments to detonate if the Autobots ever found it, {{storylink|New Cybertron End: Feel Safe Without Regrets|Feel Safe Without Regrets}} assuring Soundwave that the Decepticons caught in the crossfire were making the ultimate sacrifice for the cause. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 5: Future Glories Lost|Future Glories Lost}}

[[File:SLBlurr starscream recruits blurr.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
When gunrunners [[Horri-Bull]] and [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] had their latest transaction revealed as an Autobot-coordinated sting operation, Starscream destroyed the weapons cache, leaving Soundwave to lie to the two that the Autobots had booby-trapped the shipment. Though Soundwave was appalled, Starscream felt Megatron would have approved. {{storylink|New Cybertron End: Feel Safe Without Regrets|Feel Safe Without Regrets}}

With war now definitively declared, Starscream continued in his recruitment duties; he was unable to convince the youthful [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]] to join the Decepticons {{storylink|Ruins}}, and had similarly bad luck with racing champion [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] despite a very pointed effort. Not long after, Starscream was part of a unit that tried to stop Blurr from couriering a message to new planet leader Zeta Prime. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blurr}} At some point after Zeta Prime's ascent to leadership, Starscream participated alongside [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]] and Thundercracker in a mission to rescue Soundwave from the [[Institute|New Institute]]. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} His identity evidently unknown to most, Starscream was also positioned as a delegate to the new Senate that was formed by Zeta Prime, though exactly who or where he was masquerading as the delegate ''of'' is unclear. While attending one of Zeta's security sessions, he brought a disguised Soundwave with him to record the Senate's newest plans for how to stop the growing Decepticon menace. When Zeta expressed surprise at how easily Starscream accepted his idea of draining energy from civilians to power [[vamparc ribbon|weapons]], he almost let slip that he'd done worse things in Megatron's name. To cover up his blunder, he drew attention to the spy in their midst, giving Soundwave a cue to reveal himself and stage an escape, distracting Zeta. {{storylink|Parasites}}

Since turning down Starscream's offer to join the Decepticons, Hot Rod had carried out some insurgent activities of his own, and Megatron and Starscream monitored the situation through [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] with some degree of pleasure as [[Autobot]] leader [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] hunted him down. {{storylink|Ruins}} In Orion's absence, Zeta Prime then attacked [[Nyon]]'s population with his vamparc ribbons and [[Guardian robot|Omega Destructors]]—an action Starscream compared to Megatron's own tactics, though, Megatron assured him he was capable of much more. {{storylink|Purge}} In spite of Starscream's opinion that Megatron was a "stubborn wreck" for his repeated attempts to sway Orion Pax to his cause, they were successful, and the Decepticons joined forces with Orion's Autobots against Zeta Prime. {{storylink|Choices}} Together, they attacked Zeta Prime and his Omega Destructors, with Starscream personally leading the Seekers as air support. {{storylink|Overthrown}}

[[File:Autocracy9 take them away.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.95]]
After Zeta Prime was defeated, Megatron betrayed Orion and installed himself as ruler of Cybertron, then had the Decepticons hunt down all remaining Autobots. Starscream led a force to raid an Autobot hiding place in [[Ultrix]] and took special interest in Hot Rod, once again offering him the chance to join the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformation (issue)|Transformation}} Starscream also tortured and interrogated Bumblebee, but learned little for his efforts. {{storylink|Rise}} Orion soon returned, however, having become [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]], and with new warriors at his side, he led the Autobots in an attack on Megatron's citadel. Starscream and the Seekers were ordered to take them out but were intercepted by the Aerialbots. {{storylink|Broadcast}}

[[File:FacesofDarkness-Tankor.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.70]]
Megatron was subsequently defeated by Optimus Prime, and Starscream conspired with [[Scorponok (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Scorponok]] to overthrow him and have him exiled to [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]]. {{storylink|Derelicts}} While Scorponok became the new Decepticon leader, Starscream seemingly preferred to stay in the background and showed no signs of being his second-in-command in public. {{storylink|Wreckage (issue)|Wreckage}} He annoyed Scorponok by urging him to take action rather than just hold grandiose speeches, causing Scorponok to let him in on his plan to capture the [[Toraxxis mega-refinery]] for the Decepticons. Starscream participated in this attack by leading his Seekers to the refinery. {{storylink|Faces of Darkness}} Scorponok ordered him to keep the Autobot defenders busy while he left to deal with [[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]] personally. {{storylink|Rage (IDW)|Rage}} The plan ended disastrously when the refinery exploded, killing thousands and leaving the planet cripplingly low on [[energon]]; Starscream berated Scorponok for his actions, unable to see any point in staying on the dying planet himself. {{storylink|Massacre}} Fortuntely, Megatron soon returned from his exile and retook Decepticon command. Starscream attempted to welcome him back, but was quickly silenced. {{storylink|The Illusion of Control}}

There was a brief lull in the war, {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}} before Megatron regrouped the scattered Decepticons for an all-out attack on Iacon. Starscream went to [[Canis Tor]] to inform the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] that Megatron was back and after that, bribed the Combaticons into coming home. {{storylink|Primacy issue 2|Primacy #2}} He fought during the siege of Iacon but it led in a Decepticon rout. {{storylink|Primacy issue 3|Primacy #3}} {{storylink|Primacy issue 4|Primacy #4}}

[[File:Devastation5-StarscreamAchinglyNaive.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2]]
As the war bore on, Starscream was present when Megatron faced Optimus Prime in open battle on [[Sherma Bridge]], {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} witnessed [[Hot Shot (Henkei!)|a yellow Autobot]] get destroyed in an Decepticon-Autobot crossfire in another of the war's countless battles, {{storylink|Drift issue 2|Drift #2}} and stood side by side with the Decepticon Deadlock in many other combat scenarios. {{storylink|Drift issue 3|Drift #3}} He would later admit that at one point, he had genuinely looked up to Megatron, but that changed when he realized that he ''feared'' the Decepticon leader, rather than ''respected'' him {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}} and was disgruntled that Megatron was leading them into a seemingly endless war. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10}} That epiphany evidently led to further attempts to take leadership from Megatron, but in time, these power plays ceased, and Megatron hoped that it meant he had moved beyond such things. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}} Starscream would even eventually end up as Megatron's bodyguard, and developed a mutual hatred with [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]], professing that he would not be able to defend Megatron against such a powerhouse. {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation #5}} But Starscream's appointment to this position was largely for show—Megatron could, of course, protect himself, and would later reveal that he kept Starscream close by despite his predilection for treachery as a reminder to himself to always watch his back. {{storylink|Spotlight: Megatron}}

At one point, Starscream's treachery reached the attention of the [[Decepticon Justice Division]], who had him added to their dreaded [[The List|list]] of targets. He was later removed from this list, perhaps due to Megatron's insistence on keeping him close by. {{storylink|An Axe to Break the Ice}}

===Xetaxxis, Earth and Ore-13===
Millions of years later, after the war had resulted in Cybertron becoming uninhabitable and the Autobots and Decepticons had spread out across the galaxy, Starscream came to be in command of one the small Decepticon units that secretly infiltrated planets across the galaxy. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 0|Infiltration #0}} In the mid-19th century, the group had conquered the [[Huni System]] and were approached by the [[Dire Wraith]] [[Vekktral]], who wanted to propose an alliance. Though Starscream initially wanted to kill the organic, Vekktral made him interested by showing him the [[Space Knight]] [[Stardrive]]. Though [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] had his doubts, Starscream realized the [[Solstar Order]] must have an Energon source to keep Stardrive alive and agreed to Vekktral's alliance. The group slew a [[Galactic Council]] force due to meet with the Solstar Order, and Starscream left behind a [[Vehicon (G1)|Vehicon]] and a bloke who turned into a bulldozer to destroy their ship while Astrotrain assumed its form. {{storylink|Shining Armor issue 2|Shining Armor #2}}

[[File:ShiningArmor1 StarscreamTeam.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.75|If [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]] were there, she'd call them "Team Scream".]]
Upon arriving at ''[[Orchid Crossing]]'', Starscream swatted [[Rom|some pest]] out of the sky before he tried to recruit Stardrive. Failing to do so, he instead used her as a battering ram to reach her [[energon synthesizer]] only for [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] to show up with a standoff ensuing. {{storylink|Shining Armor issue 1|Shining Armor #1}} As Stardrive expressed confusion over who the Autobots were, Starscream again offered her a spot in the Decepticons, only to be shot through a wall by Ultra Magnus. No sooner had the Seeker regained his bearings did Magnus ram Starscream in truck mode. After a Wraith merged with [[Sky Blast (G1)|Sky Blast]] and turned into an ungodly abomination, Starscream opted for the better part of valour and decided the Wraiths could serve as canon fodder. Grabbing [[Doomwings (G1)|Doomwings]] (after getting his name wrong), Starscream made his way to the energon synthesizer only for the Wraith/Cybertronian hybrid to tear Doomwings apart. Starscream told Vekktral to get the beast under control, only to learn neither the Wraith or Sky Blast was in control. Starscream then took Astrotrain and made another run for their prize, only for the station to begin tumbling. He emerged to find Magnus had disabled its power, and he quickly destroyed the Autobot shuttle before giving the evacuation order, deciding to dig the energon synthesizer out of the rubble. In the skies of [[Xetaxxis]], Starscream questioned if the synthesizer was durable enough to survive reentry and how long it took for space stations to fall, before being informed the hybrid had survived. {{storylink|Shining Armor issue 2|Shining Armor #2}}

[[File:Shining Armor 4 - Ultra Vekktral vs Starscream.jpg|right|upright=1.5|thumb|"Wait, WAIT! Don't I get one phone call??"]]
Starscream and Vekktral tracked the hybrid to a [[Xetaxxan|Xetaxxian]] village where the situation neatly resolved itself. After the two performed a quick check on whether or not the Xetaxxians were mechanical (they weren't), Starscream bluntly told Vekktral he had no interest in furthering the Wraiths' agenda and merely wanted the synthesizer before mobilizing their forces. When the Seekers arrived at the crash site however, the [[Space Knight]]s had beaten them there. When Stardrive tried to evacuate some Xetaxxians past the Seeker blockade, Starscream expertly manoeuvred around her and shot the organics before turning his attention to the Space Knights, landing foot first ''on Rom''. Rom and Livia managed to use their speed to outmaneuver him with the former socking the Seeker square in the jaw. Sneaking away from the battle, Starscream made his way to the Energon synthesizer in Stardrive's room. The Camien soon realized he was there however and threatened to destroy the synthesizer with her [[Neutralizer]] before she offered to trade it in exchange for him leaving Xetaxxis. {{storylink|Shining Armor issue 3|Shining Armor #3}} After expressing his supreme annoyance at Rom's melodramatic speech pattern, Starscream tried to recruit Stardrive once again by extolling Cybertronian superiority and claiming to need her knowledge of the Wraiths to protect their kind from the Dire Wraiths. He might have succeeded had Rom and Livia not thrown Dirge into him forcing him to retreat. The Seekers then watched Stardrive suffer a mental breakdown and attack her allies before they annoyingly worked everything out. The promised Dire Wraith backup however soon arrived in the form of Vekktral having possessed Ultra Magnus. As Starscream gloated about a mutual Dire Wraith/Decepticon victory however, Vekktral turned on him. {{storylink|Shining Armor issue 4|Shining Armor #4}}

After being saved by [[Sata]] and Stardrive, Starscream blasted the Wraiths off his troops and made a run for the synthesizer. As he fished it out of the rubble, Stardrive confronted him again where, after making one last half-hearted effort to recruit her, Starscream downed her with his null-ray and prepared to execute her only to be shot in the chest by [[Livia]]. In his daze, he was assaulted by Stardrive who brutally beat him down and tore off his wings. Though grounded, Starscream's Seekers came to his rescue while he detonated the energon synthesizer and hitched a ride on Astrotrain. Reporting to Megatron on the Dire Wraiths' unfeasibility as allies, Starscream was congratulated...for finding yet another way to disappoint his master. {{storylink|Shining Armor issue 5|Shining Armor #5}}

[[File:Infiltration6 starscream on ultraenergon.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Pat Lee]] has returned... be VERY afraid!!!]]
Roughly a century later, learning through undisclosed means of at least some of the secrets behind Shockwave's [[Regenesis]] program and the super-powerful [[energon]] [[Ore-13]] that the scientist had seeded on [[Earth]], {{storylink|Shockpoint}} and seeing in it the potential to challenge Megatron for Decepticon leadership once again, Starscream took his unit to that planet. There, they set about destabilizing Earth's governing organizations and create global anarchy in accordance with the strict [[infiltration protocol]] the Decepticons now operated to, all the while searching for Ore-13. After around four years, their search bore fruit when a seam of Ore-13 was uncovered in [[Nebraska]], but later, the discovery of an even purer source of the ore in [[Oregon]] prompted Starscream to step outside traditional infiltration protocols and move the Decepticons' base of operations to the new site, establishing a fortified "siege mode" bunker well in advance of the standard timeline. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 3|Infiltration #3}} Unfortunately for Starscream, the abandoned Nebraska bunker was then infiltrated by [[Stoker]], an agent of the human organization known as the [[Machination]], necessitating that both he and the data he gathered—including images of Starscream himself—be eliminated by the Decepticons. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 1|Infiltration #1}} Starscream sent Thundercracker, [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] and [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] after Stoker, and although they were successful in slaying the human, Starscream failed to count on [[Verity Carlo|another human]] obtaining Stoker's [[SM-40]] computer and falling in with the Autobot counter-insurgency unit also operating on the planet. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 0|Infiltration #0}}

{{bigquote|Thanks to Ore-13, Megatron, I have evolved... beyond you! I am the ''future!''|Starscream|[[Infiltration issue 6]]}}
[[File:Infiltration6 takeyourpunishment.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|right|Starscream, seen here actually getting off easy!]]
Concurrently with the search for Stoker, Starscream and [[Astrotrain (G1)/toys|Astrotrain]] successfully mined the first batch of Ore-13 from the Oregon seam. Starscream urged speed, aware that breaking protocol the way they had was sure to elicit a response from Megatron. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 2|Infiltration #2}} As he waited for the ore to process, Starscream ordered [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] and Skywarp to cover the Decepticons' tracks by destroying all evidence of Stoker's travels, including what remained of the Nebraska bunker. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 3|Infiltration #3}} Unfortunately for them, Megatron himself had arrived on Earth and was ''in'' the bunker, catching up on what Starscream had been up to, when they attacked. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 5|Infiltration #5}} Starscream emerged from the infusion capsule brimming with the incredible power of Ore-13 just as a furious Megatron arrived at the Oregon bunker and offered the Decepticons a choice: stand down, or be destroyed. Every one of his men surrendered, but the super-powered Starscream roared into battle and unleashed his full fury against Megatron. Alas, the power conveyed by Ore-13 proved insufficient to destroy the Decepticon leader, and Megatron blasted Starscream with his fusion cannon at point-blank range, virtually obliterating him. Megatron left Starscream's remains to be tended to by the Decepticons, unconcerned if he lived or died. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}}

[[File:Starcasm idw dev6.jpg|left|upright=1.95|thumb|Sarcasm from Starscream?? NO!]]
Starscream was placed in a [[CR chamber]] for extensive repairs but even with him out of the picture, the power of Ore-13 convinced Megatron to continue Starscream's subversion of infiltration protocol. The last straw for the other Decepticons came when Megatron called Sixshot in early, leading Astrotrain to propose reactivating Starscream so that he could challenge Megatron's actions. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1|Devastation #1}} Blitzwing and Astrotrain proceeded to bring Starscream back online, but no sooner was he back on his feet than the alien [[Reaper]]s attacked the Decepticon base. {{storylink|Devastation issue 4|Devastation #4}} With Megatron unaware he had been reactivated, Starscream initially decided to hold back and allow the Reapers to cause trouble first, but when Sixshot arrived, Starscream emerged from base and called the hated Six-Changer out. Starscream's appearance caused the living weapon to decide to accept the Reapers' offer to join their ranks... at which point Starscream promptly activated Sixshot's shutdown command, sending him crashing to the ground. Starscream then turned his weapons on the Reapers, causing Megatron to agree to take the fight to the aliens. {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation #5}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Grimlock}} Starscream once again accepted Megatron as his liege, and together they teamed up to destroy the alien invaders, with Starscream wielding Megatron in his Ore-13 empowered pistol mode to devastating effect. As the battle came to an end, Starscream stopped Megatron from punishing Blitzwing for going behind his back with the observation that a fleet of human jet fighters had arrived, and that the Decepticons' existence was now known to humanity. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}}

===The Decepticon ideal===
[[File:AHM8 starscream and sunstreaker.jpg|thumb|"Well, see, when you put it like ''that''..."|upright=1.95]]
While the Decepticons were occupied battling the Reapers, the Autobots had left Earth to deal with an incursion by the [[Dead Universe]]. Exploiting their enemies' absence, Starscream and the Decepticons went into hiding; when Autobots returned, they could find no trace of the villains, who kept one step ahead of them for months. They secretly returned to Cybertron, where Starscream stood by his leader's side as he received updates from scientist [[Deluge (G2)|Deluge]] on his experiments to create a monstrous [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]] [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]]. Upon returning to Earth, the Decepticons then 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}} To complete their plot, Starscream approached the disenfranchised Autobot [[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]] with the proposition that the Autobots join with his fictitious forces against Megatron. Sunstreaker accepted, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}} but when he led the Autobots to the designated time and place, they were instead confronted by the united Decepticon army and promptly defeated. Starscream stood by Megatron's side and watched as the bested Autobots were exiled back to Cybertron through a [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}}

[[File:AHM3Starscream.JPG|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Hey, I just spotted the janitor from ''Futurama''!]]
With a year now passed since their battle with the Reapers, and with their enemies disposed of, the Decepticons began to lay waste to the Earth with the intention of taking it for their new homeworld. Starscream headed up the attack on [[New York City]] with glee, though he objected to Skywarp's insinuation that he could not sow destruction and terror on the same level as Megatron; Megatron soon arrived to prove him wrong. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}} After joining in the efforts to beat back military attacks and bomb the city's bridges, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2|All Hail Megatron #2}} Starscream headed for [[Washington, D.C.]], where he personally shot down the fleeing [[Air Force One]]. That task done, he returned to New York, to join Megatron in savoring their victory. Megatron mused that it was fitting to have a long-serving a Decepticon at Starscream beside him; Starscream believed he was being sarcastic, but Megatron's praise was genuine, going so far as to describe Starscream as the living embodiment of the Decepticon ideal, but a step short of full embracing it due to his own blindness to that fact. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 3|All Hail Megatron #3}}

With the conquest completed, Starscream stood at Megatron's side as he addressed the gathered Decepticons. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}} However, as time passed and Megatron made no further new moves, content to allow his troops to wreak havoc around the world, Starscream began to suspect that Megatron ''had'' no further plan, and was merely giving his troops free reign as a distraction to keep them from turning on them. He confronted Megatron with this knowledge, and taunted him with the fact it was essentially his own fault for assembling an army of sociopaths and monsters in the first place. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} Legitimately disheartened to see the leader he had once looked up to go so far astray, having led them through an endless war with no vision for what lay beyond, Starscream began secretly meeting with the other Decepticons, recruiting those who shared his feelings in preparation for a coup. After winning over the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], he approached the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]], and also successfully convinced them to join him. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}}

[[File:AHM11 all hail megatron.jpg|thumb|Roll credits!|upright=1.4]]
Starscream made his move a short while later, sending the Insecticons to attack Megatron, but the Decepticon leader summarily defeated them and revealed that he had known about Starscream's plans all along; he had, in fact, been doing nothing in order to allow the dissenting element of his army to weed themselves out. He had, however, failed to predict that the Constructicons would take Starscream's side. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} As fate would have it, Starscream's uprising was suddenly cut short when the Decepticons came under attack, first from human jets arrived from [[Europe]], and then the returning Autobots. Starscream was forced to team up with Megatron, who assured him that someday he would get be in charge, someday after the Decepticons won, after he successfully crushed Megatron in the way that the taking of leadership required... but not today. After giving this some thought, Starscream organized his troops to fight back, hailing Megatron's name. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}}

Megatron was subsequently defeated by Optimus Prime, but as the Autobot leader moved to inspect his fallen body, Starscream stepped in and picked up his injured leader, refusing to let the Autobots finish him off. For the moment, Megatron's words had struck home: Starscream told Prime that he now knew leadership had to taken by force, not gained through chance. Starscream led the Decepticons in withdrawing from the planet, though as he left, he reminded Prime that though the Autobots had won a battle, the Decepticons still reigned throughout the galaxy. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

===Leadership of the Decepticons===
[[File:AHM13 starscream and matrix.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67|Starscream: "Now light our darkest hour!" Decepticons: "You ARE our darkest hour, you putz!"]]
Along with a few other Decepticons, Starscream took off into space aboard Astrotrain. Despite what he had told Prime, he was not pleased that Soundwave was keeping Megatron on life support, but his attempts to dissuade the loyalist were met with failure. Afraid of the uncertainty that simply tossing Megatron out and airlock would result in, Starscream was ready to give up, knowing that the Decepticons had no real reason to follow him, and that the faction would fall to infighting as soon as others challenged his rule. All he had was the Autobot [[Matrix of Leadership]], which Megatron had seized from Optimus Prime earlier, but he had failed to find any supposed "ultimate power" within it, and prepared to throw it away. Caught in the act by [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], Starscream was reminded of the talisman's significance to the Autobots by the Insecticon, and had the idea to use its reputation for his own ends. Gathering the Decepticons, he professed that the Matrix had chosen him to light their [[darkest hour]], but as they began hailing his name in the face of this alleged holy appointment, he stepped from the room already regretting his decision. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13|Uneasy Lies the Head}}

[[File:Ongoing13 sad starscream is sad.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Real Decepticon leaders chill on the [[Abraham Lincoln|Lincoln Memorial.]]]]
Starscream took the Decepticons to a barren asteroid that they could use as a staging base to regroup, but as more and more soldiers began arriving, circumstances quickly spiraled out of his control. With most of their limited resources tied up by Shockwave, who he had assigned the task of building a space bridge, Starscream charged [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] with finding a way to fabricate energon to feed his starving troops. When no breakthrough ensued, and the energy-deprived Decepticons turned to cannibalizing each other's bodies to survive, Starscream stormed into Insecticon's lab to discover he had been spending his time working on mind-controlling [[cerebro-shell]]s. Though initially angry, Starscream conceded that he could use these devices after he employed one to take out a rebellious [[Quake (G1)|Quake]]. {{storylink|All His Engines}} Later, visiting Shockwave for an update on his progress, Starscream discovered the scientist working with Soundwave to cut open Megatron's body and make weapons from his remains. Just as Starscream began to express fake outrage about this presumed "coup", Megatron himself appeared, revealing that the two had built him a new body with a built-in space bridge. He grudgingly admitted he knew Megatron would be back sooner or later, though Megatron neglected to take back leadership as long as Starscream had the Matrix, which he considered a possible threat. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}}

[[File:SLMegs just do it.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67|"At the very least [[Fire in the Sky|bean me with an energon cube!]] I got one right here! It'll be like old times!"]]
His leadership a complete failure, Starscream became sullen and withdrawn, lost in distant contemplation of the unknowable mysteries within the Matrix that hung around his neck and lashing out at any Decepticons who attempted to touch the talisman. After Starscream ignored his warning that an Autobot ship had crashed on the asteroid, Bombshell tried to remove the Matrix in hopes of snapping him out of his stupor, but was violently struck for his trouble. As it turned out, the wrecked ship had contained [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]], on a quest to take back the Matrix. After first using a cerebro-shell on [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] to make him attack Starscream, he confronted the Decepticon leader on his own. Starscream was unimpressed, having used his rank to give himself nigh-impenetrable armor, only to be taken by surprise when Rodimus shot the Matrix around his neck instead, causing it to release a burst of energy and incapacitate Starscream. Rodimus snagged the Matrix, but both he and it were then blasted out into space by Megatron. {{storylink|Heart Like a Wheel}} With the threat of the Matrix now removed, Megatron re-established himself as leader of the Decepticons, and decided to inaugurate his return by beating the living daylights out of Starscream. The Seeker, however, had lost the will to continue: he would not rise to Megatron's mockery, and when the Decepticon leader aimed his fusion cannon at him, Starscream simply held it to his chest and demanded he fire. But Megatron kept pushing, eventually causing Starscream to snap and open fire with his own weapons, only to immediately regret the decision and attempt to flee in [[alternate mode|jet mode]]. A vicious dogfight above the asteroid ensued, culminating in a pained Starscream questioning how Megatron could understand what it felt like to have his dream crumble so completely. This inquiry only enraged Megatron further—his dream was the Decepticon faction itself, and Starscream had utterly destroyed it in his absence. But Megatron was not without mercy, and after pummeling Starscream to within an inch of his life, he offered him the chance to return to the fold as his subordinate. Meekly, Starscream accepted. {{storylink|Spotlight: Megatron}}

[[File:Ongoing16 brawn vs starscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Well, since Ironhide's not here to punch him...]]
As Megatron put his new plans into action and had the Decepticons return to Earth, Starscream went off on his own to meet with Thundercracker, who had abandoned the Decepticon cause following their previous defeat. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} He tried to convince his fellow Seeker to join with him and overthrow Megatron again, seeing him as obsessed with petty revenge on humanity and lacking long-term goals. When Thundercracker refused, Starscream lost patience and gunned him down, but before he could finish the job he was attacked by [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]]. Starscream denied Brawn's accusation that he had been responsible for shooting down a plane carrying Optimus Prime, pleading for his life by suggesting he would be more valuable as a hostage. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 3: Woken Furies|Woken Furies}} Fortunately for him, Brawn chose to carry Thundercracker to safety rather than capture him. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome|Burning Chrome}} Starscream returned to the other Decepticons and watched Optimus Prime confront Megatron in a one-on-one battle. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine|Enemy Mine}}

Megatron subsequently surrendered to the Autobots and had himself transported back to Cybertron, in order to use his built-in space bridge to teleport the Decepticons back to their homeworld. Starscream and the other Decepticons gathered at a Native American settlement to await the bridge's opening, but were found by Bumblebee at the last minute. Starscream ordered the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] to dispose of the Autobot, while he led the other Decepticons through the bridge. {{storylink|The Question}} Emerging on Cybertron in the midst of the Autobots' battle with [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]]'s army of [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]], Starscream and the Decepticons soon found themselves entranced by Galvatron's unseen puppetmaster, the [[D-Void]], who merged their bodies and minds together with the Sweeps to form a huge monster. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings|Kings}} Once this "[[Deceptigod]]" was defeated, the weakened component Decepticons were captured by the Autobots and outfitted with [[Inhibitor/deterrence chip|I/D chips]]. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}}

===The Chosen One===
[[File:RID2 starscream must join you.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2]]
Two weeks after the Deceptigod's defeat, the Decepticons were still imprisoned, and Starscream was growing increasingly tired of [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s attempts to control the situation. Realizing that it was better to go along with the Autobots' orders for now rather than push back against them, Starscream joined most of his fellow Decepticons in serving as an enforcer, helping to put down a riot by [[NAIL]]s—unaffiliated Cybertronians who had recently returned to Cybertron and objected to Autobot governance. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}} He lurked in the background when [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] visited the Decepticon camp to lecture Ratbat, {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|The Autonomy Lesson}} then finally elected to depart the Decepticon camp after an argument with the new self-appointed Decepticon leader. Considering Ratbat's methods and goals regressive and seeking a new approach to power, Starscream paid a visit to Autobot high command with a legitimate desire to talk with Bumblebee about the future, only to be shocked by the distrusting Autobot's taser-cane and taken into custody for his troubles. Interrogated by Prowl, Starscream explained that Ratbat was planning to assassinate Bumblebee during the memorial ceremony for the ''Lost Light''. While the Autobots dealt with that threat, Starscream proceeded to gate-crash the ceremony himself and announced to the gathered masses his desire to be part of the planet's new government. {{storylink|The World & Everything in It}}

Naturally, all the Autobots were suspicious, but Starscream did his best to prove his good faith: he helped Prowl to cover up [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]]'s assassination of Ratbat, then worked with [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] to rescue some NAILs from a series of mysterious explosions. Wheeljack spoke up in his favor, convincing Bumblebee to let him join the government; the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] were so disgusted that they ceded from Bumblebee's leadership, and while Starscream expressed his regret to 'Bee in private later, he assured him the Autobot he would not regret his choice. {{storylink|Stick Together}} That proved untrue almost immediately, as Bumblebee, Starscream, and NAIL representative [[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]] soon held a public assembly to introduce their joint governance, and Starscream talked rings around both of them. {{storylink|Devisive}} Soon afterwards, Starscream approached [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] to buy his services as he made his play for Iacon's leadership. In exchange for protecting him from those like the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] or unruly bots, Starscream would allow Onslaught a position of power when the time came. {{storylink|Applicable Skills}}

[[File:RID8 starscream and metalhawk.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|"Us selfish, entitled jetformers gotta stick together!"]]
Starscream joined Metalhawk in greeting ex-Decepticon [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] when he returned to Cybertron, but the new arrival's obvious distaste for his former faction prompted Starscream to step back and leave the welcoming to his fellow leaders. {{storylink|A Better Tomorrow}} Given his genuine desire to see the new government work out, Starscream was just as suspicious of the next returnee as his fellow leaders—noted Decepticon warmonger [[Turmoil]], claiming altruism, no less. Turmoil immediately began to foment distrust among the government by planting more doubts about the Autobots in Metalhawk's mind, so Starscream took the NAIL to [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]] to talk the matter out, calling upon bar owner Blurr to recount his own experiences with Turmoil as evidence for the prosecution. {{storylink|Interference Patterns}}

Not long after the Turmoil incident, Starscream and Metalhawk paid a visit to Autobot High Command to pester Bumblebee about setting up elections. {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt (IDW)|Dinobot Hunt}} That night, the pair returned to High Command, this time to check on the recently injured Wheeljack and to offer their assistance in locating [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], who had gone missing in the wilderness earlier that evening. Fearing that Starscream could leverage a successful rescue to his advantage during the elections, Bumblebee refused their offer. {{storylink|Night and the City}}

[[File:RIDannual the chosen one.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67|Starscrean volunteers to be Ted at Pawnee's annual Ted Party, not knowing what it entails.]]
That, however, didn't stop the pair from setting out regardless at dawn the next day. They watched as Blurr, also out searching, was caught in an explosion which revealed a subterranean cavern, but were prevented from entering the cave by the quick arrival of Prowl's security team. To put pressure on the Autobots, Starscream rounded up a crowd of NAILs and Decepticons and demanded that Prowl explain the situation to them. The Autobot was forced to admit that the cavern was home to the abandoned [[Crystal City]], and that [[Metrotitan (G1)|Metrotitan]] had teleported into the abandoned city, injuring itself in the process such that the surrounding area would shortly be destroyed. As Prowl returned to Wheeljack, at work in the cavern, Starscream snuck in after him, and a brief chase with the security officer led them to the Titan's face. Suddenly, it awoke, and lauded Starscream as a conqueror who would unite Cybertron, something witnessed by the entire crowd, who had followed them down into the city. The group fled to escape the Titan's detonation, and on the way back to Iacon, the divinely blessed Starscream was held aloft by NAILs and Decepticons. {{storylink|Primus: All Good Things|All Good Things}}

[[File:RID11 trying on crowns.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5]]
Being a 'bot of little faith, Starscream didn't actually ''believe'' Metrotitan's words, but he knew how to exploit ''everyone else's'' belief to virtually guarantee himself victory in the upcoming elections. He attempted to get an endorsement from [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] live on television, but Omega had greater matters to ponder; however, that night, Omega was the victim of a bombing that Starscream presumed to be the actions of the other Decepticons attempting to ruin his aspirations for political power. Finding that public opinion was already turning against him by association, Starscream confronted Shockwave over the attack, but received only an ambiguous warning to keep out of the one-eyed Decepticon's way. As he was leaving the Decepticon pen, Starscream was approached by [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] and [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]], who sought to trade information on Prowl's recent shady dealings in exchange for sanctuary from the coming storm. Starscream accepted, and used the info to blackmail Prowl into disposing of Shockwave's Decepticons for him. He was feeling quite pleased with himself, until a one-two punch of bad news took him down a peg: first, Arcee revealed she knew exactly where he had secreted Dirge away, meaning his bargaining chip was essentially useless... and second, Megatron returned. {{storylink|The End of the Beginning of the World}}

[[File:RID12 dont have to do this.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67]]
Starscream alerted the Autobot to Megatron's approach on the city, and watched as Bumblebee and the Autobots gunned him down and took him into custody. Starscream tried to dissuade the other Decepticons from marching on high command to call for Megatron's release with a stirring speech about discarding the old ways, but it failed rather spectacularly, so Starscream decided to visit the medical center and appeal to Megatron directly. {{storylink|City on Fire}} This "chat" was very one-sided as Megatron offered no response to Starscream's word save a smile—though that alone was enough to terrify the Seeker. The Decepticons' march subsequently turned into a riot, during which the prison was stormed and Megatron was liberated. The Decepticon leader dragged Starscream along to the [[Black Room]], where it was revealed that Prowl, mind-controlled by Bombshell, had been working for Megatron all along. {{storylink|The Verge}} Bumblebee and Metalhawk were soon brought to the Black Room as well, and Starscream tried to explain to them that he had had no part in Megatron's scheme; Megatron verified that, save to note that Starscream's political machinations had provided a useful distraction. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}}

[[File:RID16 heavyisthehead.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Oh no, nothing's worse than <s>Cartman</s> Starscream with ''authoritah''!]]Megatron then began his endgame, unleashing a perfected Devastator upon Iacon, and forcing Starscream to watch, professing that any political victory he had won would have been one of compromise, rather than a true Decepticon triumph. {{storylink|Plan for Everything}} Rendered near-paralytic with the seeming totality of his defeat, Starscream was dragged through the streets by Megatron, until the Autobots and Metalhawk surprised him by coming to his rescue. Separated from the main fight, Starscream and Metalhawk were confronted by Turmoil, and the re-energized Starscream killed him using Metalhawk's severed arm as a blade. The Autobots then foiled Megatron's scheme, and Starscream saw his moment to strike: though he admitted to Metalhawk that he genuinely was his friend, he used Turmoil's cannon to kill him, and presented his body to the crowd as a victim of the fighting. He called for the abandonment of factions, and the majority of the population rallied behind him, appointing him their leader {{storylink|Heavy Is the Head}} and cheering for the banishment of all those who didn't renounce their faction.

The Autobots attempted to fight this, first pointing to their wounded needing care, but Starscream promised they'd be fixed up. And hey, you didn't ''have'' to leave. All you had to was just... stop being an Autobot or Decepticon.

You're almost all leaving? Such a shame. {{storylink|Second Exodus}}

===Starscream the First===
[[File:ThreeMonologues-religiousnut.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|Scoop using his [[Light-piping|fright-piping]] on Starscream.]]
Starscream's first night of leadership was a troubled one as the city of Iacon struggled to deal with the aftermath of Megatron's attack. One of the many problems he had to deal with was the blackouts that the city was suffering from. This was only made worse for Starscream by [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] and his construction patrol vowing to repair the city. He then visited the Medical Center to check on Dirge's condition but he was rebuffed by the former seeker. During an interview with Circuit on how he was planning to deal with the city's problems the power was restored by Scoop, it was at this moment that [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] approached him with the revelation that the power grid had been sabotaged with phosphex. As Scoop repaired the communication array he attempted to open his toolbox and instead found out that Scoop was a "religious nut" who believed Metrotitan's prophecy. When Rattrap tripped over Scoop, Starscream soon took the opportunity to accuse him of sabotaging the power grid, however Starscream later revealed that he was fully aware that Rattrap had planted the phosphex in Scoop's toolbox. {{storylink|Three Monologues}}

Soon afterwards, [[Solomus|Tyrest]]'s [[universal killswitch]] was activated, and Starscream was among those affected, and Starscream wondered if Megatron was causing it. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}} However Starscream was saved thanks to Rodimus and Perceptor's {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}} He later succeeded in getting a "pep" talk from Wheeljack's headless body—who had survived being shot by Prowl earlier. {{storylink|Three Monologues}} Starscream was the one who answered when the ''Lost Light'' when they called Cybertron with Tyrest's communication system; by this point, he'd started calling the place the [[Republic of Cybertron]]. {{storylink|The Sound of Breaking Glass}} Having successfully risen to power, Starscream reneged on his deal with Onslaught. {{storylink|Applicable Skills}}

[[File:DarkCybertron1-Starscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Even the Mini-Cons have abandoned me.]]
After being rebuilt into a new body, Starscream's secluded admiration of his new form was interrupted by Rattrap's worries about an unidentified glow just over the horizon. A scan of the phenomenon revealed a classified-but-familiar reading, that of the [[Dead Universe]], causing Starscream to seek out the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' for expertise, particularly that of [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]]. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}} Subsequently, an [[Quintessa (IDW)|undead Titan]] suddenly burst free from the ground, and so Starscream rounded up some weaponry in order to take out the behemoth, but Rattrap instead suggested caution. Starscream decided to visit Scoop in his cell, and the zealot pronounced Starscream as the dark answer to a prophesy hidden in the [[Covenant of Primes]]. {{storylink|Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|Black Metal}} Next Starscream visited the dead body of Metalhawk, succeeding in getting a "pep talk" out of his "old friend" as Rattrap eavesdropped. On his way out of the building, Starscream reassured his citizens that he could handle the ongoing situation—after all, he handled Megatron—and flew out towards the Necrotitan. Meanwhile, Scoop confided in Rattrap that while Starscream was the Chosen One, he may have been chosen to destroy everything. Starscream landed on the Necrotitan's shoulder and tried to start a conversation, but suddenly its eyes flashed and a deadly, chaotic wave of energy burst forth from its body. Starscream desperately tried to beat the wavefront home, but arrived just before it lay waste to the city. The wavefront had a strange and inconsistent effect on everyone, to the point that it reanimated the dead body of Metalhawk. Metalhawk beat down his murderer and abducted the captured body of Megatron, leaving with it for elsewhere. In the chaos that followed the city's destruction, Starscream soon found himself the subject of everyone's ire. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}} The wave also left a strange black mark on Starscream's chest that Scoop believed was a message from [[Primus]]—Starscream was the cause of Iacon's problems. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}}

He later had the mark checked out at the Iacon Medical Center by Flatline and used this as an opportunity to check on the casualties of the Necrotitan's wave. This merely led to him being berated by [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] on how he was letting the population down—only for the Necrotitan to then smash its way into the medical center. {{storylink|No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6|No Exit}} Starscream then received another berating, this time from Scoop, on how the fact he was the "Chosen One" was a responsibility to the people of Cybertron. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} He was later approached by Rattrap and the remaining Autobots and Decepticons and merely lamented that all hope of defeating Shockwave was lost while Prowl explained his plan. He did however inform Prowl of the situation at the medical center as Flatline and Fixit "teamed up", he was then present when Megatron explained his alternative plan for defeating Shockwave. {{storylink|Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|Burning Bright}}

[[File:DarkCybertronFinale-StarscreamVsJhiaxus.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|"Is that what I look like? My god, I'm GORGEOUS!"]]
Later, Starscream was further lamenting about the hopelessness of the situation when the Lost Light arrived with Metroplex. He was observing the battle between the Necrotitan and Metroplex when Scoop started to recite the "Dark Cybertron" prophecy and was later cured when Metroplex released the [[Ore-7]] stored within his thumb. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}} Starscream was later gloating to Scoop about how the prophecy was not fulfilled when he learnt its true origin—Shockwave. It was just at this moment when Metalhawk appeared with Skywarp and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] and shot him. It was at this moment that Shockwave started to reveal his endgame to Galvatron and ''70 billion'' Ammonites appeared in the sky above Cybertron. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} Starscream then provided Bumblebee's group with a way of reaching Shockwave's base by revealing that Skywarp was still alive. He elected to take Waspinator along (much to Waspinator's objections) as the group required someone who knew the layout of the base, however he was nearly driven catatonic by the fact that Scoop willingly volunteered to remain behind instead of helping to defeat Shockwave with rest of the group. When he recovered he attacked Jhiaxus but the [[reactive armor]] Jhiaxus was wearing provided him with all of Starscream's new body's abilities. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} Starscream was not impressed by the reactive armor however (even going so far as accusing Jhiaxus of [[Fandom|cosplaying]] as him) and continued to fight Jhiaxus, even though Jhiaxus had the advantage due to him knowing everything that his new body contained and could do. He beat Jhiaxus by using the swords that were integrated into his body. He was later unfazed by Rattrap's claim that he would have difficulty maintaining control due to Metalhawk sacrificing himself to defeat the Ammonites by claiming that by killing them Metalhawk was a "genocidal despot" {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}}

[[File:Words Hang in the Air - Honorable Starscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|It's good to be king, if just for a while. To be there in velvet, yeah, to give them a smile.]]

Starscream attended a meeting on the subject of what was to be done with Megatron to represent the People of Cybertron—who wanted a trial. Rodimus was not impressed with Starscream's rule of Cybertron. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} He was later called to provide a statement where he claimed to be "High Chancellor of the Refulgent Cybertronian Dynasty, Emperor Perpetua and Defender of the Realm". His statement on Megatron claimed that the former Decepticon leader was addled and impotent with a lack of control over his forces and that he deserved pity. Starscream was pleased with his statement as it increased his approval ratings with only one downside—the ratings of the Autobots increased as well. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}} Starscream's testimony had also convinced Megatron that he needed to leave behind a better legacy, and changed his plea to not guilty while invoking one of the forgotten laws of Luna-2. Starscream, fearing that Megatron wouldn't be executed as he hoped, protested, however Optimus would allow Megatron freedom of movement and shared command of the ''Lost Light''. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}}

Some time after Megatron's trial, Starscream approached Prowl and [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] to gloat about his control of Cybertron, only to be reminded by Optimus Prime that [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] was an Autobot and that Ironhide and [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] were keeping a close eye on him as well; upon being asked if he had any further comments on the situation by Circuit, he merely claimed that he couldn't feel better. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|Hello Cruel World}} Some time after Metroplex started acting as a city for Cybertrons population, Starscream began mining operations on the Titan's filtration systems in an attempt to retrieve one of Shockwave's ores from the Titan, and hired some of the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] as guards. {{storylink|A Long Way Down}}

[[File:ABotAndHerCity-importantmatters.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|It's good to be king and have your own way, get a feeling of peace at the end of the day.]]

Six months after the events of Dark Cybertron, Starscream maintained a less than healthy relationship with Windblade due to Metroplex's constant systems failures. He confronted Windblade on the constant blackouts Metroplex was suffering with the claim that the population was blaming him for the system failures, he then threatened Windblade with serious consequences if she didn't solve the problem and left with Rattrap to discuss the rebuilding Iacon again. Starscream later claimed the blast that damaged Windblade was caused by poor maintenance and later entered her recovery room uttering the phrase "Well. Look who isn't dead". {{storylink|A 'Bot and Her City}} The ruler of Cybertron then went on to insist on how the explosion was a fortunate accident as Windblade had survived it with only minor injuries. He then threatened the cityspeaker again by claiming that she would probably not be able to cheat death twice before being kicked out of the room. Starscream then asked Rattrap to ensure that he was in the clear before Windblade made a move... {{storylink|A Long Way Down}}

[[File:Windblade3 StarscreamIntrosBadgeless.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.6]]
Starscream later oversaw the capture of Windblade and the group she had taken into Metroplex to expose his mining operations. With the group in his custody, Starscream attempted to obtain confessions to prove that Windblade was trying to undermine his regime as well as revealing the [[Badgeless]]—his new anonymous enforcers. He then tried to find out Windblade's try purpose on Cybertron as he believed that she was deliberately trying to sabotage Metroplex to gain further power. Starscream was seen confronting Blurr and [[Slag (G1)|Slug]] as Windblade and Chromia escaped from his prison. {{storylink|Windblade issue 3|Windblade vol. 1 #3}} As Chromia and Windblade rushed towards Metroplex's brain, Starscream fought Slug and Blurr, easily defeating them thanks to his handy shoulder cannons and then left to pursue the Camiens. Catching up to them at Metroplex's brain, Starscream was then attacked by Chromia as the fembot tried to buy more time for Windblade to merge with Metroplex. Starscream, however, managed to quickly dispatch Chromia and wound Windblade, before the Cityspeaker managed to successfully merge with the Titan. Despite this, Windblade still managed to merge with Metroplex and activate the Titan's defenses while she made one last attempt to find out who the mystery bomber was.

While Chromia attempted to convince Windblade to use Metroplex's space bridge to jump to [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]], a desperate Starscream cried out that jumping while Metroplex still served as a city would kill all those who were not completely within the Titan's borders. Deciding to not make the jump, Windblade revealed to Starscream that there were other colonies formed by the ancient Titans and offered the use of Metroplex's space bridge to the leader of Cybertron to unite the colonies in return for not revealing any of the events surrounding the bombing to anyone else. Agreeing to the deal, Starscream left Windblade to deal with the aftermath. {{storylink|Windblade issue 4|Windblade vol. 1 #4}}

[[File:TheWorldOfTomorrow-StarscreamAltMode.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66]]
With Monstructor still on the loose and Devastator causing trouble on Earth, Starscream became aware of his own military shortcomings. To this end, he reactivated Wheeljack, in the hopes of bringing Megatron's failed experiment [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] back into fighting shape for the sake of his regime. Still struggling to come to terms with the vastly changed Cybertron, Wheeljack reluctantly agreed and began repairing the gestalt. A Decepticon ghetto had also grown up outside Metroplex, made up of 'Cons who were disgruntled with the status quo and loathed Starscream as a sellout. {{storylink|The World of Tomorrow}}

[[File:Punishment1 StarscreamSavesOptimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|right]]
A series of murders took place in the Decepticon ghetto, which Starscream was willing to dismiss as just one of them things but allowed his passionate officer [[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]] to investigate. Starscream then left to welcome Optimus back to Cybertron after a six-month absence and, with Windblade, talk him through the new status quo. The Prime's social conscience saw them both walking the ghetto {{storylink|City of Steel (issue)|City of Steel}} and sparking a riot. Starscream swept in and helped pull Optimus free of the mob. The murderer they were tracking killed [[Heavy Barrel (G1)|Heavy Barrel]] in the midst of the riot, with Optimus and Starscream stumbling onto his still-smoking corpse. {{storylink|Fight or Flee (issue)|Fight or Flee}} Eventually, Starscream settled on the [[Firecon]]s as the obvious scapegoats culprits and joined Optimus in capturing them: a mission that went disastrously wrong thanks to brutality by the Dinobots and [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]. {{storylink|Quest for Fire}} Optimus went on to suspect the Dinobots.

When the murderer followed up by killing ''Autobots'', Starscream told Optimus he'd been dumb and decided to raze the ghetto: the public would accept Decepticon murders but would want harsh action for Autobot ones. Barricade refused the order and went on to find a crucial clue {{storylink|The Killing Jar (issue)|The Killing Jar}} and Optimus talked Starscream into helping him with a plan: faking a fight with the Dinobots to draw out the real killer, who turned out to be Sandstorm all along. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (issue)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

After Windblade repaired Metroplex's space bridge, Starscream hatched a plan to turn Caminus back into a protectorate of Cybertron—a plan that involved the recently purloined [[Enigma of Combination]]. Starscream recruited Swindle and the Stunticons for the job. While he bided his time, Starscream decided to pick out a new body for himself, although he was interrupted by Optimus Prime. The two bickered for a while about using Superion as a weapon (it's part of planetary security, honest) drawing up a truly representative government for Cybertron (as if!). Starscream finally shot down Optimus by pointing out that the people of Cybertron had chosen him as leader, although Optimus insisted that if Cybertron contacted its colonies, the governing body needed a council, not an empire.

[[File:TheSumAndItsParts-StarscreamAndScoop.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
On his orders, Swindle used the Enigma on the Stunticons and Starscream's mole [[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]], combining them together and re-creating [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]. Now, however, Blackjack's short temper amplified Menasor's already prominent anger problems, creating a completely uncontrollable monster. Starscream sicced Menasor and Swindle on Caminus, intending to use the similarly revived Superion to swoop in, save the day, and win the permanent adoration of the Camiens. {{storylink|First Contact (IDW)|First Contact}} Unfortunately word got out to Optimus Prime and Windblade, forcing him to deploy Superion early on. Starscream just couldn't win, especially after Optimus—a holy figure to the people of Caminus—upstaged Starscream in front of the [[Mistress of Flame]]. {{storylink|The Sum and Its Parts}}

[[File:ThePossibleLight-StarscreamsNewBody.jpg|thumb|upright=1.9]]
In the lull, Starscream took the opportunity to upgrade into his new body before overseeing the first contact ceremony between Caminus and Cybertron. While he was there, he bragged about Superion and how the combiner would keep them all safe. With that done, Starscream let Swindle take the fall for his actions by throwing him in his secret prison. But then, at the Space Bridge, Optimus Prime announced on live TV that Starscream intended to build a democratic [[Council of Worlds]], throwing a wrench in Starscream's imperialistic plans and forcing him to go through. Starscream ''really'' just couldn't win. {{storylink|The Possible Light}} Starscream, Prime, and some Camiens set about hammering out a legislation, although things didn't go particularly well—mostly because Starscream knew that the Camiens would always follow Optimus Prime's vote. The meeting was quickly adjourned after Mirage brought word of an attack on the space bridge. It turned out that Prowl wasn't happy about the situation, and had decided to form Devastator and just smash the Space Bridge. Not even Superion managed to defeat him, so Starscream used the Enigma to resuscitate the defeated Aerialbots. Realizing that Superion couldn't do the job alone, Starscream zapped a recently arrived group of representatives from the ''Lost Light'', fusing them together into [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]. The two combiners trounced Devastator, and in the aftermath Starscream had Prowl dragged off to a public jail. Not the Constructicons, though; he had plans for them... {{storylink|Mistakes and Mayhem}}

[[File:CombinerWars5-disappointed.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|'''YOU!''' Where the '''SLAG''' is your '''CHIN?''']]

Starscream stationed both of his combiners on Caminus to keep the peace and guard the space bridge before heading back to his secret prison, where he had stashed the Constructicons. Hoping to turn Devastator back to his side, Starscream used the Enigma on Scoop and the Constructicons. This new version of Devastator, while still temperamental, was willing to go along with the commands of his "Chosen One" thanks to Scoop's mental influence. After an escaped Menasor sparked a Decepticon riot, Starscream deployed Devastator to calm things down. Defensor wound up attacking Devastator, who in turn went postal and started wrecking up Caminus. Oops. {{storylink|You, Me, and the Universe}} With no other recourse, Starscream and his Badgeless troops put in a personal appearance at the space bridge, helping to keep down the non-combined Decepticons while Devastator and the newly born [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]] tumbled from colony to colony. With Devastator defeated, Starscream's snide remarks convinced Optimus Maximus to separate so that Prowl could be arrested. {{storylink|All That Remains}} Starscream later permitted Devastator to reform so that the Constructicons could be safely removed from Caminus. {{storylink|Now and On Earth}}

{{-}}

===A weakening grip===
{{quote|''Look'' at this place. I spent ''how long'' on dank battlefields, or huddled inside ''Astrotrain'' gathering troops for ''somebody else's'' cause? I ''made'' it, goldenrod.|Starscream, "[[The Transgressors]]"}}

[[File:Windblade DS 4 Velocitronian Ambassadors.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"And I hate him already."]]

Despite finally starting to bring the colonies together, Starscream was bitter and frustrated that nobody believed he could do it and that people were talking about him behind his back... so he said to ''a hallucinated ghost Bumblebee'', who he demanded recognise that he'd finally ''made it''. Arcee, unaware of what was going on, arrived with a captured Badgeless and executed him in front of Starscream to make a point. She informed him of a growing problem with the Decepticons, who Starscream needed to keep happy on Cybertron to avoid an uprising and invasion of other planets, and that he was the only one keeping the planet together so he better try harder. {{storylink|The Transgressors}}

With Caminus in the Council, Starscream turned his attention to the next Titan colony: [[Velocitron]]. To this end he met with delegates [[Knock Out (G1)|Knock Out]] and [[Moonracer (G1)|Moonracer]], although Knock Out wasn't particularly impressed with Cybertronian culture. Starscream was disturbed by the extremely hostile planet he'd glimpsed through the Space Bridge, and mentioned to Rattrap that he wouldn't set foot on the planet if he was paid. This might be why negotiations broke down. {{storylink|Windblade vol. 2 issue 4|Windblade vol. 2 #4}}

[[File:WindbladeVol2Issue6-deadlygame.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|"This game sucks. Let's play Hungry Hungry Hippos instead."]]

After Windblade decided to sneak off to Velocitron to convince them to join the Council, Starscream recruited Superion for a secret jaunt of his own: a trip to the planet [[Devisiun (planet)|Devisiun]]. The tiny modular colonists were very impressed by Superion's combiner technology, and sent [[Fireshot]] and [[Vanquish]] as delegates. Windblade had had enough of the secret power plays, though, so after a heated debate the two agreed to travel to the next colony together. That planet turned out to be [[Jungle Planet (colony)|Eukaris]], a planet colonized by xenophobic [[beast mode]] Transformers, who were less than thrilled to have vehicle-based Transformers set foot on their planet. Their Titan, [[Chela]], was even ''less'' thrilled than they were, so unhappy that he decided to just blow them up and be done with it. Starscream thought otherwise, and flew into his brain module, where he shot the Titan dead in spite of Windblade's protests. At least Eukaris decided to join the council. {{storylink|Race Against the Light}} {{storylink|Windblade vol. 2 issue 6|Windblade vol. 2 #6}}

Windblade and Starscream bickered some more after returning from Eukaris, although Starscream maintained that he had done the right thing—even saved Windblade from certain death. The next day, the two headed out to the final colony Metroplex had discovered, a spaceborne Titan he identified as [[Tempo]], crewed by philosophers. As it turned out, the ship was actually staffed by a well-armed military dictatorship. Captain [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] claimed that their Titan was actually named [[Vigilem|Carcer]]. Starscream tried to convince them to join the council, but his remarks just made Elita angry, and she threatened to kill him. Windblade managed to salvage the situation at the last minute, convincing them to join the council so as to counter Starscream's growing influence. {{storylink|The Will of the Few}}

[[File:ChooseMe_starscreamiest_grin.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.1|''The three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote: Stink, stank, stunk!'']]

In a conversation with dead Bumblebee, a bitter and lonely Starscream decided to get some of the goodwill felt by the colonies' return and declared a new holiday, "[[Chosen One Day]]". While he intended for everyone to remember they owed their goodwill to ''him'' and show him some, it was misread as a holiday to show your loved ones goodwill instead. This worked in his favour as everyone assumed he'd done that deliberately. Wheeljack, Windblade, and the Council members showed up to toast him and honour him with a night of friendship. {{storylink|Choose Me}}

During a broodfest, [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] showed up with his fellow Decepticons to ''oh so politely'' ask for a 'favour': they wanted Starscream to look the other way while they used the spacebridge later. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 1: Aphelion|Aphelion}} Rather than cause trouble, Starscream allowed it and when [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] at the space port noticed the Decepticon movement, Starscream told him not to "overreact" to "a stroll". Later, unsure and talking it through with 'Bumblebee', he let an actual moment of ''conscience'' decide his actions and informed Windblade of the Decepticon movement. But a bit too late! {{storylink|Conquerors Part 2: Lagrange|Lagrange}} Starscream headed in with reinforcements to help in the form of Badgeless and Superion and was pissed to find Optimus there already with [[Victorion|his ''own'' combiner]], pulling rank again. He ordered all the defeated Decepticons rounded up for later and agreed to get the spacebridge up and running to allow Optimus to stop Galvatron on Earth. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 4: Perihelion|Perihelion}} The situation swiftly went terrible again as the Decepticons started fighting again as soon as Victorion was gone and when Starscream called in Devastator, he only trashed the place and let fugitives escape. Man, how could this get worse—Optimus declaring Earth a protectorate? Yeah, that'd do it. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 1: Once Upon a Time on Earth|Once Upon a Time on Earth}}

[[File:NewWorldsOrder-StarscreamAndBumblebee.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|"And I didn't even get the lousiest of T-shirts."]]
After Windblade, Optimus et al. had kept hinting he was a dodgy neo-imperialist, Starscream was ''utterly livid'' when Optimus ''actually'' annexed a planet and part of the Council of Worlds, all without talking to anyone else. He said they couldn't give Prime a seat and justify conquest, and was left distraught when Windblade agreed but said they should give Prime the ''benefit of the doubt''. In a conversation with dead Bumblebee, Starscream compared Prime's actions to Megatron's and [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s and warned that this would go the same way. {{storylink|New Worlds Order}} Shortly after, Starscream witnessed a broadcast from the ''Lost Light'' of crew members about to be executed. He watched with fear as he knew they were victims of the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}} Roughly around this time, Starscream came into contact with [[Airachnid (G1)|Airachnid]], a Eukarian [[Mnemosurgery|mnemosurgeon]] whom he tasked with finding [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle's]] body. {{storylink|The Price of You}}

Airachnid's methods however were less than subtle and following a series of mnemosurgical attacks on Decepticons around Iacon, Starscream oversaw a meeting of councillor [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]]'s Justice Committee. The Carcer delegate proposed Ironhide be appointed to investigate possible Badgeless involvement in the crimes, and Starscream reluctantly agreed to consider the proposal while feigning ignorance about the murders. After Badgeless officers shot a drunk Decepticon under suspicious circumstances later that day, Windblade accused Starscream of orchestrating the murders in an attempt to locate the seemingly missing corpse of Swindle, but the sovereign of Cybertron threatened her in return with his knowledge of Chromia's bomb plot. Immediately afterwards, Starscream was aghast to discover that video footage of the murder had surfaced and was being broadcast on the city news. {{storylink|07:00:00}}

[[File:ApplicableSkills-ourfearlessleader.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"It's out of control. It's out of control and we'll be lucky to live through it."]]

A mob of angry citizens quickly formed outside Starscream's residence. After being needled by dead Bumblebee, the ruler of Cybertron was dragged to an emergency meeting of the Council of Worlds, where he immediately proposed that the Decepticon ghetto be locked down by the Badgeless. The other councillors quickly shot down the idea, and Starscream in return refused Rattrap's proposal to summons Victorion from Earth. He went on to explain his fear that events were being manipulated by his former ally [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]], out for revenge, before eventually agreeing to a plan for the situation: appoint Ironhide the new head of the Badgeless, to carry out a full investigation of recent events. As they watched Ironhide, Starscream confided in Windblade that he didn't possess Swindle's body, before blackmailing the Cityspeaker into taking responsibility for dealing with Onslaught and his [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]]. {{storylink|Applicable Skills}}

Several weeks later, Starscream caught Windblade on the way out of a council session to demanded a report, and was told that Onslaught was, by all appearances, not carrying out any scheme or plan. They were interrupted by an incoming message for the Cityspeaker, but Starscream refused to let her answer it until he was certain she was carrying out his bidding, again dangling his knowledge of Chromia's misdeeds in front of Windblade. {{storylink|Things We Said We'd Never Do}} As it happened, the call had been from Chromia, who had now witnessed the Combaticons use the Enigma of Combination to merge with the brain-dead Swindle into [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]. As security forces evacuated the councillors, Starscream attempted to blackmail Windblade into helping kill the rampaging combiner. Ultimately, however, Ironhide took down Bruticus, whilst Chromia admitted to her crimes on a live news broadcast, as an unhappy Starscream looked on. {{storylink|The Line Between Us}}

[[File:ItsBeginningToAndBackAgain-StarscreamAndRattrap.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|"Yeah well, I'm gonna go raise my own Titan. With blackjack! And hookers! In fact, forget the Titan!"]]

Optimus (who'd been haunted by dreams of Starscream accusing him of hypocrisy) finally contacted Starscream, along with the Mistress of Flame and Soundwave, proposing to meet with each of them to discuss recent events. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 2: Edge of the Earth|Edge of the Earth}} When Prime arrived on Cybertron for his meeting with Starscream and the Council of Worlds, the ex-Decepticon took a moment to revel in the Autobot leader's newfound bad reputation before arriving fashionably late. Accusing Optimus of starting an interstellar war, Starscream dismissed Optimus as another tyrannical [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] who ''took'' power rather than being ''chosen'' like he was. Citing the general populace's loss of faith in Optimus, Cybertron's leader announced that the council would not stand with Optimus, before striding away. The next morning, Starscream summoned the news team of [[Circuit (G1)|Circuit]] and [[Longtooth]] for a special task – travelling to Earth to show everybody firsthand what Optimus Prime's actions had wrought. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 3: The Medium and the Message|The Medium and the Message}}

This plan worked out rather nicely for Starscream, who watched with joy as live footage of human military forces attacking Optimus Prime's troops was beamed back to Cybertron. Dead Bumblebee insisted Prime's refusal to retaliate would show his heroism, but Cybertron's leader was confident he could spin any outcome to his advantage. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 4: It's Beginning To And Back Again|It's Beginning To And Back Again}} When the humans finally surrounded Prime, Starscream was ecstatic, but moments later, was taken aback when the Autobot raised Metrotitan, thought dead, from the ground! {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 5: As Above...So Below|As Above...So Below}} The ex-Decepticon was quickly called to an emergency council meeting by Windblade. Prime's holy act changed the group's tune, and they soon decided to declare Earth a colony world. Looking out over his planet, Starscream sulked about the decision whilst Bumblebee said "I told you so" – Optimus Prime had come out on top. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 6: No Fair Fights|No Fair Fights}}

[[File:TheLastAutobot KLUNK.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.9|This pretty much sums up their relationship.]]
When a massive energy discharge was detected at the former site of Kaon, Starscream was roped into investigating personally by Windblade. Shockingly, they found the city intact within a crater, but this matter was quickly forgotten when the pair were called back to Iacon, where none other than the long-dead Sentinel Prime was on a rampage! Starscream fired on the false Prime, but got a [[spark disruptor]] thrown onto his chest for his troubles. Luckily for the ex-Decepticon, Windblade was able to jump the disruptor onto her own spark, where its detonation was non-fatal thanks to the differing frequency of Camien sparks. The pair quickly flew to regroup with the forces fighting Sentinel Prime at the space bridge. {{storylink|The Last Autobot}}

Discussing recent events, General [[Joe Colton]], [[Scarlett]] and [[Miles Mayhem|Miles Manheim]] recalled Starscream's part in the [[Transformer]]s' early battles over Ore-13 on Earth. {{storylink|Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Secret Raiders}} When Windblade merged with Metrotitan's mind, she saw glimpses of all her possibles pasts and futures, many of which included Starscream. {{storylink|Informed}}

[[File:Ping-Starscream.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|"I ''am'' the Senate."]]
Starscream and Rattrap were soon summoned to Ironhide's office to discuss turning over the [[Enigma of Combination]] to Ironhide which Starscream (shockingly) refused to do. Ironhide them gave him a stirring speech telling him it was time for Starscream to actually start leading instead of playing political games. Before anything else could be said all three of their communicators pinged at exactly the same time. Regrouping at the [[Spire]], Starscream was shocked to hear Windblade and Obsidian's report of a fleet of undead [[Titan (group)|Titans]] bearing down on Cybertron. Taking Ironhide's speech to spark, Starscream told everyone to rally for war and drafted every ship into service. After transmitting a rousing speech (and saying any ship who fled would be either shot down or declared an enemy of the state), the fighting began. While things began promisingly enough, [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] soon fell and Starscream saw fit to contact [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] to request [[Vigilem|Carcer]] be transformed and brought to the surface. She refused. {{storylink|Ping}} After another failed try, Starscream gathered the [[Council of Worlds]] and told them to begin evacuating Cybertron. Windblade refused to do so however believing that either she or [[Lightbright (G1)|Lightbright]] could access Carcer's brain and convince the Titan to aid Cybertron on their own. Agreeing, Starscream sent a contingent of Cybertronian ships and Devastator to attack Carcer as a distraction informing Elita to never underestimate the depths of his pettiness. {{storylink|Desperate Times}} While waiting for news, Bumblebee commented that Windblade and Starscream would get so much more accomplished if they were actually friends. Starscream reminded Bumblebee what [[Death|happened]] to the [[Metalhawk (G1)|last person]] Starscream had considered a friend prompting a confused look from [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] at Starscream for talking to himself. {{storylink|Desperate Measures (Till All Are One)|Desperate Measures}} When Windblade had succeeded in awakening Carcer who himself had been successful in destroying the invaders Starscream cheered! {{storylink| Rubicon}}

[[File:Heavy StarscreamBumblebeeGuilty.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.9]]
Which was short lived because not only was Starscream informed "Carcer" was Vigilem and he'd freed [[Liege Maximo]], he soon had to preside over a court case regarding a [[Badgeless]] killing [[Drunkatron|some pleb]]. Though the Badgeless was clearly innocent, Starscream wondered if declaring him guilty would help things. He called a recess when he learned Elita was taking credit for "Carcer's" victory and called her to his office flanked by [[Fireshot]], [[Tigatron]], [[Moonracer (G1)|Moonracer]] and the [[Mistress of Flame]]. When Elita arrived, she recapped the history of Maximo and his Titan before explaining she'd thought to keep their existence a secret in case someone might have proven foolish, arrogant or desperate enough to free the ancient Prime before telling the Council to ready themselves for war against the member of the [[Thirteen]] and walked off. Starscream agreed that, for the moment, Maximo's freedom should be kept a secret before the Mistress of Flame requested Chromia be turned over to her. Starscream refused so the Mistress instead requested [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] and the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]]. Bumblebee soon appeared to Starscream and told him what to do: Rule the Badgeless innocent, hand over Chromia and stand against Elita. When Starscream pointed out doing all three would make him an easy target, Bumblebee said Starscream was choosing to fight and he could be better. Too bad Starscream didn't believe that himself as he convicted the innocent 'bot. He then freed Chromia into the Mistress's custody on the condition that she hunt down and slay Liege Maximo. {{storylink|Heavy}}

[[File:ThePriceOfYou-StarscreamBumblebee.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|"The way is open."]]
With Elita soon ready to return to orbit, Starscream was summoned by Airachnid to give her report on the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]]. Airachnid revealed that while it was normally impractical to try and alter the minds of so many, she could do so after the five had combined but needed a willing lynchpin to make sure the other four didn't pick up on the lie. Starscream had Airachnid patch him into [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off's]] mind where Starscream offered to make his dream of "domestic bliss" with Onslaught a reality. Blast Off agreed and Starscream later spoke with Ironhide that the now loyal Combaticons would not be prosecuted since Airachnid had discovered (through genuine medical examination of course) that the Combaticons could not be held culpable for their actions. {{storylink|The Price of You}} Starscream was soon approached by [[Windblade's doctor|a doctor]] who brought him to [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] revealing her to not be brain dead but to have shut down due to ''too much'' data in her brain. Deducing it was Vigilem, Starscream nonetheless refused to delegate a mnemosurgeon. This was the final straw for Bumblebee who demanded to know why Starscream always pushed good people away. Starscream responded that every time he opened himself up, life (usually wearing Megatron's face) would beat the tar out of him. Seeing the odd looks he was getting, Starscream pretended to turn on his comm. and told Bumblebee to leave if he was so disgusted by him. And leave Bumblebee did. Starscream then allowed Blast Off to see Swindle while consulting Airachnid about how to help Windblade. The answer was simple: A third bot would enter her head and help her destroy Vigilem assuming the strain of three minds didn't kill all three. Reluctantly Starscream realized he had no choice but to help her. {{storylink|If I Know You}}

Starscream arrived and made a heroic entrance by shooting Vigilem in the back. Alas, Windblade was not grateful as Starscream had failed to consider a risk in the plan. By linking his mind to hers, Vigilem was able to access it and escape through Starscream. The evil Titan smirked and adopted the form of Starscream's worst fear: [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]].

[[File:Your First Mistake - Screamys True Form.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4|"Oh, no forged body for Starscream huh? Fine. I'll go build my own Vector Sigma. With blackjack! And hookers! In fact, forget the Vector Sigma and the blackjack! Aw screw the whole thing."]]
Now in Starscream's mind, Vigilem began beating Starscream through all his bodies wearing down his confidence before he prepared to execute him and take his body. Windblade saved him by scooping up Starscream's spark before she witnessed his birth. Horrified by cold construction, Windblade summoned a mental copy of the [[Forge of Solus Prime]] and began forging Starscream's true self, each strike bringing up a mental projection of someone who had an impact on Starscream's life, the ghosts holding off Vigilem. When she was done, Starscream stood as a towering version of what he would like were his spark allowed to shape its own body. Stomping down Vigilem, the two jets were able to defeat the Titan and returned to the real world though Starscream insisted nothing had changed. Windblade cheekily bounced away telling Starscream not to be so foolish or close minded and that she'd now be her own bot and not just a mouthpiece for others. {{storylink|Your First Mistake}}

Optimus Prime later showed up to try and petition the [[Council of Worlds]] to grant [[Earth]] a spot on the Council and trade with the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]. Starscream refused both citing the [[Tyrest Accord]] saying Cybertron needed its resources to rebuild and that aliens were likely to use Cybertronian technology to ''attack'' Cybertron. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 3: Behind My Bleeding Back|Behind My Bleeding Back}} When [[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] was interviewed by humans, he remembered Starscream's presence in the invasion of Earth as well as mentioning that Starscream now ruled Cybertron. {{storylink|What It's Really Like}} When [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] was given a mental projection to die peacefully, he remembered Starscream's deal with Sunstreaker. {{storylink|The Life of Sideswipe}}

When Optimus and [[Pyra Magna]] returned to Cybertron to the [[Rust Sea|Sea of Rust]], Starscream spied on them from afar with Bumblebee. Starscream scoffed at how saccharine Bumblebee's origins were before the conversation turned to [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Onyx Prime]]. Starscream then flew off while commenting to Bumblebee that the yellow 'bot was just a figment of the Seeker's imagination. {{storylink|Ghost Stories}}

[[File:Salvation SlugCorpse.jpg|upright=1.6|thumb|left]]
While a new [[hot spot (phenomenon)|hot spot]] had lit up in [[Alyon]] a few months earlier, Starscream was in no rush to harvest the sparks and instead kept its existence a secret, explaining to an outraged [[Swift (G1)|Swift]] that what with all the recent attacks, Cybertron was currently too dangerous to introduce a new generation to. He also sought to take care of the Dinobots, who'd gone rogue, killed many Badgeless and supposedly kidnapped [[Strafe (IDW)|Strafe]], but since they were still Autobots and he didn't want conflict with Optimus Prime, he acted off the record by offering Sandstorm freedom in exchange for their deaths. Unfortunately the Alyon sparks were stolen by [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and used to revive [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. prompting Starscream to deploy Devastator in Iacon's defense. After Trypticon was freed from Bludgeon's control and made off with the sparks, Starscream recovered the defeated Bludgeon, one of his mutated sparks and the remains of Slug, and began making plans. {{storylink|The Transformers: Salvation|Salvation}} The experiments eventually bore fruit, succeeding in bringing Slug back to life. {{storylink|The Dead Come Home, Part 1 (of 2)|The Dead Come Home, Part 1}}

[[File:OriginMyths-Starscream.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.1|Pay no attention to me being the ''Combiner Wars'' body again for just this issue]]

Soon before Earth announced its chosen ambassador, ''Lord'' Starscream (best to get in the habit now) was called to Alpha Trion's apartment (and was bemused by the books) where the old sage recounted the origins of the Autobot insignia. Starscream, failing to grasp the story's meaning, questioned whether he was supposed to be [[The Fallen|Megatronus]] or Arcee, expressed disbelief that Arcee and Galvatron were twins, found "Megatronus" to be a made-up name and asked that since Alpha Trion said all stories were lies, why should be believe any of it? Earth then called to announce its representative to the [[Council of Worlds]], [[Marissa Faireborn]]. Starscream grumbled and said he'd prepare the plaza. {{storylink|Origin Myths}}

As the ceremony started, Starscream began a speech only for an explosion to cut him off. Demanding a status report from Ironhide and Windblade, he learnt that [[Red Shadows|tiny red robots]] were waiting to strike inside false Cybertronians. Starscream suspected human involvement and ordered the Space Bridge closed. {{storylink|First Strike issue 1|First Strike #1}} Heroically cowering in the [[Spire]], Starscream accused Elita One of treachery only for the femme to say humans were responsible and prepared to execute Marissa. Marissa however soon humbled Elita into calling for reinforcements from Carcer...only for the [[Solstar Order]] to transmit to Cybertron that they'd detected Dire Wraith energy signatures emanating from Cybertron and had quarantined the planet. Starscream called foul on this, familiar with the tactics of the Dire Wraiths and suspected Elita was up to another trick but the Carcerian informed him that Cybertron was on its own. {{storylink|First Strike issue 2|First Strike #2}} The debate of what to do continued until [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] and [[M.A.S.K.]] were brought before the Council where Elita ordered them executed. {{storylink|First Strike issue 3|First Strike #3}}

As the Council debated over that, Starscream advised Elita not to mention her past before he shut everyone up and reminded them of the fact that he was in charge of Cybertron and thus the final decision was his. Conceding that tricking Soundwave was nigh-impossible, Starscream asked [[Scarlett]] what Colton's plan was and she revealed to knowing nothing save a gut feeling that it involved some sort of bomb. Scoffing at the threat of humans bringing any harm to Cybertron, he threw G.I. Joe and M.A.S.K. in jail under suspicion charges before informing Optimus that not everyone shared Elita's feeling about him, some hated him even more than she did. Despite his posturing however, he sent Ironhide and [[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]] after Colton so as to not look weak with approval to use lethal force. {{storylink|First Strike issue 4|First Strike #4}}

[[File:FirstStrike5-satisfying.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.9|Perhaps... a quiet chuckle.]]

[[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] soon brought the news that Optimus had broken the humans out of jail with Windblade arriving soon after to deliver the same news. Before doing anything, Starscream took a moment to enjoy the fact that everyone had come to him for help in stopping Optimus Prime.

Starscream then called in Ironhide and directed everyone to follow Optimus's trail, with orders to bring the humans in alive. Elita surprisingly offered herself and Obsidian as backup, though Starscream reminded her that he was in charge. {{storylink|First Strike issue 5|First Strike #5}}

The group caught up with the hostiles outside the core chamber, where Starscream placed everyone under arrest and fired a missile at Optimus, before engaging him in melee combat. The fighting was interrupted by [[Merklynn|Garrison Kreiger]] activating the alien [[Talisman (G1)|Talisman]] and revealing himself as an alien sorcerer known as Merklynn, creating [[New Prysmos]] and teleporting all combatants back to Iacon. On the surface, Starscream took Colton's rueful mumblings as his "witnessed confession" but was prevented from executing the human by Scarlett. {{storylink|First Strike issue 6|First Strike #6}}

[[File:TheDeadComeHomePart1 StarscreamCouncilMeeting.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
With Cybertron's own energon now unpalatable to its people, Starscream sampled the human-made substitute. It was terrible. At a Council meeting to debate the energy crisis, Starscream opined that the [[Solstar Order]] was indebted to Cybertron for their obstructive blockade before he was called away by Optimus Prime and [[G.B. Blackrock|Garrison Blackrock]]. Scoffing at Prime's accusations regarding the Seeker concealing the existence of the newborn [[protoform]]s, Starscream loaned them [[Slag (G1)|Slug]] and sent them on their way, {{storylink|The Dead Come Home, Part 1 (of 2)|The Dead Come Home, Part 1}} hoping that the protoforms would then be turned over to him. {{storylink|The Dead Come Home, Part 2 (of 2)|The Dead Come Home, Part 2}} When [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] used the [[Void Scepter]] to make Slug attack the Dinobots, Bumblebee noted he was not acting according to Starscream's plan. {{storylink|The Dead Come Home, Part 1 (of 2)|The Dead Come Home, Part 1}} After being informed of this, the Seeker came running and shattered the Void Scepter before going on a rant about his plan falling apart. {{storylink|The Dead Come Home, Part 2 (of 2)|The Dead Come Home, Part 2}}

Soon afterwards, Starscream repaired Bludgeon and the Void Scepter, sending the mad scientist out into the galaxy to rally all the lost Decepticon cells and bring them back into the fold. {{storylink|Unstopped and Unstoppable}} {{storylink|Stranger Eons}}

[[File:TheChosenOne StarscreamElectionPlans.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.3]]
From atop his tower, Starscream watched the unwashed masses lavish praises onto Optimus with ''[[The Birth of Cybertron]]'' playing in the background. The old film gave Starscream an idea to consolidate his power and win over [[Earth]]. To that end, he sought out [[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Thundercracker]] and hired him to produce [[Starscream: The Movie (film)|a biographical film]] about Starscream's life. {{storylink|Starscream: The Movie (comic)|Starscream: The Movie}}

To mark Windblade's return to the Council of Worlds, Starscream called in [[Circuit (G1)|Circuit]] and [[Longtooth]] for a photo-op but promptly kicked them out when Windblade nearly revealed [[Liege Maximo]]'s freedom. When Windblade stormed off to inform Circuit and Longtooth of this news, Starscream promised to look the other way if the [[Mistress of Flame]] wanted to tackle Windblade down. On [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]]'s "advisement", Starscream called for free elections and confessed to Bumblebee that after seeing his "true self", he only had the best intentions for Cybertron, before organizing the debate schedule. Later on, he outlined his power infrastructure plans to Bumblebee before Windblade arrived with a briefcase containing all of his very dirty laundry. Unable to manipulate Windblade anymore, Starscream aggressively began looking for holes in the evidence, only to learn Bumblebee would not help him, saying the Seeker had to decide how much his future expansion meant to him. {{storylink|The Chosen One}}

Thundercracker then visited Starscream to find out what the Decepticons had meant to the chancellor. Starscream claimed it had been his job to point the Decepticons on the path of righteousness. A task that had failed due to the Decepticons ignoring Starscream's advice. But now they weren't. Now everyone listened to Starscream. {{storylink|Starscream: The Movie (comic)|Starscream: The Movie}}

[[File:TheChosenOne-imsorry.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.8|''I guess I gotta give part two of my confessions'' ''If I'm gonna tell it, then I gotta tell it all'']]
At the electoral debate, Starscream listened to Windblade's speech before he had a moment of conscience and, before all of Cybertron, confessed each and every one of his crimes (which took over an hour), costing him everything and landing him a life sentence.

Visiting him in his cell, Windblade gifted Starscream with a holo-projector of his forged body, signifying that he had finally fulfilled the ancient prophecy of the "Chosen One". By getting Cybertron to turn against him, he had succeeded in uniting the planet. {{storylink|The Chosen One}}

Incorporating this latest development into his film, Thundercracker visited Starscream in his cell and showed him the finished product. Displaying uncharasteric concern for others' feelings, Starscream claimed the film was "delightful but irrelevant" given his imprisonment. Despite his attempts to bury the film, Thundercracker was insistent on it getting out prompting Starscream to request [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] pass along a message to a friend. On Starscream's orders, two [[Badgeless]] then diverted Thundercracker to [[Prion (planet)|Prion]] where they tried to kill him. {{storylink|Starscream: The Movie (comic)|Starscream: The Movie}}
{{-}}
===Decepticon once again===
[[File:AnotherMine-TrueSelfHologram.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.6|''So, yes, I still do bad things But are they actually bad? No!'']]
Starscream took his life sentence in stride, happy to let others carry the burden of planetary leadership and convinced his reign would be viewed, at worst, as a step in the right direction. When [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] arrived to vent his disappointment, the discussion was interrupted when Bumblebee told Starscream that [[Nemesis (BW)|a gigantic optic]] had appeared in the sky. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 1: Surfeit of Primes|Surfeit of Primes}} The confusion passed quickly as the Seeker was more content to stare at the holo-image of his "true" self and languish what he could have been if he'd been allowed to live as he was meant to. Bumblebee disputed that believing everyone was defined by the sum of their own experiences and that, at least in part, Starscream's imprisonment was on him. Starscream disagreed. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 2: Another Mine|Another Mine}} Soon enough, [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] broke Starscream out of prison, hailing him as the Chose One once again, before Metrotitan space bridged in to do the same. As Metrotitan began an attack on Nemesis, the evil Titan simply fired a crippling shot through his brother's torso, downing him. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 3: The Ground|The Ground}}

[[File:TheHallowing StarscreamBroken.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5|"You weren’t born to be king. You were born to cause pain and suffering and death. That’s how it is, that’s how it was, that’s how it will be. All so that others can achieve their best versions of themselves."]]
After witnessing Onyx Prime, throw Optimus into the [[Crystal City]] [[black hole]], Devastator revealed to Starscream his theory that the Seeker was the reincarnation of [[the Fallen]]. Deciding to spin this to his advantage, Starscream had Devastator carry him to Metrotitan whereupon he set the combiner on the Autobots while Bumblebee vanished. Conversing with the Titan, Starscream was elated to find out he really was divine... whereupon Shockwave, who had been sent back in time and posed as Onyx Prime, arrived to reveal he had masterminded the "Chosen One" prophecy as a means of keeping a vain fool in charge of Cybertron and leaving the planet unprotected for his machinations. To punctuate his statement, Shockwave slew Metrotitan leaving Starscream to mutter where Bumblebee had gone. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 4: The Hallowing|The Hallowing}} His will to fight completely gone, Starscream despondently made his way back to his cell only to be noticed by the rioting Decepticons. After he explained himself to them, they hesitatingly suggested that he become the [[Decepticon leader]] once again. Though initially dismissive of such a prospect, Starscream soon realized he was the best choice for such a job. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 5: Endless Forever|Endless Forever}} Once Shockwave had been captured and the [[Maximal]]s had retreated, Starscream resumed leadership of the Decepticons, leading his army away to draw up plans of conquest. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 6: Unforgivable|Unforgivable}} Camping out in Metrotitan's corpse, Starscream outlined his plans to the Decepticons, and defended his choice of a hideout, before [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] entered seeking to bring Starscream to Shockwave. {{storylink|Unstopped and Unstoppable}}

[[File:LastStand StarscreamTheSavior.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.5|"He's brought a flag."{{-}}"Damn, that's dash cunning of him."]]
When he arrived, Shockwave told Starscream of his plans to create a new [[Decepticon Empire]], with Starscream in charge, but said Cybertron would have to be sacrificed to [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]. Scoffing at the offer, Starscream instead went to meet with the Camien refugees and announced he would be saving Cybertron. {{storylink|Last Stand (Unicron)|Last Stand}} When brought to the Council war room, Starscream revealed the existence of the [[Decepticon Vengeance Division]], a fleet of capital ships, all capable of destroying whole planets, that he'd ordered to corner and destroy Unicron at [[G Nebula 89]]. As debates flew over what course of action to take, [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] revealed the DVD was already facing Unicron to no effect. Soon enough, the monster had freed itself from the DVD and teleported to Cybertron, now having attained a [[robot mode]]. {{storylink|Stranger Eons}} In light of this, Starscream proposed space bridging away, even more so when it was revealed the [[Talisman (G1)|Talisman]] could kill Unicron if left behind. Unwilling to allow to sacrifice so many, Soundwave telepathically informed every Decepticon that their leader was willing to abandon them causing them to swarm into Metroplex. When Windblade began working on an alternate strategy, Starscream voted to stay, claiming he owed Windblade for the faith she'd put in him. {{storylink|Our Finest}} Metroplex did indeed space bridge to Earth soon after though all Starscream did was grumble about the humidity in the [[Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park]], an attitude which earned him a sock to the jaw from Arcee. {{storylink|Road's End}}

[[File:Unicron6 Starscream's Sacrifice.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|right|"Had to be me. Someone else might have gotten it wrong."]]

After waving off some employee complaints about his leadership, Starscream attended the briefing on Unicron where he told Jetfire to cut to the chase. As part of the final plan to save the universe, Starscream reunited with Skywarp and Thundercracker, ferrying Optimus Prime to Unicron so the Prime could use the Talisman to destroy the Chaos Bringer. {{storylink|Assembly (Unicron)|Assembly}} Though the fliers initially managed to slip past the mutated DVD, Skywarp and Thundercracker were soon forced to fall back, the latter tossing Starscream the Talisman. Unable to reach Unicron's core without Skywarp, Starscream realized there was only one way to complete the mission. After requesting that they give his best to Windblade, Starscream activated the Talisman, its magical energies consuming him completely but allowing the device to burrow its way to Unicron's core, ultimately allowing the monster to be felled. {{storylink|Ceremony}}

In the new era, Bumblebee became Cybertron's ambassador to the [[Galactic Council]]. Before the scout left Earth, he conversed with the ghostly Starscream (now himself trapped in [[infraspace]]) on a beach. Though Bumblebee openly invited his friend to join him, the Seeker knew he wouldn't be welcome. When the scout thought Starscream was annoyed that Optimus would receive all the credit for saving the universe, Starscream laughed it off, content that people would simply remember him. {{storylink|Post}}
{{--}}

==Spotlight: Mirage==
At the war's end, Starscream and a small team of Decepticons accompanied the mercenary [[Mirage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Mirage]] to the [[Pegasus Star Cluster]]. He led the Decepticons into the Autobot bunker after Mirage destroyed the Autobot security system, but stood back during the ensuing fight. After Megatron ordered the Autobot prisoners executed, Starscream held [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] back as Mirage prepared to kill [[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hound]].

But it was all Mirage's dream... or was it? {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}

==Notes==
[[File:Wfc-starscream-0.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb]]
*As the issues go by, Starscream takes to a habit of changing into a new body whenever the toyline at the time releases a new toy rendition of him, which is eventually explained in-universe as a subconscious rejection of his bodies. Or maybe he's just a vain git.
**Starscream debuted in ''[[Infiltration issue 1|Infiltration]]'' with an original design as an F-22 drawn by [[E. J. Su]].
**In ''[[All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron]]'', Starscream (and Thundercracker and Skywarp) was drawn by [[Guido Guidi]] according his [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|''Masterpiece'' toy]] as an F-15.
**Starscream's appearance in the first half of ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' seems to be based more on this concept drawing (at right) of him for the ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)|War for Cybertron]]'' game, rather than his [[:File:WFC Starscream.jpg|actual appearance]] in either of the two games. This is most noticeable when looking at his pelvic region and thighs.
**Also, the crown he occasionally wears in later issues of the comic is based on the crown he sports in ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron]]'', which in itself is based on the crown he wears in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
**[[Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|''Dark Cybertron'' #1]] updated him to the [[Starscream (G1)/toys#T30Armada|''Thrilling 30'' toy]] of his [[Starscream (Armada)|''Armada'' counterpart]].
**[[The Possible Light|''The Transformers'' vol. 2 #40]] debuts his [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|''Combiner Wars'' toy body]].
**And from [[Ping|''Till All Are One'' #5]] until the end, Starscream had his [[evergreen]] [[:File:Quidd-evergreen-Starscream-robot-mode.jpg|design]] (similar but distinct from the [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Power of the Primes|''Power of the Primes'' toy]]).
*[[James Roberts]] clarified on Twitter that any members of the [[Functionist Council]] who survived into the Great War era were assassinated by Starscream at Megatron's behest.<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1055107548318220288 Twitter conversation with James Roberts (@jroberts332), 24 October 2018] "Hey James to quickly jump on this. What actually happened to the In-Universe FC? I assumed they were killed by the cons?" "Yep. Those that survived the various prewar political convulsions were hunted down and assassinated, mainly by Starscream." ".... personal reasons or just Megatron's assassin of choice? Asking for a friend. Not, uh... not relevant to a WIP or anything.... Lol" "Megs’ choice"</ref>
*According to [[Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook issue 3|''Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook'' #3]], Starscream is 28 feet tall and weighs 22 tons.<ref>For reference, this equals 8.5 metres and 20 metric tonnes.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{i|Starscream}} at the IDW Hasbro Wiki

[[Category:Council members]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Seekers]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Transformers]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Neutrals]]
[[Category:Politicians]]
[[Category:Rulers of Cybertron]]

Reactive armor

2022-09-04T13:46:25Z

Spark Mandrill:

[[File:ReactiveArmor Jhiaxus DarkCybertron11.jpg|thumb|upright=1|So when Mega Man inevitably sues him, this armor will allow Jhiaxus to steal all of his weapons all at once. What will this lunatic think of next?]]

An invention of the mad scientist [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]], '''reactive armor''' allows the wearer to mimic an opponent's weapons, abilities, and even physical form.

==Fiction==
===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:DarkCybertronFinale-StarscreamVsJhiaxus.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.10|...Unless, could Jhiaxus steal Starscream's power with a high five?]]
Jhiaxus donned the reactive armor to buy time for [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]'s plan to come to fruition. When confronted with [[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]], [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]], and [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]], Jhiaxus first demonstrated the armor's abilities by copying Metalhawk's arm-blades. Starscream fired upon Jhiaxus, only for the reactive armor to absorb the blast and transform into a duplicate of Starscream's new body. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} Jhiaxus engaged Starscream in hand-to-hand combat, using copies of Starscream's built-in [[sword]]s to keep him on the defensive. However, this proved to be the mad scientist's undoing, as Starscream had been unaware his new body even HAD swords up until this point. Starscream took the hint and deployed his own swords, impaling Jhiaxus through the reactive armor and killing him. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}}

[[Category:IDW (2005) technology]]
[[Category:Mechanical suits]]

Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity

2022-07-04T00:14:02Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Post-war */

{{factions|autobot}}
{{suite}}
[[File:Spotlight Sideswipe cvrA virgin art.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|''"If there's two things he loves, it's fighting and FIGHTIN' ROUND THE WORLD."'']]
'''Sideswipe''' is hot-headed, eager for battle, and even more eager to get out from the shadow of his brother [[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]]. He's forever got a chip on his shoulder, and isn't shy about taking it out on any Decepticons within head-bashing range. His insubordinate attitude and battle-lust can lead to tensions with the more peaceful-minded Autobots, but there's no discounting his courage: Sideswipe will happily wade into battle against any foe, no matter how powerful or numerous, and won't let up no matter how hopeless the odds. This combative temperament of his is probably why he gets along fairly well with the fearsome [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]].

{{first|''[[Spotlight: Galvatron]]''}}

{{quote|Find a Decepticon, blast a Decepticon...|Sideswipe's mantra|"[[Earthfall Part 3: The Mind Bomb|The Mind Bomb]]"}}

==Fiction==
===The Great War===
[[File:MegsOrigin3 Sunstreak Sideswipe glory.jpg|left|upright=2|thumb|Sideswipe's feeling small standing under [[Nova Prime]]'s crotch.]]
[[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]] was Sideswipe's [[Relatives|brother]], {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 1: Once Upon a Time on Earth|Once Upon a Time on Earth}} P-3 Training Officer, and strike partner, and constantly looked down on him as the rookie. Nothing Sideswipe did was seen as good enough, and he was left under Sunstreaker's shadow, something that left a deep mark on him. He was forever been resentful and wanting to be seen by others as a skilled, notable warrior. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

Before the war, the two of them were employed as [[Senate]] law enforcers, and at one point arrested [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]]. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}} They simultaneously attended illegal underground arena [[Gladiatorial combat|deathmatches]] and witnessed [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'s 54th victory. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} When Sunstreaker wanted to join Megatron's underground fighting team, Sideswipe went along to try and talk him out of it. Whether they stuck around and were caught up in the Autobot security raid is unknown. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}}

Later, as war engulfed [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Sideswipe was one of the many Autobots trained by [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Kup}} Early in the war, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were present during the battle for [[Sherma Bridge]], where they witnessed the first duel between [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] and Megatron. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}}

[[File:SpotlightGalvatron Sideswipe rocketfist.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|This hand of mine glows with an awesome power!]]
Much to his dismay, Sideswipe was later stationed at [[Thunderhead Pass]] on Cybertron to guard [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]'s remains. Sideswipe wanted action, something he wasn't going to get standing guard over comatose Decepticons. His desire to "bust some heads" became even stronger after Sunstreaker was apparently kidnapped during his duties on [[Earth]], and Sideswipe began actively disregarding his squadron leader, [[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hound]], to routinely contact High Command and demand a transfer; unknown to everyone else, this wasn't down to brothers-in-arms loyalty, this was down to him wanting to save Sunstreaker so his former strike partner would have to recognise his skills. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

His need for action was alleviated, however, when [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|a mysterious and powerful Transformer]] attacked Cybertron. Sideswipe blew off part of the being's head, but he recovered almost immediately and knocked Sideswipe and the rest of the Autobots offline, then stole Thunderwing away. {{storylink|Spotlight: Galvatron}}

[[File:Devastation 1 Sideswipe Hound.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|left]]
Soon after, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] apparently caved in to Sideswipe's pleading and put [[Jetfire (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jetfire]] in charge of Thunderhead Pass, transferring Hound's entire team, including Sideswipe, to Earth once Megatron began breaking [[Infiltration protocol]]. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1|Devastation #1}} However, once word of the break-in at [[Garrus-9]] reached his audio sensors, Prime directed his team and Hound's to head there instead of Earth. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}}

Sideswipe took the reassignment pretty harshly, and had pushed Hound well to the edge of his tolerance. He got a minor diversion from worrying about Sunstreaker when another mysterious and powerful Transformer, [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] attacked their ship. Surprisingly, he wanted to find out who Cyclonus was, but Hound felt that time was a factor and hit Cyclonus with a full volley. It was enough to slow him down, but not enough to stop him. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]]' arrival forced a retreat, and the two Autobot ships followed. When they caught up to Cyclonus, Sideswipe goaded him into battle, and made no apologies for it. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}}

[[File:SpotlightSideswipe Sideswipe.jpg|right|upright=1.0|thumb|He can punch ''and'' angst at the same time!]]
When his unit finally reached Earth, he personally took on both [[Grindcore (G1)|Grindcore]] ''and'' [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] so the others could reach the Space Bridge. This earned him recognition and an apology from Hound, and the battle against superior foes gave Sideswipe the chance to prove to ''himself'' that he was better than Sunstreaker thought. This exorcised, he realised he didn't actually care if Sunstreaker was alive or dead, and turned away from his obsession without looking back. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

One year later, the Decepticons ambushed the Autobots in a crippling assault, during which Skywarp ripped off Sideswipe's arm. The Autobots were subsequently tossed through a [[space bridge]] to the lifeless shell of Cybertron, where they would be finished off by the [[Insecticon swarm]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} Along with the others, Sideswipe stood around brooding about the situation, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}} occasionally staring at the similarly one-armed [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}}

Frustrated at being stranded on Cybertron, he listened to [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]' story about how awesome and cool Jazz is to pass the time. {{storylink|Spotlight: Jazz}}

When the crew of the ''[[Trion]]'' ended up on Cybertron, Sideswipe listened to [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]] explain what had happened. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}}

[[File:Sideswipe AHM09 wedeservetodie.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|left|And he can angst and angst ''more'' at the same time too!]]
Later, Sideswipe tried to talk to Sunstreaker and tell him to stop picking on [[Mirage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Mirage]], who was blamed for leading the Autobots into the Decepticons' trap. Sunstreaker responded by telling his brother all about the horrible things the [[Machination]] had done to him, leaving Sideswipe speechless. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} Later, after Sunstreaker revealed himself to be the true traitor and sacrificed himself, Sideswipe had enough and declared that all the Autobots deserved to die for carrying on such a senseless war. His speech was interrupted by the return of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} Sideswipe later defended the Autobot base against a massive swarm attack, but the Autobots were overrun and only saved by the arrival of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], who took them all back to Earth. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}}

[[File:AHM12 SideswipeandBombshell.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
As the Autobots confronted the Decepticons in [[New York City]], Sideswipe beat up [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] with a street light and was jumped by [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], who gleefully told the Autobot how he had dissected [[Hunter O'Nion]], Sunstreaker's [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster partner]], and used his knowledge to toy with Sunstreaker's mind. Following the defeat of the Decepticons, Sideswipe found Hunter, strung up and mutilated in Bombshell's lab. Horrified at the sight, he decided to end the human's tortured existence by shutting off the machines keeping him alive. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

[[File:A Rude Awakening Sideswipe and Magnus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|left]]
Three years later, Sideswipe was still serving with the Autobots on Earth under Optimus Prime's command. He was present when Prime abdicated leadership of the Autobots and surrendered to [[Skywatch]]. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}} When [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]] left the Autobots to form a splinter faction, Sideswipe chose to remain in the desert caverns with the majority of Autobots under [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]]'s new leadership. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}} He was seen standing at strict attention when [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] arrived to address the Earth troops, although he was confused by Magnus's over-use of Earth idioms and "lingo". {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 2: "A Rude Awakening"|A Rude Awakening}} He was later seen helping setting the Autobot's communications network on Earth. {{storylink|Ride-Along}}

Under Bumblebee, Sideswipe was part of the Transformer hunters clandestinely employed by [[Gordon Horiuchi]] of Skywatch. He was present when Bumblebee announced the Autobots' intention to break free from Horiuchi's unyielding directives. {{storylink|The Impossible Knot}}

Months later, the Autobots on Earth were joined by several long-lost comrades from space, including Sunstreaker, who had survived his earlier sacrifice. From them, they learned that Cybertron was restored to a habitable planet, but to reclaim their home they had to challenge Galvatron, who had recently occupied it. The majority of the Autobots, including Sideswipe, boarded Omega Supreme and left Earth the next day. {{storylink|Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix|Orphans of the Helix}} He was among the Autobots who tried to listen in on Optimus Prime's questioning of a captive Megatron. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}}

[[File:Kings Sideswipe fights.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3]]
After arriving on Cybertron, the Autobots fought against Galvatron's [[Sweep (G1)|Sweep]] army. During the battle, Sideswipe bore witness to an escaped and upgraded Megatron completely massacring the Sweeps, then was himself attacked by [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] when Megatron summoned the Decepticons to his side. He and the others fought the Decepticons until [[D-Void]] took control of them via Galvatron. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings|Kings}} Sideswipe watched part of the battle between Megatron and the [[Deceptigod|monstrous Sweep-Decepticon combiner]] before making himself scarce. {{storylink|Chaos Part Four: Genesis|Genesis}} Once the combiner was broken apart, [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] negotiated a Decepticon surrender with Sideswipe in exchange for his own safety. {{storylink|Shockpoint}}
{{-}}

===Post-war===
[[File:09 Autonomy Lesson Sideswipe.jpg|thumb|left|upright=2.0|A Horri-Bull judge of horrible character. No wait, a horrible's judge of Horri-Bull character...Oh, forget it.]]
In the wake of Galvatron and D-Void's defeat, Cybertron was "reset" into a primordial state and the Decepticons were put behind bars. Sporting a new paintjob, a bandolier and a [[sword]], Sideswipe kept the peace alongside [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] when unaffiliated Transformers began returning to the planet. He greeted Optimus Prime when he returned three weeks after the battle, then was caught up in a riot as the "[[NAIL]]s" protested against the Autobots being in charge. When he reported to [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] that the Autobots were outnumbered, he was ordered to let the Decepticons out and have them lend a hand. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}} Of course the Decepticons didn't know how to hold back, and so Sideswipe and Prowl later ended up having to admonish [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] and [[Horri-Bull]] for beating up [[Tappet]]. {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|The Autonomy Lesson}}

When [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] approached the Autobot headquarters, Sideswipe spotted him and joked about killing him. {{storylink|The World & Everything in It}} Sideswipe later provided crowd control again while Prowl had the deceased body of Ratbat removed from the Decepticon encampment. {{storylink|Stick Together}} While standing guard at crime scene of [[Skydive (Predator)|Skydive]]'s murder, he was instructed by Prowl to deactivate the waste chutes and replied with sarcasm, though Wheeljack quickly did it for him. {{storylink|Devisive}}

[[File:Sideswipe Prowl and Wheeljack vehicle Primus All Good Things.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.9|He can drive, gripe AND angst at the same time!]]
When [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] arrived on Cybertron, Sideswipe kept an eye on him and discovered him collaborating with the Decepticons. He, Prowl, and Streetwise raided their hiding area and caught Needlenose and Sky-Byte, only to be overwhelmed by a mob of NAILs who were looking to lynch Sky-Byte. They were stopped by [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]], who wanted a better future for both Autobot and Decepticon. {{storylink|A Better Tomorrow}} Sideswipe stood guard as others investigated and discussed the disappearance of [[Turmoil]]'s starship. {{storylink|Night and the City}} With the discovery of a large underground cave near Iacon, Prowl took Sideswipe with him to keep anyone else from entering while he and Wheeljack went in to investigate. He got confused when a large crowd of Decepticons and NAILs appeared and peacefully asked to be let in, and ultimately ended up following them into the cave and witnessing a [[Titan (group)|Titan]] declare that Starscream was the one who would unite all Cybertronians. {{storylink|Primus: All Good Things|All Good Things}}

[[File:CityOnFire SideswipeBigGun.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|"It's, like, one of them Decepticon ships, five guys on it, headed our way."{{-}}''BOOM''{{-}}"Correction. Four guys on it."{{-}}''BOOM''{{-}}"Correction. They're not headed our way anymore."{{-}}''BOOM''{{-}}"Correction. No ship."]]
As part of Prowl's security team, Sideswipe was supposed to participate in a raid on the Decepticon pen, but it exploded before they could enter. {{storylink|The End of the Beginning of the World}} Shortly thereafter, Megatron arrived in the city, appearing for the first time since Cybertron's rebirth. On Bumblebee's orders, Sideswipe gleefully prepared to gun down the Decepticon leader, but was interrupted by Needlenose and the other Decepticons who demanded that they let him live. {{storylink|City on Fire}} He later escorted Bumblebee to Prowl's quarters to investigate claims that Prowl was working with the Decepticons, which turned out to be very true when they were captured by Decepticons on the way there. After Megatron was done telling them about his villainous plan, he had [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] kill Sideswipe by impaling him, pinning him to a wall. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}} However, the attack missed any of his vitals, which Sideswipe recognized as a sign that Arcee wasn't really on the Decepticons' side. He waited until Arcee made her move and turned on the 'Cons, at which point he joined in and started blasting people left and right. He went on to help chase after Megatron in an attempt to save Starscream, albeit mostly because it was a chance to shoot more Decepticons. {{storylink|Plan for Everything}}

[[File:TheMindBomb SideswipeSimplerTimes.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.3|Quit while you're behind, Sideswipe.]]
Sideswipe was briefly beaten down by [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] during the ensuing battle for Cybertron, but it ended with a victory for the Autobots. Or rather, it ended with a victory for ''Starscream'', who became leader of the NAILs and had both Autobots and Decepticons exiled into the wilderness. {{storylink|Heavy Is the Head}} As the Autobots set up camp, Sideswipe was approached by Arcee while guarding the medical trailer where Bumblebee was being repaired. While Arcee was expecting him to let her in since they'd fought well together, Sideswipe turned her away, making it clear he was just as unnerved by her as the others. {{storylink|Second Exodus}}

When the ''Lost Light'' resurfaced during the rampage of the [[Quintessa (IDW)|Necrotitan]], Sideswipe warmly reunited with Sunstreaker after their long period apart. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} He stood with the other defenders of Cybertron against the oncoming horde of [[Ammonite]]s. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} In the aftermath, Sideswipe watched with Prowl and Arcee as Optimus conversed with newcomer [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]]. As Prowl talked to Arcee about how different the [[Caminus (planet)|Camiens]] were from her or any other Cybertronian, Sideswipe interjected with a rant about how he missed the good old days of Autobots just fighting Decepticons, without neutrals or any other groups of bots making everything more complicated. Sideswipe was then left confused when Arcee stormed off after he had remarked how impossible it had been to trust anybody when they first worked together. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 3: The Mind Bomb|The Mind Bomb}}
{{-}}

===Return to Earth===
[[File:DetonationBoulevard SideswipeVehicleMode.jpg|upright=1.5|thumb|left|[[Stealth Force]] Sideswipe. No, not [[Sideswipe (Movie)|that one]].]]
Sideswipe was later among those selected by Optimus to join the crew of the ''[[Ark-7]]'' as part of a mission to go to Earth and find [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]. When the ship reached Earth orbit and found itself under attack by missiles despite its deflectors and [[ghost shield]]s, Sideswipe eagerly volunteered to grab his jetpack and fly outside to blast the missiles. Optimus instead ordered him to come along on-board [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] as part of a team headed down to Earth. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|Hello Cruel World}} When Optimus, Jazz, and Kup came under attack by Decepticons and the [[Earth Defense Command]] while investigating a signal, Sideswipe and Arcee covered their retreat and led the Decepticons into the town of [[Poverty Flat]] under orders from Prowl. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|Detonation Boulevard}} Sideswipe watched as [[Devastator (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Devastator]] tore into the Decepticons, but was left baffled when the 'Cons all suddenly vanished. Sideswipe then returned with the others via Sky Lynx to the ''Ark-7'', where Arcee told him to shut up as he chanted a motto to himself about blasting Decepticons. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 3: The Mind Bomb|The Mind Bomb}} After the Autobots learned that Alpha Trion was being held in the EDC's [[Marshall Islands|Bikini Atoll]] base, Sideswipe participated in an attack on the facility, being all too happy to shoot up its automated defenses. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 4: Full Fathom Five|Full Fathom Five}} Sideswipe was not too fazed when the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' showed up and opened fire on the ship (although he had some troubles figuring out what it's "planet-razing" capabilities meant). When Alpha Trion was successfully rescued, Sideswipe helped cover the others as they all retreated aboard Sky Lynx. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 5: I Dream of Wires|I Dream of Wires}}

[[File:Vs SideswipeArceeJetpack.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|right|[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|At least she didn't yell at you...]]]]
Sideswipe and Sky Lynx were both sent out to help [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] when he came under attack while investigating the EDC's base in the aftermath of the Autobots' attack on it, with Sideswipe very much enjoying himself as he finally got to use his [[jet pack|jetpack]] and blow up some missiles; the missiles coming back around even if he missed them just added to the experience. When the trio returned to the ''Ark-7'', Sideswipe questioned Cosmos as to what he had said to make Prowl so angry, and also what precisely a "Google alert" actually was. {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part One: Signals, Calls, and Marches|Signals, Calls, and Marches}} While watching Sky Lynx take Prowl and the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] to Earth with Arcee, Sideswipe asked her if she was still mad at him for his earlier comments to her. Arcee simply told him to hand over his jetpack, and as she flew after Sky Lynx, Sideswipe was left utterly befuddled. {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part Two: Vs.|Vs.}} As Kup chewed him out for just letting Arcee go to Earth, Sideswipe was quick to point the finger at Sky Lynx instead for taking Prowl and the Constructicons to Earth in the first place. {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part Three: ONoffON|ONoffON}} Sideswipe then went with Kup and Sky Lynx to help stop a rampaging Devastator at [[Onyx]]'s [[Wanmu]] facility. {{storylink|The Onyx Interface Conclusion: The Obliterati}}

[[File:TheNothingMan WeaponsHellaOnline.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|left]]
After a team investigating the [[Onyx Interface]] on Earth was trounced by [[G.B. Blackrock#2005 IDW continuity|Garrison Blackrock]]'s [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]/[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] [[Seeker clone|clone-combiner]]s, Sideswipe had some reservations about Arcee's plan of Sky Lynx luring the combiners to the ''Ark-7'', but got the weapons primed regardless. However, things took a turn for the worse when the Onyx tablet that had infiltrated the ship's systems raised its shields just as Sideswipe fired, causing the ''Ark-7'' to be heavily damaged by the close impact of its own weapons. Sideswipe began to panic as he found that he was locked out of the ship's systems and the shields were angled both inside and out, preventing anyone from entering or exiting, but Arcee tried to get him to stay focused. It was then that the still-recovering Alpha Trion came in and revealed that the Onyx tablets' source code was that of the [[Enigma of Combination]]. {{storylink|The Nothing Man}} Sideswipe thought that Arcee's subsequent plan to escape to Cybertron for reinforcements through the ''Ark-7''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s space bridge and set the ship to blow was a terrible one, but went along with it anyway, helping to support Alpha Trion as they fought through the craft's Onyx-infected automated defenses. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 1: Aphelion|Aphelion}} Bantering with Arcee and Trion all the way, when the three 'bots finally reached the door to the space bridge's chamber, Sideswipe noted that his blaster was almost empty and was a bit concerned about what might be behind the door. His fears proved well-founded, as a mob of Decepticons came storming out of the space bridge and opened fire on the Autobots! {{storylink|Conquerors Part 2: Lagrange|Lagrange}}

[[File:Perihelion SideswipeGrenaded.jpg|upright=2.1|thumb|right]]
Retreating from the Decepticon onslaught under heavy fire, he managed to hide Alpha Trion before getting disabled by several grenades. Despite Needlenose's attempts to keep unnecessary carnage to a minimum, [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] shot the defenseless Sideswipe in cold blood. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 4: Perihelion|Perihelion}} Amazingly, Sideswipe survived, but not without extremely serious injuries. He was pulled out of the wreckage of the ''Ark-7'' by Arcee after the ship had crashed in [[Shanghai]] and later helped into the ''[[Skyroller]]'' by Sunstreaker. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 1: Once Upon a Time on Earth|Once Upon a Time on Earth}} His injuries proved drastic enough that he slipped into a coma and was put on life support, being kept inside a tube on board the ''Skyroller''. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 2: Edge of the Earth|Edge of the Earth}} Concerned for his life, Arcee began visiting and sitting with the unconscious Sideswipe. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 3: The Medium and the Message|The Medium and the Message}} On one such occasion, before Optimus' Autobots and Soundwave's Decepticons began their attack on the ''Nemesis'', Arcee wished that Sideswipe could join them, remembering that he lived for battles like these. While she spoke to him, they were joined by Sunstreaker, who told Arcee that Sideswipe often spoke fondly of her in the video messages they exchanged. Thinking his brother would want her to have it, Sunstreaker gave Arcee Sideswipe's jetpack. Though she accepted it, she took offense at Sunstreaker acting like Sideswipe was already dead. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 4: It's Beginning To And Back Again|It's Beginning To And Back Again}}

Sideswipe's tube was at some point moved from the ''Skyroller'' to a medbay inside [[Metrotitan (G1)|Metrotitan]], the new [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]]. {{storylink|White Light}} Still feeling responsible for his current condition, Arcee visited him once again and complained to him about Optimus' new colonist recruits, confiding in him that he was one of the only people she knew that she felt "knew the score". She was interrupted by Jetfire's sudden arrival, checking to see if any of the treatments he had been trying to stop Sideswipe's spark corrosion had worked. They hadn't. Later, as [[Junkion (species)|Junkion]] leaders [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] and [[Rum-Maj]] were given a tour of Autobot City, the nosy Wreck-Gar forced himself into the medbay and took notice of Sideswipe's slowly worsening condition. With that in mind, Wreck-Gar claimed that his people had access to the long-lost technology of a [[positron core]], something that could save Sideswipe's life. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 2: A Lonely Pillar on the Plain|A Lonely Pillar on the Plain}}

[[File:OptimusPrime4 NewCybertron Arcee spars.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.9]]
Arcee continued to visit Sideswipe's comatose body, periodically sparring with [[D.0.C.]] to "keep him company."
{{storylink|New Cybertron Part 4: Dance Among the Shadows|Dance Among the Shadows}} When the Junkions turned on the Autobots by unleashing a horde of Sharkticons on Metrotitan, D.0.C. helped evacuate Sideswipe's body aboard Sky Lynx for safekeeping. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 5: Future Glories Lost|Future Glories Lost}} Though the Junkions were eventually convinced to stand down, the positron core that could have resurrected Sidewsipe was destroyed in the hostilities, permanently negating any chance of bringing the Autobot online again. {{storylink|New Cybertron End: Feel Safe Without Regrets|Feel Safe Without Regrets}}

Over the next few days, Sideswipe's condition steadily deteriorated, much to Arcee's dismay. She and Aileron debated what to do with Sideswipe in his medical bay, though Arcee maintained that Sideswipe wasn't her friend. {{storylink|The Next Day, and the Next}} Eventually, with no hope of recovery in sight, the Autobots decided to humanely put Sideswipe out of his suffering with the help of the Junkion's [[mnemopathis projector]].

Sunstreaker, having traveled to Earth to lay his brother to rest, worked with Arcee to construct an elaborate simulation inside Sideswipe's mind. In his dream, Sideswipe awoke from his coma thanks to the ingenuity of "Wreck-Gar". After debating his next course of action with Arcee, Sideswipe returned to Cybertron, only to find that the planet had greatly changed during his absence—Autobots, Decepticons, neutrals, and colonists all mingled together in the slums of Iacon.

[[File:SidesSwipeIsOkay.jpg|thumb|right|upright=2.0]]
Bewildered by this imperfect new Cybertron, Sideswipe initially tried to track down Sunstreaker, which led him to encounter Soundwave performing humanitarian work for victims of a recent fire. A brief misunderstanding led him to attack the Decepticon, but Sunstreaker arrived to set the record straight. Over the next few days, Sideswipe would go on to learn more about this new Transformer civilization and help out where he could. Eventually, he met up with Arcee and Sunstreaker again to discuss how Cybertron had changed—and how Sideswipe realized that all he had fought for wasn't in vain after all. Slowly working out the truth behind recent events, Sideswipe thanked the two Autobots for showing him that it would all be okay as the dream ended. Filled with the knowledge that he had ultimately done good in the universe, Sideswipe died peacefully. {{storylink|The Life of Sideswipe}}

After the [[Iron Ring]]'s invasion of Cybertron, Optimus presided over Sideswipe's funeral. {{storylink|The Dead Come Home, Part 1 (of 2)|The Dead Come Home, Part 1}} Shortly afterwards, Arcee and Optimus discovered Cybertron's first [[protoform]]s since the planet's reboot. After [[Sideswipe (IDW)|one of them]] tried to kill her, Arcee named him after Sideswipe. {{storylink|The Dead Come Home, Part 2 (of 2)|The Dead Come Home, Part 2}} When Soundwave sacrificed his life to help defeat [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]], he glimpsed Sideswipe's spirit among many others, welcoming him into the [[Transformer afterlife|Afterspark]]. After Unicron had been defeated, Sunstreaker took a moment to fondly remember his brother and wished he had lived to see the day. {{storylink|Ceremony}}

==Notes==
[[File:Sideswipe-Andrew Griffith-RiDS2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0]]
* Sideswipe received [https://www.deviantart.com/guidoguidi/art/Cybertronian-G1-Sideswipe-227369671 an original Cybertronian design] from [[Guido Guidi]] for the "-ations" phase of IDW before receiving his [[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|2008 ''Universe'' toy body]] for ''All Hail Megatron''.
* For [[The Transformers (IDW)|''The Transformers'' vol. 1]], [[Don Figueroa]] gave Sideswipe a [[Live-action film series|movie]]-fied redesign.
* In ''[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]'', [[Nick Roche]] briefly gave Sideswipe his [[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#Timelines|''Generation 2''-styled BotCon body]], but subsequently for "Season 1" of ''Robots in Disguise'', Sideswipe had a body from [[Andrew Griffith]] based on his [[Sideswipe (WFC)|Aligned counterpart]]'s [[:File:WFC Sideswipe.jpg|''War for Cybertron'' game model]].
* Finally, from ''Robots in Disguise'' "Season 2" until the end, Sideswipe had an original Generation 1-esque design, again from Griffith.

[[Category:IDW (2005) Autobots]]

Soundwave (G1)

2022-05-22T15:31:49Z

Spark Mandrill: /* War for Cybertron Trilogy cartoon */

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|cobra|ascenticon|primusvanguard|hofsilver}}
{{disambigm|Soundwave (disambiguation)|Soundblaster (disambiguation)}}
{{suite}}
:''Soundwave is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:TransformersCollectionSoundwaveDatafile.jpg|upright=2|thumb|Secretly, Soundwave was always a little surprised that his Barry White impression had taken him to the top ranks of the Decepticons.]]
'''Soundwave''' (aka '''Soundblaster''') is one of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s most reliable troops, and he has positioned himself comfortably and irreplaceably in the Decepticon upper command structure. Though "only" Communications Officer, Soundwave stands at Megatron's side as a confidant, comparable in rank to [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], but unlike them, entirely loyal to his leader. Though stoic and possessed of little outward personality (as evidenced by his monotone computer-style speech), Soundwave is not without drives: he has worked hard to get where he is, and he guards his place in the Decepticon hierarchy fiercely. On top of hearing all in his role as Communications Officer and Decepticon spy-master, he is actually capable of "reading minds" by scanning and decoding the electrical impulses that carry "thoughts" in both organics and Cybertronians, and he will not hesitate to use what he learns as blackmail to keep himself high in Megatron's esteem. As such, Soundwave is not popular among the rank-and-file Decepticons, who see him as a two-faced snake and wouldn't mind abandoning him on the battlefield—if they thought Megatron would let them get away with it.

Soundwave commands an ever-growing legion of [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassette troops]] to carry out tasks big and small. Stored within his signature chest compartment and called forth on Soundwave's whim with a push of a button, these miniature menaces are most commonly employed as spies for either the Decepticon cause or Soundwave's personal objectives, but are just as effective as warriors, and are entirely devoted to their master. They are also not Soundwave's only diminutive partners: as an [[Action Master]], he is [[Action Master partner|partnered]] with [[Wingthing (G1)|Wingthing]].

{{quote|As you command, Megatron.|Soundwave, eternal loyalist|''[[Dinobot Island, Part 1]]''}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{main|Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity}}
[[File:FlamesofBoltax-SoundwaveRatbat.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|In Soviet Russia, ''tape'' commands ''you''!]]
Millions of years ago, Soundwave was one of the first members of the Decepticons; after sowing discontent amongst the masses, he, [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] began the war that tore the planet itself out of its orbit. After joining the failed Decepticon attempt to hijack the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] four million years ago, he fell into stasis lock with the rest of the crews after the ship crashed until 1984, when a [[Mount St. Hilary|volcanic eruption]], reactivated the Autobots and Decepticons, unleashing their war on Earth. Soundwave would prove one of the most useful troops, though not one of the most loyal, covertly running blackmail schemes and happily hitching his wagon to whichever Decepticon leader was currently in the ascendency, until—in many [[splinter timeline]]s—becoming leader of the Decepticons himself.
{{-}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
[[File:Soundwave and company.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|"Get out of mah BELL-AY!"]]
{{main|Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}
Soundwave was one of the first Decepticons and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s most loyal soldier. Denoted by his eerie, echoing monotone, Soundwave regularly gathered vital intelligence for Megatron's numerous schemes with the aid of his faithful and ever-growing team of cassettes, but despite his primary role as a spy and communications officer, he never shied away the battlefield, and would regularly clash with the Autobot [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] before finding a true rival in his Autobot opposite number, [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]]. He survived the perilous events of 2005 that took the lives of many of his contemporaries, and continued serving under [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] in the 21st century.

In a future timeline that branches off from this one, Soundwave ultimately met his end at the hands of Blaster, but even death could not stymie his loyalty to the Decepticon cause, as he was reborn as '''Soundblaster''' through the super-science of the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]].
{{-}}

===Sticker Adventures books===
Soundwave was an Autobot. He stood by Optimus after he had reawakened following being knocked offline by a Decepticon attack. {{storylink|Return to Cybertron}}
{{-}}

===Marvel Storybooks continuity===
[[File:Bigbattle-ASW.jpeg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
Soundwave was a Decepticon so horrible that even the other Decepticons hated him. During Megatron's latest scheme to take over the planet Earth, Soundwave attempted to blast Windcharger with his deadly concussion blaster gun, only to be repelled by Windcharger's magnetic powers. {{storylink|Battle for Earth}}

After the Decepticons had captured [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], Megatron ordered Soundwave to send a transmission to Autobot headquarters, informing them of the hostage situation. When a rescue party of Autobots attempted to free Sunstreaker, but wound up captured as well, Megatron presumably used Soundwave once more to send another message to the Autobots, informing them of the situation. Soundwave was later present when the Autobot wheeled their peace offering before the Decepticons' headquarters. He and the other Decepticons cheered when Devastator came to admire the peace offering, a life-size statue of the gestalt. The Autobots' surrender turned out to be a ruse, however, and a platoon of Autobots burst forth from within the statue once the Decepticons had their guard down. In the battle that followed, Soundwave inadvertently fell into a fissure created by Rumble's earthquake-inducing powers. {{storylink|The Autobots' Secret Weapon}}
{{-}}

===Marvel coloring books===
Soundwave was in attendance at the Decepticons' latest meeting in their war room. As Megatron discussed his latest plan to finance the construction of a Decepticon army, Soundwave noticed Bumblebee spying on them through a window. Megatron assured Soundwave that this would be used to their advantage, and they would soon both secure the sunken treasures in the waters of Alaska and capture the Autobots.

Disguised in his cassette player mode, Soundwave awaited Bumblebee's arrival underwater. Unable to pass up a free cassette player for his friend Buster, Bumblebee headed right for Soundwave, who captured the little Autobot. The Autobots soon came to Bumblebee's rescue, and the Decepticons were defeated when one of Rumble's earthquakes backfired and swallowed up all of the Decepticons. {{storylink|Search for Treasure Under the Sea}}

Megatron sent Soundwave and the other Decepticons out to capture the Autobots so that they could be incarcerated in their newly built prison. Soundwave managed to capture Gears by sneaking up on him and pulling a plug within the Autobot's back. The Autobots later escaped, and Soundwave was trapped inside one of Trailbreaker's forcefield as they broke out of the Decepticon's prison. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue!}}

Soundwave was one of the many Decepticons who attempted to harm Sparkplug and Buster Witwicky, only to be thwarted by the Autobots' timely intervention. {{storylink|The Deadly Fuel Shortage}}

Soundwave was one of the Decepticons posted within the Decepticons' stronghold to prevent the Autobots from reaching their [[molecular transfer device]]. He failed, and was drained of his energy when Bumblebee managed to turn the machine against the Decepticons themselves. {{storylink|Summertime Coloring Book}}

Soundwave sent Kickback, Ravage and Laserbeak to attack a village and scare of the inhabitants. Later, Soundwave ordered the Constructicons to construct a new fuel planet. Soundwave and his Decepticons partners are defeated when the Dinobots route them into a pit full of quick-drying cement. {{storylink|The Autobot Spy in the Sky}}

Soundwave helped Megatron tear down a forest in order to make room for a Decepticon factory. Then didn't do much damage before the Autobots showed up and forced them to flee. {{storylink|Forest Rescue Mission}}

Together with Thundercracker, Rumble and Ravage, Soundwave concocted a dastardly trap for unsuspecting Autobots. They constructed a rest-stop that was in truth a car-compactor in disguise! Soundwave successfully crushed Gears in it, only for Mirage, Ratchet and Sideswipe to arrive on the scene instantly afterwards. In the battle that ensued, Rumble attempted to fight back with his earthquake-inducing abilities, only to create chasm in which both he and Soundwave fell into. Way to go Rumble. {{storylink|The Autobot Smasher!}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|The Big Book of Coloring Fun}}}}

Soundwave was on a mission with Galvatron to steal oil from [[Oil Valley]] when they spotted Hot Rod nearby. When they gave chase, Soundwave detected that more Autobots, the Dinobots to be precise, were in the area. The Decepticon fliers went ahead to ambush the heroic robots. When Soundwave and the other ground-bound Decepticons caught up to them, Soundwave managed to land a shot on Swoop. The Decepticons were soon driven away when further Autobot reinforcements arrived on the battlefield. {{storylink|Battle at Oil Valley}}

When the Decepticons learned that the Autobots had long ago lost a large shipment of Energon cubes at the Ark's original crash site, Galvatron ordered them to head to Mt. St. Hillary to uncover it. There, Soundwave fought the Autobots over possession of it. The brawl ended when Starscream scarfed down all of the Energon, and proceeded to pick a fight with Galvatron. {{storylink|The Lost Treasure of Cybertron}}
{{-}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
[[File:LaserbeaksFury Soundwave ejects.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|Laserbeak, why is there a ghost of you?]]
When [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] spotted the Autobots working on some sort of device, Soundwave believed it to be a radio mast, and followed Laserbeak to the site. He was unable to detect any radio signals, and the intrigued Megatron wanted to investigate further. First they had to stop [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] from destroying the device. While they were there, the device, in actuality a lightning collector, emitted a pulse of energy that caused the Decepticons to malfunction wildly, and they were forced to retreat. {{storylink|Autobots' Lightning Strike}}

Soundwave sent out [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] to scout for energy sources, and the buzzard's mission resulted in Megatron and Soundwave locating an experimental solar energy plant. They signaled for the rest of the Decepticons and, after a minor insurrection on Starscream's part was squelched, set about collecting the energy in cubes. When [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] entered the plant, Soundwave detected him and raised the alarm, but it was too late to prevent the sabotage of the solar machinery and the energon cubes were destroyed. {{storylink|Megatron's Fight for Power}}

Ever loyal, Soundwave backed up Megatron's opinion that they needed to test the ion-drive for their new space cruiser. When they located a suitable abandoned mine, Soundwave was momentarily distracted by the railway lines, but they soon got to work testing the rig. Unfortunately the Autobots found them and though Soundwave raised the alarm, Spike used mine carts to destroy the ion-drive, bringing the tunnel down on the Decepticons. {{storylink|Autobots Fight Back}} At Megatron's command, Soundwave deployed Laserbeak to seek information on [[human]]s. When this led the Decepticons to a windmill, Megatron believed the structure was a new Autobot weapon that they needed to capture. Soundwave deployed Rumble, with the theory that the structure might prove susceptible to shockwaves. He was right, and the structure promptly fell on top of the Decepticons as Megatron protested he wanted it captured, not destroyed. {{storylink|Laserbeak's Fury}}

Under the leadership of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], Soundwave was responsible for coordinating communications with three cloaked Decepticon spy satellites. On discovering the existence of the satellites, the Autobots set up equipment to block Soundwave's transmissions. Hound impersonated Soundwave perfectly, ordering the satellites to enter a collision course with each other, and Soundwave was unable to cut through the interference before the satellites collided. {{storylink|Galvatron's Air Attack}}

===Big Looker storybooks continuity===
Soundwave was part of the ambush party that boarded the Ark during the Cretaceous period, which led to Optimus Prime crashing his ship in a volcano and shutting everyone on board offline. The Decepticons then raided a nearby nuclear power to gain the additional power necessary to destroy the Autobots. Frustrated over his lack of progress as the Decepticons still could not penetrate the Ark's shields, Megatron called Soundwave over to tune in on the inside of the ship. As Megatron suspected, Soundwave confirmed that the Autobots had left it behind in the Decepticons’ absence. Soundwave also reported that the Ark's computer was laughing at them. Eventually finding one another, the Decepticons and the Autobots battled, but with the Decepticons running low on fuel once more, the evil robots were forced to retreat. {{storylink|Battle for Cybertron}}

Soundwave was spying on the Autobots Mirage and Cliffjumper. Listening in on the conversation, he learned of a cross-country car rally that offered a year's worth of gas and oil to whoever won the competition. Soundwave headed off to share this information with Megatron. {{storylink|The Great Car Rally}}

While the Decepticons looked on in jealousy over the Autobots' city Metroplex, Soundwave tuned in on the conversations going on within. He learned that Kup and Hot Rod were planning to see a car show which would showcase a new type of robot car. He informed Galvatron of this, who in turn was excited over the possibility of stealing the car to create a series of robot slaves. Soundwave, Galvatron, Starscream and Rumble then sneaked into the Colosseum that would soon be showing the car robot, and waited behind the scenes for their opportunity to steal it. The old Autobot Kup stumbled in on them, but was promptly captured. He nevertheless foiled the Decepticons' plan to create a blackout during the show, and Soundwave was forced to fight the Autobots, who had disguised themselves as being part of the show. Soundwave and the rest of the Decepticons were soon defeated and chased off by the Autobots afterwards. {{storylink|Car Show Blow Up}}

===Kid Stuff Talking Story Books continuity===
{{voiceactor|Unknown}}
Soundwave accompanied Megatron to the [[Kalahari Desert]], where they both overlooked their human slaves piling unimaginable amounts of coal into an underground cave. There, he complained about the desert sand getting into his cassette drives and fouling his transmissions, only to be berated by Megatron for his whining. Amidst Megatron's constant bullying, Soundwave assured his leader that their plan would soon come to fruition; the cave would be cocooned in a layer of [[lectonite]], which upon exploding would convert the charcoal into a diamond of enormous proportions, ready to be used in the next phase of Megatron's plan.

Soundwave and Megatron blasted off in their ship as Megatron detonated the lectonite, converting the coal and the human slaves left behind in the cave into the largest diamond lens in the universe. The task complete, Soundwave used the ship's anti-gravity lifters to tow the lens all the way to [[Mato Grosso (state)|Mato Grosso]], in [[Brazil]]. There, Soundwave finalized cutting the diamond lens, while complaining about the rain forest's humidity. The Decepticons then attacked the Diamond lens to a satellite. As the satellite launched, Soundwave and Megatron retreated to a control station in northeast America. They then unleashed the satellite's power, and began melting down the [[Rocky Mountains|Rockies]].

Both Megatron and Soundwave looked on as Skyfire attempted to destroy the satellite in orbit. When the Autobot failed and fell back to Earth, burning up on reentry, both Decepticons had a good laugh at his expense. Their tone changed when the Autobots managed to destroy their satellite with a secondary plan, and launched an attack on Soundwave and Megatron's location. Soundwave and Megatron escaped the Autobot's attack in a [[turbine mole machine]]. {{storylink|Satellite of Doom}}

Soundwave accompanied Megatron on his next scheme to procure oil; using a hovercraft oil transporter to steal [[Prudhoe Bay]] crude oil. They were attacked by Skyfire afterwards, but Soundwave managed to escape their attacked by activating their ship's [[hyper-thrust afterburner]]s. The Decepticons then abandoned their badly damaged ship and ran off into the frozen wastelands of the north. Soundwave then helped Megatron steal another machine to secure oil, this time around a deep-sea oil transporter. Travelling close to the sea bed, Soundwave piloted the machine to the oil reservoir's lowest point, and began syphoning the oil once more. Unfortunately, the Autobots had somehow concocted a plan that filled the Decepticons’ transport's tanks with [[razon gas]] and returned the crude oil to its proper spot. With their submersible being forced to surface due to the gas, Megatron and Soundwave abandoned ship, though they did leave a booby-trap behind in case any Autobots boarded the ship.

According to Megatron, Soundwave is a "blundering, tape-filled idiot." While the veracity of this statement is subjective, Soundwave ''does'' whine a lot. {{storylink|When Continents Collide}}

Soundwave once more accompanied Megatron to the jungles of Mato Grosso in Brazil, where they revisited their old satellite launch complex. He was so moved by Megatron's speech on destroying the Autobots that he began to cry, only to be berated once more by Megatron for displaying emotion. He and Megatron then used their turbo mole machine to drill under the jungle to get at the oil beneath it. Their first attempt failed when their tunnel collapsed on itself (taking [[Machu Picchu]] and part of the [[Andes Mountains]] with it) and Soundwave was forced to have the mole machine surface. Once they were in the open, Optimus and his Autobots began attacking them. Soundwave and Megatron managed to escape, and attempted once more to drill beneath the jungle. This attempt was more successful, and Soundwave watched on as the underground oil reserves gushed out into the jungle. He and Megatron then transferred themselves to their [[defoliator craft]] to better witness nature's ruin. When Skyfire screeched overhead, Soundwave assured his leader that he was scrambling his communications... only to realize that his wiring was loose, and it was his headset that was garbled, not the Autobots’ network. Optimus and his troops arrived shortly, and forced the Decepticons to retreat once more. {{storylink|Storms of Destruction}}

When Soundwave found Megatron destroy facsimiles of Shockwave, he was informed by his leader that he planned to kill Shockwave due to suspicions that he was luring Decepticons away from his leadership with promises of oil. Soundwave suggested that Megatron instead find a way to supply his Decepticons with enough oil to secure their loyalties. Soundwave and Megatron planned to steal the Dinobots’ fuel supply to accomplish this goal. After Slag was damaged in a Decepticon attack, Megatron and Soundwave followed him back to the Dinobots’ secret base in their [[Thermo-borer]]. Upon penetrating the Dinobot base however, Soundwave accidentally tripped an alarm. He and Megatron immediately retreated. Although Ratchet had planted a [[Memory Scrambler Mine]] on the Thermo-borer's hull, Soundwave had installed a [[Beta Blocker Shield]] on the machine, allowing the Decepticons to retain the coordinates they had acquired. Despite Soundwave's insistence that he and Megatron should attempt to sneakily siphon away the Autobots’ oil supply, Megatron ordered that they use the [[Crusher (G1)|Crusher]]. Though it seemed at first that they were about to succeed for once, Soundwave soon realized that their machine had inadvertently freed hundreds of Dinobots from their tar cocoons. He and Megatron then had to fight off hundreds of enemy robots before presumably retreating once more. {{storylink|Jaws of Terror}}

Soundwave accompanied Megatron on an a trip to the island of [[Buru]], where the Insecticons had turned the natives into mindless slaves to collect oil for them. Though Megatron insisted on the oil drilling operation, to increase its speed Venom refused, telling Soundwave that such a thing was impossible. Megatron and Soundwave met with the leader of the Insecticons. There, Megatron forced Soundwave to do all the talking, as he found himself intimidated by Venom. Their meeting was interrupted by Prowl and Optimus's arrival on the island. While Venom and his Insecticons dealt with the Autobots, Soundwave and Megatron went off to drill additional oil behind his back. Due to Megatron's greed, however, the Decepticons’ drilling machine became overstuff with oil. When Optimus Prime and the Dinobots headed for them, Soundwave and Megatron were forced to retreat once more without procuring any oil. {{storylink|Slaves of the Insecticons}}

From his submersible near [[Madagascar]], Soundwave helped Megatron sink six [[oil tanker]]s. Attacking another, Megatron's submersible was completely wrecked when it emerged the oil he drained was tainted by the Autobots with corrosive acid. As the submersible's systems failed one by one, Soundwave deduced that they had fallen for an Autobot trap. The two Decepticons escaped during the subsequent Autobot attack. {{storylink|Attack of the Decepticons}}
{{-}}

===Listen 'n Fun audiobooks continuity===
Soundwave recorded a broadcast of Doctor [[Heath Blaisedale]] receiving an award from the [[President of the United States]] and reported it to Megatron. Megatron dubbed him a "King of Communication". {{storylink|Sun Raid (Listen 'n Fun)}}

===Listen 'n Play audiobooks continuity===
{{voiceactor|? (English)}}
While enacting a plan to abduct humans and ransom them to the US government for fuel, Megatron ordered Soundwave to contact the President of the United States once Starscream returned from his current mission kidnapping people. Unfortunately Starscream failed and the humans were all freed by the Autobots, so presumably Soundwave never got to make the call. {{storylink|Sun Raid (Listen 'n Play)}}

===The Battle for Planet Earth===
{{voiceactor|[[Peter Marinker]] (English)}}
Soundwave was among the Decepticons who followed the Autobots to [[South America]] and attacked them atop [[Mount Sheelah]]. The Decepticons were caught in the volcano's erupt and became trapped in lava. {{storylink|Terror of Mount Sheelah}} Despite his ability to hear a fly sneeze, he completely missed [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] infiltrating the Decepticon base to find out where the humans the Decepticons had been kidnapping had gone. He later discovered that the Autobot had stolen their [[global crystal]]. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue (G1)|Bumblebee to the Rescue}} Soundwave was part of a Decepticon mission to take over [[Stanley Lake]] dam, which ended in the Decepticons being washed away in a torrent of water by the Autobots. {{storylink|Menace at the Dam}} When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] planned to infiltrate the Autobots, Soundwave supplied him with a tiny radio transmitter with which to report back. Unfortunately while the Decepticons were acting on the information Starscream gathered, the Autobots destroyed their base. {{storylink|Espionage!!!!!}}

====Renegade Rhetoric====
Soundwave was a member of the Decepticons led by Megatron who fled to another dimensional Strata, pursued by the Autobot [[Spy Changer]]s. They gathered an assortment of technologies from the human world, including [[Unit: E]]'s Project: Chimera files. Soundwave also guided [[Crash Test (G2)|Crash Test]] and Rumble in stealing the [[Brainwave Scanner]] from Metro City. Megatron and Soundwave combined their new advancements to become [[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bot]]s, augmenting their body-types to be more powerful than the Spy Changers.

Unfortunately for Megatron, his parallel scheme to use the Brainwave Scanner to corrupt Optimus Prime proved ''too'' successful. The rechristened "[[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]]" was power-hungry and a threat to Megatron's leadership, taking half the Go-Bots as his own separate Decepticon faction. Soundwave led [[Nightracer (G2)|Nightracer]] and Rumble on behalf of Megatron to steal some equipment from China, but they were opposed by the Spy Changers and the [[People's Liberation Army Paranormal Taskforce]]. Soundwave was captured by the Chinese authorities. {{storylink|Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric|Renegade Rhetoric (2)}}

===Milton Bradley mini-comic===
[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] organized an ambush for the Autobots' new [[Ark (G1)|ark]] as it tried to clear a path through an asteroid belt. As [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] sent the ship hurtling towards [[Earth]], Megatron ordered Soundwave to jump out just before the crash. Soundwave found himself battling [[dinosaur (dinosaur)|strange organic creatures]]. It wasn't long before he found himself against the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], whom the ark had repaired. Though the four Autobots weren't anywhere near a match for Soundwave, [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] used his tail to bash a nearby cliff, bringing tons of rock down on top of both the Dinobots and Soundwave, knocking them all offline. {{storylink|In the Transformers}}

===Find Your Fate Junior===
{{notemultipath}}
====Dinobots Strike Back====
In one path, Soundwave was one of many Decepticons in their secret base in [[Mount Lomas]], listening to Megatron's speech about how the [[black coral]] in nearby [[Dolphin's Bay]] would produce enough superfuel to triple their war-making capacity and crush the Autobots in just a few hours. As the speech wrapped up, he intercepted a radio transmission containing details on Operation Black Coral which Megatron just mentioned, and it seemed to be coming from just outside a doorway leading to one of the base's underwater access tunnels! He rushed through the doorway and told the Autobot spy, in a booming voice, "''Don't move!'' The game is over!" But when the intruder turned around and he saw it was just [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], he let [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] deal with him, paralyzing the Autobot with a sonic attack and leaving him in the water.

If [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] tried to radio Bumblebee from his [[Star mini-submarine|mini-sub]] afterwards, Frenzy nailed it with a long range sonic attack as well, presumably because Soundwave also intercepted that transmission and told the mini cassette where to aim.

In an alternate path in which the Decepticons foolishly invited four of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] to a premature mountaintop victory party, thinking they were still being controlled by [[cerebro-shell]]s, [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] suddenly broke cover and ordered them to attack. Sludge responded first, stomping Soundwave who was nearest to him. It's unknown how badly this injured Soundwave, but he surely didn't fare much worse than the other Dectpticons as the ensuing Autobot assault totaled their base. {{storylink|Dinobots Strike Back}}

====Battle Drive====
In one of the possible scenarios that took place, Soundwave was able to spy on a small squad of Autobots out in open farmland. There, he alternatively discovered if the Autobots were planning a ruse to trick the Decepticons into thinking the whole Autobot army was posed to attack them, or he discovered the location of Sparkplug Witwicky, who held schematics which detailed a fatal flaw in the Decepticons' circuits. In either case, he reported his findings back to Megatron.

In another possible series of scenarios, Soundwave is amongst Megatron's troops who ambush Optimus Prime once he is lured out in open farmland, without any nearby cover. In one version of these events, Soundwave attempts to stop Optimus from reaching the cover of a nearby bridge, only for Optimus to shrug off his blasts and plow past him, forcing Soundwave off the road. In this scenario, the Decepticons succeed in eliminating the Autobots. In an alternate scenario, Soundwave is taken out by Jazz's photon rifle, and the Autobots succeed in escaping the Decepticons' clutches. {{storylink|Battle Drive}}

====Attack of the Insecticons====
Soundwave was present, yet mostly uninvolved, in a number of possible adventures revolving around the Sun-Pak, a device invented by the Autobots' human ally Sparkplug. {{storylink|Attack of the Insecticons}}

====Earthquake====
[[File:EarthquakeCosmosspies.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Soundwave was one of the Decepticons involved in Megatron's latest ploy, the wipe out humanity through the use of a Destruction Beam and Rumble's earthquake-inducing abilities. Soundwave and Megatron were in the habit of explaining the plot to one another out loud, oblivious to the risk of Autobots wandering nearby and catching wind of their machinations.

In one possible sequence of events, Soundwave plotted with Starscream to overthrow Megatron, and become joint leaders of the Decepticons. Unbeknownst to him, Soundwave was spied upon by the Autobot Cosmos.

In the event that Cosmos relayed this information to Megatron, the Decepticon leader became enraged and confronted the pair. The Decepticons subsequently began fighting amongst themselves, leaving the Autobots to their own devices.

In a completely different possible series of events, Soundwave was handed the human girl Jessie, who had been discovered snooping around the Decepticons’ secret fortress. He and Thrust put the girl in a holding cell within the fortress. {{storylink|Earthquake (book)|Earthquake}}

====Desert Flight====
[[File:DesertFlightDrunkenDecepticons.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
Soundwave was part of a Decepticon deployment stationed in a desert base. The Decepticons plotted to lure the Autobots in a trap through the use of an anti-gravity beam. Using the beam on a nearby human settlement, the Autobots would be duped into coming to the fleshlings’ rescue, only to be themselves trapped by the effects of the beam.

In the event that the Autobots used a trojan ruse to infiltrate the Decepticon base, Soundwave was one of the many Decepticons who had been prematurely celebrating their victory, and was thus too drunk to fight off the subsequent Autobot attack. {{storylink|Desert Flight}}
{{-}}

====Decepticon Poison====
Soundwave possessed a fighter jet [[alternate mode]]. In one possible scenario, Soundwave was one of the many Decepticons present at the water supply facility, about to poison it when the Autobots arrived on-scene. In one possible scenario that followed, he was shot down by the Autobots, creating his own grave in the charred earth bellow. {{storylink|Decepticon Poison}}

====Project Brain Drain====
[[File:ProjectBrainDrainDecepticonGuards.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Soundwave reported to Galvatron that the [[Brain Drain device]], capable of syphoning away the brainpower of humans and convert it to energy, had been completed and was ready to be put to use for the Decepticon cause. He became giddy over the idea of rendering humans "incredibly stupid," until Galvatron sternly instructed him to simply inform him of the bare facts when reporting to him. After Soundwave elaborated further on the number of humans the Decepticons would need to "drain," Soundwave was instructed to guard the device while the Decepticons prepared to use it later in the day at a concert in [[Heywood Heights]].

In one possible scenario, Galvatron had to recall his troops from the concert at the last minute when Ultra Magnus and his troops began a timely assault on the Decepticons’ headquarters. Soundwave participated in the battle that ensued, which ended in a loss for the Decepticons when Ultra Magnus triggered an avalanche, burying Galvatron and shattering the Brain Drain device.

In another possible scenario, Soundwave and the rest of the Decepticons were surprised to find the Autobots hiding amidst the parked vehicles surrounding the concert just as they were about to put their plan into action. The two factions began battling as the scared concert-goers got caught in the middle.

In one scenario that ensued, Soundwave had to remind his leader to stop fighting and employ the Brain Drain device and complete their mission. Passing the device on to Galvatron, either Bumblebee or Hot Rod attempted to intercept the device.

If Hot Rod interfered, the young Autobot successfully plucked the device out of Soundwave hands and made his getaway through the nearby ring of fire.

In a completely different sequence of events, Soundwave was exiting the Decepticons’ lab, Brain Drain device in hand, when he spotted Sparkplug Witwicky and Wreck-Gar attempting to sneak in. Soundwave promptly sounded an alarm and open fire on the pair. As other Decepticons came to his aid and surrounded the human and the Junkion, Soundwave instructed the pair to surrender, promising their safety if they did so. Soundwave was lying of course, and blew Wreck-Gar and Sparkplug to smithereens if they gave themselves up. If the pair instead made a run for it, they escaped the Decepticons’ clutches.

In one possible scenario that followed, the Autobots returned to storm the lab shortly after. Soundwave was one of the few Decepticons too afraid of Galvatron's wrath to desert his post, and attempted to fend off the Autobot aggressors. Finding himself on the losing side, Soundwave grabbed the Brain Drain device, and attempted to flee with it.

If Hot Rod attempted to shoot the device out of Soundwave's hands, Soundwave tripped at the last moment over the fallen body of a Decepticon. Hot Rod's blast his Soundwave's shoulder, causing him to fling the Brain Drain device up in the air. Laserbeak managed to catch the device in mid-air, and flew off to rendezvous with Galvatron, ensuring the Decepticons’ victory.

If Jazz attempted to stop Soundwave, the Autobot used all of the sound equipment within his body to send a powerful sonic wave towards the fleeing Decepticon. Overwhelmed by the blast, Soundwave exploded, crushing the Brain Drain device in the process. {{storylink|Project Brain Drain}}
{{-}}

===Frito-Lay posters===
Soundwave was amongst a squad of Decepticons who attempted to get to the power source within [[Sherman Dam|Boulder Dam]]. While Megatron dueled Optimus, Soundwave joined Starscream, Buzzsaw and Ravage in an attack formation. The Decepticons were ultimately unsuccessful in gathering the data they were after. {{storylink|Battle in the Desert Valley}}
{{-}}

===The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual===
Back on Cybertron, Soundwave was tasked with keeping Megatron's army efficient and well-informed. It was largely thanks to him that the Decepticons learned of the Autobots' plan to leave the planet aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. {{storylink|The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual|Soundwave's ''The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual'' profile}}

After awakening on Earth, the Decepticons remained in a prolonged stalemate against the Autobots. A chance to shift the balance of power came to the Decepticons' attention when [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] reported that their enemies had uncovered an ancient Cybertronian ship, one which contained a star map pointing the way back to their homeworld. Soundwave partook in the Decepticons' offensive to take the ship for themselves, and they found it surprisingly easy to send the Autobots into a retreat. They learned why upon entering the vessel; it was a trap! The door shut behind Soundwave and the others, and the Decepticons were sent hurtling blindly out into space. The Autobots knew they hadn't rid themselves of the Decepticons permanently, but were content with not having to deal with them for however long it took them to find their way back planet-side. {{storylink|Day of the Decepticons}}

Megatron brought Soundwave along to ambush Optimus and a couple of his soldiers while they were investigating Transformer power emissions in [[Brazil]]. After Megatron had taken out all opposition, Soundwave moved in to capture the two newly detected robots, a couple of savage [[Dinobot (G1)|mechanical dinosaurs]]. But the plasma net he used on the creatures had an uexpected effect; negative ion feedback triggered their Transformer circuitry and restored their personalities along with their robot modes. Soundwave was blasted by the newly restored [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]], and chose to flee rather than face the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots']] awesome power. {{storylink|The Dinobots!}}

===''Beast Wars'' cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
[[File:BW Agenda Pt3 Soundwave.jpg|thumb|left|With one stroke I shall free my tiny dinosaur brethren, yesssss!"]]
Soundwave was among the many Transformers strewn about the bridge of the ''Ark'' when the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] infiltrated the ship on his mission to destroy Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}}

====3H comics====
[[File:Terminus Autobots Decepticons.jpg|thumb]]
Soundwave was one of the ancient warriors who appeared from [[J'nwan]] to help battle the warlord [[Shokaract]]. {{storylink|Terminus (issue)|Terminus}} {{storylink|Departure}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
[[File:Soundwavewarwithin.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|Sound and ([[Ravage (G1)#3H comics|eventually]]) Furry.]]
Soundwave was chosen by Megatron to lead his second assassination team against the new Autobot supreme commander, Optimus Prime. With the aid of Soundwave's cassette troops, most notably [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], as well as [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], and [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]], it was assumed he would have no problem with a young, peace-loving Autobot. {{storylink|The War Within issue 2|The War Within #2}} Soundwave, like the rest of his team, underestimated Prime and lost track of him early in the mission. He reported back to Megatron, who reminded his troops ''not'' to toy with Optimus and to slay him at the first opportunity given. Using Ravage to follow the Prime's scent, the Decepticons resumed their pursuit, only to be all incapacitated when Optimus used the environment to his advantage and ambushed them. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3|The War Within #3}} Soundwave was still out cold when [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] came by, {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}} but recovered in time to rescue Megatron after the latter's own battle with Prime. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within #6}}

At some point, Soundwave silently witnessed Megatron angrily confront Starscream for highjacking his plans while he was away, and enacting revenge against the council of elders. {{storylink|The Omega Effect}}

When Megatron and Optimus Prime vanished in a [[space bridge]] accident, the Decepticons were fragmented and Soundwave joined [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s faction. {{storylink|Conflagration}} While footage of a brawl between Defensor and Devastator was caught on-camera by Prowl's computers in his Autobase, Soundwave was also spotted by one of the hub's screens. {{storylink|Escalation}} Soundwave later participated in the attack on [[The Fallen]]'s minions in an attempt to stop the [[Unbinding]]. {{storylink|Conflagration}}

Eventually, Shockwave attempted to call a truce with the Autobots for the good of the Transformer race, but the initial ceremony was interrupted by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s faction, the [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]]. Soundwave was quite mad about this, telling the Predacons to perish for their crimes against Cybertron as he attacked them alongside several Autobots. Shortly after the Predacons were defeated, Megatron returned to Cybertron with his [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]] and reunited the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}} After falling back under Megatron's command, Soundwave reported the progress on his leader's plan to dig a hole to the core of Cybertron. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

In the year 1999, Soundwave was among the Decepticons defeated by the Autobots and their human allies on Earth. The ''[[Ark II]]'', the spacecraft that would have taken the Transformers back to Cybertron, was sabotaged by General [[Robert Hallo]] and [[Lazarus|Adam Rook]], and it exploded upon liftoff, scattering the robots across the Arctic Ocean. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}} Three years later, Soundwave was unearthed by Rook (now calling himself "Lazarus") in the arctic. Seeing the Decepticon's inert form convinced a potential investor, [[Ratzenberg|Mr. Ratzenberg]], to fund Lazarus's black market organization. {{storylink|Prime Directive Preview}} Several more Transformers, Autobot and Decepticon alike, were recovered and reprogrammed by Rook to accept commands and were leased to terrorist organisations and military juntas as powerful weapons of war. As part of a demonstration to prospective buyers, Rook had Soundwave join an assault against the Smitco Oil Refinery alongside half a dozen Transformers. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}} After Megatron freed himself and the other Decepticons from the human's command, Soundwave developed a 'metallic virus' that cyberformed Earth organics into cybertronic materials. Once this doomsday device was completed, Megatron had Soundwave unleash it onto the unsuspecting world. The Decepticons then met the Autobots outside, and the battle between the two factions began anew. Their brawl was briefly interrupted when General [[Robert Hallo]] dropped a low-yield nuclear weapon on the Transformers. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}} But the previously unleashed virus absorbed most of the bomb's blast, leaving the Decepticons relatively unharmed. They recovered before the Autobots, and set off towards [[San Francisco]] to bring carnage upon the human city. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 4|Prime Directive #4}} The Autobots soon caught up, and during the Decepticons' subsequent battle against them, Devastator was felled. Despite this, the Decepticons overpowered their foes, and secured them with steel girders. Soundwave stood at Megatron's side as the Decepticon leader tried to convince Optimus to join forces with him, purporting that humans were too morally bankrupt to be worth his efforts. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 5|Prime Directive #5}} But with the humans' help, the Autobots were able to once more turn the tide of battle. Soundwave then detected a nuclear missile launched by Hallo heading for the city. He warned Megatron of the incoming payload, and the Decepticons used the distraction to escape. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}}

{{charstubfiction|[[The Transformers Trilogy]] ({{storylink|Transformers: Hardwired|Hardwired}} / {{storylink|Transformers: Annihilation|Annihilation}} / {{storylink|Transformers: Fusion|Fusion}})}}

[[File:Soundwaveg1vol2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Leader's pet.]]
The Decepticons were battling Optimus Prime's forces on the shores of [[Alaska]] when Shockwave and his followers ambushed both factions, denouncing them all as war criminals. Shockwave claimed that in the Earthbound Transformers' absence, the civil war had ended on Cybertron, and those who followed either Optimus or Megatron were now considered enemies of peace. Shockwave brutally deposed Megatron while Soundwave stood by in silence and did nothing to help his former leader. Though the Autobots escaped, the Decepticons who agreed to yield to Shockwave's regime were granted amnesty, among these Soundwave. Shockwave then had his new recruits go within his ship's [[CR chamber]]s while he made his way back to their homeworld. {{storylink|New World Order}}

Soundwave worked his way quietly into Shockwave's good graces, earning the ire of Starscream. After Shockwave offered Soundwave a position as his lieutenant, the latter was accosted by Starscream. {{storylink|Brothers' Burden}} It didn't take many words to bring Soundwave around to the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]'s point of view. Later, when interrogated by Shockwave, a single, silent look from Soundwave stopped [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] from confirming that Starscream was behind Megatron's disappearance during their voyage to Cybertron. With this bit of non-verbal communication, Rumble and Frenzy understood they were to play along with whatever orders Shockwave issued them. {{storylink|Cold War (issue)|Cold War}} Soundwave aided Starscream in crippling Shockwave's surveillance systems, by delaying the video feeds being transmitted to his monitor womb. With this delay in place, Starscream was able to sneak up on the [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] trio posted within the surveillance center, and assassinate them. In thanks for his contribution, Starscream rewarded Soundwave by reuniting him with [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (issue)|Countdown to Extinction}} As the battle between the Autobots and Shockwave's forces intensified, Soundwave followed Starscream's lead without a word, and helped him prepare for a return trip to Earth. Unfortunately, the shuttle they hijacked turned out to be the Autobot [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], who took off of his own volition, trapping the Decepticons within himself. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

But Soundwave managed to hack into Sky Lynx's neural processor, forcing him to take the Decepticons to Earth. The Decepticons made their way back to the ''Nemesis'' and set about scavenging parts to restore the ship to working order. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}} To this end, Soundwave was part of Starscream's initial salvo against the ''Ark'', a decoy to be deliberately taken prisoner in order to draw out the remaining Autobots where the newly reformatted [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] could get at them in their combined form. {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}} Bruticus freed Soundwave from captivity, only for [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]], a derange and super-powered clone of Starscream, to arrive and disrupt the Decepticons' raid. Sunstorm's "purifying light" induced an energon overload in the Decepticons' systems, knocking them into stasis lock. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}} Soundwave and the other Decepticons were made the Autobots' prisoners once more, until Starscream negotiated a deal for their release in exchange for his aid against Sunstorm. {{storylink|Skyfire (issue)|Skyfire}} Afterwards, Soundwave began to take steps to re-establish Megatron as the head of their troupe; though he had feigned subservience to Starscream, he had never stopped serving Megatron in secret. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}} One of his communiques with the true leader of the Decepticons was almost discovered by Starscream when the Seeker unexpectedly returned from his final confrontation against Sunstorm, though Frenzy managed to warn Soundwave of his approach. {{storylink|Infestation (Dreamwave)|Infestation}}

Soon thereafter, Megatron traveled to Earth, with Soundwave granting him access to the Decepticons' base while Starscream was out training with the Combaticons. Upon Starscream's return, Soundwave wielded Megatron in his gun mode, and blasted Starscream through the chest before the true leader of the Decepticons revealed himself to his usurper. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}
{{-}}

===''G.I.Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:Soundwavedevilsdue.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|"Eject. Operation: Dynamic Group Shot."]]
Soundwave was among the Transformers on the ''Ark'' when it crashed long ago, and was discovered and reprogrammed by the human terrorist organization known as [[Cobra]] in the present. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #1}} Arms dealer [[Destro]] made a visit to [[Cobra Island]] where [[Doctor Mindbender]] introduced him to Soundwave and his cassettes, who were under the complete control of Cobra's scientists. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2}} While Destro liked what he saw, he wanted to run a test, and personally operated Soundwave's controls during an attack on the [[SPS Research Facility]].

Meanwhile, a picture of Soundwave was secretly sent out to hundreds of email boxes. The message turned out to be a [[Defense Matrix|secret signal]] from Optimus Prime, which alerted [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and Bumblebee to the location of Cobra's secret base where the rest of the Transformers were being held. When the two Autobots appeared to stop Destro's attack, the human brought Soundwave and himself back to Cobra Island. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3}}

[[File:Soundwave GIJoevsTFs6.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.3]]
Soundwave was released from Cobra control thanks to Wheeljack and attacked his former human masters. With Megatron and the other Decepticons freed, Soundwave went to work making energon cubes. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}} Just as things were going their way, Optimus Prime arrived, powered up using the energon, and punched his fist right through Soundwave's chest, taking him out of the battle. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}} After the Autobots left on a return voyage to Cybertron, Soundwave's head and remains were taken in secret by human scientists for study. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 6|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6}}

Several years later, the scientists managed to use Megatron's technology to create the organic weapon [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]], who plugged himself into Soundwave's deactivated head after getting free and downloaded data on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s history. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[File:Soundwave Flint-Wolves.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0]]
Along with the rest of the Decepticons, Soundwave was buried in the [[Fera Islands]] until 1938, when [[Cobra]] accidentally awakened them and used them to conquer most of [[Europe]]. He sent Laserbeak to spy on the [[United States of America|United States]]' reaction to this, and learned that [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] had been created to battle the Cobra threat. Soundwave later helped Megatron and Starscream get rid of some Royal Air Force fighters above the English Channel, allowing Cobra to attack the [[United Kingdom]]. {{storylink|The Line}}

When G.I. Joe attacked the Fera Islands, Soundwave infiltrated [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]]'s unit in the form of a radio transmitter carried by a disguised [[Zartan]]. Flint noticed that it wasn't their radio, but that didn't stop Soundwave from capturing him and taking him back to Cobra HQ. {{storylink|Wolves}} However, the Joes had managed to awaken the Autobots also buried on the island, and Soundwave soon found himself facing down [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. He lost the fight, and either died at the hands of Grimlock or when the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] was smashed to pieces. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}

{{Unreleased TFGJ comic}}
By [[1985]], Soundwave had returned by some unknown means. At some point, he and Starscream uncovered information about a "terrible secret" buried beneath Cobra Island, and set out to destroy Cobra Commander should the terrorist refuse to allow them access to it. {{storylink|Unreleased Dreamwave issues#Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front|Divided Front #5}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
Puzzled by the loss of much of their stock of weapons, Megatron assigned Soundwave to investigate. Using Laserbeak's spying abilities, Soundwave determined that [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] was selling the weapons on the black market, much to Megatron's outrage. {{storylink|Two for the Price of One}}

===''The Beast Within''===
Soundwave participated in an all-out Decepticon offensive against the Autobots. In its initial stages, the battle swayed in the Decepticons’ favour, and Soundwave defeated [[Twin Twist]]. {{storylink|The Beast Within}}
{{-}}

===''Another Con''===
Soundwave was present when Megatron was remade into the form of a {{w|Pikachu|small electrical rodent}}. {{storylink|Another Con}}

===''Q-Robo Transformer''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Q-Robo Transformer}}}}
{{-}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
[[File:DecepticonsandMuldoon-HOS2.jpeg|thumb|upright=1.5|right]]
Millions of years in the past, Soundwave was among the Decepticons who took on organic modes in order to battle the Autobots on prehistoric Earth. When an ice age approached, the Decepticons survived by powering down under what would eventually become the [[San Francisco]] Bay. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}} Soundwave woke up in the mid-19th century, where he came under the command of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. Along with several other Decepticons, he stood by Starscream as he and [[Tobias Muldoon]] discussed where they would build their headquarters. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2|Hearts of Steel #2}}

{{IDW HOS}}
{{-}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:Soundwaves-allofustogether.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|Don't you hate it when your codpiece rides up to your collarbone?]]

{{main|Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity}}
An [[Outlier (group)|Outlier]] with extremely powerful hearing and limited telepathic capabilities, Soundwave's unusual powers made him a freak and an outcast in the stifling days of [[Functionism|functionist]] [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. But after meeting [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]], Soundwave joined [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'s [[Decepticon]] movement, dreaming of a Cybertron where every Cybertronian could stand as true equals.

In this new role, Soundwave remained a loyal Decepticon for millennia—making one increasingly dubious compromise after the next—until after the end of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], when Megatron, the 'bot who had led him down this path, saw the error of his own ways and defected to the Autobots. Grudgingly accepting cooperation with [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] yet refusing to formally join the Autobot cause, Soundwave continued to proudly wear his purple Decepticon [[insignia]], a badge of honor that, to some, marked him as the last true Decepticon.
{{--}}

===''Lil Formers''===
Soundwave ejected all of his minions from his chest compartment, only for the last in line, Rumble, to refuse to come out; with all the extra leg room he now had, he was too comfortable to relinquish his spot. {{storylink|Lil Formers}}

===''Mini Mayhem!''===
Soundwave participated in an infiltration of [[BotCon]] to track down next year's toy designs, and use them to conquer the Autobots once and for all!

Later, Soundwave used the [[Autoscout]] to deliver a love-letter to [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]. {{storylink|Mini Mayhem!}}

===''Universe'' cartoon===
Soundwave was one of the many Cybertronians caught up in a civil war that emerged due to greed, corruption, and malice emerging in their planet's halls of power. During the early days of the war, he took part in a battle alongside Thrust. Soundwave was one of the first Decepticons to travel to Earth, and looked on as the Autobots took on alternate forms to disguise themselves amongst its populace. {{storylink|Action Blast 1}}
{{-}}

===''TransTech''===
Soundwave—[[Soundwave (G1)/toys#LaserCycle|in his Laser Cycle body]]—was seen among the inhabitants of the multiversal hub city of [[Axiom Nexus]]. {{storylink|Transcendent: Part 4}}

===''Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun'' manga===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Kingdom of Giants}}}}
{{-}}

===Robot Heroes===
Soundwave was one of the Decepticons who traveled to Earth to bring its people peace... through tyranny! He lay in wait until it was the moment to strike, at which time he unleashed Laserbeak and Ravage from his chest compartment. {{storylink|I Am Optimus Prime (Robot Heroes)|I Am Optimus Prime}}
{{-}}

===''United''===
After Megatron thought that Optimus had been vanquished once and for all, he declared himself Cybertron's "Emperor of Destruction". Soundwave was present for this proclamation. {{storylink|A New Battle!}}
{{-}}

===''Kre-O'' cartoon===
Soundwave was in the audience of a tag battle pitting [[Optimus Prime (Kre-O)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (Kre-O)|Bumblebee]] against [[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]] and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. Oddly enough, he cheered when it seemed that the Autobots were going to win the match... {{storylink|Last Bot Standing}}

Soundwave, [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], and [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] enjoyed a picnic by the side of a road. When Bumblebee and Megatron raced by them, the picnickers waved at them. {{storylink|The Big Race}}

He was among the minions who passed Megatron his presents during the holiday season. {{storylink|A Gift For Megatron}}

Soundwave helped Megatron get back into shape after a string of humiliating defeats by standing on top of him while the Decepticon leader did some push-ups, and holding on to his weights while he did some reps. {{storylink|Megatron's Revenge}}

Soundwave participated in an enormous battle against the Autobots... until Optimus Prime began talking about the plot of the [[live-action film series]] to the audience. Soundwave operated the boom-mike for the "recap" segments Optimus recounted until [[Grimlock (Kre-O)|Grimlock]]'s attempt to order a pizza on the phone started bleeping out Optimus's lines. {{storylink|Take Us to the Movies}} {{storylink|Take Us Through the Movies}}

===''Transformers: All Spark''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Another Episode, Part 1}} {{storylink|Another Episode, Part 2}} {{storylink|The Fated Rival, Once Again...}} {{storylink|To Earth}} {{storylink|Plans of the Emperor of Destruction}} {{storylink|Revenge (All Spark)|Revenge}} {{storylink|Ray of Hope}} {{storylink|Great Aspirations}} {{storylink|Conclusion}}}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
[[File:KreO Soundwave.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]
Soundwave was one of the [[Decepticon]]s who joined [[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]] in the ''[[Nemesis (Kre-O)|Nemesis]]'' to chase the [[Autobot]]s in the ''[[Ark (Kre-O)|Ark]]''. After they boarded the ''Ark'', it crashed to [[Earth]] and the [[Transformer]]s fell to a four million year-long sleep. They woke up to a world filled with blocks. {{storylink|Kreon Story}}

Soundwave was part of a massive Decepticon invasion force intended to ruin the Autobots' picnic. However, [[Optimus Prime (Kre-O)|Optimus Prime]] plowed through them with his truck and left them scattered... and then left. Returning to the scene after.. ''ahem'', taking care of some pressing business, Optimus gathered up the still-wiped-out Kreons, bound them up on a flatbed trailer, and took them to the picnic. {{storylink|Emergency! Hurry to the Base, Optimus!}}

Soundwave infiltrated into [[Metroplex (Kre-O)|Autobot City]] as an inconspicuous music player. {{storylink|Two Giant Bases! Everybody Getting Along, Come On, Fight!}} Soundwave witnessed the combiners [[Devastator (Kre-O)|Devastator]], [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] trying to add the last piece of the Decepticons' new solar tower. {{storylink|Megatron's Ambition!? The Solar Tower Is Built!}}

Soundwave had his clones sold as music players to brainwash humans into slaves using hypnotic music. [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] opposed Soundwave, so Soundwave and his many clones unleashed a musical sound attack upon the Autobots, but Jazz and the others countered with a session of their own. {{storylink|Soundwave's Trap? Stop Operation Brainwash Humanity!}}

Soundwave was seen flying into battle with [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] in [[Isami Tatewaki|some kid]]'s living room. {{storylink|Robots in Disguise! The Transformers Are by Your Side!?}}

{{-}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
[[File:ISawThreeShips-soundwavealtmode.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Soundwave was a warm and emotional Decepticon with a sonorous musical voice and a love for life, the latter of which put him at odds with the brutality of other Decepticons. {{storylink|Black Cybertron}} He hooked [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s head up to a machine after Starscream had brought it to Megatron. {{storylink|The Golden Boys}} Soundwave was opposed to the invasion of Earth, only for Megatron to coldly select him and his cassette children for the leading invasion force instead. {{storylink|Black Cybertron}} Together with Starscream and his [[Relatives|brother]] Shockwave, Soundwave and his cassettes traveled from Cybertron to Earth to demand the humans submit to Megatron. Their welcomers, [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]], were unwilling to surrender and attacked the Decepticons, prompting Soundwave to capture a bunch of the humans and imprison them in his chest cavity where they were attacked by metal tentacles. After [[Flash (G.I. Joe)|Flash]] cut open his chest window to allow their escape, the Joes unleashed their [[Coltonbolt]] orbital weapon upon Soundwave, destroying his head. {{storylink|I Saw Three Ships}}

[[File:ISawThreeShips-chestprison.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Yummy yummy yummy, I've got Joes in my tummy.]]

The headless body of Soundwave was brought to [[T.H.E. P.I.T.]], where [[Doctor Venom]] was tasked with repurposing it as a weapon for the Joes. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend}} Using arcane knowledge, Venom sacrificed several Joe soldiers to turn Bumblebee's body into a robotic suit that could [[Binary bonding|binary bond]] with Soundwave's remains, becoming its head. {{storylink|Form Follows Function}} Taking control of Soundwave's body, Venom deployed his new weapon to defend T.H.E. P.I.T. from Optimus Prime, catching the attention of Shockwave who demanded the return of his brother. As Optimus Prime and Shockwave grappled over Soundwave, Prime was able to pry Venom and Bumblebee from his shoulders, deactivating his body once again. {{storylink|Expelled from the Garden}}

[[File:ExpelledFromTheGarden-headmastersoundwave.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]

Reclaiming Soundwave's remains and collecting the shards of his head, Shockwave brought them to [[Kalis]] in hopes that [[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]] could resurrect his brother. However, Flame's twisted miracle brought him back not as his old, impassioned self, but as an emotionless, monotonous machine who denied any brotherly relation to Shockwave and only demanded to know the parameters of his next mission. When [[Snake-Eyes]] arrived in Kalis with a rebellious Ravage, Soundwave fought them both and reclaimed Ravage, who he manually transformed and inserted in his chest for reprogramming. {{storylink|Black Cybertron}}

Regrouping with the rest of the Decepticons, Soundwave and his minions participated in the battle to defend Trypticon from the united "Jotobot" army. {{storylink|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 12|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #12}} When Optimus Prime returned from the afterlife and defeated Megatron, Soundwave ordered Laserbeak to snatch the Matrix away from Starscream. {{storylink|The War Never Ends}}

===''Construct-Bots'' cartoon===
[[File:Construct-Bots short card game.jpg|thumb|150px]]
Soundwave was playing cards with [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] when [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]] attacked. He was upgraded using [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]'s torso and some other parts thanks to Megatron and his Construct-Bots terminal. He cringed when Megatron slipped and fell on some gumballs. {{storylink|Intro!}}
{{-}}

===''Angry Birds'' comic===
[[File:ABTF1 Soundwave+Laserbeak.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.75]]
Soundwave was among the Decepticon forces that attacked the Autobot ship in search of [[AllSpark]] only to be blasted back out into space by [[Heatwave (G1)|Heatwave]]'s water blasts. {{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers issue 1|Angry Birds Transformers #1}}
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
According to rumor in the 24th century, Soundwave sat at the center of the [[Mandala]] in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] for several centuries during one of the times Iacon was under Decepticon control. {{storylink|Trigger Warnings}}

In 1984, Soundwave participated in a battle in [[London]], infiltrating the [[British Museum]] by pretending to be [[Noah Acton]]'s tape recorder and helping to steal the [[Rosetta Stone]]. {{storylink|Cultural Appropriation}} When [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] upgraded into a [[Triple-Threat Master]] in the early 2030s, Soundwave estimated that he cut hundreds of thousands of solar cycles from his lifespan. {{storylink|Not All Megatrons}}

Soundwave died at some point after this, as [[Eject (G1)|Eject]] lamented that all the great and famous Cybertronians, including Soundwave, were long gone by the time Cybertron was under the control of the [[Builder Assembly]]. {{storylink|Broken Windshields}} Soundwave was of such renown that his face adorned the 100 denomination of [[Cyber Planet Key|cyber planet key]], a unit considered a symbol of wealth on 24th century Cybertron. {{storylink|Not All Megatrons}}

===''Timelines''===
In [[Primax 096.0 Beta]], Soundwave chased fellow [[Laser Cycle]] [[Jazz (G1)#Timelines|Jazz]] during the obligatory Battle of [[Sherman Dam]]. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/06}} Later, communications officer Soundwave fought at [[Mirtonia]] in the final battle of the [[Great War (G1)|third Cybertronian war]]. Ultimately, however, [[Optimus Prime (G1)#General Optimus|General Optimus Prime]] led the Autobots to victory over the [[Decepticon Empire|Decepticon Star Empire]]. A stray missile blew up an experimental energon refinery, taking Megatron, Starscream, and Soundwave with it. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Timelines|General Optimus Prime profile card}}

===''Q-Transformers: Mystery of Convoy'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Nobuhiko Okamoto]] (Japanese)}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|The Road to More Popularity than Autobots}}}}

===''Prime wars Trilogy'' marketing material===
[[File:TPotTM Soundwave.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
Bolstered by the [[Titan Master]]s, Soundwave spearheaded an all-out Decepticon attack on Cybertron, only to be routed by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. {{storylink|Titans Return: The Power of the Titan Masters}}

===''Aw Yeah Revolution!''===
[[File:Aw Yeah Revolution! Autobots vs Decepticons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.50|left]]
Megatron and Soundwave duked it out against the Autobots before an earthquake made the battleground unstable, forcing both sides to retreat. {{storylink|Aw Yeah Revolution! issue 1|Aw Yeah Revolution! #1}}

{{-}}

===When Worlds Collide===
When the Autobots and their allies pursued Megatron and Cobra Commander in search of the stolen [[Matrix of Leadership]], Soundwave took part in the epic battle that followed, most likely fighting on the villains' side. {{storylink|When Worlds Collide}}

{{-}}

===''Star Trek vs. Transformers''===
[[File:PrimesDirectivePart1-Decepticons.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
Four million years prior to the 23rd century, the ''Ark'' left Cybertron to clear a path through an asteroid field only to be boarded by the Decepticons. Out of control, the ''Ark'' crashed into a volcano on the nearby [[Earth]], knocking all combatants into [[stasis lock]] until the 20th century. Reawakened in the era of humanity, the Transformers began a covert war for the planet's [[energon]] supply until the outbreak of [[World War III]]. The brutal conflict convinced Optimus Prime to abandon Earth, leading his troops away aboard [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], with the Decepticons following aboard [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. After decades in space, the Autobots found energon on [[Cygnus Seven]], the Decepticons attacking and, once again, sending the Autobot ship hurtling towards a primitive planet, everyone within winding up in stasis lock. On stardate 5892.7, a survey team from the [[Federation]] unknowingly triggered Fortress Maximus' autonomic protocols, the repair beam striking Megatron first who healed his forces and led an attack on the surface. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Two}}

Despite the intervening centuries, human technology still proved woefully inferior to Cybertronian, the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] making short work of the defences. When Optimus Prime entered the battlefield, he was struck down by [[James T. Kirk|a human]] who demanded the Decepticons identify themselves. When the Decepticons touched down, Megatron ordered Soundwave to use his audio disruptor waves against the organics, only for the weapon to allow them to call in a [[photon torpedo]] from the orbiting [[USS Enterprise|USS ''Enterprise'']], singeing Soundwave. When Megatron ordered the Decepticons to fall back until more information was gathered, Soundwave directed them to a nearby moon from which a Decepticon beacon was emanating. Upon arrival, the signal was found to be Trypticon who was infested with [[Klingon]]s. Megatron, however, managed to smooth talk their leader, [[Kuri]] into an alliance. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part One}}

[[File:PrimesDirectivePart3-BumblebeeVsSoundwave.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

Before too long, Megatron grew tired of the Klingons, only being swayed when they revealed their cloaking technology, allowing Trypticon to scan their downed [[Warbird (Star Trek)|warbird]]. The Titan used the cloaking device to bait a trap for the ''Enterprise'', crippling it, with Soundwave scrambling the human ship's distress beacon. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Two}}

During the attack on the colony, Soundwave hovered by Starscream before Optimus Prime and [[Spock]] surrendered themselves in exchange for the miners' safety. As Kuri beamed down to boast of the [[Klingon Empire]]'s superiority, Fortress Maximus suddenly burst out of the moon, now reformatted into a copy of the ''Enterprise'', and began duelling Trypticon. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Three}}

The battle came to a rather abrupt halt when Starscream, having been given a personal cloaking device by the Klingons, fled with a bounty of [[dilithium]], intending to conquer a planet. The act finally evaporated what little patience Megatron had for his traitorous SIC and he ordered all Decepticons after the traitor. As the Decepticons warped after the traitor, Soundwave attempted to dissuade Megatron from pursuit, noting that there were other planets in the universe with dilithium, only for Megatron to reveal his primary motivation was finally putting an end to Starscream. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Four}}

[[File:PrimesDirectivePart5-Soundwave.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

The Decepticons caught up with Starscream at the Klingon homeworld of [[Kronos]] as he was displaying his superiority to the [[Klingon High Council]], Soundwave releasing his [[Mini-Cassette]]s to round up the Klingons before the Autobots and [[Starfleet]] arrived. Though the organics had donned [[Crewbot|Cybertronian-scaled mechas]], Soundwave again unleashed his audio disruptor waves, bringing Starfleet and the Autobots to their knees but the frequency he utilized was deaf to Klingons ears, allowing them to summon a warbird fleet that defeated the invaders. As part of the deal that Kirk negotiated with the Klingon High Council, Soundwave and his fellow Decepticons were left in Klingon custody. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Five}}
{{--}}

===''War For Cybertron Trilogy'' continuity===
====''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' marketing material====
[[File:Siege-Soundwave-art.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6]]
On Cybertron, Soundwave was a [[Cybertronian military insignia|Ground Force Espionage Major]], whose function was a spy. {{storylink|War for Cybertron: Siege|''Siege'' webpage}}<ref name=Siege>[https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/siege ''Siege'' website]</ref> During the war for Cybertron, Soundwave placed some malicious code into the [[Stanix]] hub to breach the system's data. Being the most critical connection in the global communication grid, [[Teletraan I|Teletraan-1]] discovered it and recorded the event in its data files. {{storylink|Source:Teletraan-1 Data Files|''Siege'' Teletraan-1 Data Files}}

Closer than ever to reaching the AllSpark, the Decepticons awakened after crash-landing on pre-[[Ice Age]] [[Earth]]. While battling the Autobots, both sides were joined by the [[Maximal]]s and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s, their epic battle changing their combined destinies.

During this period, Soundwave's function was communications, and he [[trans-scan]]ned into a communications cassette player. His [[Concussion weapon|Concussion blaster]] and [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassette troop]]s were his powers and weapons, and his core traits were his stoic, loyalty, and opportunism. Soundwave's message from the future was that an intruder may be more than they seem. {{storylink|War for Cybertron: Kingdom|''Kingdom'' webpage}}<ref>[https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/kingdom ''Kingdom'' webpage]</ref>
{{--}}

====''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Edward Bosco]] (English), [[Shinnosuke Ogami]] (Japanese)|[[Milton Parisi]] (Portuguese), [[Laurent Maurel]] (French), [[Michael Kühl]] (German), [[Julián Rodríguez]] (Castilian Spanish), [[Fidel Garriga]] (Latin-American Spanish)}}

[[File:SiegeEp2-Soundwave.jpg|thumb|left|300px|"Excuse my sudden visit, but I saw your fiasco on the picture show and I just couldn't resist."]]
At some point during the war, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] attempted to clone Soundwave, which resulted in the creation of the amoral [[Soundblaster (G1)|Soundblaster]]. {{storylink|Siege episode 5}}

After Megatron had taken [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] prisoner, Soundwave detected a low-frequency transmission from Magnus's holding cell and alerted Megatron that Magnus had caught wind of their plan to find the [[AllSpark]] and harness its power. {{storylink|Siege episode 2}} When Magnus finally died and transmitted the [[Alpha Trion Protocols]] to its next recipient, Megatron ordered Soundwave to track the anomaly. {{storylink|Siege episode 4}} Soundwave and Shockwave reported their findings to Megatron, who ordered him to find a way to stop the protocols from falling into Autobot hands using one of Shockwave's computer viruses. The virus did its job well: spreading quickly across the planet, it not only erased the code from [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s memory but also knocked systems offline across the planet and revealed the concealed ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Siege episode 5}}

Soundwave took part in the final battle to recover the AllSpark from Autobot hands. As Megatron ordered Soundwave to destroy the Autobot starship, Soundwave and reported to Megatron that Optimus was heading to Sector Seven of the planet and caused Megatron to realize that Prime intended to take the artifact off-planet. {{storylink|Siege episode 6}}

[[File:EarthriseEp4-Soundwave.jpg|thumb|right|300px"|"Hahaha! Why does anyone do anything? Sheer, absolute boredom!"]]

Soundwave and the other Decepticons were left stranded on the dying planet following the launch of the ''Ark'' and the destruction of the [[space bridge|spacebridge]]. As their fuel situation grew ever more perilous, Soundwave picked up a transmission from the ''Ark'' and passed this knowledge on to Megatron, who authorized the construction of a starship to pursue them. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 2}} Some time later, the Decepticons successfully launched the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' and caught up with the Autobots at [[Nebulon Station]] during a fight with a rampaging [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. When Megatron fell and Starscream seized command, Soundwave joined in the assault against the Autobots until dire circumstances forced a temporary alliance. Soundwave helped open a set of blast doors so that the Autobots and Decepticons could deal with Scorponok, but soon after Megatron took back leadership the truce broke down and the Autobots escaped amidst the confusion. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 4}}

After a perilous trip through the [[Dead Universe]], the ''Ark'' and ''Nemesis'' followed the trail of the AllSpark to prehistoric Earth. In the ensuing three-way battle between the ''Ark'', the ''Nemesis'', and the Quintesson [[Deseeus]] aboard the ''[[Fool's Fortune]]'', the ''Nemesis'' was badly damaged and crash-landed on the planet below. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 6}}

[[File:KingdomEp3-Soundwave.jpg|thumb|left|300px|"Dear, if I wanted to hurt anyone here..'''I would have done so ALREADY...'''"]]

Soundwave and the other Decepticons worked to get their ship functional again until Laserbeak detected an intruder. Soon after encountering [[Megatron (BW)|the Predacon Megatron]] and his followers, time-travelling Cybertronians from a dystopian future, Soundwave and Laserbeak captured the [[Maximal]] spy [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] and brought her back to the ''Nemesis''. {{storylink|Kingdom episode 1}} Armed with both the Matrix of Leadership and a mysterious [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] he'd obtained during his time in the Dead Universe, Megatron contacted Soundwave and informed them that his knowledge of future events meant that it was time for the Decepticon-Predacon alliance to press their advantage. {{storylink|Kingdom episode 2}} Soundwave joined his Megatron in the subsequent search for the AllSpark; despite his increasingly ominous visions, Megatron dismissed Soundwave's fears that possessing the Matrix of Leadership would have adverse effects. When a repentant [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] had a crisis of conscience and ambushed his erstwhile allies, Soundwave unleashed a sonic barrage before Dinobot recovered and impaled him through the chest. {{storylink|Kingdom episode 3}}

Soundwave eventually recovered and joined the crew of the ''Nemesis'' during their final attack on the ''Ark''. From his station, Megatron ordered Soundwave to fire on the grounded Autobot ship below, but thanks to Airazor and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]'s sabotage, their guns were offline. Despite this, Megatron simply transformed and made a kamikaze dive toward the ''Ark'', which assumed a towering robot mode and grounded the Decepticon warship for good by punching it into molten lava. Soundwave and the other Decepticons were captured and imprisoned aboard the ''Ark'' as the ship returned to Cybertron. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 5}} Soundwave was locked in a stasis field until he was freed to partake in a climactic showdown against [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and [[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]], which ended with the arrival of spark spirits. After [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]]'s spirit bought a swift end to the threat, Soundwave and the other Decepticons came together with the Autobots to mark a tentative end to the Great War before departing under Megatron's command. {{storylink|Kingdom episode 6}}

=== 2019 IDW continuity ===
{{first|[[The World In Your Eyes Part Two|''Transformers'' #2]]}}

[[File:TheWorldInYourEyesPart3 AscenticonGuardVolunteers.jpg|thumb|right|300px|"Ladies and gentlemen... I give you the Beatles!"]]

Before fellow Senator [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] ousted him from the position, Senator Soundwave served as head of the [[Senate]]'s intelligence division. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Two}} Eventually, Soundwave fell in with Megatron and his burgeoning [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]] movement; a firm supporter of Megatron's grand designs, Soundwave aided his new leader as Megatron reforged the scattered remnants of [[Termagax]]'s vision into an effective political machine. Not only did he help to represent the Ascenticon interests within the Cybertronian senate, {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Two}} Soundwave also served as a liaison between the respectable veneer of the Ascenticon movement and [[The Rise]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s underground network assembled to foment dissent within Cybertronian society, {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five}} and even helped recruit ex-intelligence operatives into the clandestine organization. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Two}} In public, Soundwave remained one of Megatron's closest confidants, helping him to record his speeches that criticized the [[Nominus Edict]] the Ascenticons sought to overturn. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Five}}

One evening, Soundwave joined Megatron at an Ascenticon rally in Tarn, where the pair survived a suspiciously incompetent assassination attempt. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Two}} The "attack" gave Soundwave an opportunity to reveal the next phase of the Ascenticon movement as he introduced the [[Ascenticon Guard]], a private security force sympathetic to the cause. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Three}} In the meantime, however, respected scientist [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]]'s murder—the first murder in millennia—sent ructions through Cybertronian society, and threatened the legitimacy of the Ascenticon platform when all available evidence implicated The Rise. While hunting for a [[Voin]] who might have witnessed the killing, [[Security Operations]] officer [[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]] discovered a loose end that tied The Rise to Brainstorm's murder, and passed this information to Soundwave, who in turn sent [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] to silence the Voin. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five}}

[[File:TheWorldInYourEyesPartFive-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

In the meantime, Soundwave attended Brainstorm's funeral alongside his leader, {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Four}} and later recorded another speech of Megatron's, claiming that this one would reach a hundred thousand Cybertronians would hear it before the cycle's end. When [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] approached the Ascenticons for a position, he assumed that he'd be dealing with Guard leader [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]], but she sent Soundwave in his place to evaluate Bumblebee's fitness for the Guard during a secluded interview in an abandoned energon mine. However, Soundwave's [[electromagnetic suppressor]] prevented Bumblebee from receiving [[Rubble]]'s transmission, who'd had the misfortune of stumbling upon Quake killing the Voin and was himself murdered. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Five}}

With tensions on Cybertron mounting, Megatron paid Termagax a visit and confirmed to Soundwave that she would not be interfering with their upcoming plans. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two}} Eventually, [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] discovered that Barricade had gone behind his back to tip off the Ascenticons, leading to Barricade deserting Security Operations and seeking sanctuary at [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Ascenticon Headquarters]]. Correctly deducing that Barricade could not fall into Senate hands, Soundwave denied Prowl entry into their building, leading to a tense standoff. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four}} When Megatron discovered this, he scolded an unresponsive Soundwave for his haphazard handling of the situation. When other business called Megatron away, he ordered Soundwave to use one of his secure drones to have someone come and collect Barricade, and to make it look good. That night, after the raid had spirited Barricade away, Soundwave recorded Megatron making another speech, one where he revealed [[Decepticon|a new direction]] for their movement and for Cybertron. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five}}

With First Senator Sentinel Prime back from his colonial tour due to the unrest, Soundwave approached him as senator for the Ascenticons. Soundwave suggested accelerating the time table for senate elections to clarify the government's mandate was still among the people. Recognizing this as a tactic to gain a senate majority for the Ascenticons over the Autobots, Sentinel forcibly denied the request. Soundwave next decided to publicly insert the Ascenticon Guard into a developing situation involving Rise terrorists. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part One}} Four members of the Rise had been caught trying to steal energon and fled inside an immersant Titan, then used stolen weaponry to keep Security Operations at bay in a stand-off. Soundwave presented himself as a neutral intermediary to negotiate with the Rise. He hoped to ensure safe passage for Ruckus and the other three, assuming they knew nothing of value that could upset the Ascenticon plans. Unfortunately, Ruckus not only knew Soundwave helped Barricade escape and that Shockwave was recruiting ex-intelligence types to the Rise on Soundwave's recommendation, he was also too dumb to even realize this was important information. Realizing Ruckus was a liability, Soundwave left his suppressor staff with the Rise while he "renewed negotiations" with Security. Soundwave had just finished telling Bumblebee and Elita-1 it looked like the terrorists had explosives when he detonated his staff, desecrating the Titan and eliminating the loose ends. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Two}}

[[File:AllFallDown-Soundwave.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

A Rise attack destroyed the [[Tether]] that connected Cybertron to its [[Winged Moon]], and Soundwave joined Megatron and his fellow Ascenticon senators as they surveyed the devastation. Having learned from fellow Senator [[Heretech]] that Sentinel Prime planned to arrest Soundwave during the next Senate meeting as part of a sting operation, Megatron put Soundwave under the protection of the Ascenticon Guard and sourced some extra muscle from The Rise in order to beef up their numbers. Soundwave announced that Elita-1, who had previously headed the Guard, would be relieved of command and confined to her quarters, while [[Flywheels|Skytread]] took over the day-to-day running of the Ascenticon Guard. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: All Fall Down|All Fall Down}}

When Quake was captured by the Autobots and marched through Iacon, Soundwave ordered Skytread to ensure the veteran was not taken into custody. Though Ascenticon supporters managed to free Quake, he was ultimately killed by Bumblebee. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Prisoners|Prisoners}}

When the Ascenticons - now rebranded as the "Decepticons" - took control of the [[Senate]], Soundwave stood by Megatron as the leader announced his new world order to the Senators. {{storylink|War World: Prime|Prime}} After calling [[Andromeda (G1)|Andromeda]] to [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Decepticon Headquarters]], Soundwave stood by Megatron when Starscream arrived for a haggling session. Incensed by Starscream's theatrics and insults, Soundwave unleashed his sonic cannon on the Head of Intelligence, wounding his former colleague enough to give his information to Megatron for free. {{storylink|War World: Awakenings|Awakenings}} Soundwave bore witness to Andromeda's first propaganda interview with Megatron, warning her to do as she was told. Once the recording was completed, Soundwave told Andromeda to submit the footage to him for a final review, that she would be called upon as needed and to get out. {{storylink|War World: Hunt|Hunt}}

Megatron arranged a holographic parley with Optimus Prime, in an effort to track his true position and send a strike force to end their feuding. Soundwave did track the transmission, but he alerted Megatron that Optimus Prime and the Autobots were out of range, having already abandoned Iacon to move beyond their reach. {{storylink|War World: We Are Not Meant To Be Darkness|We Are Not Meant To Be Darkness}} Later on, Soundwave reported in to Megatron that Termagax had been located by the Seekers along the Sea of Rust. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust I|Sea of Rust I}}
{{--}}

===''Mazinger Z versus Transformers''===
[[File:MazingerZvsTransformers-Decepticons.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Soundwave and the other Decepticons were battling the Autobots for control of a space bridge when a freak accident teleported everyone to the Japan of another universe. As they scouted out the terrain, Soundwave and Laserbeak reported on the miraculous energy source beneath the nearby [[Photonic Power Laboratory]]. The Decepticons watched as the Autobots took on and later allied with [[Kōji Kabuto]] and his [[Mazinger Z]] super robot after realizing that [[Baron Ashura]] had deliberately misled them into supporting the evil [[Mechanical Beast]]s. Not long after the evil robots retreated, the Decepticons sought out their leader [[Doctor Hell]] and formed an alliance.

Backed by the Mechanical Beasts, the Decepticons made a second run on the Photonic Power Laboratory and did well up until Mazinger and Optimus Prime joined the fray, only for the tide of battle to shift back into the favor of the Decepticons when Starscream, now sporting an enormous Mazinger body, and took out the pair before turning on Megatron. When all three factions teamed up to destroy "Mazinscream", the destruction of his physical body created an energy vortex that sucked all of the Cybertronians back to their native dimension. {{storylink|Mazinger Z versus Transformers}}

{{--}}

===''Transformers/Ghostbusters''===
[[File:GhostsOFCybertronPart4-youstillfunction.jpg|thumb|250px]]
When the Autobots fled Cybertron following the end of the Great War, the planet was visited by the supernatural menace known as [[Gozer]]. Soundwave, Megatron, Shockwave, and Starscream visited the [[Temple of Gozer|temple]] that Gozer had summoned in order to deal with the invader; although Soundwave advised caution, Megatron's recklessness and Starscream's ego quickly spiralled out of control, and Gozer transformed into a monstrous avatar of Starscream in order to destroy the doomed world. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 1}}

Soundwave grimly reported to Megatron that not even their strongest [[combiner]]s could outpower Gozer, before the 'bots of [[Decepticon High Command]] were approached by another ghostly entity: the electrical being known as "[[Kremzeek]] the Scavenger," who tricked the four 'bots into surrendering their physical bodies and turning them into [[ghost]]s. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 2}} Kremzeek demanded them to help him find and absorb the [[AllSpark]], which the Autobots had taken with them; all but Starscream refused, however, and the trio were absorbed into Kremzeek's being.

Roughly a thousand years later on Earth, Kremzeek's physical body was destroyed when the Scavenger made physical contact with [[Killerwatt|an electricity consuming ghost]], freeing the three Decepticons. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 4}} Although Soundwave and Shockwave initially hoped to work with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ectotron]] to restore their bodies, the conflict quickly escalated and the pair joined the battle against the [[Ghostbusters]]. Soundwave released several of his equally ghostly cassettes to take on the humans, but he was quickly restrained by [[Winston Zeddemore]] and sucked into a [[ghost trap]]. At the conclusion of the battle, Optimus Prime agreed that he would take the three Decepticons into his care until he could find a way to revert them to their old selves. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 5}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers vs. the Terminator''===
[[File:EnemyOfMyEnemyPartFour-GoTerminateYourself.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
In the year [[1984]], Soundwave awoke aboard the ''Ark'' alongside Megatron and the other Decepticons, watched his leader execute [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], and took part in the invasion of Earth that ended with the defeat of [[Skywatch]] and the extinction of humanity. In order to retroactively win the war, Skywatch's robotic defense network [[Skynet]] sent a [[T-800]] Terminator back in time to defeat the Cybertronians before they could menace Earth. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Two}}

In this new timeline, Soundwave awoke on board the ''Ark'' alongside Megatron and the other Decepticons, only for the Terminator to barge into the ship and confront the Cybertronians. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part One}} After the robot's pinpoint aim blew out Megatron's optic, the tyrant sent Starscream and Soundwave to destroy the intruder; upon detecting [[Sarah Connor]], Soundwave unleashed [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and disoriented the Terminator with his sonic blasts. Sarah managed to revive both [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], however, and Megatron ordered a retreat to gather information on this new world. The Decepticons regrouped on the Oregon coast, where Soundwave repaired Megatron's optic. Once Starscream had deduced that the humans would pose no threat to their future energy-gathering efforts, the villains attacked the [[Cyberdyne Systems]] facility for its energy production facilities, suspecting a link between their mechanical attacker and the cybernetics facility. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Two}}

While the other Decepticons secured a perimeter, Soundwave and [[Reflector (G1)|Refraktor]] siphoned electrical energy from the plant into [[energon cube]]s. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Three}} However, when the Autobots attacked, Soundwave took to the front lines with the rest of the villains, and advanced on Bumblebee and [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] before he detected Sarah fruitlessly calling for help from within Cyberdyne's parking booth. Soundwave correctly deduced that no further Autobots would be arriving, but before he could inform Megatron of this development he was shot and fatally wounded by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], who had double-crossed the other Decepticons with the assistance of the Terminator. A dying Soundwave confronted Sarah and the Terminator, accusing them of setting the events in motion that led to the defeat of the Decepticons; unmoved by his words, however, the two joined forces and shot him until he collapsed and died. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Four}}
{{--}}

===Precursor World (1)===
A [[Primus Vanguard|Warrior of the Seven Lights]] resembling a blue Soundwave (as opposed to the [[Soundwave (G1)#Precursor World (2)|other guy]]) was a member of the [[Blue Order]] of the [[Primus Vanguard]]. He and his comrades followed their commander [[Blue Big Convoy]] into battle when a duel between [[G1 World|dimension-tossed]] future warriors [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Generations Selects Special Comic (1)|Ultra Megatron]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Star Convoy]] threatened the [[Blue Planet (GS)|Blue Planet]] and [[Beast People|its people]]. The Warrior received a direct hit from Ultra Megatron for his trouble. {{Storylink|Super Megatron comic 2}}

===''My Little Pony/Transformers''===
[[File:PetSounds-SoundwaveVsDiscord.jpg|thumb|300px]]
While fighting for control of a damaged [[Space bridge|spacebridge]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Soundwave was among the many Decepticons transported through the bridge to [[Equestria]] as a result of [[Queen Chrysalis]]'s magic spell. {{storylink|Transformation Is Magic}} Soundwave crash-landed in [[Ponyville]], near [[Fluttershy]]'s house while she was enjoying tea with [[Discord (MLP)|Discord]], and although his strange appearance confused the duo the presence of his cassettes soon convinced the animal-loving pony to try and befriend him and his "pets". Discord's mischievous behavior quickly grated on the nerves of the stoic Decepticon, but it was not until [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] upset Fluttershy that Discord retaliated in earnest by siccing a horde of robotic animals on the pair. Soundwave admitted that he, too, understood the value of friendship between him and his followers, and agreed that he could be friends with Fluttershy under threat of being turned into a pony by Discord. Indeed, when Megatron ordered his lieutenant to meet him at his current position, Soundwave—happily watching as his cassettes played with their new friends—told Megatron that they'd be there... eventually. {{storylink|Pet Sounds}}

[[File:SickBeats-Soundwave.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

After the Decepticon forces had been reunified, Soundwave joined in the attack on the [[Crystal Empire]]. Met by the Autobot/pony alliance, Soundwave attempted to eject his cassettes only for [[Pinkie Pie]] to have inexplicably made his way into his chest and throw a pie in his face. The Decepticon invasion of Equestria was eventually halted when Optimus Prime and [[Twilight Sparkle]] combined the power of the Matrix of Leadership and the magic of friendship to send the invaders, Soundwave included, back to Cybertron. {{storylink|Finale (Friendship in Disguise!)|Finale}}

After the Decepticons had discovered a means of returning to Equestria for magical samples and artifacts, Soundwave, unaware of [[King Sombra]] being unleashed on his planet, continued the mission of detaining any Equestrians. Discovering [[Octavia]] and [[Vinyl Scratch]]'s group, Soundwave responded to their aggression with his sonic cannon, trapping him and them under 500 tons of steel. With neither his sonic weapons nor his minions being able to clear the obstruction, Soundwave reluctantly agreed to ally with the Equestrians to blast their way to freedom. When Soundwave made contact with Megatron, he learnt of King Sombra and agreed to extend the alliance with the organics. {{storylink|Sick Beats}}

[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] airlifted Soundwave and Octavia into the fray during the final battle against a Sombra-controlled [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. {{storylink|Finale (The Magic of Cybertron)|Finale}}
{{--}}

===Precursor World (2)===
[[File:Abominus2-GoldenSoundwave.jpg|thumb|right|250px|I'd rather be shiny!]]

A Transformer resembling a particularly dazzling Soundwave (as opposed to the [[Soundwave (G1)#Precursor World (1)|other guy]]) was a follower of [[Primus#The old universe|Primus]] in the [[Golden Age (GS)|Golden Age]]. Like his fellows, he dutifully assisted Primus in his efforts to confiscate the [[Star Power|Seven Lights]] from his dissenting army the [[Primus Vanguard]] and destroy the universe.

Soundwave was present in the strike team Primus brought to bear against the [[Powered Master]]s in an expedition to the year [[2050]] of the [[G1 World|next universe]] to capture its newly formed, empty [[Silver Matrix]] for his patsy [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Star Convoy]]. {{storylink|Abominus comic 2}}

When all of the players were in place for Primus's grand plan, Soundwave ferried [[Primus's envoy|his master's envoy]] to the site of the final battle as his passenger dramatically proclaimed their master's impending victory.

Primus personally collected the assembled Seven Lights in short order, and his hype man continued to big up the boss from atop Soundwave as Primus brought their full power to bear, bringing about the end of the [[Precursor World]] the Golden Age had so long strived for, {{storylink|Generations Selects Special Comic Finale Part 1|Finale 1}} only for Primus to be blown to smithereens by the massive battle mech [[Blue Planet (GS)|Neo Primus]]'s central cannon! The god's golden shell fell away to reveal his true form—a tiny energy being known as "Oracle". The surviving Primus Vanguard commanders whisked the now-exposed Oracle to safety. All this commotion left Soundwave vulnerable to hostile boarding by the future warrior [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron Omega]], having survived Primus's assault, who proceeded to drain his companion of [[Golden Power]]. {{storylink|Generations Selects Special Comic Finale Part 2|Finale 2}}

{{--}}

===''Transformers/Back to the Future''===
[[File:TFBTTF1-Soundwave.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Million of years before 1984, Soundwave was one of the Decepticons who boarded the ''Ark'', winding up in stasis lock when the ship crashed on Earth. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 2|Transformers/Back to the Future #2}} In [[1985]], Soundwave and Megatron listened to [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]'s report from [[Hill Valley]] as they watched [[Marty McFly]] travel back in time in [[DeLorean time machine|a specialized DeLorean]]. None of the Decepticons were sure what they were looking at until Ravage detected trans-temporal particles, suggesting that the humans had invented [[time travel]]. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 1|Transformers/Back to the Future #1}}

Rumble had managed to stow away on the DeLorean to [[2015]], discovering that the Decepticons had been defeated. Time travelling back to before the ''Ark'' had rebooted, Rumble reactivated the Decepticons ahead of schedule. Executing the stasis locked Autobots, the Decepticons conquered Earth, turning humanity into a labour force. In the altered 2015, Soundwave brought the coordinators of Pasadena and Arleta before Megatron when the two cities had fallen behind on their quota of energon cubes. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 2|Transformers/Back to the Future #2}}
{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
[[File:Soundwavecommercial.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Say hello to my leetle friend!"]]

Original footage of Soundwave featured in several commercials:

*When Sideswipe, Prowl, and Jazz infiltrated the Decepticons' base, Soundwave reached into his chest compartment with his own fingers and threw out a (tiny) tape into the air. The tape transformed into Laserbeak, and Soundwave sic'ed on the three Autobots. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Soundwave|Soundwave commercial}}
{{note|Soundwave wasn't properly introduced in this commercial, only referred to as the "Decepticons' communications officer." This early animation featured a Soundwave model colored in lavender, versus the dark blue used later.}}
*Soundwave, Ravage, and Laserbeak were driven back by the Dinobots amid a thunderstorm. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Dinobots|Dinobots commercial}}
*When Rumble strolled into his base carrying a radio, Soundwave immediately identified it as an "Autobot intruder" and dispatched Ravage and Laserbeak to attack [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Blaster|Blaster commercial}}
*Soundwave was seen grappling with [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] during a vicious battle on Cybertron. While some fought, others left Cybertron behind to expand the Transformers' war to the planet [[Nebulos]]. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Headmaster comic book|Headmaster comic book commercial}}

Soundwave also appeared in online promotional videos:
*After Megatron learned about [[BotCon 2009]] from Optimus Prime, he led a small group of Decepticon representatives to the convention, including Soundwave. {{storylink|BotCon 2009!}}
*Soundwave was present with Megatron, [[Punch (G1)|Counterpunch]], and [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] when the topic about finding new ultimate weapon ideas changed to [[BotCon 2010]]. As Breakdown mentioned that one of the things he was looking forward to was the debut of the [[Transformers Hall of Fame]], Soundwave turned to Counterpunch and pointed to himself. {{storylink|BotCon 2010 Promo}}
*Soundwave, Rumble, and Frenzy had a dance-off against Blaster, [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]], and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]. {{storylink|Blaster VS Soundwave 2013}}

==Games==
===Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons===
When Optimus embarked on his mission to rescue the Autobots' [[Mini Vehicle|Minicar]] troops from the Decepticons, Soundwave could interfere with Optimus Prime's progress, diverting him into areas of the Decepticons' maze-like base. {{storylink|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons packaging blurb and game}}

===''The Transformers'' (Commodore 64)===
{{charstubgame|{{storylink|The Transformers (Commodore 64)}}}}

===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
[[File:TF PS2 Soundwave.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
{{voiceactor|[[Robert Belgrade]] (English)}}

====Decepticon story====
Soundwave and Starscream were sent to investigate strange reports of space-time warps and UFOs on the planet Zel Samine, bringing a space bridge with them on their shuttle that they would use to transport Megatron to the plant once they had landed. Inexplicably, their ship wound up crashing, and when they attempted to use the space bridge, it malfunctioned, dumping Megatron some distance away. After reuniting with his leader, Soundwave deduced that powerful electromagnetic rays from Zel Samine's sun, Paradius, were responsible for scrambling the systems of the shuttle and the space bridge, and that the Decepticons themselves would be subject to similar catastrophic system disruption if they tried venturing off the planet without a ship. The Decepticons immediately set about raiding local energy sources for energon to repair their craft, starting with a wind power plant on [[Mount Jaad]]. Then, after successfully draining the [[Ranpas Geothermal Power Plant]]—in part thanks to Soundwave deploying Laserbeak to locate any Autobot guards around the facility—Megatron chose the [[Monogan Hydroelectric Power Station]] for their next target. Soundwave pointed out the heavy Autobot fortifications that had been set up around the station and suggested a different target, but Megatron dismissed his concerns, and when the Decepticons did indeed emerge victorious, Soundwave apologized for speaking out of turn and doubting his leader.

Via Laserbeak, Soundwave soon discovered that the Autobots on the planet had made contact with the occupants of one of the strange UFOs, and suggested to Megatron that they send a task force to intercept them. In the process, the Decepticons wound up allying themselves with the ''other'' UFO's passengers: Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge, a trio of Decepticons from the future who had traveled back in time to locate and destroy the powerful [[Zel Quartz]], a weapon that threatened Galvatron's rule in their home time. Soundwave was teamed with Cyclonus to seek out possible locations of the quartz across the planet, and the communications officer stoically carried out his task, all the while struggling to keep Megatron and Galvatron from fighting with each other.

After failing to find the quartz at the [[Lazalt Ruins]], the Decepticons next decided to search the [[Karzite mine]]. Cyclonus informed Soundwave that he saw both him and Megatron as "worthless scrap", and warned the communications officer the mine yielded a similar lack of results, then he would be taking the blame, not Cyclonus. Soundwave agreed, but have a warning of his own: he charged a high price for being spoken to with disrespect. As it turned out, the quartz was not in the mine, and Soundwave accepted the blame as promised, only to then reveal his price: he had recorded his conversation with Cyclonus and played it back for Megatron, who did not take kindly to the future Decepticon's insults. At Megatron's command, Soundwave recorded Cyclonus's screams as the Decepticon leader subjected him to a vicious punishment.

{{charstubgame}}

{{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers}}

====Autobot story====
Megatron had Soundwave send out a fake Autobot SOS transmission in an attempt to trick the Autobots into leaving their base. The plan was a success and Optimus Prime and his crew were lured out. When the Autobots realized that they had been deceived, Megatron sent a message through Soundwave's transmitter, gloating how he had tricked Prime and announced that his crew was going to steal the energon the Autobots had on their shuttle. When Megatron had finished his message, Soundwave returned to base. On the way back to their shuttle, the Autobots encountered Soundwave again, this time leading a hoard of Decepticon troops, and fought them. Despite his best efforts, Soundwave was overwhelmed and left to rejoin Megatron. Later, Soundwave fought the Autobots again while they were dealing with another swarm of enemies. He lost again, and left to fight another day.

Later on, Soundwave teamed up with his future self, Soundblaster, and with [[Full-Tilt (G1)|Full-Tilt]] as the final defense against the Autobots before they reached Megatron and Galvatron. When the Autobots arrived, Soundblaster started by expressing [[dull surprise]] at how the Autobots managed to survive up until the current point. Soundwave continued, warning the Autobots that he would not let them stand in Megatron's way. Both the present and future versions of the Communications Officer we all know and love put up the best fight they could, but even with Full-Tilt's help, the Autobots overpowered them.

===Transformers G1: Awakening===
[[File:Gluawakening soundwave.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.85]]
Soundwave was among the Decepticons who pursued and boarded the Autobot [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. When the ship crashed on [[Earth]], all inside were sent into stasis, but the Decepticons woke up four million years later and resumed their conquering ways. When the Autobots began waking up as well, Soundwave was hot on their trail, and Ratchet and Bumblebee had to silence him before he could alert Megatron. After a series of skirmishes, Soundwave was among the Decepticons who failed to prevent the Autobots from finding the Decepticon [[space bridge]]. He accompanied Megatron back to Cybertron to lay a trap for the Autobots, but was equally unsuccessful as a prison guard. Trailing the Autobots to Earth, Soundwave was beaten up by [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], took part in a disastrous assault on the Ark, and was unable to stop an Autobot attack on the Decepticon's Cybertron fortress. {{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{--}}

===''Construct-Bots Builder''===
The components necessary for building "Construct-Bot" Soundwave were accessible within the Cybertron construction zone. Despite it being against protocol, [[you]] could mix his parts with those of Autobots! (gasp!) {{storylink|Construct-Bots Builder}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
Soundwave and his tapes conducted a covert infiltration of the Autobot base, allowing them to pass information back to the Decepticons and ensure a string of Decepticon victories. He was eventually uncovered by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], who sent him packing. {{storylink|Covert Operations}} On another occasion, Soundwave infiltrated a human science facility with [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Beastbox (G1)|Beastbox]] to gain access to a technology to increase [[Energon]] production. The trio were faced by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and his tapes. {{storylink|Espionage}}

After Megatron and his men, including Soundwave, found a [[Lightning Bug]] on an old Autobot colony world, they found they'd contracted [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]]. Back on Earth, they stole [[corrostop]] and cured themselves, before inflicting the disease on the Autobots. The Decepticons were unable to stop the Autobots getting a sample of corrostop from the [[Statue of Liberty]] and curing themselves, however. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (Legends)|Cosmic Rust}} The Decepticons manage to drive the Autobots off Earth, and proceeded to set about conquering the planet. Unfortunately for them, the Autobots soon returned and succeeded in badly damaging Megatron, resulting in Soundwave and the other Decepticons retreating with their wounded leader. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron (Legends)|All Hail Megatron}}

Soundwave was among those who supported [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s bid for leadership. {{storylink|The Coronation of Starscream}}

When humans unlocked the secrets of [[Gravitronic Energy]], Soundwave and his minions attempted to take possession of the data, but were foiled by [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]. {{storylink|Box Trap}}

===''Angry Birds Transformers''===
{{main|Chef Pig#As Soundwave}}
Soundwave appears as the third unlockable character and first unlockable [[Deceptihog]]. He is portrayed by Chef Pig. He also appears as an [[Chef Pig#As Energon Soundwave|Energon version]]. {{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)|Angry Birds Transformers}}

===''Transformers: Devastation''===
[[File:Devastation-Soundwave.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|The only character that can literally play his own boss battle theme.]]
{{voiceactor|[[Frank Welker]]}}

When a surge of [[plasma energy]] was detected in New York City, the Decepticons investigated, finding the ''[[Proudstar]]'', the lost ship of [[Nova Prime]], buried beneath the city. Assuming control, the Decepticons pushed forward the [[cyberforming]] protocols. When the Autobots breached the ship, Soundwave briefly fought them off before he was called away by Megatron. The Autobots eventually reached the ''Proudstar''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Plasma Core]] but the ship's security ejected it.

When the Core was located, it was found to have ruptured. Though the Decepticons attempted to seal the leak, the Autobots closed in, forcing Starscream to carry it away prematurely. Soundwave consulted [[Teletraan Alpha]] for instructions on how to repair it, learning that it could be done at a [[Plasma Energy Interface]] on Cybertron. When the Core was brought to the ''Proudstar''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s command tower, it was sent through the [[space bridge]]. Once it was repaired and reinstalled, the cyberforming continued. When the Autobots tried to obtain the [[Ferrotaxis]], they faced off against Soundwave once again, defeating him. Though disappointed by his most loyal follower's defeat, Megatron noted it hardly mattered with regards to his plan. {{storylink|Transformers: Devastation}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Soundwave.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|Epic Soundwave Superior, but still inferior
]]
Soundwave participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was an Epic character first available as a reward in the "Guess Who?" contest held on the Transformers: Battle Tactics' Facebook page. Then he was available as a reward in the delayed "Sonic Clash" event. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{--}}

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

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
[[File:Soundwave-EarthWars.jpg|frame|right|200x200px|Operation: Invasion]]
'''Soundwave'''

Soundwave was in contact with the Decepticons on Earth, saying that it would be beneficial if [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], the only two cons on Earth at the time, to upgrade their HQ. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars| Get Megatron! Campaign}}

Soundwave came to earth during the battle for the [[Fractal Map]] and helped out in the battle for the [[Codex Key]] too. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars| Codex Showdown Campaign}}

Soundwave also witnessed the creation of [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars| Combiner Wars Campaign}}

*'''Class:''' Special
*'''Lowest Star Rating''': 3 star, (2 star in beta)
*'''Weapons''': Soundwave uses a gun of the same make as [[Jetfire (G1)|the traitor]] and [[Aerialbot (G1)|the Aerialbots]] to blast targets from medium range. He then closes in on the target and smashes it with his fists.
*'''Ability: Deploy Minions''': Deploys Rumble, Frenzy, Laserbeak, and Buzzsaw to attack targets for Soundwave. They will take damage like any other normal Con, just at less health. They all have unique attacks.
**'''Cost''': 3 ability points, +3 for every reuses.

Soundwave is one of two characters that has a special character victory pose, in which Soundwave has a chance to perform "the moonwalk". He can also transform to play "[[The Touch]]" while being viewed in the collection.
[http://wiki.transformersearthwars.com/character:soundwave Soundwave at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]

'''Soundwave [[HISS tank|H.I.S.S.]]'''
{{charstubgames|{{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars}}}}

[[File:Soundwave GiJoe EarthWars.jpg|right|thumb|400px]]

*'''Class:''' Special
*'''Lowest Star Rating:''' 2 stars
*'''Ability: Cobra Command''' - Follow [[Cobra Commander#Transformers: Earth Wars|Cobra]]’s command! Aim at a defence and the H.I.S.S. Tank will deal some damage. Defences in the area receive 20% (2-Star) / 30% (3-Star) / 40% (4-Star) more damage and get prioritized by all bots for 3.5 seconds.
**'''Cost''': 5 ability points, +3 for reuses.
[http://wiki.transformersearthwars.com/character:soundwave-h-i-s-s Soundwave H.I.S.S. at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]
{{--}}

===''Transformers Online'' (2017 video game)===
[[File:Soundwave TFO.jpg|thumb|right|"Oh lets break it DOWN!"]]
{{bigquote|The cries and screams of my victims are music to my audio receptors.}}

As early as 900 million years ago, Soundwave was already Megatron's loyal lieutenant when war broke out on ancient Cybertron. Often silent, but deadly, Soundwave amassed a regiment of Decepticons to gain intel from the Autobots. He would often take on the role of mediating quarrels, but Soundwave is not without his sense of intellect. If anyone were to threaten his position, Soundwave could blackmail his perpetrator with the latter's database. As a result of his greed, Soundwave was often hated. As long as knowledge is (within his) power, Soundwave always gets the last laugh.

In battle, Soundwave wielded the "[[Quantum Cutter]]" buzzsaw and a semi-auto "[[Super Annihilator Rifle]]" that comes equipped with two ammo mags. His active skill was "Sonic Shield":
*'''Sonic Shield''' — Soundwave projects a force field that reduces incoming damage by 50% to himself and his allies. {{storylink|Transformers Online (2017 video game)|Transformers Online}} <ref>[http://tfol.qq.com/act/a20160726data/hero11.shtml Soundwave on the Transformers Online website]</ref>

===''Transformers: Forged to Fight''===
[[File:Soundwave-Forged-to-Fight.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Definitely Superior now. (Just don't tell him about [[Windblade (G1)#games|Windblade]])]]
Soundwave was one of the Decepticons pulled from [[The Transformers (franchise)|his universe]] by the [[Quintesson]]s and forced to fight. He eventually joins the [[You|Commander]]. There are at least a few of him running around! {{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}
{{chargamestub}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Bumblebee Overdrive''===
[[File:BBOSoundwave.jpg|thumb|100px]]
{{charstubgame|{{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee Overdrive}}}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
{{Main|Soundwave (G1)/toys}}

==Merchandise==
{{Main|Soundwave (G1)/merchandise}}

==Notes==
*The Decepticon faction insignia appears to be roughly based on Soundwave's head.
*Though Soundwave's toy is a microcassette recorder, his fictional appearances depict him as a stereo cassette deck or Walkman. (Likewise, his microcassette tapes are depicted as regular audio cassettes.)
[[File:Bm soundwave.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Soundwave gets slagged by Vehicons, and Nightscream escapes. How's that for injustice?]]
*A 1986 [[Panini]] stickerbook sold in Belgium and the Netherlands gave Soundwave the alternate French language name "Stacar". Whether this name was used in any other media made for French-speaking regions is unknown.
*Soundwave's computer model was used for one of the [[generic]] Transformers in ''Beast Machines''. It is seen in "[[Forbidden Fruit]]" during [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream's]] flashback being cornered by [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon drones]] just before Nightscream flees into the lower levels of Cybertron. Though the model was recolored, it was still really 'Soundwavey,' causing much confusion among fans. His computer model as well as [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]'s continued to show up for the rest of the series, used to represent deactivated Transformer shells.
*Later, Soundwave's character model showed up numerous times in various color schemes as a generic background character in the ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' cartoon.
[[File:Cyb ep34 G1 soundwave.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Ha ha ha, stop poking me, that tickles!]]
*[[Sideways (Armada)|Sideways]] listened to music using a tape deck resembling Soundwave in the ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' episode "[[Memory (Cybertron)|Memory]]". Later, after a new [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]] was found, ''Cybertron'' [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]] held tape deck Soundwave in his arms. This caused a great disturbance in the [[force]]...

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Soundwave''' (サウンドウェーブ ''Saundowēbu''), '''Soundblaster''' (''The Headmasters'', サウンドブラスター ''Saundoburasutā'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''Jam Bo''' (音波, "Voice Wave")
*''Czech:'' '''Kyber'''
*''English:'' '''New Soundwave''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub Soundblaster)
*''French:'' '''Soundax''' (European French dub), '''Radar''' (Canada), '''Sonore''' (Canada Action Master, "Sonorous")
*''Hebrew:'' '''Gal Kól''' (גל קול, "Sound Wave")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Fülelő''' ("Listener"), '''Fürkész''' ("Seeker", ''The Movie'' 1st dub)
*''Indonesian:'' '''Gelombang Suara''' ("Soundwave")
*''Italian:'' '''Memor''', '''Vizar''' (Soundblaster)
*''Korean:'' '''Soundwave''' (사운드웨이브 ''Saundeuweibeu'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Shēng-pō''' (Taiwan, 聲波, "Soundwave"), '''Yīng-pō''' (Taiwan, 音波, "Soundwave"), '''Shēngbō''' (China, 声波, "Soundwave"),'''Yīnbǎn''' (China, ''The Headmasters'', 音板, "Soundboard") '''Shēng Pàu''' (Taiwan Soundblaster, 聲爆, "Sound Blast")
*''Polish:'' '''Dźwiękofalowiec''' (''The Movie'', "Soundwaver")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Onda-Sonora''' (Portugal comics), '''Microonda''' (Brazil comics, "Microwave")
*''Russian:'' '''Barkhan''' (cartoon, Бархан, "Dune")<ref>Dubbers thought his name was "Sandwave".</ref>
*''Spanish:'' '''Sam''' (America ''The Headmasters'')
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Zvukohvyl''' (Звукохвил, "Soundwave")

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Decepticons]]
[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Decepticons]]
[[Category:Blue Order]]
[[Category:Communications specialists]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Go-Bots]]
[[Category:Ghosts]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Decepticons]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Senators]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:United Decepticons]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Earthrise Decepticons]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Kingdom Decepticons]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Siege Decepticons]]
[[Category:Golden Age]]

Sonic Canyons

2022-05-15T15:03:49Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Regeneration One */

[[File:The Ultimate Guide Sonic Canyons.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Even now, you can hear bad Sonic The Hedgehog fanfics coming from this canyon.]]
The '''Sonic Canyons''' are located on the southern side of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. The deafening sound of the planet's underground machinery wells up from their depths and loudly echoes up to the surface. The noise in turn causes a constant deluge of scrap metal to come tumbling down, making the canyons' direct environment particularly inhospitable.<ref>[[The Transformers Universe|Siren's ''Universe'' profile]]</ref> Nonetheless, densely populated settlements have risen, and the [[Transformer]]s living there, such as the [[Autobot]] [[Siren (G1)|Siren]],<ref>[[Siren (G1)|Siren's toy bio]]</ref> have adapted perfectly. Among the rest of the population, the people of this heavily industrialized section of Cybertron are characterized by their toughness, their no-nonsense attitude and their loud, loud voices.<ref>[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|Siren's ''More Than Meets The Eye'' profile]]</ref>

Few are aware the Sonic Canyons function as [[Primus]]'s sensory organs. Their resonating structures allow him to collect data from across the galaxy, which is then processed into a more meaningful format by the [[Vector Sigma]] supercomputer.<ref>''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]''</ref>

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 continuity family===
====2005 IDW continuity====
[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] once found themselves dangling for dear life off a crumbling ledge deep within the Sonic Canyons. Optimus warned Ironhide not to speak, as even whispers would be magnified a thousandfold down there. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13|Old Ways}} [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] coined the phrase "[[Wreckers|Wreck and Rule!]]" while saving [[Xaaron]] at the Sonic Canyons. A moment later, he crashed his [[sky-sled]] into the drilling platform. Presumably, one of the locals salvaged the vehicle, for it later made its way into [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]]'s possession. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2|Last Stand of the Wreckers #2}}

====''Wings Universe''====
The [[Autobot Sentry Team]] guarded the Sonic Canyons with their common [[alternate mode|trans-forms]]. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 41|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club #41}}

====''Regeneration One''====
[[File:Gene key sonic canyons natural selection.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|"Haha!! Once I turn all the Autobots into Fangry, we'll be victorious!" "...WHAT??" " I SAID, ONCE WE TURN THE AUTOBOTS INTO FANGRY, WE'LL BE VICTORIOUS!" "WHAT?!" "TURN AUTOBOTS INTO FANGRY!" "MAKE OTTO BUSH HANGRY?" "...Oh, forget the whole thing."]]
[[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]] chose the Sonic Canyons as the site to construct a giant [[Gene Key]], as he planned to use the resonant qualities of the canyons to amplify the Key's effect, in order to rewrite the [[CNA]] of every Autobot on Cybertron at once. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Three}} {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Four}} [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] would challenge Scorponok at the canyons, the two tumbling down in their final confrontation. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Five}}
{{-}}

====''Beast Wars: Uprising''====
The Sonic Canyons were a series of interlinking chasms all across Cybertron. They encircled many settlements on the planet, including the strategically valuble [[Tagan Heights|Tagon Heights]] and the city of [[Protihex]]. {{storylink|Safe Spaces}} In ancient times, [[Primus]], along with several other deities, was said to hold court beneath the Canyons. {{storylink|Derailment}}

====2019 IDW continuity====
[[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] once led an expedition deep into the Sonic Canyons, but wound up stranded deep underground for some time until he could be rescued. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Two}} After [[Exarchon]] had been mutated, he hid a secret cache of the arcane technology he had been provided in the Sonic Canyons.

Shortly before the Decepticons marched on [[Crystal City]], Exarchon reawoke and, after usurping [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]], retreated to his hidden sanctum. Concurrently, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] dispatched a team of Autobots to the Canyons to investigate any hints about Exarchon's return. Braving the automated defences, the Autobots found the base's entrance only to be confronted by the ancient warlord himself. {{storylink|War's End Part One}} The Autobots managed to send off a signal to Crystal City, [[Pyra Magna]] heading off to aid them. {{storylink|The Landscape of Fear}}

{{spoiler|War's End Part Three|May 25 2022}}

After Megatron had agreed to an alliance with the Autobots against the Threefold Spark, both Autobots and Decepticons converged on the Canyons, arriving after [[Soundblaster (G1)|Soundblaster]] and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] came to reinforce Exarchon. {{storylink|War's End Part Two}} Though the Autobots and Decepticons managed to destroy the active [[Skywarp drone]]s, they fell back when faced with the arrival of [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. Regrouping, [[Pyra Magna]] and [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] drew up plans to attack the Canyons again, [[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]] warned that [[Team Stream]] had defected to the Threefold Spark, the former Risers reaching the Canyons just as Exarchon made to usurp Devastator. {{storylink|War's End Part Three}}

=====Alternate future=====
In a possible future where [[Exarchon]] had conquered Cybertron, [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Jumpstream]] died at the Sonic Canyons. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Test Flight II|Test Flight II}}

===Lonesome Diesel===
When [[QuickFire]] told [[Jake Williams]] about [[Cybertron (planet)|his home planet]], he included the Sonic Canyons in his story. {{storylink|Lonesome Diesel}}

===Live-action film series===
Sonic Canyons are surrounded by the area where the [[Tri-Torus Loop]] is located, [[Moon Alpha Spaceport|Moon Alpha]], and the [[Hydrax Plateau]]. {{storylink|Risk: Cybertron War Edition|Risk}}

===Aligned continuity family===
====Aligned novels====
The Sonic Canyons divide the [[Rust Sea]] from the [[Badlands (Cybertron)|Badlands]]. It was bombed by [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]'s followers, outraging many who [[Iacon (polity)|incorrectly]] believed that [[Vector Sigma]] was inside the Sonic Canyons and that they had been trying to claim the computer. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

====2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon====
The Sonic Canyons were a Cybertronian vacation destination suggested by the [[Bee Team (RID)|Bee Team]]. {{storylink|Ghosts and Impostors}}

===''Animated'' cartoon===
The living [[Living metal#Animated|protomatter]] needed to create [[protoform]]s could be found in the sonic canyons. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}
{{-}}

==Games==
===Transformers The Game (PSP)===
Following [[Megatron (Movie)/games|Megatron]]'s death, [[Starscream (Movie)/games|Starscream]] and [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] fought for the [[Decepticon leader|leadership]] of the Decepticons in the Sonic Canyons, with Starscream ultimately coming out victorious. {{storylink|Transformers The Game (PSP)}}

===Bot Shots Battle Game!===
[[File:BotShotsGame Sonic Canyon.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
The Sonic Canyon was the place on Cybertron where Bot Shots came to battle Super Bots. {{storylink|Bot Shots Battle Game!}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
*'''Transformers Monopoly''' (2007)
:The Sonic Canyons replace Connecticut in this version of the game.

*'''RISK TRANSFORMERS CYBERTRON Battle Edition''' (2007)
:The Sonic Canyons are one of the orange zones on the board.

==Notes==
===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Sonic Canyon''' (ソニック・キャニオン ''Sonikku Kyanion'')

*''Swedish:'' '''Soniska Flodbädderna''' ("Sonic Riverbeds")

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Animated locations]]
[[Category:Armada locations]]
[[Category:Bot Shots locations]]
[[Category:Cybertron]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) locations]]
[[Category:Movie locations]]
[[Category:Regeneration One locations]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2015) locations]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron locations]]
[[Category:Wings Universe locations]]

Sonic Canyons

2022-05-15T15:03:06Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Regeneration One */

[[File:The Ultimate Guide Sonic Canyons.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Even now, you can hear bad Sonic The Hedgehog fanfics coming from this canyon.]]
The '''Sonic Canyons''' are located on the southern side of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. The deafening sound of the planet's underground machinery wells up from their depths and loudly echoes up to the surface. The noise in turn causes a constant deluge of scrap metal to come tumbling down, making the canyons' direct environment particularly inhospitable.<ref>[[The Transformers Universe|Siren's ''Universe'' profile]]</ref> Nonetheless, densely populated settlements have risen, and the [[Transformer]]s living there, such as the [[Autobot]] [[Siren (G1)|Siren]],<ref>[[Siren (G1)|Siren's toy bio]]</ref> have adapted perfectly. Among the rest of the population, the people of this heavily industrialized section of Cybertron are characterized by their toughness, their no-nonsense attitude and their loud, loud voices.<ref>[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|Siren's ''More Than Meets The Eye'' profile]]</ref>

Few are aware the Sonic Canyons function as [[Primus]]'s sensory organs. Their resonating structures allow him to collect data from across the galaxy, which is then processed into a more meaningful format by the [[Vector Sigma]] supercomputer.<ref>''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]''</ref>

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 continuity family===
====2005 IDW continuity====
[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] once found themselves dangling for dear life off a crumbling ledge deep within the Sonic Canyons. Optimus warned Ironhide not to speak, as even whispers would be magnified a thousandfold down there. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13|Old Ways}} [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] coined the phrase "[[Wreckers|Wreck and Rule!]]" while saving [[Xaaron]] at the Sonic Canyons. A moment later, he crashed his [[sky-sled]] into the drilling platform. Presumably, one of the locals salvaged the vehicle, for it later made its way into [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]]'s possession. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2|Last Stand of the Wreckers #2}}

====''Wings Universe''====
The [[Autobot Sentry Team]] guarded the Sonic Canyons with their common [[alternate mode|trans-forms]]. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 41|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club #41}}

====''Regeneration One''====
[[File:Gene key sonic canyons natural selection.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|"Once I turn all the Autobots into Fangry, we'llbe victorious!" "...WHAT??" " I SAID, ONCE WE TURN THE AUTOBOTS INTO FANGRY, WE'LL BE VICTORIOUS!" "WHAT?!" "TURN AUTOBOTS INTO FANGRY!" "MAKE OTTO BUSH HANGRY?" "...Oh, forget the whole thing."]]
[[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]] chose the Sonic Canyons as the site to construct a giant [[Gene Key]], as he planned to use the resonant qualities of the canyons to amplify the Key's effect, in order to rewrite the [[CNA]] of every Autobot on Cybertron at once. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Three}} {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Four}} [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] would challenge Scorponok at the canyons, the two tumbling down in their final confrontation. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Five}}
{{-}}

====''Beast Wars: Uprising''====
The Sonic Canyons were a series of interlinking chasms all across Cybertron. They encircled many settlements on the planet, including the strategically valuble [[Tagan Heights|Tagon Heights]] and the city of [[Protihex]]. {{storylink|Safe Spaces}} In ancient times, [[Primus]], along with several other deities, was said to hold court beneath the Canyons. {{storylink|Derailment}}

====2019 IDW continuity====
[[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] once led an expedition deep into the Sonic Canyons, but wound up stranded deep underground for some time until he could be rescued. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Two}} After [[Exarchon]] had been mutated, he hid a secret cache of the arcane technology he had been provided in the Sonic Canyons.

Shortly before the Decepticons marched on [[Crystal City]], Exarchon reawoke and, after usurping [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]], retreated to his hidden sanctum. Concurrently, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] dispatched a team of Autobots to the Canyons to investigate any hints about Exarchon's return. Braving the automated defences, the Autobots found the base's entrance only to be confronted by the ancient warlord himself. {{storylink|War's End Part One}} The Autobots managed to send off a signal to Crystal City, [[Pyra Magna]] heading off to aid them. {{storylink|The Landscape of Fear}}

{{spoiler|War's End Part Three|May 25 2022}}

After Megatron had agreed to an alliance with the Autobots against the Threefold Spark, both Autobots and Decepticons converged on the Canyons, arriving after [[Soundblaster (G1)|Soundblaster]] and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] came to reinforce Exarchon. {{storylink|War's End Part Two}} Though the Autobots and Decepticons managed to destroy the active [[Skywarp drone]]s, they fell back when faced with the arrival of [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. Regrouping, [[Pyra Magna]] and [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] drew up plans to attack the Canyons again, [[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]] warned that [[Team Stream]] had defected to the Threefold Spark, the former Risers reaching the Canyons just as Exarchon made to usurp Devastator. {{storylink|War's End Part Three}}

=====Alternate future=====
In a possible future where [[Exarchon]] had conquered Cybertron, [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Jumpstream]] died at the Sonic Canyons. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Test Flight II|Test Flight II}}

===Lonesome Diesel===
When [[QuickFire]] told [[Jake Williams]] about [[Cybertron (planet)|his home planet]], he included the Sonic Canyons in his story. {{storylink|Lonesome Diesel}}

===Live-action film series===
Sonic Canyons are surrounded by the area where the [[Tri-Torus Loop]] is located, [[Moon Alpha Spaceport|Moon Alpha]], and the [[Hydrax Plateau]]. {{storylink|Risk: Cybertron War Edition|Risk}}

===Aligned continuity family===
====Aligned novels====
The Sonic Canyons divide the [[Rust Sea]] from the [[Badlands (Cybertron)|Badlands]]. It was bombed by [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]'s followers, outraging many who [[Iacon (polity)|incorrectly]] believed that [[Vector Sigma]] was inside the Sonic Canyons and that they had been trying to claim the computer. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

====2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon====
The Sonic Canyons were a Cybertronian vacation destination suggested by the [[Bee Team (RID)|Bee Team]]. {{storylink|Ghosts and Impostors}}

===''Animated'' cartoon===
The living [[Living metal#Animated|protomatter]] needed to create [[protoform]]s could be found in the sonic canyons. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}
{{-}}

==Games==
===Transformers The Game (PSP)===
Following [[Megatron (Movie)/games|Megatron]]'s death, [[Starscream (Movie)/games|Starscream]] and [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] fought for the [[Decepticon leader|leadership]] of the Decepticons in the Sonic Canyons, with Starscream ultimately coming out victorious. {{storylink|Transformers The Game (PSP)}}

===Bot Shots Battle Game!===
[[File:BotShotsGame Sonic Canyon.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
The Sonic Canyon was the place on Cybertron where Bot Shots came to battle Super Bots. {{storylink|Bot Shots Battle Game!}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
*'''Transformers Monopoly''' (2007)
:The Sonic Canyons replace Connecticut in this version of the game.

*'''RISK TRANSFORMERS CYBERTRON Battle Edition''' (2007)
:The Sonic Canyons are one of the orange zones on the board.

==Notes==
===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Sonic Canyon''' (ソニック・キャニオン ''Sonikku Kyanion'')

*''Swedish:'' '''Soniska Flodbädderna''' ("Sonic Riverbeds")

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Animated locations]]
[[Category:Armada locations]]
[[Category:Bot Shots locations]]
[[Category:Cybertron]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) locations]]
[[Category:Movie locations]]
[[Category:Regeneration One locations]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2015) locations]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron locations]]
[[Category:Wings Universe locations]]

Gene Key

2022-05-15T14:47:28Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Regeneration One */

[[File:Gene key schematic natural selection.jpg|thumb|upright=1.9|"Mwahahaha! Once I use this to turn everyone into Decepticons, we'll all be friends!" "The Decepticons are full of guys like Starscream, Blot, Headstrong, Tantrum, Starscream, Menasor, Triggerhappy, Misfire, Starscream..."]]
The '''Gene Key''' is a device that rewrites the [[CNA]] of Cybertronians. It's basically [[Personality destabilizer device|one of these]], but shaped like an antique Earth key.

==Fiction==
===''Regeneration One''===
[[File:Gene key sonic canyons natural selection.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6|"...Slugfest, Overkill, Skalor, Nautilator, Weirdwolf, the Battlechargers, the Firecons, Quake, Starscream, Fangry-" "...You've made your point." "...Apeface, Snapdragon, Brawl, Breakdown, Macabre..."
]]
[[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]] created the Gene Key on [[Nebulos]], where he first tested its capability to modify the "warrior gene" on the restored [[Autobot]] [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]]. He enlisted [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]'s help to put his invention to use, with the offer of a new, [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]]-free body. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part One}} He then took his invention to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], to wreak havoc on the Autobot forces there. Grimlock was sent ahead with the purpose of using the Key on [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Two}} Scorponok was surprised to discover that it did not work on [[Punch (G1)|everybody]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Three}} Scorponok put Perceptor to work constructing a giant version of the Key at the [[Sonic Canyons]], where the canyons' resonant properties would allow the Key's signal to propagate across Cybertron, rewriting the CNA of every Autobot on the planet. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Four}}

Scorponok was stunned to discover that Grimlock had not actually used the Gene Key given to him on Perceptor, setting the scientist up as the Autobot's "inside man" instead. Perceptor had used his position to antagonize Scorponok by countering the Decepticon's theories and staging delays, and modified the giant Gene Key to restore the individually-reprogrammed Autobots instead. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Five}}
{{--}}

==See also==
*[[Destructicon chip]]
*[[Neuro-control helmet]]
*[[Personality destabilizer device]]
*[[Purnel's Auto-Reverse Defence]]
*[[Robosmasher]]
*[[Shell program]]
*[[Transmuter (BW)]]

[[Category:Regeneration One technology]]

Gene Key

2022-05-15T14:46:02Z

Spark Mandrill:

[[File:Gene key schematic natural selection.jpg|thumb|upright=1.9|"Mwahahaha! Once I use this to turn everyone into Decepticons, we'll all be friends!" "The Decepticons are full of guys like Starscream, Blot, Headstrong, Tantrum, Starscream, Menasor, Triggerhappy, Misfire, Starscream..."]]
The '''Gene Key''' is a device that rewrites the [[CNA]] of Cybertronians. It's basically [[Personality destabilizer device|one of these]], but shaped like an antique Earth key.

==Fiction==
===''Regeneration One''===
[[File:Gene key sonic canyons natural selection.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6|"...Slugfest, Overkill, Skalor, Nautilator, Weirdwolf, the Battlechargers, the Firecons, Quake, Starscream, Fangry-" "...You've made your point." "...Apeface, Snapdragon, Brawl, Breakdown,, Macabre..."
]]
[[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]] created the Gene Key on [[Nebulos]], where he first tested its capability to modify the "warrior gene" on the restored [[Autobot]] [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]]. He enlisted [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]'s help to put his invention to use, with the offer of a new, [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]]-free body. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part One}} He then took his invention to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], to wreak havoc on the Autobot forces there. Grimlock was sent ahead with the purpose of using the Key on [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Two}} Scorponok was surprised to discover that it did not work on [[Punch (G1)|everybody]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Three}} Scorponok put Perceptor to work constructing a giant version of the Key at the [[Sonic Canyons]], where the canyons' resonant properties would allow the Key's signal to propagate across Cybertron, rewriting the CNA of every Autobot on the planet. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Four}}

Scorponok was stunned to discover that Grimlock had not actually used the Gene Key given to him on Perceptor, setting the scientist up as the Autobot's "inside man" instead. Perceptor had used his position to antagonize Scorponok by countering the Decepticon's theories and staging delays, and modified the giant Gene Key to restore the individually-reprogrammed Autobots instead. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Five}}
{{--}}

==See also==
*[[Destructicon chip]]
*[[Neuro-control helmet]]
*[[Personality destabilizer device]]
*[[Purnel's Auto-Reverse Defence]]
*[[Robosmasher]]
*[[Shell program]]
*[[Transmuter (BW)]]

[[Category:Regeneration One technology]]

Greco

2022-05-14T19:11:30Z

Spark Mandrill:

:''Greco is a [[human]] from the [[Marvel Comics continuity|Marvel portion]] of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:Mechanical Difficulties! Greco and Altman introduce themselves.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb]]
Detective '''Greco''' works for the [[Portland Police Department]].

==Fiction==
===Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics===
Greco and his colleague [[Altman]] were sent to [[Forbes's Garage]] to find anything that would lead to the [[Mechanic]], whose criminal activities of recent had made him a priority arrest. The garage was abandoned, but the detectives did find [[Fuzzy|two]] [[Deadhead|youngsters]] in panic about a supposedly haunted car. Altman and Greco took them to the station house, where [[Stoler|their captain]] interpreted the story as further evidence that the Mechanic was receiving aid from the [[Transformer|strange robots]]. As such, Altman and Greco received adjusted orders for the next day's operation to capture the Mechanic: If robots show up, take them out first.

[[File:Human.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|"I wanna roll with the gangsters. But it's apparent I'm too white and nerdy."]]
Having puzzled out what kind of tech the Mechanic had been obtaining during his previous heists, the police leaked information that a 256 thousand kilobyte Formax computer was being transported through the area, baiting their target into an attempt at stealing it. The plan worked though, as predicted, the robots also turned up during the operation. Per their orders, Greco's squad focused their firepower on [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]], allowing the Mechanic and his accomplice, [[Juan (thief)|Juan]], to slip away. Though Greco shot out one of Goldbug's tires, the Autobots managed a retreat as well, leaving the squad empty-handed... if not for the fact that they had anticipated such a scenario. The computer had been bugged with a tracking device, and its signal was followed to the Mechanic's hideout. Upon the police's arrival however, they were once more met with Blaster. This time about, Blaster put down his weapon as a show of good will, and brokered a truce so that the Autobots could work alongside the police, and bring an end to the Mechanic's antics.

Playing the fool, Greco strolled inside the Mechanic's garage with Blaster disguised as a boombox atop his shoulder. Pulling his badge out, Greco gave the assembled criminals within a chance to surrender, before Blaster transformed and used his electro-scrambler gun to make all of the criminals' war machines go haywire. Unable to fight back, the Mechanic's customers were all arrested, and Greco captured Juan personally. The Mechanic himself escaped the law once more, however. Thanking the Autobots for the part they played in the mission, both Greco and Blaster agreed to disregard orders each of them had received from higher-ups, telling them to eliminate each other. The Autobots then sped off as Greco and Altman looked on. {{storylink|Mechanical Difficulties!}}

[[Category:Comic-only humans]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 humans]]
[[Category:Law enforcement]]

Peace

2022-03-20T06:11:13Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Notes */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[Transformers Annual 1989]]
|prev=All in the Minds!
|next=Transformers Annual 1990
|title="Peace"
|image=Peace war begins anew.jpg
|caption=Rejected alternate title: ''Peace: You're Doing It Wrong''
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=September [[1988]]
|coverdate=[[1989]]
|writer=[[Richard Starkings|Richard Alan]]
|art=[[Robin Smith]]
|lettering=[[Gary Gilbert|Glib]]
|colours=[[Steve White]]
|editor=
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline#2510|2510]] ([[Marvel Comics timeline#Post-Time Wars future|Post-Time Wars future?]] See [[#Notes|Notes]])
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''In the far future the Autobots finally win the war against the Decepticons...but everything doesn't go as planned.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Rodimus technobots wreckers peace.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8]]
In the year [[2510]], long after most can remember how the war started and when few can distinguish between the factions' motives, the final [[Decepticon]] falls in battle with the [[Wrecker]]s. Relieved that [[Great War (G1)|the war]] is finally over, the fatigued [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] decides to step down as leader and selects [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] as his replacement.

However, a Decepticon double agent called [[Triton]] has infiltrated the [[Autobot]] ranks and is determined to prevent the war from ending. When Rodimus announces Springer as his successor, Triton objects, saying that Springer is a warrior, not a leader. He suggests [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] would make a better leader.

Arguments break out amongst the Autobots over who should be leader, with Whirl demanding to know where Triton's "precious Ultra Magnus" was when the Wreckers were ending the war. Triton responds by hitting him; [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] responds by pulling a gun and threatening to kill him; and [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] responds by gunning down Roadbuster in the back before he can.

A moment of horrified silence is broken by [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] blaming Triton for Roadbuster’s death. The Decepticon is killed, the Autobots split into factions and a new war begins as Rodimus Prime wails in despair.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (1)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (2)
*[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (3)
*[[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] (4)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (5)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (6)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (7)
*[[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] (8)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (10)
*[[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] (11)
*[[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (12)
*[[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (13)
*[[Twin Twist]] (14)
*[[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] (15)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (16)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Triton]] (9)
}}

==Notes==
[[File:Peace THE END.jpg|thumb|center|upright=2|"...Boy, that escalated quickly."]]
*This is one of only a handful of stories from this era not to be written by [[Simon Furman]].
*Richard Starkings (AKA "Richard Alan") got the idea from a friend who ran a ''Doctor Who'' fanzine, and had a story planned where the [[Dalek]]s win and then wonder what they're going to do now. That made him wonder what would happen if the Autobots ever won.<ref>[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 5|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 5]]</ref>
*The Decepticons had been holding out in the northern hemisphere.
*Triton cites Magnus' credentials by bringing up how he held the Matrix before Rodimus.
*Chronologically, this is the final story to feature the future Autobots, set two hundred years after the later "[[Aspects of Evil!]]". However, it seems this story was never intended to be "the" future of the Transformers timeline, as <s>the editor</s> [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] gives different explanations for it:
**When one reader wrote in to ask why the Wreckers are alive in "Peace" but dead in "[[Time Wars]]", Dreadwind told him that this was likely an alternate timeline where they didn't die.<ref>[http://transfans.co.uk/media/2KX/media/comics/the_transformers_uk/dreadtidings/Issue212.jpg #212's letters page]</ref>
**When another reader asked why Rodimus is healthy in "Peace" and not dead of Unicron, Dreadwind explained that Rodimus was just ill in "Aspects" and not dying ("which is a shame") -- tacitly putting the stories in the same timeline.<ref>[http://transfans.co.uk/media/2KX/media/comics/the_transformers_uk/dreadtidings/Issue236.jpg #238's letters page]</ref>
**When someone asked if these were all the Autobots left, their concerns were dismissed by saying "Peace" was "just a story about the stupidity of war".<ref>[http://transfans.co.uk/media/2KX/media/comics/the_transformers_uk/dreadtidings/Issue264.jpg #264's letters page]</ref>
*A young [[James Roberts]] wrote in to the comic lamenting how bleak an ending this was!<ref>[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 5|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 5]] - "Not surprisingly, I never got a reply."</ref>

===Cover===
*'''Transformers Annual 1989 cover:''' Scorponok, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
<gallery>
File:Transformers annual 1989.jpg|'''Transformers Annual 1989'''
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 5|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 5]]:''' ([[August 6]], [[2014]]) ISBN 1613777140 / ISBN 978-1613777145
* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection|Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 22: Natural Selection]]''''' ([[September 20]], [[2017]])
:*Bonus material includes an overview of the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic]] and several cover sketches.
<gallery>
File:Classicuk5.jpg|'''''Classics UK'' Volume 5'''; cover art by [[Andrew Wildman]].
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v22.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Chapter 22'''''; cover art by Andrew Wildman and [[Stephen Baskerville]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Marvel UK Annual stories]]

Mirage (G1)/toys

2022-03-15T03:34:15Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Notes */

{{suite}}
[[File:Mirage g1boxart.jpg|upright=2|thumb|"The shelf was... full."]]

'''Mirage''' will need more than a four-car garage to hold all his toys!

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
{{anchor|Generation 1}}
[[File:G1Mirage toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|I don't need to be street-legal; I'm rich.]]
*'''Mirage''' (Autobot Car, [[1984]]-[[1988]])
**''Takara ID number:'' '''07'''
**''Accessories:'' "[[Liquid fuel dart|rocket-dart]] [[hunting rifle]]", missile launcher, 3 [[missile]]s
:Mirage was part of the original 1984 Autobot Cars assortment. His mold was originally used for a ''[[Diaclone]]'' F-1 {{w|Ligier JS11}} racer. The toy was specifically designed to work with the launcher mechanism contained in the Optimus Prime / Battle Convoy trailer. This toy is ''incredibly'' easily broken at the waist pivot, being just a thin metal rod connecting his upper and lower halves.

:In 1984, Mirage was the most common figure of his price point, since he was packaged two per [[case]] for the better part of the year. (There were originally only eleven different Autobot Cars figures in a case of 12, with the extra Mirage used to fill up the case. Near the end of the year, the extra Mirage was replaced by [[Skids (G1)#The Transformers|Skids]].) Like all his 1984 brethren, Mirage received a heat-activated [[rubsign]] 1985, added to his spoiler. He was discontinued at retail in 1986, but continued to be available as a [[Pack-in material#Mail-order flyers|mail-away item]] until 1988, costing $8 and two [[Robot Point]]s. The last of these offers, 1988's "[[The Autobots Are Under Attack!]]," marked the final release of the toy; the figure's mold was subsequently [[Mold#Issues with Reissues|either lost or damaged]], making him the only 1984 toy to never be reissued in any capacity. He has, however, been [[knockoff|knocked off]] to high heaven in a variety of colors.

:The labels on the toy are references to several real-world companies. The largest name, Citanes, is a deliberate corruption of Gitanes, a French cigarette company. (Quite unusual for a child's toy, but not the only [[Exhaust|cigarette reference in ''Diaclone'']].) The toy included Gitanes' logo of a dancing woman on what ends up as Mirage's belt in robot form. "Ligier" is the name of the company that manufactured the JS-11 chassis and fielded the team, traditionally wearing 25 and 26 on the F1 grid, while "elf" is a reference to a French oil company that has since merged with TotalFina to become TotalFinaElf.

:The Italian version of Mirage (called "Mistero") released by [[GiG]] covered the "Citanes" tampographs with [http://www.fredsworkshop.com/vmirage.html factory-applied "Ligier" decals], and later outright replaced the "Citanes" tampos with actual "Ligier" tampos.

::*''[http://www.transformerland.com/wiki/toy-info/transformers-g1-autobot-cars-mirage/137/ Patent info, price guide, and further reading on Mirage at Transformerland.com]''
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1984/Autobot/Mirage/mirage.htm More information on Mirage at TFU.info]

{{-}}{{anchor|goodbye}}
[[File:Goodbye convoy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|The boxset was... full.]]
*'''Good Bye Convoy''' (Multipack, [[1986]])
**''Accessories:'' "rocket-dart hunting rifle", missile launcher, 3 missiles
:Commemorating the death of Optimus Prime in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', this set contains a special version of the original Optimus Prime figure with show-inspired translucent blue windows packaged with unchanged versions of Mirage ("Ligier" in Japan) and [[Red Alert (G1)/toys|Red Alert]] ("Alert"). It seems this was done in an apparent homage to the similar ''Diaclone'' "Powered Convoy DX" giftset, which packaged the "Powered Convoy" version of the Optimus mold with the ''Diaclone'' versions of the other two Autobots.
{{-}}

===''Generation 2''===
[[File:G2toy gobot mirage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|When is a Mirage [[:File:RID-toy_MirageGT.jpg|not]] [[Mirage (BM)|a]] [[Mirage (Armada)|Mirage]]? When is a [[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bot]] not a [http://tfu.info/Gobots/Renegades/Slicks/slicks.htm GoBot?] ]]
*'''Mirage''' ([[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bot]], [[1995]])
**''Accessories:'' Gun
:Mirage was released in 1995 as a black and yellow recolor of the Go-Bot [[Double Clutch (G2)|Double Clutch]], transforming into a 1:64-scale Lola T94 Indy car with through-axle construction, making him compatible with racing sets from the "Hot Wheels" and "Matchbox" toylines.

:This mold was also used to make [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|2001 ''Robots in Disguise'']] [[Mirage (RID)|Mirage]]. The toy was later [[repurposing|repurposed]] to be a [[Mirage (G2)|"next-generation" clone of Mirage]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/1995/Autobot/Mirage/mirage.htm More information on Go-Bots Mirage at TFU.info]
{{G2DoubleClutchMold}}
{{-}}

===''Machine Wars''===
[[File:MW-toy Mirage.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Gah! I'm teal! Somebody recolor me, please!]]
*'''Mirage''' (Basic Class, [[1997]])
**''Accessories:'' 2-part rifle

:''[[Machine Wars: Transformers|Machine Wars]]'' Mirage was originally designed for release during the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' toyline, but the line's cancellation resulted in the figure being held back. Consequently, unlike most of the ''Machine Wars'' toys, his head looks very similar to his Generation 1 form. He transforms into a blue and white Penske PC-18 Indycar, and like the other ''Machine Wars'' Basic-class figures, the toy is a "flipchanger" with a one-step, spring-loaded transformation. His rifle splits into two pieces, which store inside his legs while he is in vehicle mode.

:This toy is [[gang-molding|gang-molded]] with the other three Basic molds in the line. Specifically, his shoulders and spine share plastic with [[Megaplex#Toys|Megaplex]]'s inner robot parts, his head shares plastic with [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#Machine Wars|Skywarp]]'s jet parts, his seat shares plastic with [[Hoist (G1)/toys#Machine Wars|Hoist]]'s truck parts, plus he shares the pearlescent-gray optics plastic with, well, everyone.

:A redeco of the rifle (both pieces) was included in the ''[[Cyberverse (toyline)|Cyberverse]]'' [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#TargetCyberverseVs|Bumblebee]] vs [[Megatron (Movie)/toys#TargetCyberverseVs|Megatron]] two-pack.

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

===''Robotmasters''===
[[File:RM-toy Mirage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Phew. Thanks.]]
*'''Rijie''' ([[2004]])
**''ID number:'' '''RM-03'''
**''Accessories:'' 2-part "Molecular Bonding Gun", "JS Laser Gun"
:''[[Robotmasters (franchise)|Robotmasters]]'' "Rijie" uses the ''Machine Wars'' Basic Class Mirage mold, but in a much more [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]-based coloration and deco. He also came with an extra chrome-silver "JS Laser Gun" (like the other bonus weapons of ''Robotmasters'', it is suspected to be a mold originally developed yet ultimately unused by the cut-short ''[[Microman]] LED Powers'' line).

:Because of legal reasons, "Ligier" could not be used for the name of the ''Robotmasters'' toy, so "Rijie", which has the same pronunciation in Japan, was used instead. Curiously, the toy's instructions still identify it as "Ligier".

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Cybertron/Ligier/ligier.htm More information on ''Robotmasters'' Rijie at TFU.info]
{{MWMirageMold}}
{{-}}

===''Alternators''===
[[File:AlternatorsMirage toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|This toy is clearly black, red, and silver. You're just deluding yourself.]]
*'''Mirage''' (Alternator, [[2006]])
**''ID number:'' '''22'''
**''Accessories:'' Engine/tonfa weapons
:''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' Mirage transforms into a finely detailed 1:24 scale replica of a Ford GT, featuring opening doors, engine bay and trunk, with a realistic interior. As with most Alternators, his car body is mostly unpainted, but the metallic-flake deep blue plastic makes this hard to see.

:Featuring an innovative, different [[robot mode]], Mirage is not a straight re-interpretation of the original Mirage's robot mode, due to the completely different types of vehicles. But coincidentally the Ford GT's hood features a shape that echoes a F1-type racing car's nose and front spoiler. His removable engine supercharger splits in two, becoming either a pair of small pistols, or two tonfa weapons.

:Mirage was retooled into [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Kiss Players|Hot Rodimus]] for the ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]'' line, which was further redecoed into ''Alternators'' Rodimus. Later in 2007, he was redecoed in clear plastic colours to represent his 'invisibility mode' as an [[e-HOBBY]] exclusive in the ''[[Binaltech]]'' line.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Autobot/AltMirage/mirage.htm More information on Alternators Mirage at TFU.info]
{{-}}

===''Universe'' (2003)===
[[File:RID-toy Mirage-KBclear2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|I fail to see the point of this.]]
*'''Mirage''' ([[Spy Changer]], [[2006]])
**''Accessories:'' Rifle
:Released in the [[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|2003 ''Universe'' toyline]], "Spy Changer" Mirage is a redeco of ''Generation 2'' Go-Bot Mirage. He is identical to the last [[KB Toys]] [[exclusive]] redeco of [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|2001 ''Robots in Disguise'']] [[Mirage (RID)#KBclear2|Mirage]], transforming into a translucent green Lola Indy car.

:He was available only on an individual card from discount chains like The Dollar Store.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Autobot/Mirage/mirage.htm More information on ''Universe'' Mirage at TFU.info]
{{G2DoubleClutchMold}}
{{-}}

===''Classics''===
[[File:Classics Mirage toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Applied to [[Revoltech]] club; rejected for lacking thigh joints.]]
*'''Mirage''' (Deluxe Class, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Gun/front spoiler
:''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' Mirage was released in November 2006 in wave 2, along with the [[shortpacking|shortpacked]] [[Grimlock (G1)/toys#Classics|Grimlock]]. He transforms into a closed-canopy Formula racer concept car. Mirage's paint details contain a few ''Transformers'' in-jokes in the form of sponsor logos such as "[[Sparkplug Witwicky|Witwicky Sparkplugs]]" and "[[Lithone (planet)|Lithonian]] Drivetrain". Additionally, his racing number is still 26, as it was on the original toy. Other logos, which include "Plasma Injection Energy" and "F.P. Racing", refer to "pie" and the initials of [[Joe Kyde|the deco artist]]'s super-secret non-gay friendship cult, respectively.

:The front detaches to become a handheld electro-disruptor weapon which is said to be able to create illusions and allow him to appear invisible. According to some of his production art, the weapon was partially styled after a crossbow. He is ''extremely'' poseable for his time, featuring double-jointed elbows and knees, ball-jointed spoiler "toes", and waist articulation, among others.

:His stock photography (pictured at right) depicts almost all of his unpainted grey plastic as blue.

:This mold was also used to make [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|Movie]] [[Fracture (Movie)#Toys|Fracture]] and ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Drag Strip (G1)#Universe (2008)|Drag Strip]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Autobot/ClassicsMirage/mirage.htm More information on Classics Mirage at TFU.info]
{{ClassicsMirageMold}}
{{-}}

===''Timelines''===
[[File:BotCon2007freeMirage.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|I leave your toilets fresh and blue every time you flush!]]
*'''Hologram Mirage''' (BotCon attendee freebie, [[2007]])
**''Accessories:'' Gun/front spoiler
:A redeco of ''Classics'' Mirage in translucent and opaque blue, Mirage was available only as a "freebie" gift to attendees at [[BotCon 2007]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Autobot/BCMirage/mirage.htm More information on ''Timelines'' Mirage at TFU.info]
{{ClassicsMirageMold}}

{{-}}{{anchor|BotCon2013}}
[[File:Timelinestoy MWMirage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Mirage / Thundercracker''' (Souvenir pack, [[BotCon 2013]])
**''Accessories:'' Gun/front spoiler
:This redeco of ''Classics'' Mirage renders him in his ''[[Machine Wars: Transformers|Machine Wars]]'' color scheme. He was only available in a two-pack with [[Thundercracker (MW)#Toys|''Machine Wars'' Thundercracker]] at [[BotCon 2013]].

:This souvenir set was a particularly poor seller, ending up on deep clearance online after the convention. 

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Autobot/BCMirage/mirage.htm More information on ''Machine Wars'' Mirage on TFU.info]''
{{ClassicsMirageMold}}
{{-}}

===''Binaltech''===
{{anchor|Binaltech}}
[[File:Binaltechtoy rijie.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Rijie feat. Ford GT Electro-Disrupter Mode''' {{sic}} (e-HOBBY exclusive, 2007)
**''ID number:'' '''BT-18'''
**''Accessories:'' Engine/tonfa weapons
:Rijie is a redeco of ''Alternators'' Mirage using mostly transparent plastic. The toy was exclusively available from [[e-HOBBY]] in September 2007.

:Even though Takara had briefly contemplated releasing a [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Kiss Players|Hot Rodimus]] (Hot Rod) retool of Alternators Mirage as the next ''Binaltech'' toy after [[Ginrai (human)|Ginrai]] (both toys would ultimately come out as part of the ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]'' line instead), they apparently never created any [[die-cast]] molds for the Ford GT sculpt. To justify the absence of diecast parts from a ''Binaltech'' toy, Takara decided to use clear plastic parts to represent an "invisible" mode, officially called an "Electro-Disrupter Mode" {{sic}} on the packaging.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Cybertron/Rijie/rijie.htm More information on ''Binaltech'' Rijie at TFU.info]
{{-}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!''===
[[File:Henkei Mirage toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Sculpted in 2006. Decoed in the late 70s.]]
*'''Ligier''' ([[March 13]], [[2008]])
**''ID number:'' '''C-04'''
**''Accessories:'' Gun/front spoiler
:''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]] Transformers'' Ligier is a redeco of ''Classics'' Deluxe Class Mirage. In an effort to make him appear more accurate to Mirage's cartoon appearances, Ligier lacks most of the sponsorship tampographs that appeared on ''Classics'' Mirage. As with all ''Henkei'' toys, he lacks the heat-sensitive rubsign seen on the ''Classics'' version, but features [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum-metallized]] parts: his rear spoiler and his front spoiler.
{{ClassicsMirageMold}}

{{-}}{{anchor|ElectroDisruptor}}
[[File:HenkeiElectroDisruptorLigier.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Clear, black, '''and''' chrome? It's like he's a living embodiment of Takara itself!]]
*'''Electro Disruptor Ligier''' ([[2009]])

:"Electro Disruptor Ligier" is a translucent plastic version of ''Henkei'' Ligier offered as a mail-away exclusive to those who have bought the book ''[[Transformers Generations 2009|Transformers Generations 2009 Volume 1]]''.

:This toy was [[Repurposing|repurposed]] as ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (toyline)|Shattered Glass]]'' [[Mirage (SG)|Mirage]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Cybertron/EDLigier/ligier.htm More information on Electro Disruptor Ligier at TFU.info]
{{ClassicsMirageMold}}
{{--}}

===''Kre-O''===
[[File:KreO toy Mirage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|''Humongous Interactive'' Presents "Mirage goes to the Races".]]
*'''Mirage''' (2011)
**''Set number'': '''31145'''
**''Pieces'': '''119'''
**''Kreons'': Mirage, Race Driver
**''Accessories'': Small pistol
:The Mirage kit can be rebuilt from a robot to a formula racing car, and has a head sculpt clearly based on ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' [[#Classics|Mirage]]'s head. It includes a Mirage and Race Driver Kreon to ride the car.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2011/Autobot/Kre-OMirage/mirage.htm More information on ''Kre-O'' Mirage at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|FigurePack}}
*'''Kreon Figure Pack''' (2013)
**''Set number'': '''A4642'''
**''Kreons'': Bumblebee, Jazz, Mirage, Red Alert, Skywarp
**''Accessories'': Small pistol
:A boxed set of five Kreons, with [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Kre-O|Bumblebee]], [[Red Alert (G1)/toys#Kre-O|Red Alert]], Mirage, [[Jazz (G1)/toys#Kre-O|Jazz]] and a fifth "mystery" Kreon (actually [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#Kre-O|Skywarp]]). These toys are all identical to their prior releases.

{{-}}{{anchor|SDCC2014}}
[[File:KreO-Toy MirageC84.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Kreon Class of 1984''' (Kreon figure set, 2014)
**''Set number'': '''B0090'''
**''Voted'': Best Dressed
**''Accessories'': Blaster
:This version of Mirage, part of the [[Kreon Class of 1984]], has much more detailed toy-based [[tampograph]]s than his prior version, including a half-blue face.

:He was only available in a [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2014 [[exclusive]] pack of 30 Kreons dubbed the "Kreon Class of 1984". Remaining stock was to be sold at [[Hasbro Toy Shop]] online, only there ''was'' no remaining stock after the show.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2014/Autobot/SDCCKre-OMirage/mirage.htm More information on ''Class of 1984'' Mirage at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Bot Shots''===
[[File:Bot Shots Mirage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|What do you mean "not accurate"?I've always turned into this!]]
*'''Mirage''' (Bot Shot, 2012)
**''Series'': '''1'''
**''Number'': '''B005'''
***''Fist strength'': '''210'''
***''Blaster strength'': '''840'''
***''Sword strength'': '''580'''
:Part of the second wave of ''[[Bot Shots (toyline)|Bot Shots]]'' single-packs, Mirage is a teeny little sports car with a spring-loaded automatic transformation to robot mode triggered when his front bumper is pressed. He has a "spinner" in his chest that shows his three attack types and power levels. His head is based on the [[#Classics|''Classics'' version]] of Generation 1 Mirage but with a vehicle mode and chest reminiscent of his [[Dino|''Dark of the Moon'' counterpart]].

:Mirage's main car body, arms, and legs are also used by [[Barricade (Movie)/toys|Barricade]], [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]], [[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]], [[Prowl (G1)/toys|Prowl]], and [[Topspin (DOTM)|Topspin]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2012/Autobot/BSMirage/mirage.htm More information on Mirage at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|BotShotPolarAssaultTeam}}
[[File:BotShots PolarAssault Mirage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|It makes your whites whiter and your brights brighter!]]
*'''Polar Assault Team''' (Multi-pack, 2013)
**''Series'': '''2'''
**''Number'': '''T003'''
***''Fist strength'': '''670'''
***''Blaster strength'': '''190'''
***''Sword strength'': '''760'''
:A [[redeco]] of the original Mirage mold in a darker blue with white windows. This version of Mirage was available in a five pack with new redecos of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#BotShotPolarAssaultTeam|Optimus Prime]], [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#BotShotPolarAssaultTeam|Bumblebee]], [[Ironhide (G1)/toys#BotShotPolarAssaultTeam|Ironhide]], and [[Jetfire (G1)#BotShotPolarAssaultTeam|Jetfire]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Autobot/BSPAMirage/mirage.htm More information on Polar Assault Mirage at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|3pack}}
[[File:BStoy-3packMirage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Mirage forgot to turn off his hologram's cheese wheel filter.]]
*'''Red Alert / Ultra Magnus / Mirage''' (Multi-pack, 2013)
**''Series'': '''2'''
**''Number'': '''Super Bot 009'''
***''Fist strength'': '''181'''
***''Blaster strength'': '''845'''
***''Sword strength'': '''594'''
:Part of the third wave of ''Bot Shots'' Series 2 three-packs, Super Bot Mirage is a redeco of the original Mirage mold in translucent teal with yellow wheels. He comes in a three-pack with [[Red Alert (G1)/toys|Jump Shot Red Alert]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Jump Shot Ultra Magnus]].
{{-}}

===''BeCool''===
[[File:BeCool RedSportsCar.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Better red than dead.]]
*'''Red Sports Car (Mirage)''' (2012)
**''ID number'': '''B08'''
:''[[Bot Shots (toyline)#BeCool|BeCool]]'' "Red Sports Car" is a red redeco of the ''Bot Shots'' Mirage toy (presumably in homage to [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (franchise)|''Dark of the Moon'']] [[Dino|Dino/Mirage]]) with the power level stickers replaced by little drawings related to sports cars: a speedometer, a car with its hood open and... a {{w|Onigiri|rice ball}}. Don't ask us. It might be a joke about its similarity to the speedometer.
{{-}}

===''Generations''===
[[File:Generationstoy specialist mirage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Specialist: Autobots''' (Multi-pack, [[March 25]], 2014)
**''Accessories:'' Gun/front spoiler
:''Classics'' Mirage was re-released in a three-pack with ''Universe'' [[Ironhide (G1)/toys#Generations|Ironhide]] and [[Hound (G1)/toys#Generations|Hound]], available from Hasbro Asia and [[TakaraTomy Mall]]. All three Autobots feature new metallic paint decos, and the set's [[package art]] links up to the contemporaneously-released "Specialist: Decepticons" set to form a complete image. At selected stores in Asia, the set was available with a free Autobot insignia dangler.
{{ClassicsMirageMold}}
{{--}}

===''Combiner Wars''===
[[File:CWDlxMirage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Are you sure I'm holding this right?]]
*'''Mirage''' (Deluxe Class, 2015)
**''Accessories:'' Sword, double-barreled "rocket dart launcher"/fist/foot
:Part of the fourth wave of ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' Deluxe Class toys, Mirage is a [[retool]] of ''Combiner Wars'' [[Drag Strip (G1)#Generations|Decepticon Dragstrip]], sporting a brand new head sculpt. The hand-foot-gun can be stored on top of his [[alternate mode|alt mode]] via [[5 mm post]]s. Being a ''Combiner Wars'' figure, Mirage can transform into a limb for any ''Combiner Wars''-style Voyager Class toy or into one of [[Godbomber#Legends|''Legends'' Godbomber]]'s legs, although he would usually be associated with [[Optimus Maximus (G1)#Generations|Optimus Maximus]] or [[Betatron (CW)#Toys|Betatron]].

:Mirage comes packaged with the comic book "[[The Sum and Its Parts]]". In Canada, Latin America, and Europe, he was available in different types of [[multilingual packaging]] including a character card featuring his comic book cover/[[package art]] instead. He and the last three waves of ''Combiner Wars'' Deluxe and Voyager figures later showed up at TJ Maxx in the U.S. at reduced prices with the collector card.

:As a part of the third and fourth wave promotion in Hasbro's Asian markets, a free sticker sheet for the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobot]]s and [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]] was given out when purchasing any four Deluxe Class toys from those waves. As such, Mirage was given Generation 1 toy-esque stickers for the owner to apply if they wanted.<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2015/08/28/transformers-combiner-wars-sticker-sheet-for-wave-3-and-4-figures-300471 Protectobot and Optimus Maximus sticker promotion on TFW2005]</ref>

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2015/Autobot/CWMirage/mirage.htm More information on Combiner Wars Mirage at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===''Unite Warriors''===
[[File:TF-UW05-Mirage.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|If you squint, it ''kinda'' looks like my rocket launcher.]]
*'''Convoy Grand Prime''' (Multi-pack, [[February 27]], [[2016]])
**''ID number'': '''UW-05'''
**''Accessories'': Weapons, 4 Gun/Fist/Foots
:Released as part of the TakaraTomy Mall exclusive [[Optimus Maximus (G1)#Unite Warriors|Convoy Grand Prime]] set, Takara's iteration of ''Combiner Wars'' Optimus Maximus is sold in a gift set including all five Autobots (minus the Rodimus mold).

:Compared to the ''Combiner Wars'' release, "Ligier" has numerous changes in deco to better match his look in the Generation 1 cartoon: his light blue plastic is now a darker shade, additional paint operations on the chest and his pair of fists, some omitted details on the legs, the "cheeks" on the head, and the Autobot insignia on his robot chest. The red paint details on the arms are swapped with white, and the patterns on the arms/side fairings are now replaced with a white border that surrounds the marking. His unpaintable combiner joint is now white.
{{--}}

===''War for Cybertron: Siege''===
[[File:WFC-Siege-WFCS43-Deluxe-Mirage.jpg|thumb|300px|"The voting polls were... full."]]
*'''Autobot Mirage''' (Deluxe Class, [[2019]])
**''Hasbro ID number'': '''WFC-S43'''
**''TakaraTomy ID number'': '''SG-38'''
**''TakaraTomy release date'': '''[[December 26]], 2019'''
**''Hidden message code'': '''TURBOFOX'''
**''Accessories'': "C-20 Electro-Disruptor Cannon," "Distortion Missile," "W-15 Armor-Piercing Rocket-Dart Launcher"
:In accordance with his victory in the 2018 ''[[War for Cybertron Trilogy (toyline)|War for Cybertron Trilogy]]'' [[Fan polls#2018|Hasbro fan poll]], Mirage got a new figure in ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege|Siege]]'', released concurrently with [[Impactor (G1)#War for Cybertron: Siege|Impactor]]. The figure is styled after Mirage's cartoon model, and transfoms into an F1 racer (a distinctly different model from his original toy) with Cybertronian elements—including a visual "26" written in [[Alphabet|Cybertronian numbers]] (however, the rest of the writing is in an unknown font, that likely spells "Citanes" or something to a similar effect). Mirage features extensive [[Kibble#"Faux-parts"|faux parts]]; the vehicle nose making up his chest actually stores in the back of his vehicle mode, while the actual nose of the vehicle folds into the back of his shins. He comes with 3 weapons compatible with the [[C.O.M.B.A.T. System]], and features multiple 5 mm hardpoints to work with it. Unlike most ''Siege'' figures, Mirage is practically spotless, as no visible sign of battle damage paint applications can be seen anywhere on his body.

:While the stock render shows his arms with black shoulders, grey biceps and white forearms, the final toy has grey forearms. The render also depicts him with opaque blue plastic, with a clear cockpit, while the final toy has the entire hood molded in unpainted translucent blue plastic. The hood pieces use small tabs to connect to the rear end of the alt mode, but many copies of the figure have the tabs sized slightly too large, necessitating a bit of effort to tab them into place. As these tabs are made of more brittle translucent plastic, care should be taken when dealing with them.

{{-}}{{anchor|AmazonFanVote3Pack}}{{anchor|S55}}
[[File:TF-Generations-WFC-S-Fan-Vote-Battle-3-Pack-Mirage.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|I'm no longer a freebie, but you still want me.]]
*'''Fan Vote Battle 3-Pack''' (Multi-pack)
**''ID number'': '''WFC-S55'''
**''Accessories'': "C-20 Electro-Disruptor Cannon," "W-15 Armor-Piercing Rocket-Dart Launcher," missile
:Released as part of a three-pack with [[Aragon#War for Cybertron: Siege|Powerdasher Aragon]] and [[Impactor (G1)#S56|Decepticon Impactor]], "Holo Mirage" is a translucent redeco and retool of the figure above, featuring a new toy-accurate head and clear blue plastics that evokes [[#Timelines|his BotCon 2007 freebie toy]]. A few of the figure's parts are still molded in opaque plastic, such as the biceps inner armatures. The figure has a number of unique clear blue paint applications including the number "26", a reference to [["Visages"]], and, of all things, the insignia of the [[Zarak Consortium]].

:Due to now being made almost ''entirely'' out of translucent plastic, Holo Mirage is extremely susceptible to stress fractures at all points of articulation and tab-based transformation areas. ''EXTREME'' caution is suggested when handling the figure.

:Oddly, his missile is not called out in the instructions.

:This set was an [[Amazon (website)|Amazon]] exclusive in the United States and Europe, but was available at general retail in Hasbro's Asian markets such as Hong Kong.
{{--}}

===''War for Cybertron Trilogy''===
[[File:TF-Generations-Netflix-WFC-Decepticon-Mirage.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Cliffjumper was right all along.]]
*'''Decepticon Mirage''' (Deluxe Class, 2020)
**''TakaraTomy name'': '''Mirage'''
**''TakaraTomy ID number'': '''WFC-01'''
**''TakaraTomy release date'': '''[[September 26]], [[2020]]'''
**''Accessories:'' "C-20 Electro-Disruptor Cannon," "W-15 Armor-Piercing Rocket-Dart Launcher," missile
:Promoting the ''Siege'' season of the [[Netflix]]-original [[Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (cartoon)|''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' cartoon]], this redeco of ''Siege'' Mirage outfits the Autobot in a deco that matches his holographic Decepticon disguise as shown in the cartoon, along with an ''extensive'' paint wash coating to represent accumulated grime and battle scars. Mirage also sports base color differences, such as purple instead of blue and yellow eyes. Although rather coincidental, Mirage's color scheme and design bear a striking resemblance to Barricade's in the original IDW comic series. Unlike his original ''Siege'' release, Decepticon Mirage does not use translucent plastic in any of his parts, greatly increasing his durability.

:As the ''Siege'' cartoon depicts numerous [[generic]] Decepticons with Mirage's [[body-type]] in this color scheme, Decepticon Mirage can be used as an easy [[Army-building|army-builder]] for the Decepticon ranks if one chooses.

:This release was exclusive to Walmart in the U.S. and Canada, and in Japan as a [[TakaraTomy]] Mall exclusive.
{{--}}

===''War for Cybertron: Kingdom''===
[[File:WFC-Kingdom Deluxe Mirage.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Forgive me on not being this opaque before... didn't feel like spending enough to get it at that point in time.]]
*'''Autobot Mirage & Maximal Grimlock''' (2-pack, [[2021]])
**''Hasbro ID number'': '''WFC-K40'''
**''TakaraTomy ID number'': '''KD EX-13'''
**''TakaraTomy release date'': [[January 29]], [[2022]]
**''Accessories:'' Cannon, shoulder-mounted launcher, missile
:''[[War for Cybertron: Kingdom|Kingdom]]'' Autobot Mirage is a significant retool of his ''Siege'' toy, with newly-molded robot and alternate mode parts as well as a tweaked upper-body transformation to better facilitate an earthen Formula One racecar vehicle mode, though still a different model from his animation design. Mirage's head, feet, waist, hands, wheels, accessories, and various structural parts are carried over from the ''Siege'' mold. His torso transformation joint can work as an ab-crunch. The new deco is missing most of the racing sponsor decals, but the "elf" decal from G1 has been replaced by "orc".

:Unfortunately, this version of Mirage has lost the C.O.M.B.A.T. System ports on his shoulders and has therefore lost the ability to mount his missile launcher on either shoulder. Many have taken to utilizing the shallow 5 mm port to mount the missile launcher, facing up. The 5 mm port on his back is too wide in diameter to attach a compatible accessory. They did add a couple of 3mm studs on the forearms, however

:Much like the ''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' Decepticon Mirage [[#War for Cybertron Trilogy|above]], ''Kingdom'' Mirage has no translucent parts compared to his ''Siege'' toys, leading to less chance of his transformation-related tabs breaking. The tradeoff to this is his thighs are no longer cast in white plastic, instead, having only the outer sides painted white with visibly blue inner sides.

:Revealed on [https://www.instagram.com/p/COvYKODJgGf/ #TransformersTuesday], Mirage was released with [[Grimlock (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Kingdom|Maximal Grimlock]] as a part of the "Battle Across Time Collection". Though similar to the ''Siege'' "Final Strike Figure Series", being exclusive multi-packs with package art that combines into a larger piece, the "Battle Across Time Collection" label is printed on the box. The two-pack is exclusive to [[Amazon (website)|Amazon]] and [[Hasbro Pulse]] in the US, and in the UK on Hasbro Pulse and several online retailers. Initially set for a [[January 29]], [[2022]] release by TakaraTomy, the 2-pack was delayed to March 2022.
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Decoy===
[[File:Mirage decoy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*'''Defeat Trypticon Strategy Game''' (board game, 1986)
*'''Cybertron Hero Collection 22''' (Decoy multi-pack, 1986)
:Mirage was among the many characters rendered by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] as part of their series of 1.5" soft rubber ''keshigomu'' figurines. Like all the figures in the series, Mirage featured a number sculpted into his back that was the sum total of his [[Tech Spec]]s, for use in the various games that could be played with the figurines. He was one of the six red-rubber Autobot playing pieces included in the [[Defeat Trypticon Strategy Game]], and was also available as part of a 22-piece box set of Autobot figures. He could be purchased in peach as part of various other randomly-packed box sets released by Takara subsidiary [[Seven]], and in a wide variety of different colors in "gachapon" capsule machines.

*'''Mirage''' (Decoy, 1987)
**''Decoy number'': 20

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

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

===''Choro-Q''===
[[File:ChoroQ mirage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*'''Ligier''' ([[2000]])
:''[[Choro-Q]]'' Ligier is a mostly translucent [[redeco]] of the Honda Jordan F1 toy from Takara's ''Choro-Q'' toyline of non-transforming [[Super deformed|super-deformed]] vehicles. He was an [[exclusive]] at [[BotCon]] Japan 2000, and features a [[pull-back motor]] and a rear license plate that reads "[[BotCon Japan 2000]]".

:Along with ''Choro-Q'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise#Choro-Q|Convoy]] and [[Megatron (G1)/merchandise#Choro-Q|Megatron]], Ligier was given out randomly to convention attendees. Each toy was limited to 1000 pieces.
{{-}}

===''Attacktix''===
[[File:Mirage-atx.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9]]
*'''Mirage''' (Booster, <s>2007</s>)
:Mirage was likely to have been one of several ''Transformers [[Attacktix]]'' Booster pieces. He was to be a 20-point Specialist-class piece. Though displayed as part of the ''Attacktix'' display at the [[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]] "Celebration IV" convention, Mirage was ultimately never released as the ''Attacktix'' line was put on ice.

{{Canceledattacktix}}
{{-}}

===''Robot Heroes''===
[[File:RH Mirage vs Starscream.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|I'm too rich to be cute.]]
*'''Mirage & Starscream''' (Two-pack, 2007)
:Part of the first wave of ''[[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]]'' two-packs (sold under the [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|live-action movie toyline]] branding), Mirage is a two-inch-tall robot sculpted in super deformed style, with swivel articulation at the head and shoulders.

:He was only available in a two-pack with [[Starscream (G1)/merchandise#Robot Heroes|Starscream]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Autobot/RHMirage/mirage.htm More information on ''Robot Heroes'' Mirage at TFU.info]''

{{anchor|RHBlindpack}}
*'''Mirage''' (Single-pack, 2008)

:In some countries outside of North America, Mirage was released individually in a blindpack with no notable changes.
{{--}}

{{-}}{{anchor|RH5pack}}
[[File:Hologram Robot Hero Mirage.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|What he said.]]
*'''Decepticon Sneak Attack''' (Multi-pack, 2007)
:"Hologram Mirage" is a recolor of the two-pack Mirage, cast in transparent blue with slightly different paint details. Most notably, the Autobot symbols on his arms have been replaced with part of the word "Citanes", to evoke the original toy.

:He was only available in a [[Walmart]] exclusive multi-pack, along with [[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#Robot Heroes|Cliffjumper]], [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#Robot Heroes|Skywarp]], and "Supermetal Finish" versions of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise#RH5pack|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)/merchandise#RH5pack|Megatron]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Autobot/RHWMMirage/mirage.htm More information on ''Robot Heroes'' Hologram Mirage at TFU.info]''

{{anchor|RHHologramBlindpack}}
*'''Hologram Mirage''' (Single-pack, 2008)
:Hologram Mirage also saw release in a blindpack outside of North America.
{{--}}

===''The Loyal Subjects''===
[[File:Tlsmirage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Doesn't have to turn invisible to hide.]]
*'''Mirage''' (2014)
:[[The Loyal Subjects]] Mirage is a Wave 2 figure with standard articulation. He is based on the original toy and features a few references that replace his normal racing sponsor details. Mirage's right foot reads "The Loyal" and his left reads "Subjects". On both sides of his chest, "Pawtucket" can be seen, a reference to Hasbro's headquarters. Under the 26 on his chest, the name "les" is shown, a reference to the designer of The Loyal Subjects figures. For every 16 figures, there is 1 Mirage.
{{-}}{{anchor|The Loyal Subjects Red}}
*'''Mirage "Red" Ed.''' (2014)
{{charstubtoys}}
{{anchor|The Loyal Subjects Black}}
*'''Transparent Black Mirage''' (2014)
{{charstubtoys}}
{{anchor|The Loyal Subjects 3-Pack}}
*'''Autobots 3-Pack''' (2014)
{{charstubtoys}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Figure Collection''===
[[File:TF-Transformers-Figure-Collection-Mirage-Decoy.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Not G1 [[Dino]].]]
*'''Ligier''' (01-2016)
:Standing 42mm tall, ''Transformers Figure Collection'' Ligier is a non-poseable soft-rubber figure greatly based on a [[Decoy]] figure.
{{-}}

===''Transformers Trading Card Game''===
[[File:W1AutobotMirage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Autobot Mirage, Lone Wolf''' (2018)
**'''Wave 1'''
**''Rarity: '''''UT'''
**''Card Number: '''''T05/T40'''
**''Stars: ''9
:'''Autobot Mirage, Lone Wolf''' is one of forty double-sided character cards available in Wave 1 of the [[Transformers Trading Card Game]].

:The artwork on the card is reused from the ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Transformers Legends]]'' mobile card game, and is based on the ''[[Classics|Transformers: Classics]]'' Mirage toy.

{{-}}
[[File:W2Mirage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Autobot Mirage, Counterintelligence''' (2019)
**'''Wave 2: Rise of the Combiners'''
**''Rarity: '''''UT'''
**''Card Number: '''''T05/T46'''
**''Stars: ''7
:Autobot Mirage, Counterintelligence was released as part of the [[Transformers Trading Card Game]] Wave 2: Rise of the Combiners. Like all other members of [[combiner]] teams released in the set, Autobot Mirage, Counterintelligence is a folding card, with the Bot and Alt modes being depicted when the card is folded in half, and a holofoil portion of the the combined mode depicted when unfolded. The reverse of Autobot Mirage, Counterintelligence depicts the middle left portion of [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus']], of whom Mirage forms the left arm.

:The artwork for Alt Mode is reused from the ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Transformers Legends]]'' mobile game, and is based on the ''[[Classics|Transformers: Classics]]'' Mirage toy, while the Bot Mode artwork uses the [[Combiner Wars (franchise)|Combiner Wars]] Mirage figure's packaging art.

:Autobot Mirage, Counterintelligence can be used to form Optimus Maximus, Ultimate Defender with the use of the Action card [[Enigma of Combination|Sentinel Enigma]] while he and the other Wave 2 Sentinels are in Bot mode on the battlefield and/or KO area.
{{-}}

[[File:W4SergeantMirage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Sergeant Mirage, Special Ops-Spy''' (2019)
**'''Wave 4: War for Cybertron: Siege II'''
**''Rarity: '''''CT'''
**''Card Number: '''''T44/T52'''
**''Stars: ''7
:Sergeant Mirage, Special Ops-Spy is one of 52 character cards released in Wave 4 of the [[Transformers Trading Card Game]], War for Cybertron: Siege II.

:The card's artwork is based on the ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege|Siege]]'' Mirage toy, with the Bot Mode art being reused from the toy's packaging art, and with original Alt Mode artwork (lines by [[Ken Christiansen]]).
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:G2MirageVaultArt.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|He would have turned into the [[Joker|Joker's]] race car.]]
*Someone at Hasbro in the '90s must have had Mirage on the brain. Aside from the released Go-Bot and the unreleased Flipchanger created in his image, concept art for a green and pink redeco of Mirage's original toy (with alligator decals!) meant for the ''Generation 2'' toyline surfaced in the ''[[Transformers Vault]]'' collector's book. In an unusual coincidence, ''Transformers'' fan and rarities-hunter [[Maziar Shahsafdari]] [http://www.tf-1.com/articles/other/g2mirage_template.html unveiled a pictorial review of the mock-up] done for this redeco on his website TF-1.com shortly after the book came out, entirely unaware of its inclusion in the tome. The color scheme went on to creep up in a few pieces of referential fiction, described [[Mirage (G1)#TransTech|here]].
*The [[BotCon 2014]] redeco of [[#Classics|''Classics'' Mirage]] almost became [[Prowl (MW)|''Machine Wars'' Prowl]], but it ended up being replaced by [[#BotCon2013|''Machine Wars'' Mirage]].<ref>[http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc14/bc14br.html BotCon 2014 attendee report]</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Alternators Autobots]]
[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:BotCon exclusives]]
[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Combiner Wars Autobots]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Decoys]]
[[Category:Generation 1 toy Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Go-Bots]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei! Autobots]]
[[Category:KB Toys exclusives]]
[[Category:Kre-O Autobots]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Machine Wars Autobots]]
[[Category:Mail order items]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Robotmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]
[[Category:TransTech Autobots]]
[[Category:Unite Warriors Autobots]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Kingdom Autobots]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Siege Autobots]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Siege Decepticons]]
[[Category:Wings Universe Autobots]]

Hoverboard

2022-03-12T15:45:00Z

Spark Mandrill: /* 2005 IDW continuity */

[[File:Cody Burns profile.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Oh my god, these were so cool.]]
A '''hoverboard''' is a piece of equipment that the user stands on in order to travel around by hovering above the ground.

==Fiction==
===Generation 1===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[File:TFTM Daniel on hoverboard.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|They recalled all of them because some kid in Florida broke his neck or something.]]
While fishing with [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] picked up the signal of an [[Autobot shuttle]] on his hand-held scanner. He excitedly raced off on his hoverboard to watch it land. He soon lost control and crashed on some rocks. Fortunately, Hot Rod was there to catch him. Hot Rod [[transformation|transformed]] and "Danno" rode the rest of the way in style. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}
{{-}}

====''Wings Universe''====
{{wingsnote}}
[[Apelinq (BM)|Apelinq]] frequently uses his [[Transfer Interlink]] to create his hoverboard. {{storylink|Hoist the Flag|Apelinq's tech specs}} [[Primal Prime]] also has a hoverboard of his own. {{storylink|Tornado - Decepticon Saboteur|Apelinq's personal logs}}

====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
[[Triggerhappy (G1)|Triggerhappy]] once fell off a hoverboard and hit his head while practicing with a [[proton machine gun]] in [[Decepticon boot camp]]. The accident led to the deaths of a half dozen teachers and possible brain damage on Triggerhappy's part. {{storylink|The Transformers Universe|Triggerhappy's ''Universe'' profile}}

====The New Battle!!====
[[Electro]] saved [[Junpei]] from a Decepticon attack at the Self Defense-Force by giving him a hoverboard. {{storylink|The New Battle!!}}

====''United''====
[[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] had a hoverboard. {{storylink|Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#United|''United'' Optimus Primal toy bio}}

====2005 IDW continuity====
[[File:OurStepsWillAlwaysRhyme TailgateHoverboard.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|I brought mine for show and tell. But the teacher took it.]]
Inspired by [[Back to the Future|a human film]], [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] purchased a hoverboard in [[Fortuna]], capital city of the planet [[Scarvix]] and proceeded to ride it around in the corridors of the ''[[Lost Light]]''. [[Ten]] later constructed a working replica of it. {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}}
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars''===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
[[File:ComingoftheFuzors2 Optimus surfingmonkeymode.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|I totally have one, but it's down at my grandma's house.]]
[[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]]'s [[Transmetal]] form has a built-in hoverboard that he uses for transportation.
{{--}}

====3H comics====
[[File:Apelinqdigiboard.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|My dad got it for me on a trip to Japan. They still have them there.]]
[[Apelinq (BM)|Apelinq]] downloads his hoverboard from his [[Transfer Interlink]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Universe (comic)|The Wreckers}}

===Aligned continuity===
====''Rescue Bots'' cartoon====
[[Cody Burns]]'s [[ComTab]] has a hoverboard mode. {{storylink|You've Been Squilshed}}

[[Evan (RB)|Evan]] and [[Myles]] have a matching pair of hoverboards which they use for quick getaways. {{storylink|Bots and Robbers}}

===''TransTech''===
====Ask Vector Prime====
The [[Vector Prime]] of [[Axiom Nexus]] was dispatched to [[Nebulos]] to monitor [[Primax 984.0 Gamma]] while undercover as a hoverboard factory. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime}}

==Notes==
===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Hoverboard''' (ホバーボード ''Hobābōdo'')

[[Category:Beast Wars technology]]
[[Category:Generation 1 technology]]
[[Category:Generation 2 technology]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) technology]]
[[Category:Rescue Bots technology]]
[[Category:United]]
[[Category:Wings Universe technology]]

Triggerhappy (G1)

2022-03-11T16:55:25Z

Spark Mandrill: /* The Headmasters comic */

{{factions|decepticon|exarchon}}
{{disambig3|Triggerhappy}}
{{picsneeded|fictional appearances}}
:''Triggerhappy is a [[Decepticon]] [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:G1Triggerhappy boxart.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|We cool, G? Eh? Eh? Alriiiight.]]
'''Triggerhappy''' is a nutball. You get them in the Decepticons from time to time. He's generally found [[Humanization|drooling]] and/or giggling wildly. He's been that way ever since an incident at [[Decepticon boot camp]], in which he was firing while surfing on his [[hoverboard]], but fell off and hit his head. He remained firing all the while and ended up disintegrating half a dozen other Decepticons. The camp commander was impressed and graduated Triggerhappy on the spot. Nobody is sure if it's an act or if he suffered [[processor]] damage in the fall. What is known is that he pays very little attention to where he's shooting but LOVES the sound his gun makes when fired. Good idea arming him there, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]].

Triggerhappy is [[Binary bonding|binary-bonded]] with [[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]], the conniving, envious brother-in-law of [[Nebulan]] leader [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]].

{{bigquote|We probably shouldn't have shot him. I mean me. I shouldn't have shot him. Maybe. Right? Hard to say.|Triggerhappy reflects on casually shooting his ride, ''[[Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors]]}}

==Fiction==
===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Charlie Adler]] (English), [[Ken Narita]] (Japanese)|[[Georges Atlas]] & [[Francis Lax]] (European French)}}
[[File:TheRebirth1 TriggerhappySlugslinger.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|How is he supposed to drool when he doesn't have a mouth?]]
Triggerhappy was one of several Decepticon jets serving under [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] when they attacked [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] as part of a diversion while the Decepticon Clones stole the Key to the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]]. After Scourge successfully activated the chamber on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] (and inadvertently sent a shuttle full of Autobots and the key halfway across the galaxy), Triggerhappy, [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]], and [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] were among the Decepticon unit sent to retrieve the key. Following the Autobots to [[Nebulos]], Triggerhappy attacked the Autobums, welcoming them to the scrapyard that they would become should he succeed in destroying them. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 1}}

Though the Decepticons managed to capture several Autobots, they were soon overwhelmed by new [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster technology]] the Autobots developed with the Nebulan rebels. After making a deal with the Hive, the Decepticons underwent [[binary bonding]] as well, and Triggerhappy was given a new partner who blows hard and fast. Armed with this new skill, Triggerhappy and his [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] companions successfully helped reacquire the Chamber's key. While waiting for Zarak to complete modifications to [[Scorponok (G1)|his city]], Triggerhappy declared a possible gasket-blowing event was imminent should he be made to wait any longer. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}}

Triggerhappy and the other Targetmasters returned to Cybertron just in the nick of time to save Galvatron from the remainder of the Autobot forces. Galvatron was less than impressed by their new Hive partners, however, and addressed Triggerhappy directly when he berated them for letting organics inhabit their bodies, despite the fact Triggerhappy wasn't a Headmaster. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}
{{-}}

===Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Michihiro Ikemizu]] (Japanese)}}
[[File:HM 30 Blowpipe bonded with Triggerhappy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"So anyway, I started blasting."]]
Triggerhappy and his partners, Misfire and Slugslinger, were frequent opponents of the Autobot trio under [[Pointblank]]'s command. When all of them were engaged in combat over several space-faring denizens of planet [[Master (planet)|Master]], a massive explosion caught everyone off-guard. Triggerhappy and his partners and foes alike were transformed into Targetmasters, somehow fused together in pairs with each of the smaller Master Transformers by the explosion. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 2)}} {{storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}} {{storylink|The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide}} {{storylink|Operation: Destroy the Decepticons}} {{storylink|Duel on the Asteroid}} {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}}}

====''Legends'' comic====
As one of the Decepticons stationed on Earth in the 1980s, Triggerhappy participated in the battle for the [[Transform Super Cog]] where his crazed firing in random directions kept his allies staying far, far away. He fled into space following Slugslinger's failed attempt at usurping [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] as [[Decepticon leader]]. {{storylink|Slugslinger's Ambition}}

In [[2021]], Triggerhappy and the Decepticon Targetmasters fought for Scorponok when he sought to create [[plasma energy]] by detonating a [[black hole]], hoping the ensuing energy wave would let them bond with the Autobots' Targetmaster partners as well. Instead, the explosion shrunk their bodies and caused their partners to vanish. {{storylink|Targetmaster Chapter Prologue}} Like other victims, the Targetmasters converted their heads into small [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] bodies and traveled to the [[Legends World]], where they kidnapped [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] and forced him to use his [[10.2 ultra-drill|ultra-drill]] to teleport their Targetmaster partners to them. The partners were overloaded with plasma energy, however, forcing Trion to scatter them across the Legends World. {{storylink|Mutant Targetmaster Birth Chapter}}

Triggerhappy began running a shooting gallery to earn money for a [[transtector]], though his love for guns compelled him to help his customers shoot the targets, leaving him giving away the prizes. He was eventually approached by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] and asked for his help in capturing the supercharged Blowpipe, who was rampaging through [[Akihabara|Neo Akihabara City]]. Granted a transtector by the local police force, Triggerhappy subdued and regained Blowpipe, then agreed to work for the police force since the position allowed him to fire guns a lot. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 49|Bonus Edition Vol. 49}} He was charged with interrogating Misfire following the latter's arrest, but was disappointed in his comrade's aim and started teaching him how to shoot guns instead. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 52|Bonus Edition Vol. 52}} Triggerhappy later used Blowpipe's mutant ability to scale up [[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]]'s armor suit so it would fit [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 53|Bonus Edition Vol. 53}}

Triggerhappy was touched by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] and [[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]]'s reunion at the police station, which distracted him from Blowpipe being stolen by the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]]. {{storylink|TF Legends Late Xmas Present Chapter|Late Xmas Present Chapter}} When Slugslinger got his hands on [[Caliburst (G1)|Caliburst]], he swiftly betrayed Triggerhappy and Misfire, knocking them out with [[anti-electron]]s and stealing their Targetmaster partners. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 55|Bonus Edition Vol. 55}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Decepticon targetmasters brothers in armor.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|"Anyway, [[Vorath|you]] [[Zarak (G1)|guys]] think I'm a hero. And I'll accept that responsibility."]]
Triggerhappy participated in a raid on an Autobot city on Cybertron, ending with its incineration. Several prisoners of war were captured by his squad, and Triggerhappy openly mocked the captives as they were marched towards their doom in the [[smelting pool]]. The procession was interrupted by an Autobot ambush led by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]]; the Decepticons were overwhelmed, and their commander, [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]], ordered a retreat so that they might live to fight another day. {{storylink|Ring of Hate!}}

The Decepticons eventually managed to storm the Autobots' base, only to find it already evacuated. Though confused at first, they learned that their foes had fled to the planet [[Nebulos]]. Triggerhappy and the others made their way to the alien world, where they met with one of the locals, [[Zarak (G1)|Lord Zarak]], who enlisted them in ridding his planet of the Autobots. {{storylink|Broken Glass!}} ''During this meeting, Triggerhappy had to exert what little self-control he had to prevent himself from reducing the fleshy Nebulans to smoldering piles of ash with his [[photon-pulse gun]]s.'' {{storylink|Doomsday for Nebulos}} Learning that several of the Autobots were holed up in [[Koraja]], Triggerhappy participated in a full-scale assault on the city. In retaliation, Fortress Maximus and four other Autobots emerged, having underwent a [[binary bonding]] process. Thanks to the newfound power this upgrade afforded them, the Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] sent the Decepticons into a panicked retreat. {{storylink|Broken Glass!}}

After the Autobots also developed [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] technology, the Decepticons managed to reverse-engineer the process, and had five of their own members binary bond their weapons to Nebulan partners. Triggerhappy was among those selected, with [[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]] becoming his pistol. He was put into action soon afterwards, as their Autobot prisoners managed to break free. Despite Triggerhappy's best efforts to shoot straight, the enemy soldiers escaped. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}} ''After capturing the Autobot Targetmasters, Triggerhappy and the other Decepticons ambushed [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] so that Scorponok could capture one of them to examine the Headmaster process more closely. However, while Scorponok busied himself studying Highbrow, the remaining Autobot Headmasters were able to free their Targetmaster comrades and turn the tables on the Decepticons.'' {{storylink|Worlds Apart!}}

[[File:Targetmasters final conflict.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|"...And then they ran away. I ran after them. BANG! Tried to shoot them in the back."]]
''Thanks to a bug previously planted in the Autobots' headquarters, the Decepticons learned that their enemies had manufactured a fuel convertor that would allow them travel to [[Earth]]. They put together a plan to steal it. Triggerhappy, Slugslinger, and Misfire approached Fortress Maximus under the pretense that they had a message to deliver: Scorponok wanted to challenge him to a death match, and whoever emerged victorious would be declared triumphant in the greater conflict. Maximus accepted, unaware that the duel was merely a distraction. As it raged, Slugslinger snuck into Brainstorm's lab and made off with the fuel convertor. Once this was done, the duel came to a premature end, the Decepticons made their way off-world, and the Autobots were forced to follow.'' {{storylink|The Final Conflict}}

{{note|The events in this UK story differ in significant ways to the [[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]] mini-series.}}

Shortly afterwards the Decepticons left [[Nebulos]] and pursued the Autobots aboard the ''[[Steelhaven (G1)|Steelhaven]]'' to [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}}

''When Highbrow managed to decapitate Scorponok and escaped with his head, Triggerhappy was among several Decepticons who pursued, catching up to him just as he neared the Autobots' spaceship. As they forcefully retrieved their leader's head, the Decepticons witnessed several Autobots materialize from the future, leading to some infighting among the Autobots' ranks. Irritated over being left out of the battle, Scorponok's Decepticons were about to join in, only for the bulk of them to be temporarily shunted off to [[Limbo]] when [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s troops from the year [[2009]] arrived in [[1989]]. Triggerhappy was one of the few left behind. A tenuous alliance was then brokered between the Autobots and Decepticons from both eras in order to combat the more pressing threat of the super-Decepticon [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. However, when [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] accidentally shot Scorponok while he was attacking Galvatron, Triggerhappy and the other Decepticons turned on the Autobot. While Optimus Prime dealt with the mad Galvatron, Triggerhappy and the other Decepticons carried their leader to safety.'' {{storylink|Time Wars}}

Scorponok was repaired, and next took his troops to meet with [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s Decepticons at their Arctic base. While Scorponok and a small entourage were receiving a guided tour of said base, they learned that Ratbat was purposely withholding information about the legendary [[Underbase]] from them. Enraged by the deceit, Scorponok stormed back towards his ship, where the rest of his troops were waiting, only for his path to be barred by Ratbat's cronies. Seeing this take place, Triggerhappy and [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Grr]] decided to lead their shipmates in an assault and come to Scorponok's aid. Decepticon clashed against Decepticon until those on both sides of this civil war came to realize that [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] had engineered the whole debacle to get to the Underbase himself. {{storylink|Cold War!}}

Starscream was in time defeated, and Triggerhappy continued to serve under Scorponok as he acquired leadership over all Earth-bound Decepticons. Following a distress signal issued by the [[Air Strike Patrol]], Scorponok led his minions into battle against Optimus Prime's Autobots within the [[MacDill Air Force Base]]. Strangely, Optimus called for all his troops to return to the Ark while he remained behind. Scorponok was suspicious, but wouldn't allow himself to pass up the opportunity to vanquish his enemy. Triggerhappy and the others rushed Optimus Prime as he tried to stop Scorponok from firing on the shuttlecraft, but Prime, who was quickly becoming frustrated with the day's events, was able to overpower all of them. As Optimus pleaded to Scorponok to stop fighting and determine the mastermind who was pulling their strings, they were interrupted by a huge hint: Starscream had arrived, reborn as a [[Pretender]]. {{storylink|All the Familiar Faces!}} Triggerhappy was among the first to fall to the new arrival's might, gunned down as Starscream proclaimed he was carrying out [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s will. {{storylink|Skin Deep}}

[[File:US69EyeofStorm.JPG|upright=1.66|thumb|left|"And you, stand up straight! You're making us all look uncivilized!"]]
Later during the war on Earth, Triggerhappy got sick of Scorponok's command, especially after he let that maniac Starscream back into the Decepticons. Triggerhappy couldn't stand working with Starscream, so he and [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] left Scorponok's Decepticons, only to ironically be strong-armed by Starscream himself into joining his and [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]'s auxiliary army, which also included [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]], [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]], and [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]]. {{storylink|Eye of the Storm}} Though Mindwipe was more vocal on the subject, Triggerhappy was clearly displeased with being forced into this new group. Shockwave made it clear that, should the pair not fight at their side, they would be terminated. As such, Triggerhappy joined in on an attack on Scorponok's [[New Jersey base]]. {{storylink|Surrender!}} The base was easily collapsed on itself, though this did little to assuage Triggerhappy and Mindwipe's fears that Scorponok may yet rise up to destroy them all. Pitying their cowardice, Starscream urged the others to help him dig out whatever survivors they may find, and offer them a choice: join them or be destroyed. Unfortunately, the first to be excavated was indeed Scorponok. Shockwave ordered Triggerhappy and the others to rush Scorponok, but the latter's ultra-dense armor proved invulnerable to their laser fire. Triggerhappy was easily tackled down by his opponent, who then moved on to duelling Shockwave in the nearby river. {{storylink|...All This and Civil War 2}}

The coup was interrupted when [[Primus]] summoned all the Transformers of Earth to Cybertron to do battle with [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Out of Time!}} Triggerhappy and the other teleported Transformers witnessed Primus, speaking through the body of [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]], tell the history of their supernatural war with the Dark God. {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{NoteRG1}}
When Scorponok used the [[Gene Key]] to virtually conquer Cybertron, Triggerhappy was seen hunting for the dissident [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Four}}

====''Transformers '84''====
As part of the forces under [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]]'s command, Triggerhappy took part in a bombing run against [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]]'s troops after the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' had been lost. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 3|Secrets & Lies #3}}

===''The Headmasters'' comic===
[[File:HM issue 7 Decepticon Targetmasters.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"So these [[Autobot|punks]], I don't know if they wanted money, or something more [[Transformers: Kiss Players (franchise)|sexual]]. But it's a lucky thing we had our pieces."]]
Triggerhappy and the Dsomwthinfecepticon Targetmasters attempted to disrupt the Autobots' efforts to put out a blazing fire on Earth. The Autobots' split focus left them vulnerable, until the Battleship Maximus extinguished the entire fire in one sweep. [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]] and [[Artfire]] then turned their full attention on Triggerhappy and his allies, driving them from the scene. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 7|The Headmasters #7}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
While [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] used his [[Nullification Cannon]] on Cybertron's [[energon]] suppliy, Triggerhappy was part of a team lead by [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] that carried out a diversionary attack. Triggerhappy was punched out by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
Triggerhappy was among the Decepticons who traveled to [[Nebulos]] in search of energy. When they discovered a wealth of cosmic energy at the pole, Triggerhappy reminded [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] that if used it to kill all the Autobots, they wouldn't have anyone to fight. When their energy collection attempt required them to move [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] to the pole, the Autobots melted the ice under their base, causing it to sink. {{storylink|Decepticons at the Pole}}

===Toy pack-in material===
When Optimus became stranded on Cybertron's hemisphere of darkness with his memory damaged, Triggerhappy joined a small strike force of Decepticons called S.T.O.P. ([[Seek and Terminate Optimus Prime]]) to either destroy or recruit the amnesic Autobot leader. {{Storylink|Optimus Prime Is Back}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[Stormbringer issue 4|''Stormbringer'' #4]]}}
[[File:Blot and Triggerhappy The End of the Beginning of the World.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|left|Don't be a victim. It's time to fight back.]]
Triggerhappy was part of the crew of the ''[[Thanatos]]'', commanded by [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] and the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]]. He begrudgingly gave aid to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Wreckers]] while battling [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] in order to preserve their home planet of Cybertron and show the Autobots how war was really done. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}}

Much later, Triggerhappy appeared among the Decepticons imprisoned on Cybertron after the war with [[D-Void]]. {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|The Autonomy Lesson}} Triggerhappy was part of an angry Decepticon crowd who demanded answers from the Autobots for [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s death. {{storylink|Stick Together}} He joined up with [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]], who was trying to lead the Decepticons back into war, only to be killed by [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] while guarding their base. {{storylink|The End of the Beginning of the World}}
{{--}}

===''United''===
[[File:FierceFightingOnPlanetNebulos-StraxusDecepticons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
A [[nano-virus]] that afflicted most Autobots save the [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] and the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] required [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]] to lead a team to [[Nebulos]] for an anti-virus. However, the nano-virus was merely a ploy by the Decepticons to draw out the Targetmasters and Headmasters to abduct their [[Nebulan]] partners, so when the Autobots arrived on Nebulos, Triggerhappy and several other Decepticons were waiting for them! Triggerhappy and the others quickly fell into disarray, unfortunately, when their leader Straxus was singled out and defeated. {{storylink|The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos}}

===''TransTech''===
During the conflict between the [[Screaming Eagles]] and [[S.K.A.R.]] in [[Primax 806.30 Gamma]], Triggerhappy's Targetmaster partner was the human arms-dealer [[Rampage (S.K.A.R.)|Rampage]], using technology derived from the old [[I.R.O.N.|I.R.O.N. Army]]. The Decepticons and their human allies were ultimately defeated by [[Sgt. Savage]]'s Screaming Eagles and the Autobots. {{storylink|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 2016/05/01}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[The Change In Your Nature Part Three|''Transformers'' #15]] (mentioned); [[Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|#21]] (full)}}

[[File:Tremors-Triggerhappy.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|"Thank God I went down to [[Swindle (G1)|Gunther's Guns]] and picked up a spare. I don't think one would've done it. I'm going to go out and buy some more.
And I think you should, too."]]
Once exiled from Cybertron, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] found Triggerhappy and brought him home to join [[The Rise]], a terrorist cell devoted to destabilizing society as part of the [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]] cause. Violent and unstable, Shockwave identified him as one of the true "maniacs" under his command. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Three}}

[[Rage (G1)|Rage]] was forced into the task of transporting Triggerhappy along with [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], [[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]], [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] inside [[Roughstuff]]'s trailer to another remote base before a groundquake hit sent them falling into a chasm. As Rage tried to get the situation under control, Triggerhappy made a nuisance of himself by shooting Roughstuff and denying them their only way back out. When Frenzy spotted a group of geologists spying on them, Triggerhappy was the first to confront them and shot [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] when the geologist didn't say his name, as the geologist had never ''met'' Triggerhappy before. He kept himself busy by dodging [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] until [[Firestar (G1)|Novastar]]'s new counterterrorism team arrived to stop them, then promptly flew away before [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] could catch up. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors}}

====Alternate future====

In the dark future ruled by [[Exarchon]], Triggerhappy fought for the Threefold Spark. He remained obsessed with getting people to say his name, prompting the rebel [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] to finally shut him up by calling him -- and rendering him -- "Headless". {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Test Flight II}}
{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
*When the Transformers' war resumed its course on [[Nebulos|Nebulon]], Triggerhappy could be seen fighting alongside his fellow Decepticon [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] against their Autobot counterparts, while [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] grappled in the distance. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Headmaster comic book|Headmaster comic book commercial}}
*Triggerhappy and [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] battled [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] and [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] in the middle of a mechanical city. Triggerhappy strafed Sureshot from above until the Autobot transformed into robot mode and began firing back. Triggerhappy mirrored Sureshot's actions, leading to Sureshot tackling Triggerhappy and both combatants losing grip on their guns. Triggerhappy and Sureshot continued to grapple while their guns transformed and did the same. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Targetmasters|Targetmasters commercial}}

==Games==
===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
{{Note|Triggerhappy is a non-playable character. He appears among the legion of Decepticon duplicates in the Autobot campaign.}}
{{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
Triggerhappy was caught up in a [[Quintesson]] plot to disrupt the [[Galactic Olympics|Galactic Games]]. {{storylink|The Galactic Games}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
[[File:G1-toy Triggerhappy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Got an AK-47, well, you know it makes me feel all right!]]
*'''Triggerhappy with Blowpipe''' (Targetmaster, [[1987]])
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-88'''
**''Accessories:'' "Blowpipe" Targetmaster gun/[[Compression cannon|Compressed Air Cannon]]
:Triggerhappy transforms into a blue Cybertronic fighter craft with large, dual off-white cannons on either side his body and four wing-mounted thrusters, making him look kinda-sorta-vaguely like an [[X-wing Fighter]] from ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]''. His Targetmaster partner, Blowpipe, can be stored in a socket on the rear of the fighter, just in front of where his head is stored. Somewhat unusually, the entire cockpit nose is mounted on a bar that swings upward so the nose meets with the rear fuselage to form his upper torso. His large fighter cannons swing up to the sides of his arms in [[robot mode]], but the hinges aren't strong enough to deal with their weight, so they have a tendency to flop down.

:Like the other Targetmasters, his Japanese release lacks a [[rubsign]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1987/Decepticon/Triggerhappy/triggerhappy.htm More information on Triggerhappy (with Blowpipe) at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===''Titans Return''===
[[File:TF-Generations-Titans-Return-Deluxe-Triggerhappy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Mr. Triggerhappy, not every situation requires your patented approach of shoot first, shoot later, shoot some more and then when everybody's dead try to ask a question or two."]]
*'''Blowpipe & Triggerhappy''' (Deluxe Class, [[2016]])
**''Accessories:'' "Blowpipe" Titan Master, 2 blaster weapons.
:Part of the third wave of ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'', Triggerhappy transforms into a Cybertronian starfighter. He has 5 mm post holes on the underside of his wings and the inside of his built-in non-firing blasters, accessible in robot mode. The holes on his shoulders can also accept 5mm posts, but are covered by his wings or blasters in both modes. Like most ''Titans Return'' figures, he has a port for a generic pose/flight stand on his backside. Triggerhappy's transformation is surprisingly complex compared to most ''Titans Return'' Deluxe figures, with most of the parts shifting by way of swivels that rotate the entire body in multiple directions.

:He includes two blasters that can combine into a larger weapon that his [[Titan Master]] partner, [[Blowpipe (G1)#Generations|Blowpipe]] can sit in. Unlike most Deluxe and larger figures, however, there does not appear to be a way to mount the combined weapon in vehicle mode, and while Blowpipe can peg in, it does not appear to have a proper seat. Amusingly, it seems to be based on Blowpipe's original Targetmaster form, with sculpted legs at one end and each blaster having similar asymmetrical double barrels. Despite coming with a pair of guns, most official pictures, such as the one on his box, only show his vehicle mode with one attached gun.

:His robot mode face is based on his appearance in fiction rather than his original toy.

:Triggerhappy can hold the ''Siege'' [[Battle Master]] [[Blowpipe (G1)#War for Cybertron: Siege|Blowpipe]] if one is inclined to have two Blowpipes simultaneously.

:Triggerhappy was retooled with a new head into [[Metalhawk (G1)#Generations|Metalhawk]]. His legs were also used for [[Misfire (G1)#Generations|Misfire]] and [[Slugslinger (G1)#Generations|Slugslinger]], who are otherwise completely new figures from the crotch up. The elements that became Misfire were then even further modified into ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' [[Sonic Bomber#Legends|Sonic Bomber]].
{{--}}

===''Legends''===
[[File:LG49-Triggerhappy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Targetmaster Triggerharpy (Targetmaster Triggerhappy)''' (Deluxe Class, [[2017]]-[[October 28|10-28]])
**''ID number'': '''LG49'''
**''Accessories:'' Headmaster, [[Blowpipe (G1)#Legends|Blowpipe]] Targetmaster
:''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' "Targetmaster Triggerharpy" is a [[redeco]] and slight retool of the above ''Titans Return'' mold with minor changes in paint details and a new port on his chest where his [[Decepticon]] insignia used to be that serves as a method to store the newly molded [[Blowpipe (G1)#Legends|Blowpipe]] Targetmaster. He does not include the original guns in the original Hasbro release. As a bonus, the chest port makes him capable of wearing a ''[[Power of the Primes (toyline)|Power of the Primes]]'' deluxe figure's prime armor.
{{TRBlowpipeMold}}
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Transformers Trading Card Game===
[[File:W3RaiderTriggerhappy.jpg|thumb]]
*'''Raider Triggerhappy, Air Force-Gunner''' (2019)
**'''Wave 3: War for Cybertron: Siege I'''
**''Rarity: '''''UT'''
**''Card Number: '''''T39/T48'''
**''Stars: ''8

:Raider Triggerhappy, Air Force-Gunner is one of forty-eight double-sided character cards available in Wave 3 of the [[Transformers Trading Card Game]], War for Cybertron: Siege I.

:The card's art reuses line-art from the ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Transformers Legends]]'' mobile game. The artwork is recolored seemingly to match the aesthetic of the ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege|Siege]]'' toyline's packaging art.
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:Triggerhappy heads.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|The guy on the left went on to
{{w|Shredder (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)|bigger and better}} things]]
[[File:Hasbro1988CatTriggerhappy.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Blasthappy? Triggerblast?]]
*For some reason Triggerhappy's [[character model]] in the comics and cartoon differs from that of his toy and [[package art]]. He has a [[Mouthplate|faceplate]] in his fictional appearances, and normal eyes, giving him a ninja-like face. His toy features a normal face with comic-[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]-style "shades".
*The 1987 and 1988 North American [[catalog]]s featuring Triggerhappy depict him using a non-final toy—one whose head is blatantly a hand-painted copy of [[Blaster (G1)/toys|Blaster]]'s!

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Triggerharpy''' (トリガーハーピー ''Torigāhāpī''),<ref>Triggerhappy's name in classic Japanese Generation 1 media inexplicably is not a plain adaptation of "happy" but rather "harpy". Given that Misfire and Slugslinger's names experienced no changes in localisation, "Triggerharpy" may be the result of a typo or misreading being carried forward.</ref> '''Triggerhappy''' (トリガーハッピー ''Torigāhappī'')
*''French:'' '''Déclic''' (Canada)
*''Italian:'' '''Efestus'''
*''Mandarin:'' '''Bānjī''' (China, 扳机, "Trigger")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Lődöző''' ("who shoots a lot in a short time", different form of "lövöldöző")

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Gunners]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Decepticons]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Decepticons]]
[[Category:Legends Decepticons]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Decepticons]]
[[Category:Targetmasters]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Decepticons]]
[[Category:Titans Return Decepticons]]
[[Category:United Decepticons]]

Triggerhappy (G1)

2022-03-11T16:47:26Z

Spark Mandrill: /* 2005 IDW continuity */

{{factions|decepticon|exarchon}}
{{disambig3|Triggerhappy}}
{{picsneeded|fictional appearances}}
:''Triggerhappy is a [[Decepticon]] [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:G1Triggerhappy boxart.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|We cool, G? Eh? Eh? Alriiiight.]]
'''Triggerhappy''' is a nutball. You get them in the Decepticons from time to time. He's generally found [[Humanization|drooling]] and/or giggling wildly. He's been that way ever since an incident at [[Decepticon boot camp]], in which he was firing while surfing on his [[hoverboard]], but fell off and hit his head. He remained firing all the while and ended up disintegrating half a dozen other Decepticons. The camp commander was impressed and graduated Triggerhappy on the spot. Nobody is sure if it's an act or if he suffered [[processor]] damage in the fall. What is known is that he pays very little attention to where he's shooting but LOVES the sound his gun makes when fired. Good idea arming him there, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]].

Triggerhappy is [[Binary bonding|binary-bonded]] with [[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]], the conniving, envious brother-in-law of [[Nebulan]] leader [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]].

{{bigquote|We probably shouldn't have shot him. I mean me. I shouldn't have shot him. Maybe. Right? Hard to say.|Triggerhappy reflects on casually shooting his ride, ''[[Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors]]}}

==Fiction==
===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Charlie Adler]] (English), [[Ken Narita]] (Japanese)|[[Georges Atlas]] & [[Francis Lax]] (European French)}}
[[File:TheRebirth1 TriggerhappySlugslinger.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|How is he supposed to drool when he doesn't have a mouth?]]
Triggerhappy was one of several Decepticon jets serving under [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] when they attacked [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] as part of a diversion while the Decepticon Clones stole the Key to the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]]. After Scourge successfully activated the chamber on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] (and inadvertently sent a shuttle full of Autobots and the key halfway across the galaxy), Triggerhappy, [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]], and [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] were among the Decepticon unit sent to retrieve the key. Following the Autobots to [[Nebulos]], Triggerhappy attacked the Autobums, welcoming them to the scrapyard that they would become should he succeed in destroying them. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 1}}

Though the Decepticons managed to capture several Autobots, they were soon overwhelmed by new [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster technology]] the Autobots developed with the Nebulan rebels. After making a deal with the Hive, the Decepticons underwent [[binary bonding]] as well, and Triggerhappy was given a new partner who blows hard and fast. Armed with this new skill, Triggerhappy and his [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] companions successfully helped reacquire the Chamber's key. While waiting for Zarak to complete modifications to [[Scorponok (G1)|his city]], Triggerhappy declared a possible gasket-blowing event was imminent should he be made to wait any longer. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}}

Triggerhappy and the other Targetmasters returned to Cybertron just in the nick of time to save Galvatron from the remainder of the Autobot forces. Galvatron was less than impressed by their new Hive partners, however, and addressed Triggerhappy directly when he berated them for letting organics inhabit their bodies, despite the fact Triggerhappy wasn't a Headmaster. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}
{{-}}

===Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Michihiro Ikemizu]] (Japanese)}}
[[File:HM 30 Blowpipe bonded with Triggerhappy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"So anyway, I started blasting."]]
Triggerhappy and his partners, Misfire and Slugslinger, were frequent opponents of the Autobot trio under [[Pointblank]]'s command. When all of them were engaged in combat over several space-faring denizens of planet [[Master (planet)|Master]], a massive explosion caught everyone off-guard. Triggerhappy and his partners and foes alike were transformed into Targetmasters, somehow fused together in pairs with each of the smaller Master Transformers by the explosion. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 2)}} {{storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}} {{storylink|The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide}} {{storylink|Operation: Destroy the Decepticons}} {{storylink|Duel on the Asteroid}} {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}}}

====''Legends'' comic====
As one of the Decepticons stationed on Earth in the 1980s, Triggerhappy participated in the battle for the [[Transform Super Cog]] where his crazed firing in random directions kept his allies staying far, far away. He fled into space following Slugslinger's failed attempt at usurping [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] as [[Decepticon leader]]. {{storylink|Slugslinger's Ambition}}

In [[2021]], Triggerhappy and the Decepticon Targetmasters fought for Scorponok when he sought to create [[plasma energy]] by detonating a [[black hole]], hoping the ensuing energy wave would let them bond with the Autobots' Targetmaster partners as well. Instead, the explosion shrunk their bodies and caused their partners to vanish. {{storylink|Targetmaster Chapter Prologue}} Like other victims, the Targetmasters converted their heads into small [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] bodies and traveled to the [[Legends World]], where they kidnapped [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] and forced him to use his [[10.2 ultra-drill|ultra-drill]] to teleport their Targetmaster partners to them. The partners were overloaded with plasma energy, however, forcing Trion to scatter them across the Legends World. {{storylink|Mutant Targetmaster Birth Chapter}}

Triggerhappy began running a shooting gallery to earn money for a [[transtector]], though his love for guns compelled him to help his customers shoot the targets, leaving him giving away the prizes. He was eventually approached by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] and asked for his help in capturing the supercharged Blowpipe, who was rampaging through [[Akihabara|Neo Akihabara City]]. Granted a transtector by the local police force, Triggerhappy subdued and regained Blowpipe, then agreed to work for the police force since the position allowed him to fire guns a lot. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 49|Bonus Edition Vol. 49}} He was charged with interrogating Misfire following the latter's arrest, but was disappointed in his comrade's aim and started teaching him how to shoot guns instead. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 52|Bonus Edition Vol. 52}} Triggerhappy later used Blowpipe's mutant ability to scale up [[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]]'s armor suit so it would fit [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 53|Bonus Edition Vol. 53}}

Triggerhappy was touched by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] and [[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]]'s reunion at the police station, which distracted him from Blowpipe being stolen by the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]]. {{storylink|TF Legends Late Xmas Present Chapter|Late Xmas Present Chapter}} When Slugslinger got his hands on [[Caliburst (G1)|Caliburst]], he swiftly betrayed Triggerhappy and Misfire, knocking them out with [[anti-electron]]s and stealing their Targetmaster partners. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 55|Bonus Edition Vol. 55}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Decepticon targetmasters brothers in armor.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|"Anyway, [[Vorath|you]] [[Zarak (G1)|guys]] think I'm a hero. And I'll accept that responsibility."]]
Triggerhappy participated in a raid on an Autobot city on Cybertron, ending with its incineration. Several prisoners of war were captured by his squad, and Triggerhappy openly mocked the captives as they were marched towards their doom in the [[smelting pool]]. The procession was interrupted by an Autobot ambush led by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]]; the Decepticons were overwhelmed, and their commander, [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]], ordered a retreat so that they might live to fight another day. {{storylink|Ring of Hate!}}

The Decepticons eventually managed to storm the Autobots' base, only to find it already evacuated. Though confused at first, they learned that their foes had fled to the planet [[Nebulos]]. Triggerhappy and the others made their way to the alien world, where they met with one of the locals, [[Zarak (G1)|Lord Zarak]], who enlisted them in ridding his planet of the Autobots. {{storylink|Broken Glass!}} ''During this meeting, Triggerhappy had to exert what little self-control he had to prevent himself from reducing the fleshy Nebulans to smoldering piles of ash with his [[photon-pulse gun]]s.'' {{storylink|Doomsday for Nebulos}} Learning that several of the Autobots were holed up in [[Koraja]], Triggerhappy participated in a full-scale assault on the city. In retaliation, Fortress Maximus and four other Autobots emerged, having underwent a [[binary bonding]] process. Thanks to the newfound power this upgrade afforded them, the Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] sent the Decepticons into a panicked retreat. {{storylink|Broken Glass!}}

After the Autobots also developed [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] technology, the Decepticons managed to reverse-engineer the process, and had five of their own members binary bond their weapons to Nebulan partners. Triggerhappy was among those selected, with [[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]] becoming his pistol. He was put into action soon afterwards, as their Autobot prisoners managed to break free. Despite Triggerhappy's best efforts to shoot straight, the enemy soldiers escaped. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}} ''After capturing the Autobot Targetmasters, Triggerhappy and the other Decepticons ambushed [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] so that Scorponok could capture one of them to examine the Headmaster process more closely. However, while Scorponok busied himself studying Highbrow, the remaining Autobot Headmasters were able to free their Targetmaster comrades and turn the tables on the Decepticons.'' {{storylink|Worlds Apart!}}

[[File:Targetmasters final conflict.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|"...And then they ran away. I ran after them. BANG! Tried to shoot them in the back."]]
''Thanks to a bug previously planted in the Autobots' headquarters, the Decepticons learned that their enemies had manufactured a fuel convertor that would allow them travel to [[Earth]]. They put together a plan to steal it. Triggerhappy, Slugslinger, and Misfire approached Fortress Maximus under the pretense that they had a message to deliver: Scorponok wanted to challenge him to a death match, and whoever emerged victorious would be declared triumphant in the greater conflict. Maximus accepted, unaware that the duel was merely a distraction. As it raged, Slugslinger snuck into Brainstorm's lab and made off with the fuel convertor. Once this was done, the duel came to a premature end, the Decepticons made their way off-world, and the Autobots were forced to follow.'' {{storylink|The Final Conflict}}

{{note|The events in this UK story differ in significant ways to the [[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]] mini-series.}}

Shortly afterwards the Decepticons left [[Nebulos]] and pursued the Autobots aboard the ''[[Steelhaven (G1)|Steelhaven]]'' to [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}}

''When Highbrow managed to decapitate Scorponok and escaped with his head, Triggerhappy was among several Decepticons who pursued, catching up to him just as he neared the Autobots' spaceship. As they forcefully retrieved their leader's head, the Decepticons witnessed several Autobots materialize from the future, leading to some infighting among the Autobots' ranks. Irritated over being left out of the battle, Scorponok's Decepticons were about to join in, only for the bulk of them to be temporarily shunted off to [[Limbo]] when [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s troops from the year [[2009]] arrived in [[1989]]. Triggerhappy was one of the few left behind. A tenuous alliance was then brokered between the Autobots and Decepticons from both eras in order to combat the more pressing threat of the super-Decepticon [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. However, when [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] accidentally shot Scorponok while he was attacking Galvatron, Triggerhappy and the other Decepticons turned on the Autobot. While Optimus Prime dealt with the mad Galvatron, Triggerhappy and the other Decepticons carried their leader to safety.'' {{storylink|Time Wars}}

Scorponok was repaired, and next took his troops to meet with [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s Decepticons at their Arctic base. While Scorponok and a small entourage were receiving a guided tour of said base, they learned that Ratbat was purposely withholding information about the legendary [[Underbase]] from them. Enraged by the deceit, Scorponok stormed back towards his ship, where the rest of his troops were waiting, only for his path to be barred by Ratbat's cronies. Seeing this take place, Triggerhappy and [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Grr]] decided to lead their shipmates in an assault and come to Scorponok's aid. Decepticon clashed against Decepticon until those on both sides of this civil war came to realize that [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] had engineered the whole debacle to get to the Underbase himself. {{storylink|Cold War!}}

Starscream was in time defeated, and Triggerhappy continued to serve under Scorponok as he acquired leadership over all Earth-bound Decepticons. Following a distress signal issued by the [[Air Strike Patrol]], Scorponok led his minions into battle against Optimus Prime's Autobots within the [[MacDill Air Force Base]]. Strangely, Optimus called for all his troops to return to the Ark while he remained behind. Scorponok was suspicious, but wouldn't allow himself to pass up the opportunity to vanquish his enemy. Triggerhappy and the others rushed Optimus Prime as he tried to stop Scorponok from firing on the shuttlecraft, but Prime, who was quickly becoming frustrated with the day's events, was able to overpower all of them. As Optimus pleaded to Scorponok to stop fighting and determine the mastermind who was pulling their strings, they were interrupted by a huge hint: Starscream had arrived, reborn as a [[Pretender]]. {{storylink|All the Familiar Faces!}} Triggerhappy was among the first to fall to the new arrival's might, gunned down as Starscream proclaimed he was carrying out [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s will. {{storylink|Skin Deep}}

[[File:US69EyeofStorm.JPG|upright=1.66|thumb|left|"And you, stand up straight! You're making us all look uncivilized!"]]
Later during the war on Earth, Triggerhappy got sick of Scorponok's command, especially after he let that maniac Starscream back into the Decepticons. Triggerhappy couldn't stand working with Starscream, so he and [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] left Scorponok's Decepticons, only to ironically be strong-armed by Starscream himself into joining his and [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]'s auxiliary army, which also included [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]], [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]], and [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]]. {{storylink|Eye of the Storm}} Though Mindwipe was more vocal on the subject, Triggerhappy was clearly displeased with being forced into this new group. Shockwave made it clear that, should the pair not fight at their side, they would be terminated. As such, Triggerhappy joined in on an attack on Scorponok's [[New Jersey base]]. {{storylink|Surrender!}} The base was easily collapsed on itself, though this did little to assuage Triggerhappy and Mindwipe's fears that Scorponok may yet rise up to destroy them all. Pitying their cowardice, Starscream urged the others to help him dig out whatever survivors they may find, and offer them a choice: join them or be destroyed. Unfortunately, the first to be excavated was indeed Scorponok. Shockwave ordered Triggerhappy and the others to rush Scorponok, but the latter's ultra-dense armor proved invulnerable to their laser fire. Triggerhappy was easily tackled down by his opponent, who then moved on to duelling Shockwave in the nearby river. {{storylink|...All This and Civil War 2}}

The coup was interrupted when [[Primus]] summoned all the Transformers of Earth to Cybertron to do battle with [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Out of Time!}} Triggerhappy and the other teleported Transformers witnessed Primus, speaking through the body of [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]], tell the history of their supernatural war with the Dark God. {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{NoteRG1}}
When Scorponok used the [[Gene Key]] to virtually conquer Cybertron, Triggerhappy was seen hunting for the dissident [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Four}}

====''Transformers '84''====
As part of the forces under [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]]'s command, Triggerhappy took part in a bombing run against [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]]'s troops after the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' had been lost. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 3|Secrets & Lies #3}}

===''The Headmasters'' comic===
[[File:HM issue 7 Decepticon Targetmasters.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Triggerhappy and the Decepticon Targetmasters attempted to disrupt the Autobots' efforts to put out a blazing fire on Earth. The Autobots' split focus left them vulnerable, until the Battleship Maximus extinguished the entire fire in one sweep. [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]] and [[Artfire]] then turned their full attention on Triggerhappy and his allies, driving them from the scene. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 7|The Headmasters #7}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
While [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] used his [[Nullification Cannon]] on Cybertron's [[energon]] suppliy, Triggerhappy was part of a team lead by [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] that carried out a diversionary attack. Triggerhappy was punched out by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
Triggerhappy was among the Decepticons who traveled to [[Nebulos]] in search of energy. When they discovered a wealth of cosmic energy at the pole, Triggerhappy reminded [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] that if used it to kill all the Autobots, they wouldn't have anyone to fight. When their energy collection attempt required them to move [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] to the pole, the Autobots melted the ice under their base, causing it to sink. {{storylink|Decepticons at the Pole}}

===Toy pack-in material===
When Optimus became stranded on Cybertron's hemisphere of darkness with his memory damaged, Triggerhappy joined a small strike force of Decepticons called S.T.O.P. ([[Seek and Terminate Optimus Prime]]) to either destroy or recruit the amnesic Autobot leader. {{Storylink|Optimus Prime Is Back}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[Stormbringer issue 4|''Stormbringer'' #4]]}}
[[File:Blot and Triggerhappy The End of the Beginning of the World.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|left|Don't be a victim. It's time to fight back.]]
Triggerhappy was part of the crew of the ''[[Thanatos]]'', commanded by [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] and the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]]. He begrudgingly gave aid to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Wreckers]] while battling [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] in order to preserve their home planet of Cybertron and show the Autobots how war was really done. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}}

Much later, Triggerhappy appeared among the Decepticons imprisoned on Cybertron after the war with [[D-Void]]. {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|The Autonomy Lesson}} Triggerhappy was part of an angry Decepticon crowd who demanded answers from the Autobots for [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s death. {{storylink|Stick Together}} He joined up with [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]], who was trying to lead the Decepticons back into war, only to be killed by [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] while guarding their base. {{storylink|The End of the Beginning of the World}}
{{--}}

===''United''===
[[File:FierceFightingOnPlanetNebulos-StraxusDecepticons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
A [[nano-virus]] that afflicted most Autobots save the [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] and the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] required [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]] to lead a team to [[Nebulos]] for an anti-virus. However, the nano-virus was merely a ploy by the Decepticons to draw out the Targetmasters and Headmasters to abduct their [[Nebulan]] partners, so when the Autobots arrived on Nebulos, Triggerhappy and several other Decepticons were waiting for them! Triggerhappy and the others quickly fell into disarray, unfortunately, when their leader Straxus was singled out and defeated. {{storylink|The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos}}

===''TransTech''===
During the conflict between the [[Screaming Eagles]] and [[S.K.A.R.]] in [[Primax 806.30 Gamma]], Triggerhappy's Targetmaster partner was the human arms-dealer [[Rampage (S.K.A.R.)|Rampage]], using technology derived from the old [[I.R.O.N.|I.R.O.N. Army]]. The Decepticons and their human allies were ultimately defeated by [[Sgt. Savage]]'s Screaming Eagles and the Autobots. {{storylink|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 2016/05/01}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[The Change In Your Nature Part Three|''Transformers'' #15]] (mentioned); [[Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|#21]] (full)}}

[[File:Tremors-Triggerhappy.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|"Thank God I went down to [[Swindle (G1)|Gunther's Guns]] and picked up a spare. I don't think one would've done it. I'm going to go out and buy some more.
And I think you should, too."]]
Once exiled from Cybertron, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] found Triggerhappy and brought him home to join [[The Rise]], a terrorist cell devoted to destabilizing society as part of the [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]] cause. Violent and unstable, Shockwave identified him as one of the true "maniacs" under his command. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Three}}

[[Rage (G1)|Rage]] was forced into the task of transporting Triggerhappy along with [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], [[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]], [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] inside [[Roughstuff]]'s trailer to another remote base before a groundquake hit sent them falling into a chasm. As Rage tried to get the situation under control, Triggerhappy made a nuisance of himself by shooting Roughstuff and denying them their only way back out. When Frenzy spotted a group of geologists spying on them, Triggerhappy was the first to confront them and shot [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] when the geologist didn't say his name, as the geologist had never ''met'' Triggerhappy before. He kept himself busy by dodging [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] until [[Firestar (G1)|Novastar]]'s new counterterrorism team arrived to stop them, then promptly flew away before [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] could catch up. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors}}

====Alternate future====

In the dark future ruled by [[Exarchon]], Triggerhappy fought for the Threefold Spark. He remained obsessed with getting people to say his name, prompting the rebel [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] to finally shut him up by calling him -- and rendering him -- "Headless". {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Test Flight II}}
{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
*When the Transformers' war resumed its course on [[Nebulos|Nebulon]], Triggerhappy could be seen fighting alongside his fellow Decepticon [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] against their Autobot counterparts, while [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] grappled in the distance. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Headmaster comic book|Headmaster comic book commercial}}
*Triggerhappy and [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] battled [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] and [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] in the middle of a mechanical city. Triggerhappy strafed Sureshot from above until the Autobot transformed into robot mode and began firing back. Triggerhappy mirrored Sureshot's actions, leading to Sureshot tackling Triggerhappy and both combatants losing grip on their guns. Triggerhappy and Sureshot continued to grapple while their guns transformed and did the same. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Targetmasters|Targetmasters commercial}}

==Games==
===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
{{Note|Triggerhappy is a non-playable character. He appears among the legion of Decepticon duplicates in the Autobot campaign.}}
{{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
Triggerhappy was caught up in a [[Quintesson]] plot to disrupt the [[Galactic Olympics|Galactic Games]]. {{storylink|The Galactic Games}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
[[File:G1-toy Triggerhappy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Got an AK-47, well, you know it makes me feel all right!]]
*'''Triggerhappy with Blowpipe''' (Targetmaster, [[1987]])
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-88'''
**''Accessories:'' "Blowpipe" Targetmaster gun/[[Compression cannon|Compressed Air Cannon]]
:Triggerhappy transforms into a blue Cybertronic fighter craft with large, dual off-white cannons on either side his body and four wing-mounted thrusters, making him look kinda-sorta-vaguely like an [[X-wing Fighter]] from ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]''. His Targetmaster partner, Blowpipe, can be stored in a socket on the rear of the fighter, just in front of where his head is stored. Somewhat unusually, the entire cockpit nose is mounted on a bar that swings upward so the nose meets with the rear fuselage to form his upper torso. His large fighter cannons swing up to the sides of his arms in [[robot mode]], but the hinges aren't strong enough to deal with their weight, so they have a tendency to flop down.

:Like the other Targetmasters, his Japanese release lacks a [[rubsign]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1987/Decepticon/Triggerhappy/triggerhappy.htm More information on Triggerhappy (with Blowpipe) at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===''Titans Return''===
[[File:TF-Generations-Titans-Return-Deluxe-Triggerhappy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Mr. Triggerhappy, not every situation requires your patented approach of shoot first, shoot later, shoot some more and then when everybody's dead try to ask a question or two."]]
*'''Blowpipe & Triggerhappy''' (Deluxe Class, [[2016]])
**''Accessories:'' "Blowpipe" Titan Master, 2 blaster weapons.
:Part of the third wave of ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'', Triggerhappy transforms into a Cybertronian starfighter. He has 5 mm post holes on the underside of his wings and the inside of his built-in non-firing blasters, accessible in robot mode. The holes on his shoulders can also accept 5mm posts, but are covered by his wings or blasters in both modes. Like most ''Titans Return'' figures, he has a port for a generic pose/flight stand on his backside. Triggerhappy's transformation is surprisingly complex compared to most ''Titans Return'' Deluxe figures, with most of the parts shifting by way of swivels that rotate the entire body in multiple directions.

:He includes two blasters that can combine into a larger weapon that his [[Titan Master]] partner, [[Blowpipe (G1)#Generations|Blowpipe]] can sit in. Unlike most Deluxe and larger figures, however, there does not appear to be a way to mount the combined weapon in vehicle mode, and while Blowpipe can peg in, it does not appear to have a proper seat. Amusingly, it seems to be based on Blowpipe's original Targetmaster form, with sculpted legs at one end and each blaster having similar asymmetrical double barrels. Despite coming with a pair of guns, most official pictures, such as the one on his box, only show his vehicle mode with one attached gun.

:His robot mode face is based on his appearance in fiction rather than his original toy.

:Triggerhappy can hold the ''Siege'' [[Battle Master]] [[Blowpipe (G1)#War for Cybertron: Siege|Blowpipe]] if one is inclined to have two Blowpipes simultaneously.

:Triggerhappy was retooled with a new head into [[Metalhawk (G1)#Generations|Metalhawk]]. His legs were also used for [[Misfire (G1)#Generations|Misfire]] and [[Slugslinger (G1)#Generations|Slugslinger]], who are otherwise completely new figures from the crotch up. The elements that became Misfire were then even further modified into ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' [[Sonic Bomber#Legends|Sonic Bomber]].
{{--}}

===''Legends''===
[[File:LG49-Triggerhappy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Targetmaster Triggerharpy (Targetmaster Triggerhappy)''' (Deluxe Class, [[2017]]-[[October 28|10-28]])
**''ID number'': '''LG49'''
**''Accessories:'' Headmaster, [[Blowpipe (G1)#Legends|Blowpipe]] Targetmaster
:''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' "Targetmaster Triggerharpy" is a [[redeco]] and slight retool of the above ''Titans Return'' mold with minor changes in paint details and a new port on his chest where his [[Decepticon]] insignia used to be that serves as a method to store the newly molded [[Blowpipe (G1)#Legends|Blowpipe]] Targetmaster. He does not include the original guns in the original Hasbro release. As a bonus, the chest port makes him capable of wearing a ''[[Power of the Primes (toyline)|Power of the Primes]]'' deluxe figure's prime armor.
{{TRBlowpipeMold}}
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Transformers Trading Card Game===
[[File:W3RaiderTriggerhappy.jpg|thumb]]
*'''Raider Triggerhappy, Air Force-Gunner''' (2019)
**'''Wave 3: War for Cybertron: Siege I'''
**''Rarity: '''''UT'''
**''Card Number: '''''T39/T48'''
**''Stars: ''8

:Raider Triggerhappy, Air Force-Gunner is one of forty-eight double-sided character cards available in Wave 3 of the [[Transformers Trading Card Game]], War for Cybertron: Siege I.

:The card's art reuses line-art from the ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Transformers Legends]]'' mobile game. The artwork is recolored seemingly to match the aesthetic of the ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege|Siege]]'' toyline's packaging art.
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:Triggerhappy heads.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|The guy on the left went on to
{{w|Shredder (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)|bigger and better}} things]]
[[File:Hasbro1988CatTriggerhappy.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Blasthappy? Triggerblast?]]
*For some reason Triggerhappy's [[character model]] in the comics and cartoon differs from that of his toy and [[package art]]. He has a [[Mouthplate|faceplate]] in his fictional appearances, and normal eyes, giving him a ninja-like face. His toy features a normal face with comic-[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]-style "shades".
*The 1987 and 1988 North American [[catalog]]s featuring Triggerhappy depict him using a non-final toy—one whose head is blatantly a hand-painted copy of [[Blaster (G1)/toys|Blaster]]'s!

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Triggerharpy''' (トリガーハーピー ''Torigāhāpī''),<ref>Triggerhappy's name in classic Japanese Generation 1 media inexplicably is not a plain adaptation of "happy" but rather "harpy". Given that Misfire and Slugslinger's names experienced no changes in localisation, "Triggerharpy" may be the result of a typo or misreading being carried forward.</ref> '''Triggerhappy''' (トリガーハッピー ''Torigāhappī'')
*''French:'' '''Déclic''' (Canada)
*''Italian:'' '''Efestus'''
*''Mandarin:'' '''Bānjī''' (China, 扳机, "Trigger")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Lődöző''' ("who shoots a lot in a short time", different form of "lövöldöző")

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Gunners]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Decepticons]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Decepticons]]
[[Category:Legends Decepticons]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Decepticons]]
[[Category:Targetmasters]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Decepticons]]
[[Category:Titans Return Decepticons]]
[[Category:United Decepticons]]

Triggerhappy (G1)

2022-03-11T16:45:53Z

Spark Mandrill: /* 2019 IDW continuity */

{{factions|decepticon|exarchon}}
{{disambig3|Triggerhappy}}
{{picsneeded|fictional appearances}}
:''Triggerhappy is a [[Decepticon]] [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:G1Triggerhappy boxart.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|We cool, G? Eh? Eh? Alriiiight.]]
'''Triggerhappy''' is a nutball. You get them in the Decepticons from time to time. He's generally found [[Humanization|drooling]] and/or giggling wildly. He's been that way ever since an incident at [[Decepticon boot camp]], in which he was firing while surfing on his [[hoverboard]], but fell off and hit his head. He remained firing all the while and ended up disintegrating half a dozen other Decepticons. The camp commander was impressed and graduated Triggerhappy on the spot. Nobody is sure if it's an act or if he suffered [[processor]] damage in the fall. What is known is that he pays very little attention to where he's shooting but LOVES the sound his gun makes when fired. Good idea arming him there, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]].

Triggerhappy is [[Binary bonding|binary-bonded]] with [[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]], the conniving, envious brother-in-law of [[Nebulan]] leader [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]].

{{bigquote|We probably shouldn't have shot him. I mean me. I shouldn't have shot him. Maybe. Right? Hard to say.|Triggerhappy reflects on casually shooting his ride, ''[[Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors]]}}

==Fiction==
===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Charlie Adler]] (English), [[Ken Narita]] (Japanese)|[[Georges Atlas]] & [[Francis Lax]] (European French)}}
[[File:TheRebirth1 TriggerhappySlugslinger.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|How is he supposed to drool when he doesn't have a mouth?]]
Triggerhappy was one of several Decepticon jets serving under [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] when they attacked [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] as part of a diversion while the Decepticon Clones stole the Key to the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]]. After Scourge successfully activated the chamber on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] (and inadvertently sent a shuttle full of Autobots and the key halfway across the galaxy), Triggerhappy, [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]], and [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] were among the Decepticon unit sent to retrieve the key. Following the Autobots to [[Nebulos]], Triggerhappy attacked the Autobums, welcoming them to the scrapyard that they would become should he succeed in destroying them. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 1}}

Though the Decepticons managed to capture several Autobots, they were soon overwhelmed by new [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster technology]] the Autobots developed with the Nebulan rebels. After making a deal with the Hive, the Decepticons underwent [[binary bonding]] as well, and Triggerhappy was given a new partner who blows hard and fast. Armed with this new skill, Triggerhappy and his [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] companions successfully helped reacquire the Chamber's key. While waiting for Zarak to complete modifications to [[Scorponok (G1)|his city]], Triggerhappy declared a possible gasket-blowing event was imminent should he be made to wait any longer. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}}

Triggerhappy and the other Targetmasters returned to Cybertron just in the nick of time to save Galvatron from the remainder of the Autobot forces. Galvatron was less than impressed by their new Hive partners, however, and addressed Triggerhappy directly when he berated them for letting organics inhabit their bodies, despite the fact Triggerhappy wasn't a Headmaster. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}
{{-}}

===Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Michihiro Ikemizu]] (Japanese)}}
[[File:HM 30 Blowpipe bonded with Triggerhappy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"So anyway, I started blasting."]]
Triggerhappy and his partners, Misfire and Slugslinger, were frequent opponents of the Autobot trio under [[Pointblank]]'s command. When all of them were engaged in combat over several space-faring denizens of planet [[Master (planet)|Master]], a massive explosion caught everyone off-guard. Triggerhappy and his partners and foes alike were transformed into Targetmasters, somehow fused together in pairs with each of the smaller Master Transformers by the explosion. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 2)}} {{storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}} {{storylink|The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide}} {{storylink|Operation: Destroy the Decepticons}} {{storylink|Duel on the Asteroid}} {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}}}

====''Legends'' comic====
As one of the Decepticons stationed on Earth in the 1980s, Triggerhappy participated in the battle for the [[Transform Super Cog]] where his crazed firing in random directions kept his allies staying far, far away. He fled into space following Slugslinger's failed attempt at usurping [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] as [[Decepticon leader]]. {{storylink|Slugslinger's Ambition}}

In [[2021]], Triggerhappy and the Decepticon Targetmasters fought for Scorponok when he sought to create [[plasma energy]] by detonating a [[black hole]], hoping the ensuing energy wave would let them bond with the Autobots' Targetmaster partners as well. Instead, the explosion shrunk their bodies and caused their partners to vanish. {{storylink|Targetmaster Chapter Prologue}} Like other victims, the Targetmasters converted their heads into small [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] bodies and traveled to the [[Legends World]], where they kidnapped [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] and forced him to use his [[10.2 ultra-drill|ultra-drill]] to teleport their Targetmaster partners to them. The partners were overloaded with plasma energy, however, forcing Trion to scatter them across the Legends World. {{storylink|Mutant Targetmaster Birth Chapter}}

Triggerhappy began running a shooting gallery to earn money for a [[transtector]], though his love for guns compelled him to help his customers shoot the targets, leaving him giving away the prizes. He was eventually approached by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] and asked for his help in capturing the supercharged Blowpipe, who was rampaging through [[Akihabara|Neo Akihabara City]]. Granted a transtector by the local police force, Triggerhappy subdued and regained Blowpipe, then agreed to work for the police force since the position allowed him to fire guns a lot. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 49|Bonus Edition Vol. 49}} He was charged with interrogating Misfire following the latter's arrest, but was disappointed in his comrade's aim and started teaching him how to shoot guns instead. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 52|Bonus Edition Vol. 52}} Triggerhappy later used Blowpipe's mutant ability to scale up [[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]]'s armor suit so it would fit [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 53|Bonus Edition Vol. 53}}

Triggerhappy was touched by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] and [[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]]'s reunion at the police station, which distracted him from Blowpipe being stolen by the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]]. {{storylink|TF Legends Late Xmas Present Chapter|Late Xmas Present Chapter}} When Slugslinger got his hands on [[Caliburst (G1)|Caliburst]], he swiftly betrayed Triggerhappy and Misfire, knocking them out with [[anti-electron]]s and stealing their Targetmaster partners. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 55|Bonus Edition Vol. 55}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Decepticon targetmasters brothers in armor.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|"Anyway, [[Vorath|you]] [[Zarak (G1)|guys]] think I'm a hero. And I'll accept that responsibility."]]
Triggerhappy participated in a raid on an Autobot city on Cybertron, ending with its incineration. Several prisoners of war were captured by his squad, and Triggerhappy openly mocked the captives as they were marched towards their doom in the [[smelting pool]]. The procession was interrupted by an Autobot ambush led by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]]; the Decepticons were overwhelmed, and their commander, [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]], ordered a retreat so that they might live to fight another day. {{storylink|Ring of Hate!}}

The Decepticons eventually managed to storm the Autobots' base, only to find it already evacuated. Though confused at first, they learned that their foes had fled to the planet [[Nebulos]]. Triggerhappy and the others made their way to the alien world, where they met with one of the locals, [[Zarak (G1)|Lord Zarak]], who enlisted them in ridding his planet of the Autobots. {{storylink|Broken Glass!}} ''During this meeting, Triggerhappy had to exert what little self-control he had to prevent himself from reducing the fleshy Nebulans to smoldering piles of ash with his [[photon-pulse gun]]s.'' {{storylink|Doomsday for Nebulos}} Learning that several of the Autobots were holed up in [[Koraja]], Triggerhappy participated in a full-scale assault on the city. In retaliation, Fortress Maximus and four other Autobots emerged, having underwent a [[binary bonding]] process. Thanks to the newfound power this upgrade afforded them, the Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] sent the Decepticons into a panicked retreat. {{storylink|Broken Glass!}}

After the Autobots also developed [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] technology, the Decepticons managed to reverse-engineer the process, and had five of their own members binary bond their weapons to Nebulan partners. Triggerhappy was among those selected, with [[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]] becoming his pistol. He was put into action soon afterwards, as their Autobot prisoners managed to break free. Despite Triggerhappy's best efforts to shoot straight, the enemy soldiers escaped. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}} ''After capturing the Autobot Targetmasters, Triggerhappy and the other Decepticons ambushed [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] so that Scorponok could capture one of them to examine the Headmaster process more closely. However, while Scorponok busied himself studying Highbrow, the remaining Autobot Headmasters were able to free their Targetmaster comrades and turn the tables on the Decepticons.'' {{storylink|Worlds Apart!}}

[[File:Targetmasters final conflict.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|"...And then they ran away. I ran after them. BANG! Tried to shoot them in the back."]]
''Thanks to a bug previously planted in the Autobots' headquarters, the Decepticons learned that their enemies had manufactured a fuel convertor that would allow them travel to [[Earth]]. They put together a plan to steal it. Triggerhappy, Slugslinger, and Misfire approached Fortress Maximus under the pretense that they had a message to deliver: Scorponok wanted to challenge him to a death match, and whoever emerged victorious would be declared triumphant in the greater conflict. Maximus accepted, unaware that the duel was merely a distraction. As it raged, Slugslinger snuck into Brainstorm's lab and made off with the fuel convertor. Once this was done, the duel came to a premature end, the Decepticons made their way off-world, and the Autobots were forced to follow.'' {{storylink|The Final Conflict}}

{{note|The events in this UK story differ in significant ways to the [[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]] mini-series.}}

Shortly afterwards the Decepticons left [[Nebulos]] and pursued the Autobots aboard the ''[[Steelhaven (G1)|Steelhaven]]'' to [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}}

''When Highbrow managed to decapitate Scorponok and escaped with his head, Triggerhappy was among several Decepticons who pursued, catching up to him just as he neared the Autobots' spaceship. As they forcefully retrieved their leader's head, the Decepticons witnessed several Autobots materialize from the future, leading to some infighting among the Autobots' ranks. Irritated over being left out of the battle, Scorponok's Decepticons were about to join in, only for the bulk of them to be temporarily shunted off to [[Limbo]] when [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s troops from the year [[2009]] arrived in [[1989]]. Triggerhappy was one of the few left behind. A tenuous alliance was then brokered between the Autobots and Decepticons from both eras in order to combat the more pressing threat of the super-Decepticon [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. However, when [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] accidentally shot Scorponok while he was attacking Galvatron, Triggerhappy and the other Decepticons turned on the Autobot. While Optimus Prime dealt with the mad Galvatron, Triggerhappy and the other Decepticons carried their leader to safety.'' {{storylink|Time Wars}}

Scorponok was repaired, and next took his troops to meet with [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s Decepticons at their Arctic base. While Scorponok and a small entourage were receiving a guided tour of said base, they learned that Ratbat was purposely withholding information about the legendary [[Underbase]] from them. Enraged by the deceit, Scorponok stormed back towards his ship, where the rest of his troops were waiting, only for his path to be barred by Ratbat's cronies. Seeing this take place, Triggerhappy and [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Grr]] decided to lead their shipmates in an assault and come to Scorponok's aid. Decepticon clashed against Decepticon until those on both sides of this civil war came to realize that [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] had engineered the whole debacle to get to the Underbase himself. {{storylink|Cold War!}}

Starscream was in time defeated, and Triggerhappy continued to serve under Scorponok as he acquired leadership over all Earth-bound Decepticons. Following a distress signal issued by the [[Air Strike Patrol]], Scorponok led his minions into battle against Optimus Prime's Autobots within the [[MacDill Air Force Base]]. Strangely, Optimus called for all his troops to return to the Ark while he remained behind. Scorponok was suspicious, but wouldn't allow himself to pass up the opportunity to vanquish his enemy. Triggerhappy and the others rushed Optimus Prime as he tried to stop Scorponok from firing on the shuttlecraft, but Prime, who was quickly becoming frustrated with the day's events, was able to overpower all of them. As Optimus pleaded to Scorponok to stop fighting and determine the mastermind who was pulling their strings, they were interrupted by a huge hint: Starscream had arrived, reborn as a [[Pretender]]. {{storylink|All the Familiar Faces!}} Triggerhappy was among the first to fall to the new arrival's might, gunned down as Starscream proclaimed he was carrying out [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s will. {{storylink|Skin Deep}}

[[File:US69EyeofStorm.JPG|upright=1.66|thumb|left|"And you, stand up straight! You're making us all look uncivilized!"]]
Later during the war on Earth, Triggerhappy got sick of Scorponok's command, especially after he let that maniac Starscream back into the Decepticons. Triggerhappy couldn't stand working with Starscream, so he and [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] left Scorponok's Decepticons, only to ironically be strong-armed by Starscream himself into joining his and [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]'s auxiliary army, which also included [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]], [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]], and [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]]. {{storylink|Eye of the Storm}} Though Mindwipe was more vocal on the subject, Triggerhappy was clearly displeased with being forced into this new group. Shockwave made it clear that, should the pair not fight at their side, they would be terminated. As such, Triggerhappy joined in on an attack on Scorponok's [[New Jersey base]]. {{storylink|Surrender!}} The base was easily collapsed on itself, though this did little to assuage Triggerhappy and Mindwipe's fears that Scorponok may yet rise up to destroy them all. Pitying their cowardice, Starscream urged the others to help him dig out whatever survivors they may find, and offer them a choice: join them or be destroyed. Unfortunately, the first to be excavated was indeed Scorponok. Shockwave ordered Triggerhappy and the others to rush Scorponok, but the latter's ultra-dense armor proved invulnerable to their laser fire. Triggerhappy was easily tackled down by his opponent, who then moved on to duelling Shockwave in the nearby river. {{storylink|...All This and Civil War 2}}

The coup was interrupted when [[Primus]] summoned all the Transformers of Earth to Cybertron to do battle with [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Out of Time!}} Triggerhappy and the other teleported Transformers witnessed Primus, speaking through the body of [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]], tell the history of their supernatural war with the Dark God. {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{NoteRG1}}
When Scorponok used the [[Gene Key]] to virtually conquer Cybertron, Triggerhappy was seen hunting for the dissident [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Four}}

====''Transformers '84''====
As part of the forces under [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]]'s command, Triggerhappy took part in a bombing run against [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]]'s troops after the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' had been lost. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 3|Secrets & Lies #3}}

===''The Headmasters'' comic===
[[File:HM issue 7 Decepticon Targetmasters.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Triggerhappy and the Decepticon Targetmasters attempted to disrupt the Autobots' efforts to put out a blazing fire on Earth. The Autobots' split focus left them vulnerable, until the Battleship Maximus extinguished the entire fire in one sweep. [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]] and [[Artfire]] then turned their full attention on Triggerhappy and his allies, driving them from the scene. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 7|The Headmasters #7}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
While [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] used his [[Nullification Cannon]] on Cybertron's [[energon]] suppliy, Triggerhappy was part of a team lead by [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] that carried out a diversionary attack. Triggerhappy was punched out by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
Triggerhappy was among the Decepticons who traveled to [[Nebulos]] in search of energy. When they discovered a wealth of cosmic energy at the pole, Triggerhappy reminded [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] that if used it to kill all the Autobots, they wouldn't have anyone to fight. When their energy collection attempt required them to move [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] to the pole, the Autobots melted the ice under their base, causing it to sink. {{storylink|Decepticons at the Pole}}

===Toy pack-in material===
When Optimus became stranded on Cybertron's hemisphere of darkness with his memory damaged, Triggerhappy joined a small strike force of Decepticons called S.T.O.P. ([[Seek and Terminate Optimus Prime]]) to either destroy or recruit the amnesic Autobot leader. {{Storylink|Optimus Prime Is Back}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[Stormbringer issue 4|''Stormbringer'' #4]]}}
[[File:Blot and Triggerhappy The End of the Beginning of the World.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|left]]
Triggerhappy was part of the crew of the ''[[Thanatos]]'', commanded by [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] and the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]]. He begrudgingly gave aid to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Wreckers]] while battling [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] in order to preserve their home planet of Cybertron and show the Autobots how war was really done. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}}

Much later, Triggerhappy appeared among the Decepticons imprisoned on Cybertron after the war with [[D-Void]]. {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|The Autonomy Lesson}} Triggerhappy was part of an angry Decepticon crowd who demanded answers from the Autobots for [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s death. {{storylink|Stick Together}} He joined up with [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]], who was trying to lead the Decepticons back into war, only to be killed by [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] while guarding their base. {{storylink|The End of the Beginning of the World}}
{{--}}

===''United''===
[[File:FierceFightingOnPlanetNebulos-StraxusDecepticons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
A [[nano-virus]] that afflicted most Autobots save the [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] and the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] required [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]] to lead a team to [[Nebulos]] for an anti-virus. However, the nano-virus was merely a ploy by the Decepticons to draw out the Targetmasters and Headmasters to abduct their [[Nebulan]] partners, so when the Autobots arrived on Nebulos, Triggerhappy and several other Decepticons were waiting for them! Triggerhappy and the others quickly fell into disarray, unfortunately, when their leader Straxus was singled out and defeated. {{storylink|The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos}}

===''TransTech''===
During the conflict between the [[Screaming Eagles]] and [[S.K.A.R.]] in [[Primax 806.30 Gamma]], Triggerhappy's Targetmaster partner was the human arms-dealer [[Rampage (S.K.A.R.)|Rampage]], using technology derived from the old [[I.R.O.N.|I.R.O.N. Army]]. The Decepticons and their human allies were ultimately defeated by [[Sgt. Savage]]'s Screaming Eagles and the Autobots. {{storylink|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 2016/05/01}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[The Change In Your Nature Part Three|''Transformers'' #15]] (mentioned); [[Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|#21]] (full)}}

[[File:Tremors-Triggerhappy.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|"Thank God I went down to [[Swindle (G1)|Gunther's Guns]] and picked up a spare. I don't think one would've done it. I'm going to go out and buy some more.
And I think you should, too."]]
Once exiled from Cybertron, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] found Triggerhappy and brought him home to join [[The Rise]], a terrorist cell devoted to destabilizing society as part of the [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]] cause. Violent and unstable, Shockwave identified him as one of the true "maniacs" under his command. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Three}}

[[Rage (G1)|Rage]] was forced into the task of transporting Triggerhappy along with [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], [[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]], [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] inside [[Roughstuff]]'s trailer to another remote base before a groundquake hit sent them falling into a chasm. As Rage tried to get the situation under control, Triggerhappy made a nuisance of himself by shooting Roughstuff and denying them their only way back out. When Frenzy spotted a group of geologists spying on them, Triggerhappy was the first to confront them and shot [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] when the geologist didn't say his name, as the geologist had never ''met'' Triggerhappy before. He kept himself busy by dodging [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] until [[Firestar (G1)|Novastar]]'s new counterterrorism team arrived to stop them, then promptly flew away before [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] could catch up. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors}}

====Alternate future====

In the dark future ruled by [[Exarchon]], Triggerhappy fought for the Threefold Spark. He remained obsessed with getting people to say his name, prompting the rebel [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] to finally shut him up by calling him -- and rendering him -- "Headless". {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Test Flight II}}
{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
*When the Transformers' war resumed its course on [[Nebulos|Nebulon]], Triggerhappy could be seen fighting alongside his fellow Decepticon [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] against their Autobot counterparts, while [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] grappled in the distance. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Headmaster comic book|Headmaster comic book commercial}}
*Triggerhappy and [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] battled [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] and [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] in the middle of a mechanical city. Triggerhappy strafed Sureshot from above until the Autobot transformed into robot mode and began firing back. Triggerhappy mirrored Sureshot's actions, leading to Sureshot tackling Triggerhappy and both combatants losing grip on their guns. Triggerhappy and Sureshot continued to grapple while their guns transformed and did the same. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Targetmasters|Targetmasters commercial}}

==Games==
===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
{{Note|Triggerhappy is a non-playable character. He appears among the legion of Decepticon duplicates in the Autobot campaign.}}
{{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
Triggerhappy was caught up in a [[Quintesson]] plot to disrupt the [[Galactic Olympics|Galactic Games]]. {{storylink|The Galactic Games}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
[[File:G1-toy Triggerhappy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Got an AK-47, well, you know it makes me feel all right!]]
*'''Triggerhappy with Blowpipe''' (Targetmaster, [[1987]])
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-88'''
**''Accessories:'' "Blowpipe" Targetmaster gun/[[Compression cannon|Compressed Air Cannon]]
:Triggerhappy transforms into a blue Cybertronic fighter craft with large, dual off-white cannons on either side his body and four wing-mounted thrusters, making him look kinda-sorta-vaguely like an [[X-wing Fighter]] from ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]''. His Targetmaster partner, Blowpipe, can be stored in a socket on the rear of the fighter, just in front of where his head is stored. Somewhat unusually, the entire cockpit nose is mounted on a bar that swings upward so the nose meets with the rear fuselage to form his upper torso. His large fighter cannons swing up to the sides of his arms in [[robot mode]], but the hinges aren't strong enough to deal with their weight, so they have a tendency to flop down.

:Like the other Targetmasters, his Japanese release lacks a [[rubsign]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1987/Decepticon/Triggerhappy/triggerhappy.htm More information on Triggerhappy (with Blowpipe) at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===''Titans Return''===
[[File:TF-Generations-Titans-Return-Deluxe-Triggerhappy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Mr. Triggerhappy, not every situation requires your patented approach of shoot first, shoot later, shoot some more and then when everybody's dead try to ask a question or two."]]
*'''Blowpipe & Triggerhappy''' (Deluxe Class, [[2016]])
**''Accessories:'' "Blowpipe" Titan Master, 2 blaster weapons.
:Part of the third wave of ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'', Triggerhappy transforms into a Cybertronian starfighter. He has 5 mm post holes on the underside of his wings and the inside of his built-in non-firing blasters, accessible in robot mode. The holes on his shoulders can also accept 5mm posts, but are covered by his wings or blasters in both modes. Like most ''Titans Return'' figures, he has a port for a generic pose/flight stand on his backside. Triggerhappy's transformation is surprisingly complex compared to most ''Titans Return'' Deluxe figures, with most of the parts shifting by way of swivels that rotate the entire body in multiple directions.

:He includes two blasters that can combine into a larger weapon that his [[Titan Master]] partner, [[Blowpipe (G1)#Generations|Blowpipe]] can sit in. Unlike most Deluxe and larger figures, however, there does not appear to be a way to mount the combined weapon in vehicle mode, and while Blowpipe can peg in, it does not appear to have a proper seat. Amusingly, it seems to be based on Blowpipe's original Targetmaster form, with sculpted legs at one end and each blaster having similar asymmetrical double barrels. Despite coming with a pair of guns, most official pictures, such as the one on his box, only show his vehicle mode with one attached gun.

:His robot mode face is based on his appearance in fiction rather than his original toy.

:Triggerhappy can hold the ''Siege'' [[Battle Master]] [[Blowpipe (G1)#War for Cybertron: Siege|Blowpipe]] if one is inclined to have two Blowpipes simultaneously.

:Triggerhappy was retooled with a new head into [[Metalhawk (G1)#Generations|Metalhawk]]. His legs were also used for [[Misfire (G1)#Generations|Misfire]] and [[Slugslinger (G1)#Generations|Slugslinger]], who are otherwise completely new figures from the crotch up. The elements that became Misfire were then even further modified into ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' [[Sonic Bomber#Legends|Sonic Bomber]].
{{--}}

===''Legends''===
[[File:LG49-Triggerhappy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Targetmaster Triggerharpy (Targetmaster Triggerhappy)''' (Deluxe Class, [[2017]]-[[October 28|10-28]])
**''ID number'': '''LG49'''
**''Accessories:'' Headmaster, [[Blowpipe (G1)#Legends|Blowpipe]] Targetmaster
:''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' "Targetmaster Triggerharpy" is a [[redeco]] and slight retool of the above ''Titans Return'' mold with minor changes in paint details and a new port on his chest where his [[Decepticon]] insignia used to be that serves as a method to store the newly molded [[Blowpipe (G1)#Legends|Blowpipe]] Targetmaster. He does not include the original guns in the original Hasbro release. As a bonus, the chest port makes him capable of wearing a ''[[Power of the Primes (toyline)|Power of the Primes]]'' deluxe figure's prime armor.
{{TRBlowpipeMold}}
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Transformers Trading Card Game===
[[File:W3RaiderTriggerhappy.jpg|thumb]]
*'''Raider Triggerhappy, Air Force-Gunner''' (2019)
**'''Wave 3: War for Cybertron: Siege I'''
**''Rarity: '''''UT'''
**''Card Number: '''''T39/T48'''
**''Stars: ''8

:Raider Triggerhappy, Air Force-Gunner is one of forty-eight double-sided character cards available in Wave 3 of the [[Transformers Trading Card Game]], War for Cybertron: Siege I.

:The card's art reuses line-art from the ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Transformers Legends]]'' mobile game. The artwork is recolored seemingly to match the aesthetic of the ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege|Siege]]'' toyline's packaging art.
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:Triggerhappy heads.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|The guy on the left went on to
{{w|Shredder (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)|bigger and better}} things]]
[[File:Hasbro1988CatTriggerhappy.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Blasthappy? Triggerblast?]]
*For some reason Triggerhappy's [[character model]] in the comics and cartoon differs from that of his toy and [[package art]]. He has a [[Mouthplate|faceplate]] in his fictional appearances, and normal eyes, giving him a ninja-like face. His toy features a normal face with comic-[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]-style "shades".
*The 1987 and 1988 North American [[catalog]]s featuring Triggerhappy depict him using a non-final toy—one whose head is blatantly a hand-painted copy of [[Blaster (G1)/toys|Blaster]]'s!

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Triggerharpy''' (トリガーハーピー ''Torigāhāpī''),<ref>Triggerhappy's name in classic Japanese Generation 1 media inexplicably is not a plain adaptation of "happy" but rather "harpy". Given that Misfire and Slugslinger's names experienced no changes in localisation, "Triggerharpy" may be the result of a typo or misreading being carried forward.</ref> '''Triggerhappy''' (トリガーハッピー ''Torigāhappī'')
*''French:'' '''Déclic''' (Canada)
*''Italian:'' '''Efestus'''
*''Mandarin:'' '''Bānjī''' (China, 扳机, "Trigger")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Lődöző''' ("who shoots a lot in a short time", different form of "lövöldöző")

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Gunners]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Decepticons]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Decepticons]]
[[Category:Legends Decepticons]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Decepticons]]
[[Category:Targetmasters]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Decepticons]]
[[Category:Titans Return Decepticons]]
[[Category:United Decepticons]]

Triggerhappy (G1)

2022-03-11T16:39:00Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Marvel The Transformers comics */

{{factions|decepticon|exarchon}}
{{disambig3|Triggerhappy}}
{{picsneeded|fictional appearances}}
:''Triggerhappy is a [[Decepticon]] [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:G1Triggerhappy boxart.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|We cool, G? Eh? Eh? Alriiiight.]]
'''Triggerhappy''' is a nutball. You get them in the Decepticons from time to time. He's generally found [[Humanization|drooling]] and/or giggling wildly. He's been that way ever since an incident at [[Decepticon boot camp]], in which he was firing while surfing on his [[hoverboard]], but fell off and hit his head. He remained firing all the while and ended up disintegrating half a dozen other Decepticons. The camp commander was impressed and graduated Triggerhappy on the spot. Nobody is sure if it's an act or if he suffered [[processor]] damage in the fall. What is known is that he pays very little attention to where he's shooting but LOVES the sound his gun makes when fired. Good idea arming him there, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]].

Triggerhappy is [[Binary bonding|binary-bonded]] with [[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]], the conniving, envious brother-in-law of [[Nebulan]] leader [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]].

{{bigquote|We probably shouldn't have shot him. I mean me. I shouldn't have shot him. Maybe. Right? Hard to say.|Triggerhappy reflects on casually shooting his ride, ''[[Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors]]}}

==Fiction==
===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Charlie Adler]] (English), [[Ken Narita]] (Japanese)|[[Georges Atlas]] & [[Francis Lax]] (European French)}}
[[File:TheRebirth1 TriggerhappySlugslinger.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|How is he supposed to drool when he doesn't have a mouth?]]
Triggerhappy was one of several Decepticon jets serving under [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] when they attacked [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] as part of a diversion while the Decepticon Clones stole the Key to the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]]. After Scourge successfully activated the chamber on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] (and inadvertently sent a shuttle full of Autobots and the key halfway across the galaxy), Triggerhappy, [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]], and [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] were among the Decepticon unit sent to retrieve the key. Following the Autobots to [[Nebulos]], Triggerhappy attacked the Autobums, welcoming them to the scrapyard that they would become should he succeed in destroying them. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 1}}

Though the Decepticons managed to capture several Autobots, they were soon overwhelmed by new [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster technology]] the Autobots developed with the Nebulan rebels. After making a deal with the Hive, the Decepticons underwent [[binary bonding]] as well, and Triggerhappy was given a new partner who blows hard and fast. Armed with this new skill, Triggerhappy and his [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] companions successfully helped reacquire the Chamber's key. While waiting for Zarak to complete modifications to [[Scorponok (G1)|his city]], Triggerhappy declared a possible gasket-blowing event was imminent should he be made to wait any longer. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}}

Triggerhappy and the other Targetmasters returned to Cybertron just in the nick of time to save Galvatron from the remainder of the Autobot forces. Galvatron was less than impressed by their new Hive partners, however, and addressed Triggerhappy directly when he berated them for letting organics inhabit their bodies, despite the fact Triggerhappy wasn't a Headmaster. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}
{{-}}

===Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Michihiro Ikemizu]] (Japanese)}}
[[File:HM 30 Blowpipe bonded with Triggerhappy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"So anyway, I started blasting."]]
Triggerhappy and his partners, Misfire and Slugslinger, were frequent opponents of the Autobot trio under [[Pointblank]]'s command. When all of them were engaged in combat over several space-faring denizens of planet [[Master (planet)|Master]], a massive explosion caught everyone off-guard. Triggerhappy and his partners and foes alike were transformed into Targetmasters, somehow fused together in pairs with each of the smaller Master Transformers by the explosion. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 2)}} {{storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}} {{storylink|The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide}} {{storylink|Operation: Destroy the Decepticons}} {{storylink|Duel on the Asteroid}} {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}}}

====''Legends'' comic====
As one of the Decepticons stationed on Earth in the 1980s, Triggerhappy participated in the battle for the [[Transform Super Cog]] where his crazed firing in random directions kept his allies staying far, far away. He fled into space following Slugslinger's failed attempt at usurping [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] as [[Decepticon leader]]. {{storylink|Slugslinger's Ambition}}

In [[2021]], Triggerhappy and the Decepticon Targetmasters fought for Scorponok when he sought to create [[plasma energy]] by detonating a [[black hole]], hoping the ensuing energy wave would let them bond with the Autobots' Targetmaster partners as well. Instead, the explosion shrunk their bodies and caused their partners to vanish. {{storylink|Targetmaster Chapter Prologue}} Like other victims, the Targetmasters converted their heads into small [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] bodies and traveled to the [[Legends World]], where they kidnapped [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] and forced him to use his [[10.2 ultra-drill|ultra-drill]] to teleport their Targetmaster partners to them. The partners were overloaded with plasma energy, however, forcing Trion to scatter them across the Legends World. {{storylink|Mutant Targetmaster Birth Chapter}}

Triggerhappy began running a shooting gallery to earn money for a [[transtector]], though his love for guns compelled him to help his customers shoot the targets, leaving him giving away the prizes. He was eventually approached by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] and asked for his help in capturing the supercharged Blowpipe, who was rampaging through [[Akihabara|Neo Akihabara City]]. Granted a transtector by the local police force, Triggerhappy subdued and regained Blowpipe, then agreed to work for the police force since the position allowed him to fire guns a lot. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 49|Bonus Edition Vol. 49}} He was charged with interrogating Misfire following the latter's arrest, but was disappointed in his comrade's aim and started teaching him how to shoot guns instead. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 52|Bonus Edition Vol. 52}} Triggerhappy later used Blowpipe's mutant ability to scale up [[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]]'s armor suit so it would fit [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 53|Bonus Edition Vol. 53}}

Triggerhappy was touched by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] and [[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]]'s reunion at the police station, which distracted him from Blowpipe being stolen by the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]]. {{storylink|TF Legends Late Xmas Present Chapter|Late Xmas Present Chapter}} When Slugslinger got his hands on [[Caliburst (G1)|Caliburst]], he swiftly betrayed Triggerhappy and Misfire, knocking them out with [[anti-electron]]s and stealing their Targetmaster partners. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 55|Bonus Edition Vol. 55}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Decepticon targetmasters brothers in armor.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|"Anyway, [[Vorath|you]] [[Zarak (G1)|guys]] think I'm a hero. And I'll accept that responsibility."]]
Triggerhappy participated in a raid on an Autobot city on Cybertron, ending with its incineration. Several prisoners of war were captured by his squad, and Triggerhappy openly mocked the captives as they were marched towards their doom in the [[smelting pool]]. The procession was interrupted by an Autobot ambush led by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]]; the Decepticons were overwhelmed, and their commander, [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]], ordered a retreat so that they might live to fight another day. {{storylink|Ring of Hate!}}

The Decepticons eventually managed to storm the Autobots' base, only to find it already evacuated. Though confused at first, they learned that their foes had fled to the planet [[Nebulos]]. Triggerhappy and the others made their way to the alien world, where they met with one of the locals, [[Zarak (G1)|Lord Zarak]], who enlisted them in ridding his planet of the Autobots. {{storylink|Broken Glass!}} ''During this meeting, Triggerhappy had to exert what little self-control he had to prevent himself from reducing the fleshy Nebulans to smoldering piles of ash with his [[photon-pulse gun]]s.'' {{storylink|Doomsday for Nebulos}} Learning that several of the Autobots were holed up in [[Koraja]], Triggerhappy participated in a full-scale assault on the city. In retaliation, Fortress Maximus and four other Autobots emerged, having underwent a [[binary bonding]] process. Thanks to the newfound power this upgrade afforded them, the Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] sent the Decepticons into a panicked retreat. {{storylink|Broken Glass!}}

After the Autobots also developed [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] technology, the Decepticons managed to reverse-engineer the process, and had five of their own members binary bond their weapons to Nebulan partners. Triggerhappy was among those selected, with [[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]] becoming his pistol. He was put into action soon afterwards, as their Autobot prisoners managed to break free. Despite Triggerhappy's best efforts to shoot straight, the enemy soldiers escaped. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}} ''After capturing the Autobot Targetmasters, Triggerhappy and the other Decepticons ambushed [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] so that Scorponok could capture one of them to examine the Headmaster process more closely. However, while Scorponok busied himself studying Highbrow, the remaining Autobot Headmasters were able to free their Targetmaster comrades and turn the tables on the Decepticons.'' {{storylink|Worlds Apart!}}

[[File:Targetmasters final conflict.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|"...And then they ran away. I ran after them. BANG! Tried to shoot them in the back."]]
''Thanks to a bug previously planted in the Autobots' headquarters, the Decepticons learned that their enemies had manufactured a fuel convertor that would allow them travel to [[Earth]]. They put together a plan to steal it. Triggerhappy, Slugslinger, and Misfire approached Fortress Maximus under the pretense that they had a message to deliver: Scorponok wanted to challenge him to a death match, and whoever emerged victorious would be declared triumphant in the greater conflict. Maximus accepted, unaware that the duel was merely a distraction. As it raged, Slugslinger snuck into Brainstorm's lab and made off with the fuel convertor. Once this was done, the duel came to a premature end, the Decepticons made their way off-world, and the Autobots were forced to follow.'' {{storylink|The Final Conflict}}

{{note|The events in this UK story differ in significant ways to the [[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]] mini-series.}}

Shortly afterwards the Decepticons left [[Nebulos]] and pursued the Autobots aboard the ''[[Steelhaven (G1)|Steelhaven]]'' to [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}}

''When Highbrow managed to decapitate Scorponok and escaped with his head, Triggerhappy was among several Decepticons who pursued, catching up to him just as he neared the Autobots' spaceship. As they forcefully retrieved their leader's head, the Decepticons witnessed several Autobots materialize from the future, leading to some infighting among the Autobots' ranks. Irritated over being left out of the battle, Scorponok's Decepticons were about to join in, only for the bulk of them to be temporarily shunted off to [[Limbo]] when [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s troops from the year [[2009]] arrived in [[1989]]. Triggerhappy was one of the few left behind. A tenuous alliance was then brokered between the Autobots and Decepticons from both eras in order to combat the more pressing threat of the super-Decepticon [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. However, when [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] accidentally shot Scorponok while he was attacking Galvatron, Triggerhappy and the other Decepticons turned on the Autobot. While Optimus Prime dealt with the mad Galvatron, Triggerhappy and the other Decepticons carried their leader to safety.'' {{storylink|Time Wars}}

Scorponok was repaired, and next took his troops to meet with [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s Decepticons at their Arctic base. While Scorponok and a small entourage were receiving a guided tour of said base, they learned that Ratbat was purposely withholding information about the legendary [[Underbase]] from them. Enraged by the deceit, Scorponok stormed back towards his ship, where the rest of his troops were waiting, only for his path to be barred by Ratbat's cronies. Seeing this take place, Triggerhappy and [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Grr]] decided to lead their shipmates in an assault and come to Scorponok's aid. Decepticon clashed against Decepticon until those on both sides of this civil war came to realize that [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] had engineered the whole debacle to get to the Underbase himself. {{storylink|Cold War!}}

Starscream was in time defeated, and Triggerhappy continued to serve under Scorponok as he acquired leadership over all Earth-bound Decepticons. Following a distress signal issued by the [[Air Strike Patrol]], Scorponok led his minions into battle against Optimus Prime's Autobots within the [[MacDill Air Force Base]]. Strangely, Optimus called for all his troops to return to the Ark while he remained behind. Scorponok was suspicious, but wouldn't allow himself to pass up the opportunity to vanquish his enemy. Triggerhappy and the others rushed Optimus Prime as he tried to stop Scorponok from firing on the shuttlecraft, but Prime, who was quickly becoming frustrated with the day's events, was able to overpower all of them. As Optimus pleaded to Scorponok to stop fighting and determine the mastermind who was pulling their strings, they were interrupted by a huge hint: Starscream had arrived, reborn as a [[Pretender]]. {{storylink|All the Familiar Faces!}} Triggerhappy was among the first to fall to the new arrival's might, gunned down as Starscream proclaimed he was carrying out [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s will. {{storylink|Skin Deep}}

[[File:US69EyeofStorm.JPG|upright=1.66|thumb|left|"And you, stand up straight! You're making us all look uncivilized!"]]
Later during the war on Earth, Triggerhappy got sick of Scorponok's command, especially after he let that maniac Starscream back into the Decepticons. Triggerhappy couldn't stand working with Starscream, so he and [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] left Scorponok's Decepticons, only to ironically be strong-armed by Starscream himself into joining his and [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]'s auxiliary army, which also included [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]], [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]], and [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]]. {{storylink|Eye of the Storm}} Though Mindwipe was more vocal on the subject, Triggerhappy was clearly displeased with being forced into this new group. Shockwave made it clear that, should the pair not fight at their side, they would be terminated. As such, Triggerhappy joined in on an attack on Scorponok's [[New Jersey base]]. {{storylink|Surrender!}} The base was easily collapsed on itself, though this did little to assuage Triggerhappy and Mindwipe's fears that Scorponok may yet rise up to destroy them all. Pitying their cowardice, Starscream urged the others to help him dig out whatever survivors they may find, and offer them a choice: join them or be destroyed. Unfortunately, the first to be excavated was indeed Scorponok. Shockwave ordered Triggerhappy and the others to rush Scorponok, but the latter's ultra-dense armor proved invulnerable to their laser fire. Triggerhappy was easily tackled down by his opponent, who then moved on to duelling Shockwave in the nearby river. {{storylink|...All This and Civil War 2}}

The coup was interrupted when [[Primus]] summoned all the Transformers of Earth to Cybertron to do battle with [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Out of Time!}} Triggerhappy and the other teleported Transformers witnessed Primus, speaking through the body of [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]], tell the history of their supernatural war with the Dark God. {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{NoteRG1}}
When Scorponok used the [[Gene Key]] to virtually conquer Cybertron, Triggerhappy was seen hunting for the dissident [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Four}}

====''Transformers '84''====
As part of the forces under [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]]'s command, Triggerhappy took part in a bombing run against [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]]'s troops after the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' had been lost. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 3|Secrets & Lies #3}}

===''The Headmasters'' comic===
[[File:HM issue 7 Decepticon Targetmasters.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Triggerhappy and the Decepticon Targetmasters attempted to disrupt the Autobots' efforts to put out a blazing fire on Earth. The Autobots' split focus left them vulnerable, until the Battleship Maximus extinguished the entire fire in one sweep. [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]] and [[Artfire]] then turned their full attention on Triggerhappy and his allies, driving them from the scene. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 7|The Headmasters #7}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
While [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] used his [[Nullification Cannon]] on Cybertron's [[energon]] suppliy, Triggerhappy was part of a team lead by [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] that carried out a diversionary attack. Triggerhappy was punched out by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
Triggerhappy was among the Decepticons who traveled to [[Nebulos]] in search of energy. When they discovered a wealth of cosmic energy at the pole, Triggerhappy reminded [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] that if used it to kill all the Autobots, they wouldn't have anyone to fight. When their energy collection attempt required them to move [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] to the pole, the Autobots melted the ice under their base, causing it to sink. {{storylink|Decepticons at the Pole}}

===Toy pack-in material===
When Optimus became stranded on Cybertron's hemisphere of darkness with his memory damaged, Triggerhappy joined a small strike force of Decepticons called S.T.O.P. ([[Seek and Terminate Optimus Prime]]) to either destroy or recruit the amnesic Autobot leader. {{Storylink|Optimus Prime Is Back}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[Stormbringer issue 4|''Stormbringer'' #4]]}}
[[File:Blot and Triggerhappy The End of the Beginning of the World.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|left]]
Triggerhappy was part of the crew of the ''[[Thanatos]]'', commanded by [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] and the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]]. He begrudgingly gave aid to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Wreckers]] while battling [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] in order to preserve their home planet of Cybertron and show the Autobots how war was really done. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}}

Much later, Triggerhappy appeared among the Decepticons imprisoned on Cybertron after the war with [[D-Void]]. {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|The Autonomy Lesson}} Triggerhappy was part of an angry Decepticon crowd who demanded answers from the Autobots for [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s death. {{storylink|Stick Together}} He joined up with [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]], who was trying to lead the Decepticons back into war, only to be killed by [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] while guarding their base. {{storylink|The End of the Beginning of the World}}
{{--}}

===''United''===
[[File:FierceFightingOnPlanetNebulos-StraxusDecepticons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
A [[nano-virus]] that afflicted most Autobots save the [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] and the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] required [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]] to lead a team to [[Nebulos]] for an anti-virus. However, the nano-virus was merely a ploy by the Decepticons to draw out the Targetmasters and Headmasters to abduct their [[Nebulan]] partners, so when the Autobots arrived on Nebulos, Triggerhappy and several other Decepticons were waiting for them! Triggerhappy and the others quickly fell into disarray, unfortunately, when their leader Straxus was singled out and defeated. {{storylink|The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos}}

===''TransTech''===
During the conflict between the [[Screaming Eagles]] and [[S.K.A.R.]] in [[Primax 806.30 Gamma]], Triggerhappy's Targetmaster partner was the human arms-dealer [[Rampage (S.K.A.R.)|Rampage]], using technology derived from the old [[I.R.O.N.|I.R.O.N. Army]]. The Decepticons and their human allies were ultimately defeated by [[Sgt. Savage]]'s Screaming Eagles and the Autobots. {{storylink|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 2016/05/01}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[The Change In Your Nature Part Three|''Transformers'' #15]] (mentioned); [[Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|#21]] (full)}}

[[File:Tremors-Triggerhappy.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
Once exiled from Cybertron, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] found Triggerhappy and brought him home to join [[The Rise]], a terrorist cell devoted to destabilizing society as part of the [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]] cause. Violent and unstable, Shockwave identified him as one of the true "maniacs" under his command. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Three}}

[[Rage (G1)|Rage]] was forced into the task of transporting Triggerhappy along with [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], [[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]], [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] inside [[Roughstuff]]'s trailer to another remote base before a groundquake hit sent them falling into a chasm. As Rage tried to get the situation under control, Triggerhappy made a nuisance of himself by shooting Roughstuff and denying them their only way back out. When Frenzy spotted a group of geologists spying on them, Triggerhappy was the first to confront them and shot [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] when the geologist didn't say his name, as the geologist had never ''met'' Triggerhappy before. He kept himself busy by dodging [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] until [[Firestar (G1)|Novastar]]'s new counterterrorism team arrived to stop them, then promptly flew away before [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] could catch up. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors}}

====Alternate future====

In the dark future ruled by [[Exarchon]], Triggerhappy fought for the Threefold Spark. He remained obsessed with getting people to say his name, prompting the rebel [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] to finally shut him up by calling him -- and rendering him -- "Headless". {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Test Flight II}}
{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
*When the Transformers' war resumed its course on [[Nebulos|Nebulon]], Triggerhappy could be seen fighting alongside his fellow Decepticon [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] against their Autobot counterparts, while [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] grappled in the distance. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Headmaster comic book|Headmaster comic book commercial}}
*Triggerhappy and [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] battled [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] and [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] in the middle of a mechanical city. Triggerhappy strafed Sureshot from above until the Autobot transformed into robot mode and began firing back. Triggerhappy mirrored Sureshot's actions, leading to Sureshot tackling Triggerhappy and both combatants losing grip on their guns. Triggerhappy and Sureshot continued to grapple while their guns transformed and did the same. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Targetmasters|Targetmasters commercial}}

==Games==
===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
{{Note|Triggerhappy is a non-playable character. He appears among the legion of Decepticon duplicates in the Autobot campaign.}}
{{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
Triggerhappy was caught up in a [[Quintesson]] plot to disrupt the [[Galactic Olympics|Galactic Games]]. {{storylink|The Galactic Games}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
[[File:G1-toy Triggerhappy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Got an AK-47, well, you know it makes me feel all right!]]
*'''Triggerhappy with Blowpipe''' (Targetmaster, [[1987]])
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-88'''
**''Accessories:'' "Blowpipe" Targetmaster gun/[[Compression cannon|Compressed Air Cannon]]
:Triggerhappy transforms into a blue Cybertronic fighter craft with large, dual off-white cannons on either side his body and four wing-mounted thrusters, making him look kinda-sorta-vaguely like an [[X-wing Fighter]] from ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]''. His Targetmaster partner, Blowpipe, can be stored in a socket on the rear of the fighter, just in front of where his head is stored. Somewhat unusually, the entire cockpit nose is mounted on a bar that swings upward so the nose meets with the rear fuselage to form his upper torso. His large fighter cannons swing up to the sides of his arms in [[robot mode]], but the hinges aren't strong enough to deal with their weight, so they have a tendency to flop down.

:Like the other Targetmasters, his Japanese release lacks a [[rubsign]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1987/Decepticon/Triggerhappy/triggerhappy.htm More information on Triggerhappy (with Blowpipe) at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===''Titans Return''===
[[File:TF-Generations-Titans-Return-Deluxe-Triggerhappy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Mr. Triggerhappy, not every situation requires your patented approach of shoot first, shoot later, shoot some more and then when everybody's dead try to ask a question or two."]]
*'''Blowpipe & Triggerhappy''' (Deluxe Class, [[2016]])
**''Accessories:'' "Blowpipe" Titan Master, 2 blaster weapons.
:Part of the third wave of ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'', Triggerhappy transforms into a Cybertronian starfighter. He has 5 mm post holes on the underside of his wings and the inside of his built-in non-firing blasters, accessible in robot mode. The holes on his shoulders can also accept 5mm posts, but are covered by his wings or blasters in both modes. Like most ''Titans Return'' figures, he has a port for a generic pose/flight stand on his backside. Triggerhappy's transformation is surprisingly complex compared to most ''Titans Return'' Deluxe figures, with most of the parts shifting by way of swivels that rotate the entire body in multiple directions.

:He includes two blasters that can combine into a larger weapon that his [[Titan Master]] partner, [[Blowpipe (G1)#Generations|Blowpipe]] can sit in. Unlike most Deluxe and larger figures, however, there does not appear to be a way to mount the combined weapon in vehicle mode, and while Blowpipe can peg in, it does not appear to have a proper seat. Amusingly, it seems to be based on Blowpipe's original Targetmaster form, with sculpted legs at one end and each blaster having similar asymmetrical double barrels. Despite coming with a pair of guns, most official pictures, such as the one on his box, only show his vehicle mode with one attached gun.

:His robot mode face is based on his appearance in fiction rather than his original toy.

:Triggerhappy can hold the ''Siege'' [[Battle Master]] [[Blowpipe (G1)#War for Cybertron: Siege|Blowpipe]] if one is inclined to have two Blowpipes simultaneously.

:Triggerhappy was retooled with a new head into [[Metalhawk (G1)#Generations|Metalhawk]]. His legs were also used for [[Misfire (G1)#Generations|Misfire]] and [[Slugslinger (G1)#Generations|Slugslinger]], who are otherwise completely new figures from the crotch up. The elements that became Misfire were then even further modified into ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' [[Sonic Bomber#Legends|Sonic Bomber]].
{{--}}

===''Legends''===
[[File:LG49-Triggerhappy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Targetmaster Triggerharpy (Targetmaster Triggerhappy)''' (Deluxe Class, [[2017]]-[[October 28|10-28]])
**''ID number'': '''LG49'''
**''Accessories:'' Headmaster, [[Blowpipe (G1)#Legends|Blowpipe]] Targetmaster
:''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' "Targetmaster Triggerharpy" is a [[redeco]] and slight retool of the above ''Titans Return'' mold with minor changes in paint details and a new port on his chest where his [[Decepticon]] insignia used to be that serves as a method to store the newly molded [[Blowpipe (G1)#Legends|Blowpipe]] Targetmaster. He does not include the original guns in the original Hasbro release. As a bonus, the chest port makes him capable of wearing a ''[[Power of the Primes (toyline)|Power of the Primes]]'' deluxe figure's prime armor.
{{TRBlowpipeMold}}
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Transformers Trading Card Game===
[[File:W3RaiderTriggerhappy.jpg|thumb]]
*'''Raider Triggerhappy, Air Force-Gunner''' (2019)
**'''Wave 3: War for Cybertron: Siege I'''
**''Rarity: '''''UT'''
**''Card Number: '''''T39/T48'''
**''Stars: ''8

:Raider Triggerhappy, Air Force-Gunner is one of forty-eight double-sided character cards available in Wave 3 of the [[Transformers Trading Card Game]], War for Cybertron: Siege I.

:The card's art reuses line-art from the ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Transformers Legends]]'' mobile game. The artwork is recolored seemingly to match the aesthetic of the ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege|Siege]]'' toyline's packaging art.
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:Triggerhappy heads.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|The guy on the left went on to
{{w|Shredder (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)|bigger and better}} things]]
[[File:Hasbro1988CatTriggerhappy.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Blasthappy? Triggerblast?]]
*For some reason Triggerhappy's [[character model]] in the comics and cartoon differs from that of his toy and [[package art]]. He has a [[Mouthplate|faceplate]] in his fictional appearances, and normal eyes, giving him a ninja-like face. His toy features a normal face with comic-[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]-style "shades".
*The 1987 and 1988 North American [[catalog]]s featuring Triggerhappy depict him using a non-final toy—one whose head is blatantly a hand-painted copy of [[Blaster (G1)/toys|Blaster]]'s!

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Triggerharpy''' (トリガーハーピー ''Torigāhāpī''),<ref>Triggerhappy's name in classic Japanese Generation 1 media inexplicably is not a plain adaptation of "happy" but rather "harpy". Given that Misfire and Slugslinger's names experienced no changes in localisation, "Triggerharpy" may be the result of a typo or misreading being carried forward.</ref> '''Triggerhappy''' (トリガーハッピー ''Torigāhappī'')
*''French:'' '''Déclic''' (Canada)
*''Italian:'' '''Efestus'''
*''Mandarin:'' '''Bānjī''' (China, 扳机, "Trigger")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Lődöző''' ("who shoots a lot in a short time", different form of "lövöldöző")

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Gunners]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Decepticons]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Decepticons]]
[[Category:Legends Decepticons]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Decepticons]]
[[Category:Targetmasters]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Decepticons]]
[[Category:Titans Return Decepticons]]
[[Category:United Decepticons]]

Triggerhappy (G1)

2022-03-11T16:37:39Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Marvel The Transformers comics */

{{factions|decepticon|exarchon}}
{{disambig3|Triggerhappy}}
{{picsneeded|fictional appearances}}
:''Triggerhappy is a [[Decepticon]] [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:G1Triggerhappy boxart.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|We cool, G? Eh? Eh? Alriiiight.]]
'''Triggerhappy''' is a nutball. You get them in the Decepticons from time to time. He's generally found [[Humanization|drooling]] and/or giggling wildly. He's been that way ever since an incident at [[Decepticon boot camp]], in which he was firing while surfing on his [[hoverboard]], but fell off and hit his head. He remained firing all the while and ended up disintegrating half a dozen other Decepticons. The camp commander was impressed and graduated Triggerhappy on the spot. Nobody is sure if it's an act or if he suffered [[processor]] damage in the fall. What is known is that he pays very little attention to where he's shooting but LOVES the sound his gun makes when fired. Good idea arming him there, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]].

Triggerhappy is [[Binary bonding|binary-bonded]] with [[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]], the conniving, envious brother-in-law of [[Nebulan]] leader [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]].

{{bigquote|We probably shouldn't have shot him. I mean me. I shouldn't have shot him. Maybe. Right? Hard to say.|Triggerhappy reflects on casually shooting his ride, ''[[Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors]]}}

==Fiction==
===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Charlie Adler]] (English), [[Ken Narita]] (Japanese)|[[Georges Atlas]] & [[Francis Lax]] (European French)}}
[[File:TheRebirth1 TriggerhappySlugslinger.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|How is he supposed to drool when he doesn't have a mouth?]]
Triggerhappy was one of several Decepticon jets serving under [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] when they attacked [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] as part of a diversion while the Decepticon Clones stole the Key to the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]]. After Scourge successfully activated the chamber on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] (and inadvertently sent a shuttle full of Autobots and the key halfway across the galaxy), Triggerhappy, [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]], and [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] were among the Decepticon unit sent to retrieve the key. Following the Autobots to [[Nebulos]], Triggerhappy attacked the Autobums, welcoming them to the scrapyard that they would become should he succeed in destroying them. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 1}}

Though the Decepticons managed to capture several Autobots, they were soon overwhelmed by new [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster technology]] the Autobots developed with the Nebulan rebels. After making a deal with the Hive, the Decepticons underwent [[binary bonding]] as well, and Triggerhappy was given a new partner who blows hard and fast. Armed with this new skill, Triggerhappy and his [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] companions successfully helped reacquire the Chamber's key. While waiting for Zarak to complete modifications to [[Scorponok (G1)|his city]], Triggerhappy declared a possible gasket-blowing event was imminent should he be made to wait any longer. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}}

Triggerhappy and the other Targetmasters returned to Cybertron just in the nick of time to save Galvatron from the remainder of the Autobot forces. Galvatron was less than impressed by their new Hive partners, however, and addressed Triggerhappy directly when he berated them for letting organics inhabit their bodies, despite the fact Triggerhappy wasn't a Headmaster. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}
{{-}}

===Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Michihiro Ikemizu]] (Japanese)}}
[[File:HM 30 Blowpipe bonded with Triggerhappy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"So anyway, I started blasting."]]
Triggerhappy and his partners, Misfire and Slugslinger, were frequent opponents of the Autobot trio under [[Pointblank]]'s command. When all of them were engaged in combat over several space-faring denizens of planet [[Master (planet)|Master]], a massive explosion caught everyone off-guard. Triggerhappy and his partners and foes alike were transformed into Targetmasters, somehow fused together in pairs with each of the smaller Master Transformers by the explosion. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 2)}} {{storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}} {{storylink|The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide}} {{storylink|Operation: Destroy the Decepticons}} {{storylink|Duel on the Asteroid}} {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}}}

====''Legends'' comic====
As one of the Decepticons stationed on Earth in the 1980s, Triggerhappy participated in the battle for the [[Transform Super Cog]] where his crazed firing in random directions kept his allies staying far, far away. He fled into space following Slugslinger's failed attempt at usurping [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] as [[Decepticon leader]]. {{storylink|Slugslinger's Ambition}}

In [[2021]], Triggerhappy and the Decepticon Targetmasters fought for Scorponok when he sought to create [[plasma energy]] by detonating a [[black hole]], hoping the ensuing energy wave would let them bond with the Autobots' Targetmaster partners as well. Instead, the explosion shrunk their bodies and caused their partners to vanish. {{storylink|Targetmaster Chapter Prologue}} Like other victims, the Targetmasters converted their heads into small [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] bodies and traveled to the [[Legends World]], where they kidnapped [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] and forced him to use his [[10.2 ultra-drill|ultra-drill]] to teleport their Targetmaster partners to them. The partners were overloaded with plasma energy, however, forcing Trion to scatter them across the Legends World. {{storylink|Mutant Targetmaster Birth Chapter}}

Triggerhappy began running a shooting gallery to earn money for a [[transtector]], though his love for guns compelled him to help his customers shoot the targets, leaving him giving away the prizes. He was eventually approached by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] and asked for his help in capturing the supercharged Blowpipe, who was rampaging through [[Akihabara|Neo Akihabara City]]. Granted a transtector by the local police force, Triggerhappy subdued and regained Blowpipe, then agreed to work for the police force since the position allowed him to fire guns a lot. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 49|Bonus Edition Vol. 49}} He was charged with interrogating Misfire following the latter's arrest, but was disappointed in his comrade's aim and started teaching him how to shoot guns instead. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 52|Bonus Edition Vol. 52}} Triggerhappy later used Blowpipe's mutant ability to scale up [[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]]'s armor suit so it would fit [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 53|Bonus Edition Vol. 53}}

Triggerhappy was touched by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] and [[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]]'s reunion at the police station, which distracted him from Blowpipe being stolen by the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]]. {{storylink|TF Legends Late Xmas Present Chapter|Late Xmas Present Chapter}} When Slugslinger got his hands on [[Caliburst (G1)|Caliburst]], he swiftly betrayed Triggerhappy and Misfire, knocking them out with [[anti-electron]]s and stealing their Targetmaster partners. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 55|Bonus Edition Vol. 55}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Decepticon targetmasters brothers in armor.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|"Anyway, [[Vorath|you]] [[Zarak (G1)|guys]] think I'm a hero. And I'm prepared to accept that responsibility."]]
Triggerhappy participated in a raid on an Autobot city on Cybertron, ending with its incineration. Several prisoners of war were captured by his squad, and Triggerhappy openly mocked the captives as they were marched towards their doom in the [[smelting pool]]. The procession was interrupted by an Autobot ambush led by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]]; the Decepticons were overwhelmed, and their commander, [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]], ordered a retreat so that they might live to fight another day. {{storylink|Ring of Hate!}}

The Decepticons eventually managed to storm the Autobots' base, only to find it already evacuated. Though confused at first, they learned that their foes had fled to the planet [[Nebulos]]. Triggerhappy and the others made their way to the alien world, where they met with one of the locals, [[Zarak (G1)|Lord Zarak]], who enlisted them in ridding his planet of the Autobots. {{storylink|Broken Glass!}} ''During this meeting, Triggerhappy had to exert what little self-control he had to prevent himself from reducing the fleshy Nebulans to smoldering piles of ash with his [[photon-pulse gun]]s.'' {{storylink|Doomsday for Nebulos}} Learning that several of the Autobots were holed up in [[Koraja]], Triggerhappy participated in a full-scale assault on the city. In retaliation, Fortress Maximus and four other Autobots emerged, having underwent a [[binary bonding]] process. Thanks to the newfound power this upgrade afforded them, the Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] sent the Decepticons into a panicked retreat. {{storylink|Broken Glass!}}

After the Autobots also developed [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] technology, the Decepticons managed to reverse-engineer the process, and had five of their own members binary bond their weapons to Nebulan partners. Triggerhappy was among those selected, with [[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]] becoming his pistol. He was put into action soon afterwards, as their Autobot prisoners managed to break free. Despite Triggerhappy's best efforts to shoot straight, the enemy soldiers escaped. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}} ''After capturing the Autobot Targetmasters, Triggerhappy and the other Decepticons ambushed [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] so that Scorponok could capture one of them to examine the Headmaster process more closely. However, while Scorponok busied himself studying Highbrow, the remaining Autobot Headmasters were able to free their Targetmaster comrades and turn the tables on the Decepticons.'' {{storylink|Worlds Apart!}}

[[File:Targetmasters final conflict.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|"...And then they ran away. I ran after them. BANG! Tried to shoot them in the back."]]
''Thanks to a bug previously planted in the Autobots' headquarters, the Decepticons learned that their enemies had manufactured a fuel convertor that would allow them travel to [[Earth]]. They put together a plan to steal it. Triggerhappy, Slugslinger, and Misfire approached Fortress Maximus under the pretense that they had a message to deliver: Scorponok wanted to challenge him to a death match, and whoever emerged victorious would be declared triumphant in the greater conflict. Maximus accepted, unaware that the duel was merely a distraction. As it raged, Slugslinger snuck into Brainstorm's lab and made off with the fuel convertor. Once this was done, the duel came to a premature end, the Decepticons made their way off-world, and the Autobots were forced to follow.'' {{storylink|The Final Conflict}}

{{note|The events in this UK story differ in significant ways to the [[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]] mini-series.}}

Shortly afterwards the Decepticons left [[Nebulos]] and pursued the Autobots aboard the ''[[Steelhaven (G1)|Steelhaven]]'' to [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}}

''When Highbrow managed to decapitate Scorponok and escaped with his head, Triggerhappy was among several Decepticons who pursued, catching up to him just as he neared the Autobots' spaceship. As they forcefully retrieved their leader's head, the Decepticons witnessed several Autobots materialize from the future, leading to some infighting among the Autobots' ranks. Irritated over being left out of the battle, Scorponok's Decepticons were about to join in, only for the bulk of them to be temporarily shunted off to [[Limbo]] when [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s troops from the year [[2009]] arrived in [[1989]]. Triggerhappy was one of the few left behind. A tenuous alliance was then brokered between the Autobots and Decepticons from both eras in order to combat the more pressing threat of the super-Decepticon [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. However, when [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] accidentally shot Scorponok while he was attacking Galvatron, Triggerhappy and the other Decepticons turned on the Autobot. While Optimus Prime dealt with the mad Galvatron, Triggerhappy and the other Decepticons carried their leader to safety.'' {{storylink|Time Wars}}

Scorponok was repaired, and next took his troops to meet with [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s Decepticons at their Arctic base. While Scorponok and a small entourage were receiving a guided tour of said base, they learned that Ratbat was purposely withholding information about the legendary [[Underbase]] from them. Enraged by the deceit, Scorponok stormed back towards his ship, where the rest of his troops were waiting, only for his path to be barred by Ratbat's cronies. Seeing this take place, Triggerhappy and [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Grr]] decided to lead their shipmates in an assault and come to Scorponok's aid. Decepticon clashed against Decepticon until those on both sides of this civil war came to realize that [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] had engineered the whole debacle to get to the Underbase himself. {{storylink|Cold War!}}

Starscream was in time defeated, and Triggerhappy continued to serve under Scorponok as he acquired leadership over all Earth-bound Decepticons. Following a distress signal issued by the [[Air Strike Patrol]], Scorponok led his minions into battle against Optimus Prime's Autobots within the [[MacDill Air Force Base]]. Strangely, Optimus called for all his troops to return to the Ark while he remained behind. Scorponok was suspicious, but wouldn't allow himself to pass up the opportunity to vanquish his enemy. Triggerhappy and the others rushed Optimus Prime as he tried to stop Scorponok from firing on the shuttlecraft, but Prime, who was quickly becoming frustrated with the day's events, was able to overpower all of them. As Optimus pleaded to Scorponok to stop fighting and determine the mastermind who was pulling their strings, they were interrupted by a huge hint: Starscream had arrived, reborn as a [[Pretender]]. {{storylink|All the Familiar Faces!}} Triggerhappy was among the first to fall to the new arrival's might, gunned down as Starscream proclaimed he was carrying out [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s will. {{storylink|Skin Deep}}

[[File:US69EyeofStorm.JPG|upright=1.66|thumb|left|"And you, stand up straight! You're making us all look uncivilized!"]]
Later during the war on Earth, Triggerhappy got sick of Scorponok's command, especially after he let that maniac Starscream back into the Decepticons. Triggerhappy couldn't stand working with Starscream, so he and [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] left Scorponok's Decepticons, only to ironically be strong-armed by Starscream himself into joining his and [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]'s auxiliary army, which also included [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]], [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]], and [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]]. {{storylink|Eye of the Storm}} Though Mindwipe was more vocal on the subject, Triggerhappy was clearly displeased with being forced into this new group. Shockwave made it clear that, should the pair not fight at their side, they would be terminated. As such, Triggerhappy joined in on an attack on Scorponok's [[New Jersey base]]. {{storylink|Surrender!}} The base was easily collapsed on itself, though this did little to assuage Triggerhappy and Mindwipe's fears that Scorponok may yet rise up to destroy them all. Pitying their cowardice, Starscream urged the others to help him dig out whatever survivors they may find, and offer them a choice: join them or be destroyed. Unfortunately, the first to be excavated was indeed Scorponok. Shockwave ordered Triggerhappy and the others to rush Scorponok, but the latter's ultra-dense armor proved invulnerable to their laser fire. Triggerhappy was easily tackled down by his opponent, who then moved on to duelling Shockwave in the nearby river. {{storylink|...All This and Civil War 2}}

The coup was interrupted when [[Primus]] summoned all the Transformers of Earth to Cybertron to do battle with [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Out of Time!}} Triggerhappy and the other teleported Transformers witnessed Primus, speaking through the body of [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]], tell the history of their supernatural war with the Dark God. {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{NoteRG1}}
When Scorponok used the [[Gene Key]] to virtually conquer Cybertron, Triggerhappy was seen hunting for the dissident [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Four}}

====''Transformers '84''====
As part of the forces under [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]]'s command, Triggerhappy took part in a bombing run against [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]]'s troops after the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' had been lost. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 3|Secrets & Lies #3}}

===''The Headmasters'' comic===
[[File:HM issue 7 Decepticon Targetmasters.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Triggerhappy and the Decepticon Targetmasters attempted to disrupt the Autobots' efforts to put out a blazing fire on Earth. The Autobots' split focus left them vulnerable, until the Battleship Maximus extinguished the entire fire in one sweep. [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]] and [[Artfire]] then turned their full attention on Triggerhappy and his allies, driving them from the scene. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 7|The Headmasters #7}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
While [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] used his [[Nullification Cannon]] on Cybertron's [[energon]] suppliy, Triggerhappy was part of a team lead by [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] that carried out a diversionary attack. Triggerhappy was punched out by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
Triggerhappy was among the Decepticons who traveled to [[Nebulos]] in search of energy. When they discovered a wealth of cosmic energy at the pole, Triggerhappy reminded [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] that if used it to kill all the Autobots, they wouldn't have anyone to fight. When their energy collection attempt required them to move [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] to the pole, the Autobots melted the ice under their base, causing it to sink. {{storylink|Decepticons at the Pole}}

===Toy pack-in material===
When Optimus became stranded on Cybertron's hemisphere of darkness with his memory damaged, Triggerhappy joined a small strike force of Decepticons called S.T.O.P. ([[Seek and Terminate Optimus Prime]]) to either destroy or recruit the amnesic Autobot leader. {{Storylink|Optimus Prime Is Back}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[Stormbringer issue 4|''Stormbringer'' #4]]}}
[[File:Blot and Triggerhappy The End of the Beginning of the World.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|left]]
Triggerhappy was part of the crew of the ''[[Thanatos]]'', commanded by [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] and the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]]. He begrudgingly gave aid to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Wreckers]] while battling [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] in order to preserve their home planet of Cybertron and show the Autobots how war was really done. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}}

Much later, Triggerhappy appeared among the Decepticons imprisoned on Cybertron after the war with [[D-Void]]. {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|The Autonomy Lesson}} Triggerhappy was part of an angry Decepticon crowd who demanded answers from the Autobots for [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s death. {{storylink|Stick Together}} He joined up with [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]], who was trying to lead the Decepticons back into war, only to be killed by [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] while guarding their base. {{storylink|The End of the Beginning of the World}}
{{--}}

===''United''===
[[File:FierceFightingOnPlanetNebulos-StraxusDecepticons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
A [[nano-virus]] that afflicted most Autobots save the [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] and the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] required [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]] to lead a team to [[Nebulos]] for an anti-virus. However, the nano-virus was merely a ploy by the Decepticons to draw out the Targetmasters and Headmasters to abduct their [[Nebulan]] partners, so when the Autobots arrived on Nebulos, Triggerhappy and several other Decepticons were waiting for them! Triggerhappy and the others quickly fell into disarray, unfortunately, when their leader Straxus was singled out and defeated. {{storylink|The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos}}

===''TransTech''===
During the conflict between the [[Screaming Eagles]] and [[S.K.A.R.]] in [[Primax 806.30 Gamma]], Triggerhappy's Targetmaster partner was the human arms-dealer [[Rampage (S.K.A.R.)|Rampage]], using technology derived from the old [[I.R.O.N.|I.R.O.N. Army]]. The Decepticons and their human allies were ultimately defeated by [[Sgt. Savage]]'s Screaming Eagles and the Autobots. {{storylink|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 2016/05/01}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[The Change In Your Nature Part Three|''Transformers'' #15]] (mentioned); [[Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|#21]] (full)}}

[[File:Tremors-Triggerhappy.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
Once exiled from Cybertron, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] found Triggerhappy and brought him home to join [[The Rise]], a terrorist cell devoted to destabilizing society as part of the [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]] cause. Violent and unstable, Shockwave identified him as one of the true "maniacs" under his command. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Three}}

[[Rage (G1)|Rage]] was forced into the task of transporting Triggerhappy along with [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], [[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]], [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] inside [[Roughstuff]]'s trailer to another remote base before a groundquake hit sent them falling into a chasm. As Rage tried to get the situation under control, Triggerhappy made a nuisance of himself by shooting Roughstuff and denying them their only way back out. When Frenzy spotted a group of geologists spying on them, Triggerhappy was the first to confront them and shot [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] when the geologist didn't say his name, as the geologist had never ''met'' Triggerhappy before. He kept himself busy by dodging [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] until [[Firestar (G1)|Novastar]]'s new counterterrorism team arrived to stop them, then promptly flew away before [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] could catch up. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors}}

====Alternate future====

In the dark future ruled by [[Exarchon]], Triggerhappy fought for the Threefold Spark. He remained obsessed with getting people to say his name, prompting the rebel [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] to finally shut him up by calling him -- and rendering him -- "Headless". {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Test Flight II}}
{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
*When the Transformers' war resumed its course on [[Nebulos|Nebulon]], Triggerhappy could be seen fighting alongside his fellow Decepticon [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] against their Autobot counterparts, while [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] grappled in the distance. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Headmaster comic book|Headmaster comic book commercial}}
*Triggerhappy and [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] battled [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] and [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] in the middle of a mechanical city. Triggerhappy strafed Sureshot from above until the Autobot transformed into robot mode and began firing back. Triggerhappy mirrored Sureshot's actions, leading to Sureshot tackling Triggerhappy and both combatants losing grip on their guns. Triggerhappy and Sureshot continued to grapple while their guns transformed and did the same. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Targetmasters|Targetmasters commercial}}

==Games==
===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
{{Note|Triggerhappy is a non-playable character. He appears among the legion of Decepticon duplicates in the Autobot campaign.}}
{{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
Triggerhappy was caught up in a [[Quintesson]] plot to disrupt the [[Galactic Olympics|Galactic Games]]. {{storylink|The Galactic Games}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
[[File:G1-toy Triggerhappy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Got an AK-47, well, you know it makes me feel all right!]]
*'''Triggerhappy with Blowpipe''' (Targetmaster, [[1987]])
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-88'''
**''Accessories:'' "Blowpipe" Targetmaster gun/[[Compression cannon|Compressed Air Cannon]]
:Triggerhappy transforms into a blue Cybertronic fighter craft with large, dual off-white cannons on either side his body and four wing-mounted thrusters, making him look kinda-sorta-vaguely like an [[X-wing Fighter]] from ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]''. His Targetmaster partner, Blowpipe, can be stored in a socket on the rear of the fighter, just in front of where his head is stored. Somewhat unusually, the entire cockpit nose is mounted on a bar that swings upward so the nose meets with the rear fuselage to form his upper torso. His large fighter cannons swing up to the sides of his arms in [[robot mode]], but the hinges aren't strong enough to deal with their weight, so they have a tendency to flop down.

:Like the other Targetmasters, his Japanese release lacks a [[rubsign]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1987/Decepticon/Triggerhappy/triggerhappy.htm More information on Triggerhappy (with Blowpipe) at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===''Titans Return''===
[[File:TF-Generations-Titans-Return-Deluxe-Triggerhappy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Mr. Triggerhappy, not every situation requires your patented approach of shoot first, shoot later, shoot some more and then when everybody's dead try to ask a question or two."]]
*'''Blowpipe & Triggerhappy''' (Deluxe Class, [[2016]])
**''Accessories:'' "Blowpipe" Titan Master, 2 blaster weapons.
:Part of the third wave of ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'', Triggerhappy transforms into a Cybertronian starfighter. He has 5 mm post holes on the underside of his wings and the inside of his built-in non-firing blasters, accessible in robot mode. The holes on his shoulders can also accept 5mm posts, but are covered by his wings or blasters in both modes. Like most ''Titans Return'' figures, he has a port for a generic pose/flight stand on his backside. Triggerhappy's transformation is surprisingly complex compared to most ''Titans Return'' Deluxe figures, with most of the parts shifting by way of swivels that rotate the entire body in multiple directions.

:He includes two blasters that can combine into a larger weapon that his [[Titan Master]] partner, [[Blowpipe (G1)#Generations|Blowpipe]] can sit in. Unlike most Deluxe and larger figures, however, there does not appear to be a way to mount the combined weapon in vehicle mode, and while Blowpipe can peg in, it does not appear to have a proper seat. Amusingly, it seems to be based on Blowpipe's original Targetmaster form, with sculpted legs at one end and each blaster having similar asymmetrical double barrels. Despite coming with a pair of guns, most official pictures, such as the one on his box, only show his vehicle mode with one attached gun.

:His robot mode face is based on his appearance in fiction rather than his original toy.

:Triggerhappy can hold the ''Siege'' [[Battle Master]] [[Blowpipe (G1)#War for Cybertron: Siege|Blowpipe]] if one is inclined to have two Blowpipes simultaneously.

:Triggerhappy was retooled with a new head into [[Metalhawk (G1)#Generations|Metalhawk]]. His legs were also used for [[Misfire (G1)#Generations|Misfire]] and [[Slugslinger (G1)#Generations|Slugslinger]], who are otherwise completely new figures from the crotch up. The elements that became Misfire were then even further modified into ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' [[Sonic Bomber#Legends|Sonic Bomber]].
{{--}}

===''Legends''===
[[File:LG49-Triggerhappy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Targetmaster Triggerharpy (Targetmaster Triggerhappy)''' (Deluxe Class, [[2017]]-[[October 28|10-28]])
**''ID number'': '''LG49'''
**''Accessories:'' Headmaster, [[Blowpipe (G1)#Legends|Blowpipe]] Targetmaster
:''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' "Targetmaster Triggerharpy" is a [[redeco]] and slight retool of the above ''Titans Return'' mold with minor changes in paint details and a new port on his chest where his [[Decepticon]] insignia used to be that serves as a method to store the newly molded [[Blowpipe (G1)#Legends|Blowpipe]] Targetmaster. He does not include the original guns in the original Hasbro release. As a bonus, the chest port makes him capable of wearing a ''[[Power of the Primes (toyline)|Power of the Primes]]'' deluxe figure's prime armor.
{{TRBlowpipeMold}}
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Transformers Trading Card Game===
[[File:W3RaiderTriggerhappy.jpg|thumb]]
*'''Raider Triggerhappy, Air Force-Gunner''' (2019)
**'''Wave 3: War for Cybertron: Siege I'''
**''Rarity: '''''UT'''
**''Card Number: '''''T39/T48'''
**''Stars: ''8

:Raider Triggerhappy, Air Force-Gunner is one of forty-eight double-sided character cards available in Wave 3 of the [[Transformers Trading Card Game]], War for Cybertron: Siege I.

:The card's art reuses line-art from the ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Transformers Legends]]'' mobile game. The artwork is recolored seemingly to match the aesthetic of the ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege|Siege]]'' toyline's packaging art.
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:Triggerhappy heads.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|The guy on the left went on to
{{w|Shredder (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)|bigger and better}} things]]
[[File:Hasbro1988CatTriggerhappy.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Blasthappy? Triggerblast?]]
*For some reason Triggerhappy's [[character model]] in the comics and cartoon differs from that of his toy and [[package art]]. He has a [[Mouthplate|faceplate]] in his fictional appearances, and normal eyes, giving him a ninja-like face. His toy features a normal face with comic-[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]-style "shades".
*The 1987 and 1988 North American [[catalog]]s featuring Triggerhappy depict him using a non-final toy—one whose head is blatantly a hand-painted copy of [[Blaster (G1)/toys|Blaster]]'s!

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Triggerharpy''' (トリガーハーピー ''Torigāhāpī''),<ref>Triggerhappy's name in classic Japanese Generation 1 media inexplicably is not a plain adaptation of "happy" but rather "harpy". Given that Misfire and Slugslinger's names experienced no changes in localisation, "Triggerharpy" may be the result of a typo or misreading being carried forward.</ref> '''Triggerhappy''' (トリガーハッピー ''Torigāhappī'')
*''French:'' '''Déclic''' (Canada)
*''Italian:'' '''Efestus'''
*''Mandarin:'' '''Bānjī''' (China, 扳机, "Trigger")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Lődöző''' ("who shoots a lot in a short time", different form of "lövöldöző")

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Gunners]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Decepticons]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Decepticons]]
[[Category:Legends Decepticons]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Decepticons]]
[[Category:Targetmasters]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Decepticons]]
[[Category:Titans Return Decepticons]]
[[Category:United Decepticons]]

Triggerhappy (G1)

2022-03-11T16:20:30Z

Spark Mandrill: /* The Headmasters cartoon */

{{factions|decepticon|exarchon}}
{{disambig3|Triggerhappy}}
{{picsneeded|fictional appearances}}
:''Triggerhappy is a [[Decepticon]] [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:G1Triggerhappy boxart.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|We cool, G? Eh? Eh? Alriiiight.]]
'''Triggerhappy''' is a nutball. You get them in the Decepticons from time to time. He's generally found [[Humanization|drooling]] and/or giggling wildly. He's been that way ever since an incident at [[Decepticon boot camp]], in which he was firing while surfing on his [[hoverboard]], but fell off and hit his head. He remained firing all the while and ended up disintegrating half a dozen other Decepticons. The camp commander was impressed and graduated Triggerhappy on the spot. Nobody is sure if it's an act or if he suffered [[processor]] damage in the fall. What is known is that he pays very little attention to where he's shooting but LOVES the sound his gun makes when fired. Good idea arming him there, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]].

Triggerhappy is [[Binary bonding|binary-bonded]] with [[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]], the conniving, envious brother-in-law of [[Nebulan]] leader [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]].

{{bigquote|We probably shouldn't have shot him. I mean me. I shouldn't have shot him. Maybe. Right? Hard to say.|Triggerhappy reflects on casually shooting his ride, ''[[Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors]]}}

==Fiction==
===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Charlie Adler]] (English), [[Ken Narita]] (Japanese)|[[Georges Atlas]] & [[Francis Lax]] (European French)}}
[[File:TheRebirth1 TriggerhappySlugslinger.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|How is he supposed to drool when he doesn't have a mouth?]]
Triggerhappy was one of several Decepticon jets serving under [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] when they attacked [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] as part of a diversion while the Decepticon Clones stole the Key to the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]]. After Scourge successfully activated the chamber on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] (and inadvertently sent a shuttle full of Autobots and the key halfway across the galaxy), Triggerhappy, [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]], and [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] were among the Decepticon unit sent to retrieve the key. Following the Autobots to [[Nebulos]], Triggerhappy attacked the Autobums, welcoming them to the scrapyard that they would become should he succeed in destroying them. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 1}}

Though the Decepticons managed to capture several Autobots, they were soon overwhelmed by new [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster technology]] the Autobots developed with the Nebulan rebels. After making a deal with the Hive, the Decepticons underwent [[binary bonding]] as well, and Triggerhappy was given a new partner who blows hard and fast. Armed with this new skill, Triggerhappy and his [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] companions successfully helped reacquire the Chamber's key. While waiting for Zarak to complete modifications to [[Scorponok (G1)|his city]], Triggerhappy declared a possible gasket-blowing event was imminent should he be made to wait any longer. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}}

Triggerhappy and the other Targetmasters returned to Cybertron just in the nick of time to save Galvatron from the remainder of the Autobot forces. Galvatron was less than impressed by their new Hive partners, however, and addressed Triggerhappy directly when he berated them for letting organics inhabit their bodies, despite the fact Triggerhappy wasn't a Headmaster. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}
{{-}}

===Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Michihiro Ikemizu]] (Japanese)}}
[[File:HM 30 Blowpipe bonded with Triggerhappy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"So anyway, I started blasting."]]
Triggerhappy and his partners, Misfire and Slugslinger, were frequent opponents of the Autobot trio under [[Pointblank]]'s command. When all of them were engaged in combat over several space-faring denizens of planet [[Master (planet)|Master]], a massive explosion caught everyone off-guard. Triggerhappy and his partners and foes alike were transformed into Targetmasters, somehow fused together in pairs with each of the smaller Master Transformers by the explosion. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 2)}} {{storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}} {{storylink|The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide}} {{storylink|Operation: Destroy the Decepticons}} {{storylink|Duel on the Asteroid}} {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}}}

====''Legends'' comic====
As one of the Decepticons stationed on Earth in the 1980s, Triggerhappy participated in the battle for the [[Transform Super Cog]] where his crazed firing in random directions kept his allies staying far, far away. He fled into space following Slugslinger's failed attempt at usurping [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] as [[Decepticon leader]]. {{storylink|Slugslinger's Ambition}}

In [[2021]], Triggerhappy and the Decepticon Targetmasters fought for Scorponok when he sought to create [[plasma energy]] by detonating a [[black hole]], hoping the ensuing energy wave would let them bond with the Autobots' Targetmaster partners as well. Instead, the explosion shrunk their bodies and caused their partners to vanish. {{storylink|Targetmaster Chapter Prologue}} Like other victims, the Targetmasters converted their heads into small [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] bodies and traveled to the [[Legends World]], where they kidnapped [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] and forced him to use his [[10.2 ultra-drill|ultra-drill]] to teleport their Targetmaster partners to them. The partners were overloaded with plasma energy, however, forcing Trion to scatter them across the Legends World. {{storylink|Mutant Targetmaster Birth Chapter}}

Triggerhappy began running a shooting gallery to earn money for a [[transtector]], though his love for guns compelled him to help his customers shoot the targets, leaving him giving away the prizes. He was eventually approached by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] and asked for his help in capturing the supercharged Blowpipe, who was rampaging through [[Akihabara|Neo Akihabara City]]. Granted a transtector by the local police force, Triggerhappy subdued and regained Blowpipe, then agreed to work for the police force since the position allowed him to fire guns a lot. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 49|Bonus Edition Vol. 49}} He was charged with interrogating Misfire following the latter's arrest, but was disappointed in his comrade's aim and started teaching him how to shoot guns instead. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 52|Bonus Edition Vol. 52}} Triggerhappy later used Blowpipe's mutant ability to scale up [[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]]'s armor suit so it would fit [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 53|Bonus Edition Vol. 53}}

Triggerhappy was touched by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] and [[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]]'s reunion at the police station, which distracted him from Blowpipe being stolen by the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]]. {{storylink|TF Legends Late Xmas Present Chapter|Late Xmas Present Chapter}} When Slugslinger got his hands on [[Caliburst (G1)|Caliburst]], he swiftly betrayed Triggerhappy and Misfire, knocking them out with [[anti-electron]]s and stealing their Targetmaster partners. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 55|Bonus Edition Vol. 55}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Decepticon targetmasters brothers in armor.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
Triggerhappy participated in a raid on an Autobot city on Cybertron, ending with its incineration. Several prisoners of war were captured by his squad, and Triggerhappy openly mocked the captives as they were marched towards their doom in the [[smelting pool]]. The procession was interrupted by an Autobot ambush led by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]]; the Decepticons were overwhelmed, and their commander, [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]], ordered a retreat so that they might live to fight another day. {{storylink|Ring of Hate!}}

The Decepticons eventually managed to storm the Autobots' base, only to find it already evacuated. Though confused at first, they learned that their foes had fled to the planet [[Nebulos]]. Triggerhappy and the others made their way to the alien world, where they met with one of the locals, [[Zarak (G1)|Lord Zarak]], who enlisted them in ridding his planet of the Autobots. {{storylink|Broken Glass!}} ''During this meeting, Triggerhappy had to exert what little self-control he had to prevent himself from reducing the fleshy Nebulans to smoldering piles of ash with his [[photon-pulse gun]]s.'' {{storylink|Doomsday for Nebulos}} Learning that several of the Autobots were holed up in [[Koraja]], Triggerhappy participated in a full-scale assault on the city. In retaliation, Fortress Maximus and four other Autobots emerged, having underwent a [[binary bonding]] process. Thanks to the newfound power this upgrade afforded them, the Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] sent the Decepticons into a panicked retreat. {{storylink|Broken Glass!}}

After the Autobots also developed [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] technology, the Decepticons managed to reverse-engineer the process, and had five of their own members binary bond their weapons to Nebulan partners. Triggerhappy was among those selected, with [[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]] becoming his pistol. He was put into action soon afterwards, as their Autobot prisoners managed to break free. Despite Triggerhappy's best efforts to shoot straight, the enemy soldiers escaped. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}} ''After capturing the Autobot Targetmasters, Triggerhappy and the other Decepticons ambushed [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] so that Scorponok could capture one of them to examine the Headmaster process more closely. However, while Scorponok busied himself studying Highbrow, the remaining Autobot Headmasters were able to free their Targetmaster comrades and turn the tables on the Decepticons.'' {{storylink|Worlds Apart!}}

[[File:Targetmasters final conflict.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6]]
''Thanks to a bug previously planted in the Autobots' headquarters, the Decepticons learned that their enemies had manufactured a fuel convertor that would allow them travel to [[Earth]]. They put together a plan to steal it. Triggerhappy, Slugslinger, and Misfire approached Fortress Maximus under the pretense that they had a message to deliver: Scorponok wanted to challenge him to a death match, and whoever emerged victorious would be declared triumphant in the greater conflict. Maximus accepted, unaware that the duel was merely a distraction. As it raged, Slugslinger snuck into Brainstorm's lab and made off with the fuel convertor. Once this was done, the duel came to a premature end, the Decepticons made their way off-world, and the Autobots were forced to follow.'' {{storylink|The Final Conflict}}

{{note|The events in this UK story differ in significant ways to the [[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]] mini-series.}}

Shortly afterwards the Decepticons left [[Nebulos]] and pursued the Autobots aboard the ''[[Steelhaven (G1)|Steelhaven]]'' to [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}}

''When Highbrow managed to decapitate Scorponok and escaped with his head, Triggerhappy was among several Decepticons who pursued, catching up to him just as he neared the Autobots' spaceship. As they forcefully retrieved their leader's head, the Decepticons witnessed several Autobots materialize from the future, leading to some infighting among the Autobots' ranks. Irritated over being left out of the battle, Scorponok's Decepticons were about to join in, only for the bulk of them to be temporarily shunted off to [[Limbo]] when [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s troops from the year [[2009]] arrived in [[1989]]. Triggerhappy was one of the few left behind. A tenuous alliance was then brokered between the Autobots and Decepticons from both eras in order to combat the more pressing threat of the super-Decepticon [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. However, when [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] accidentally shot Scorponok while he was attacking Galvatron, Triggerhappy and the other Decepticons turned on the Autobot. While Optimus Prime dealt with the mad Galvatron, Triggerhappy and the other Decepticons carried their leader to safety.'' {{storylink|Time Wars}}

Scorponok was repaired, and next took his troops to meet with [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s Decepticons at their Arctic base. While Scorponok and a small entourage were receiving a guided tour of said base, they learned that Ratbat was purposely withholding information about the legendary [[Underbase]] from them. Enraged by the deceit, Scorponok stormed back towards his ship, where the rest of his troops were waiting, only for his path to be barred by Ratbat's cronies. Seeing this take place, Triggerhappy and [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Grr]] decided to lead their shipmates in an assault and come to Scorponok's aid. Decepticon clashed against Decepticon until those on both sides of this civil war came to realize that [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] had engineered the whole debacle to get to the Underbase himself. {{storylink|Cold War!}}

Starscream was in time defeated, and Triggerhappy continued to serve under Scorponok as he acquired leadership over all Earth-bound Decepticons. Following a distress signal issued by the [[Air Strike Patrol]], Scorponok led his minions into battle against Optimus Prime's Autobots within the [[MacDill Air Force Base]]. Strangely, Optimus called for all his troops to return to the Ark while he remained behind. Scorponok was suspicious, but wouldn't allow himself to pass up the opportunity to vanquish his enemy. Triggerhappy and the others rushed Optimus Prime as he tried to stop Scorponok from firing on the shuttlecraft, but Prime, who was quickly becoming frustrated with the day's events, was able to overpower all of them. As Optimus pleaded to Scorponok to stop fighting and determine the mastermind who was pulling their strings, they were interrupted by a huge hint: Starscream had arrived, reborn as a [[Pretender]]. {{storylink|All the Familiar Faces!}} Triggerhappy was among the first to fall to the new arrival's might, gunned down as Starscream proclaimed he was carrying out [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s will. {{storylink|Skin Deep}}

[[File:US69EyeofStorm.JPG|upright=1.66|thumb|left|"And you, stand up straight! You're making us all look uncivilized!"]]
Later during the war on Earth, Triggerhappy got sick of Scorponok's command, especially after he let that maniac Starscream back into the Decepticons. Triggerhappy couldn't stand working with Starscream, so he and [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] left Scorponok's Decepticons, only to ironically be strong-armed by Starscream himself into joining his and [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]'s auxiliary army, which also included [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]], [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]], and [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]]. {{storylink|Eye of the Storm}} Though Mindwipe was more vocal on the subject, Triggerhappy was clearly displeased with being forced into this new group. Shockwave made it clear that, should the pair not fight at their side, they would be terminated. As such, Triggerhappy joined in on an attack on Scorponok's [[New Jersey base]]. {{storylink|Surrender!}} The base was easily collapsed on itself, though this did little to assuage Triggerhappy and Mindwipe's fears that Scorponok may yet rise up to destroy them all. Pitying their cowardice, Starscream urged the others to help him dig out whatever survivors they may find, and offer them a choice: join them or be destroyed. Unfortunately, the first to be excavated was indeed Scorponok. Shockwave ordered Triggerhappy and the others to rush Scorponok, but the latter's ultra-dense armor proved invulnerable to their laser fire. Triggerhappy was easily tackled down by his opponent, who then moved on to duelling Shockwave in the nearby river. {{storylink|...All This and Civil War 2}}

The coup was interrupted when [[Primus]] summoned all the Transformers of Earth to Cybertron to do battle with [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Out of Time!}} Triggerhappy and the other teleported Transformers witnessed Primus, speaking through the body of [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]], tell the history of their supernatural war with the Dark God. {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{NoteRG1}}
When Scorponok used the [[Gene Key]] to virtually conquer Cybertron, Triggerhappy was seen hunting for the dissident [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Four}}

====''Transformers '84''====
As part of the forces under [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]]'s command, Triggerhappy took part in a bombing run against [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]]'s troops after the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' had been lost. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 3|Secrets & Lies #3}}

===''The Headmasters'' comic===
[[File:HM issue 7 Decepticon Targetmasters.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Triggerhappy and the Decepticon Targetmasters attempted to disrupt the Autobots' efforts to put out a blazing fire on Earth. The Autobots' split focus left them vulnerable, until the Battleship Maximus extinguished the entire fire in one sweep. [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]] and [[Artfire]] then turned their full attention on Triggerhappy and his allies, driving them from the scene. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 7|The Headmasters #7}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
While [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] used his [[Nullification Cannon]] on Cybertron's [[energon]] suppliy, Triggerhappy was part of a team lead by [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] that carried out a diversionary attack. Triggerhappy was punched out by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
Triggerhappy was among the Decepticons who traveled to [[Nebulos]] in search of energy. When they discovered a wealth of cosmic energy at the pole, Triggerhappy reminded [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] that if used it to kill all the Autobots, they wouldn't have anyone to fight. When their energy collection attempt required them to move [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] to the pole, the Autobots melted the ice under their base, causing it to sink. {{storylink|Decepticons at the Pole}}

===Toy pack-in material===
When Optimus became stranded on Cybertron's hemisphere of darkness with his memory damaged, Triggerhappy joined a small strike force of Decepticons called S.T.O.P. ([[Seek and Terminate Optimus Prime]]) to either destroy or recruit the amnesic Autobot leader. {{Storylink|Optimus Prime Is Back}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[Stormbringer issue 4|''Stormbringer'' #4]]}}
[[File:Blot and Triggerhappy The End of the Beginning of the World.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|left]]
Triggerhappy was part of the crew of the ''[[Thanatos]]'', commanded by [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] and the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]]. He begrudgingly gave aid to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Wreckers]] while battling [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] in order to preserve their home planet of Cybertron and show the Autobots how war was really done. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}}

Much later, Triggerhappy appeared among the Decepticons imprisoned on Cybertron after the war with [[D-Void]]. {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|The Autonomy Lesson}} Triggerhappy was part of an angry Decepticon crowd who demanded answers from the Autobots for [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s death. {{storylink|Stick Together}} He joined up with [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]], who was trying to lead the Decepticons back into war, only to be killed by [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] while guarding their base. {{storylink|The End of the Beginning of the World}}
{{--}}

===''United''===
[[File:FierceFightingOnPlanetNebulos-StraxusDecepticons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
A [[nano-virus]] that afflicted most Autobots save the [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] and the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] required [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]] to lead a team to [[Nebulos]] for an anti-virus. However, the nano-virus was merely a ploy by the Decepticons to draw out the Targetmasters and Headmasters to abduct their [[Nebulan]] partners, so when the Autobots arrived on Nebulos, Triggerhappy and several other Decepticons were waiting for them! Triggerhappy and the others quickly fell into disarray, unfortunately, when their leader Straxus was singled out and defeated. {{storylink|The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos}}

===''TransTech''===
During the conflict between the [[Screaming Eagles]] and [[S.K.A.R.]] in [[Primax 806.30 Gamma]], Triggerhappy's Targetmaster partner was the human arms-dealer [[Rampage (S.K.A.R.)|Rampage]], using technology derived from the old [[I.R.O.N.|I.R.O.N. Army]]. The Decepticons and their human allies were ultimately defeated by [[Sgt. Savage]]'s Screaming Eagles and the Autobots. {{storylink|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 2016/05/01}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[The Change In Your Nature Part Three|''Transformers'' #15]] (mentioned); [[Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|#21]] (full)}}

[[File:Tremors-Triggerhappy.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
Once exiled from Cybertron, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] found Triggerhappy and brought him home to join [[The Rise]], a terrorist cell devoted to destabilizing society as part of the [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]] cause. Violent and unstable, Shockwave identified him as one of the true "maniacs" under his command. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Three}}

[[Rage (G1)|Rage]] was forced into the task of transporting Triggerhappy along with [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], [[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]], [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] inside [[Roughstuff]]'s trailer to another remote base before a groundquake hit sent them falling into a chasm. As Rage tried to get the situation under control, Triggerhappy made a nuisance of himself by shooting Roughstuff and denying them their only way back out. When Frenzy spotted a group of geologists spying on them, Triggerhappy was the first to confront them and shot [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] when the geologist didn't say his name, as the geologist had never ''met'' Triggerhappy before. He kept himself busy by dodging [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] until [[Firestar (G1)|Novastar]]'s new counterterrorism team arrived to stop them, then promptly flew away before [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] could catch up. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors}}

====Alternate future====

In the dark future ruled by [[Exarchon]], Triggerhappy fought for the Threefold Spark. He remained obsessed with getting people to say his name, prompting the rebel [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] to finally shut him up by calling him -- and rendering him -- "Headless". {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Test Flight II}}
{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
*When the Transformers' war resumed its course on [[Nebulos|Nebulon]], Triggerhappy could be seen fighting alongside his fellow Decepticon [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] against their Autobot counterparts, while [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] grappled in the distance. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Headmaster comic book|Headmaster comic book commercial}}
*Triggerhappy and [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] battled [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] and [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] in the middle of a mechanical city. Triggerhappy strafed Sureshot from above until the Autobot transformed into robot mode and began firing back. Triggerhappy mirrored Sureshot's actions, leading to Sureshot tackling Triggerhappy and both combatants losing grip on their guns. Triggerhappy and Sureshot continued to grapple while their guns transformed and did the same. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Targetmasters|Targetmasters commercial}}

==Games==
===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
{{Note|Triggerhappy is a non-playable character. He appears among the legion of Decepticon duplicates in the Autobot campaign.}}
{{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
Triggerhappy was caught up in a [[Quintesson]] plot to disrupt the [[Galactic Olympics|Galactic Games]]. {{storylink|The Galactic Games}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
[[File:G1-toy Triggerhappy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Got an AK-47, well, you know it makes me feel all right!]]
*'''Triggerhappy with Blowpipe''' (Targetmaster, [[1987]])
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-88'''
**''Accessories:'' "Blowpipe" Targetmaster gun/[[Compression cannon|Compressed Air Cannon]]
:Triggerhappy transforms into a blue Cybertronic fighter craft with large, dual off-white cannons on either side his body and four wing-mounted thrusters, making him look kinda-sorta-vaguely like an [[X-wing Fighter]] from ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]''. His Targetmaster partner, Blowpipe, can be stored in a socket on the rear of the fighter, just in front of where his head is stored. Somewhat unusually, the entire cockpit nose is mounted on a bar that swings upward so the nose meets with the rear fuselage to form his upper torso. His large fighter cannons swing up to the sides of his arms in [[robot mode]], but the hinges aren't strong enough to deal with their weight, so they have a tendency to flop down.

:Like the other Targetmasters, his Japanese release lacks a [[rubsign]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1987/Decepticon/Triggerhappy/triggerhappy.htm More information on Triggerhappy (with Blowpipe) at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===''Titans Return''===
[[File:TF-Generations-Titans-Return-Deluxe-Triggerhappy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Mr. Triggerhappy, not every situation requires your patented approach of shoot first, shoot later, shoot some more and then when everybody's dead try to ask a question or two."]]
*'''Blowpipe & Triggerhappy''' (Deluxe Class, [[2016]])
**''Accessories:'' "Blowpipe" Titan Master, 2 blaster weapons.
:Part of the third wave of ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'', Triggerhappy transforms into a Cybertronian starfighter. He has 5 mm post holes on the underside of his wings and the inside of his built-in non-firing blasters, accessible in robot mode. The holes on his shoulders can also accept 5mm posts, but are covered by his wings or blasters in both modes. Like most ''Titans Return'' figures, he has a port for a generic pose/flight stand on his backside. Triggerhappy's transformation is surprisingly complex compared to most ''Titans Return'' Deluxe figures, with most of the parts shifting by way of swivels that rotate the entire body in multiple directions.

:He includes two blasters that can combine into a larger weapon that his [[Titan Master]] partner, [[Blowpipe (G1)#Generations|Blowpipe]] can sit in. Unlike most Deluxe and larger figures, however, there does not appear to be a way to mount the combined weapon in vehicle mode, and while Blowpipe can peg in, it does not appear to have a proper seat. Amusingly, it seems to be based on Blowpipe's original Targetmaster form, with sculpted legs at one end and each blaster having similar asymmetrical double barrels. Despite coming with a pair of guns, most official pictures, such as the one on his box, only show his vehicle mode with one attached gun.

:His robot mode face is based on his appearance in fiction rather than his original toy.

:Triggerhappy can hold the ''Siege'' [[Battle Master]] [[Blowpipe (G1)#War for Cybertron: Siege|Blowpipe]] if one is inclined to have two Blowpipes simultaneously.

:Triggerhappy was retooled with a new head into [[Metalhawk (G1)#Generations|Metalhawk]]. His legs were also used for [[Misfire (G1)#Generations|Misfire]] and [[Slugslinger (G1)#Generations|Slugslinger]], who are otherwise completely new figures from the crotch up. The elements that became Misfire were then even further modified into ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' [[Sonic Bomber#Legends|Sonic Bomber]].
{{--}}

===''Legends''===
[[File:LG49-Triggerhappy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Targetmaster Triggerharpy (Targetmaster Triggerhappy)''' (Deluxe Class, [[2017]]-[[October 28|10-28]])
**''ID number'': '''LG49'''
**''Accessories:'' Headmaster, [[Blowpipe (G1)#Legends|Blowpipe]] Targetmaster
:''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' "Targetmaster Triggerharpy" is a [[redeco]] and slight retool of the above ''Titans Return'' mold with minor changes in paint details and a new port on his chest where his [[Decepticon]] insignia used to be that serves as a method to store the newly molded [[Blowpipe (G1)#Legends|Blowpipe]] Targetmaster. He does not include the original guns in the original Hasbro release. As a bonus, the chest port makes him capable of wearing a ''[[Power of the Primes (toyline)|Power of the Primes]]'' deluxe figure's prime armor.
{{TRBlowpipeMold}}
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Transformers Trading Card Game===
[[File:W3RaiderTriggerhappy.jpg|thumb]]
*'''Raider Triggerhappy, Air Force-Gunner''' (2019)
**'''Wave 3: War for Cybertron: Siege I'''
**''Rarity: '''''UT'''
**''Card Number: '''''T39/T48'''
**''Stars: ''8

:Raider Triggerhappy, Air Force-Gunner is one of forty-eight double-sided character cards available in Wave 3 of the [[Transformers Trading Card Game]], War for Cybertron: Siege I.

:The card's art reuses line-art from the ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Transformers Legends]]'' mobile game. The artwork is recolored seemingly to match the aesthetic of the ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege|Siege]]'' toyline's packaging art.
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:Triggerhappy heads.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|The guy on the left went on to
{{w|Shredder (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)|bigger and better}} things]]
[[File:Hasbro1988CatTriggerhappy.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Blasthappy? Triggerblast?]]
*For some reason Triggerhappy's [[character model]] in the comics and cartoon differs from that of his toy and [[package art]]. He has a [[Mouthplate|faceplate]] in his fictional appearances, and normal eyes, giving him a ninja-like face. His toy features a normal face with comic-[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]-style "shades".
*The 1987 and 1988 North American [[catalog]]s featuring Triggerhappy depict him using a non-final toy—one whose head is blatantly a hand-painted copy of [[Blaster (G1)/toys|Blaster]]'s!

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Triggerharpy''' (トリガーハーピー ''Torigāhāpī''),<ref>Triggerhappy's name in classic Japanese Generation 1 media inexplicably is not a plain adaptation of "happy" but rather "harpy". Given that Misfire and Slugslinger's names experienced no changes in localisation, "Triggerharpy" may be the result of a typo or misreading being carried forward.</ref> '''Triggerhappy''' (トリガーハッピー ''Torigāhappī'')
*''French:'' '''Déclic''' (Canada)
*''Italian:'' '''Efestus'''
*''Mandarin:'' '''Bānjī''' (China, 扳机, "Trigger")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Lődöző''' ("who shoots a lot in a short time", different form of "lövöldöző")

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Gunners]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Decepticons]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Decepticons]]
[[Category:Legends Decepticons]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Decepticons]]
[[Category:Targetmasters]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Decepticons]]
[[Category:Titans Return Decepticons]]
[[Category:United Decepticons]]

Hive (G1)

2022-03-11T16:00:28Z

Spark Mandrill:

{{disambig3|Hive}}

:''The Hive are a group of [[Nebulan]]s from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[File:HiveRebirth2.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.67|No connection to Umbrella or Milla Jovovich.]]

'''The Hive''' are a council of tyrannical overlords who rule the planet [[Nebulos]] with an iron fist. They later relinquish control of the planet upon meeting the Transformers and ally with the [[Decepticon]]s, turning into [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]].

The members of the Hive are:
{{collist|2|
*[[Zarak (G1)|Lord Zarak]]
*[[Aimless]]
*[[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]]
*[[Caliburst (G1)|Caliburst]]
*[[Fracas]]
*[[Grax]]
*[[Krunk]]
*[[Monzo]]
*[[Nightstick (G1)|Nightstick]]
*[[Spasma]]
*[[Vorath]]}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
The Hive, led by Lord [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]], were the rulers of the planet [[Nebulos]]. Living in an underground city, they possessed highly developed mental powers which enabled them to control machinery with their minds. They used this ability to control a variety of devices on the planet's surface to both maintain the environment of Nebulos, and to enslave its population. However, these abilities came with a price, as their bodies became weakened and useless.

They found a chance to address this shortcoming when groups of [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s arrived on their planet. After observing that some of the Autobots had joined with a group of rebels to become [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], the Hive captured the Decepticons with their machines. They intended to replicate the process and gain workable bodies in the form of [[exosuit]]s made from the robots' heads. However, [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] protested that he would only allow those Decepticons among them who transformed into animals to become Headmasters. The remaining members of the group instead offered the Hive their weapons, and thus were the first [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] created.

Zarak did not participate in either form of [[binary bonding]]. Instead, he used his powers to rebuild the Hive's underground city into [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]: a massive fortress capable of interstellar flight, that could also transform into a robotic scorpion and a titanic humanoid robot. Zarak also built himself a transforming exosuit, allowing him to become the robot's head.

After Scorponok captured [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], and with her the [[Key to the Plasma Energy Chamber]], the Hive departed Nebulos with their new partners, and entered into a somewhat uneasy alliance with the Decepticon leader, [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|The Rebirth}}

====''Legends'' comic====
Zarak went to the [[Legends World]] and disguised Scorponok as a shopping center called "the Hive". {{storylink|LGEX Headmaster Set Chapter}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
The Hive Nations were an alliance on Nebulos during the 21st century. As part of [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s [[infiltration protocol]], Decepticon interference turned the Hive Nations against the [[World Watcher]] alliance. When the arrival of [[human]]s escalated the conflict, the Decepticons revealed themselves and allied with the Hive. The Hive and its nations were destroyed after the [[Scouring of Nebulos]] rendered their planet uninhabitable. {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy–Prologue}}

==Notes==
The physical appearance of the Hive members is not consistent.

The first glimpse we get of them is during an exposition flashback shown while [[Gort]] explains the circumstances on Nebulos to the Autobots. They are seen from behind while seated in chairs, heavily shadowed, with only the backs of their heads visible. They appear to have hair.

The first "live" look at the Hive comes later as they observe the Autobot Headmasters trashing some of their machines. They are again seen from behind while seated in chairs, in even darker shadow than before. Only the figure sitting to Zarak's right clearly appears to have hair, the others have oddly shaped heads that look more like helmets, or the heads of robots.

Later, we see the backs of the seated Hive's heads in silhouette again, this time observing a battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons. Those odd shapes seen previously are not present, as the figures seen have basically smooth and oval shaped heads.

After the Decepticons have been captured and are deposited before the Hive, we get our first real glimpse at the Hive from the front, in full light. It is a very brief glimpse, lacking in detail, but here the Hive appear to be organic beings dressed in Nebulan-style garb. Lord Zarak, despite his supposedly withered body, appears rather heavily muscled.

Shortly thereafter, as the Hive and the Decepticons come to their agreement, save for Zarak and the man seated to his right, the members of the Hive no longer resemble Nebulans. Instead, they appear to be [[Lithone (species)|Lithone]]-style robots. They would continue with this appearance until they had bonded with the Decepticons and gained their exo-suits.

The man who was seated next to Zarak, and did not appear robotic, seems to be Grax. Although when we later see Grax as he reports to Zarak on the completion of modifications to the Decepticon heads and weapons, he is not an exact match for Zarak's right-hand man. His eyebrows and mustache are dark, rather than the previous white, and overall he appears somewhat more slender. However, his clothes do match.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Hive''' (ハイブ ''Haibu'')

[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising factions]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:Hive| ]]
[[Category:Nebulans]]
[[Category:Targetmasters]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]

Combiner Slayer

2021-12-12T01:37:12Z

Spark Mandrill:

[[File:Transformers-SDCC-Combiner-Hunters-Arcee.jpg|upright=1.5|thumb|She stole Pyramid Head's knife AND painted it pink?? Boy, he's going to be pissed.]]

[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] wields the mighty '''Combiner Slayer''', which delivers a circuit-scrambling poison to her gestalt opponents via its toximech sawteeth.

==Toys==
===''Combiner Wars''===
*'''Combiner Hunters''' (gift set, 2015)

:The ''Combiner Hunters'' [[redeco]] (and slight [[retool]]) of [[Arcee (G1)/toys#CHunters|Arcee]] mostly stands out for its new accessory: a gigantic Combiner Slayer sword that is both taller and wider than Arcee herself. The tooling for this weapon was originally used by the ''[[Beast Hunters (toyline)|Beast Hunters]]'' Ultimate Class [[Optimus Prime (WFC)/toys#Beast Hunters|Optimus Prime]] figure. Arcee herself has her hands retooled in order to allow her to wield said sword, but as a consequence can only wield her other accessories in an awkward manner.

:This version of Arcee was only available in a [[giftset|gift set]] together with ''Combiner Hunters'' redecos of ''Generations'' [[Windblade (G1)#CHunters|Windblade]] and [[Chromia (G1)#CHunters|Chromia]], each with their own new giant melee weapons. In the U.S., this set was [[exclusive]] to the [[Hasbro Toy Shop]] website and the Hasbro Toy Shop booth at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2015. In Asia, it was also available at Animation-Comic-Game Hong Kong 2015 and subsequently stocked by Toys"R"Us Hong Kong. Later, it was also available at The Falcon's Hangar booth at the Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention 2015.

:This mold was also used to make the [[Matrix Breaker]] included with ''[[Transformers Unite Warriors|Unite Warriors]]'' [[Grand Scourge]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2015/Autobot/SDCCArcee/arcee.htm More information on the Combiner Slayer (with Arcee) at TFU.info]''

[[Category:Blades]]
[[Category:Combiner Wars weapons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 weapons]]

Air Raid (G1)/toys

2021-12-10T23:24:36Z

Spark Mandrill:

{{Suite}}
[[File:Air Raid G1 boxart.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|"I laugh at your wallet, which I'm reaching into!"]]

'''Air Raid''' laughs at your amount of collection!

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
{{anchor|Generation 1}}[[File:Airraid toy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|I laugh at my [[Brick (term)|lack of articulation!]]]]
* '''Air Raid''' (Aerialbot, [[1986]], [[1991]])
**''Team ID number'': '''A5'''
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-54'''
**''Accessories'': "[[Torque rifle]]"

:''[[The Transformers (toyline)|The Transformers]]'' Air Raid transforms from a black {{w|F-15 Eagle}}. He can combine with his fellow Aerialbots to form Superion, and as a [[Scramble City (toyline)|Scramble City]]-style limb toy, he can also combine with any Scramble City team leader, though his nominal position is as Superion's left leg.

:In Japan, the Aerialbots were also later all made available again as mail-away items during ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Return of Convoy (toyline)|Return of Convoy]]''. The smaller toys cost 1000 yen (120 more than their original retail price!) and 2 [[Robot Point|robot points]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Autobot/AirRaid/airraid.htm More information on Air Raid at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|G1Superion}}{{anchor|Superion}}
*'''Superion''' (Gift set, 1986)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-55'''

:All five Aerialbots were also available in many markets as a gift set. The toys were unchanged from their individual releases.

{{-}}{{anchor|1990Classic}}
*'''Air Raid''' (1990)
**''Accessories'': "Torque rifle"

:Air Raid, along with his teammates, was rereleased without changes in the 1990 European/Australian "[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]" reissue series.

===''Generation 2''===
*'''Air Raid''' (Aerialbot, [[1994]])
**''Team ID number'': '''A2'''
**''Accessories'': "Torque Rifle"

:The first ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' Air Raid was a [[redeco]] of the original. His [[alternate mode|plane mode]] was primarily blue and featured stickers with a pattern reminiscent of the costume of a [[human]] [[Spider-Man|superhero]]. His [[robot mode]] was mostly white and silver.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1994/Autobot/AirRaid/airraid.htm More information on Generation 2 Air Raid at TFU.info]''
{{picsneeded|Generation 2 toy}}
{{-}}{{anchor|Cyberjet}}
[[File:AirRaidCybJet-AeroRaid-toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"I laugh at my q-tip arsenal!"]]
*'''Air Raid''' (Cyberjet, [[1995]])
**''Accessories'': 2 air-to-air heat-seeking missiles

:Air Raid's second ''Generation 2'' appearance was released as part of [[wave]] 2 of the [[Cyberjet]]s assortment, a redeco of [[Skyjack (G2)|Skyjack]] from wave 1 of the same assortment, whose altenate mode is a [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes|F-117A Nighthawk]]. He features a pressure-launch missile launcher that becomes his right arm in robot mode. His non-loaded missiles can be stored in clips on the undersides of his wings.

:This toy was sold in Japan without changes (though it did come with an extra decal sheet) as the separate character [[Aero Raid]]. Apparently, the decision to market the redecos as separate characters was a last-minute change of plans that was only put into use in America and Japan; in Europe, Hasbro supposedly stuck to the original idea for said assortment (here named "Mini-Jets"), with the redecos being sold as [[variant#Running changes|running change color variants]] of their wave 1 mold-mates instead, in unchanged packaging featuring [[package art]] in the original deco and the original character's name. Thus, Skyjack was available in Air Raid's colors but still marketed as Skyjack himself. This practice is only confirmed for the versions available in multilingual French/Dutch/German packaging; thus far, no specimens in English/Spanish/Portuguese packaging or in Italian [[GiG]] packaging have surfaced.

:Furthermore, this sculpt was also used to make the 2004 ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[#Universe (2003)|version of Air Raid]], and ''[[Robotmasters (franchise)#Toys|Robotmasters]]'' [[Delta Seeker]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1995/Autobot/AirRaid/airraid.htm More information on Cyberjet Air Raid at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Universe'' (2003)===
[[File:TFU03-toy AirRaidCyberjet.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|I laugh at my unfortunate naming error!]]
*'''Air Raid & Wind Sheer''' (Deluxe, [[2004]])
**''Accessories'': Missile

:For the 2003 ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' line, the Cyberjet Air Raid was redecoed again and released in a two-pack with the [[Decepticon]] [[Wind Sheer (Universe)#Universe (2003)|Wind Sheer]] at the Deluxe price point. The lack of [[bio]]s for ''Universe'' characters leaves open the possibility that this is not the original Air Raid. Then again, there's nothing that says it ''isn't'', either.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Autobot/AirRaid/airraid.htm More information on Universe 2003 Air Raid at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Universe'' (2008)===
[[File:Universe-AR-AirRaid.JPG|upright=1.66|thumb|I laugh at my resemblance to Soundwave!]]
*'''Aerial Rivals''' (multi-pack, [[2008]])
**''Series'': '''Classic Series'''

:[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|''Universe'']] [[Legends Class (2005)|Legends Class]] Air Raid is a redeco of [[Legends Class (2005)|Legends of Cybertron]] [[Soundwave (Cybertron)#Legends|Soundwave]], transforming into a Cybertronic stealth bomber somewhat akin to a F-117A Nighthawk prototype, the {{w|Have Blue}}, and with a color scheme based upon his ''Generation 2'' Cyberjet incarnation.

:He was only available in a [[Target]]-[[exclusive]] five-pack with Legends Class [[Blades (G1)#2008Legends|Blades]], [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)/toys#Universe (2008)|Skydive]], [[Ramjet (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Ramjet]], and [[Thrust (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Thrust]]. The [[packaging]] back and the [[instructions]] swap Air Raid and Skydive's names, but since the deco used for "Skydive" is very clearly based on ''Generation 2'' Cyberjet Air Raid, this can be assumed to be an error.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/TFUSkydive/skydive.htm More information on Legends Air Raid (mislabeled) at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|2008Superion}}{{anchor|Uni08Superion}}
[[File:Universe2008 AirRaid.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|I'm finally a combiner again? Who's laughing now!]]
*'''Superion''' (Multi-pack, 2008)
**''Series'': '''G1 Series'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 dual-barrel cannons, connector piece, Autobot-type [[energon star]]

:Available only as a component of [[Superion (G1)#Universe (2008)|Superion]], this version of Air Raid is a dark grey and black redeco of ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' [[Windrazor (Energon)#Toys|Windrazor]]/[[Treadshot (Energon)#Toys|Treadshot]], transforming into a small, futuristic fighter resembling an F-22 Raptor. He can also form a leg or arm to any ''Energon''-series "[[Powerlinx]] [[Combiner]]" super robot, though his nominal placement is as the left leg to Superion. He comes with two double-barreled guns and a connector piece, which can form hand-held weapons as well as become a footplate or "hand" for his combined mode, plus a blue "super energon" Autobot-style energon star that fits over his [[spark crystal]].

:Air Raid was released, along with the others in this box set, in 2008 ''Universe'' packaging in Australia and Singapore, but was only released as Target-exclusive set in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Superion (ROTF)|Superion]] packaging in North America. Thus, this toy doubles as live-action movie [[Air Raid (Movie)|Air Raid]].

:He comes with [[Silverbolt (G1)/toys#2008Superion|Silverbolt]], [[Fireflight (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Fireflight]], [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)/toys#Universe (2008)|Skydive]], and [[Airazor (Universe)#Toys|Airazor]] (who shares his mold). This mold was also redecoed into ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' [[Breakaway (Classics)#Toys|Breakaway]] and ''Revenge of the Fallen'' [[Airazor (ROTF)#Toys|Airazor]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/AirRaid/airraid.htm More information on ''Universe (2008)/Revenge of the Fallen'' Air Raid at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Bot Shots''===
[[File:BotShots 5pack Air Raid.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|I laugh at my tinier than tiny size!]]
*'''Autobot Air Force''' (Five-pack, 2013)
**''Series'': '''2'''
**''Number'': '''T015'''
***''Fist strength'': '''128'''
***''Blaster strength'': '''714'''
***''Sword strength'': '''768'''
:Air Raid is a redeco of the [[Powerglide (G1)/toys#Bot Shots|Powerglide]] mold. As such, he turns into a super-deformed jet with a spring-loaded transformation back into robot mode. He was available in a five-pack with [[Silverbolt (G1)/toys#Bot Shots|Silverbolt]], [[Slingshot (G1)/toys#Bot Shots|Quickslinger]], [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)/toys#Bot Shots|Skydive]], and [[Fireflight (G1)/toys#Bot Shots|Autobot Firestrike]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Autobot/BSAirRaid/airraid.htm More information on Air Raid at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Kre-O''===
[[Image:KreO-Toy Air Raid.jpg|right|thumb|300px|I laugh at myself for being an Autobot Conehead!]]
*'''Superion''' w/ [[Silverbolt (G1)/toys#Kre-O|Silverbolt]], Air Raid, [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)/toys#Kre-O|Skydive]], and [[Fireflight (G1)/toys#Kre-O|Firestrike]] Kreons

:Air Raid comes as part of the Superion [[Micro-Changer]] combiner set, and can be rebuilt from his robot mode into a jet. He can also contribute his bricks to form Superion.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Autobot/Kre-OAirRaid/airraid.htm More information on Air Raid at TFU.info]''

{{anchor|Combiner3pack}}
*'''Combiner Robot Mega Pack''' (3-pack, 2016)
**''Set number'': '''???'''
**''Pieces'': '''245'''

:3 years later, the 3 Micro-Changer combiners, Superion, Bruticus and Menasor is reissed and released as a 3-pack. The toys were unchanged from their individual releases.
{{-}}

===''Combiner Wars''===
[[File:Air Raid Generations.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|I laugh at my newly-found spectacular range of articulation!]]
*'''Air Raid''' (Deluxe Class, [[2015]])
**'''1 OF 5: [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]'''
**''Accessories:'' Double barrelled gun, Gun/fist/foot

:Released under the ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' subline of the [[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|''Generations'']] toyline, Air Raid is a major [[retool]] of [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)/toys#Generations|Skydive]] from the same assortment (keeping only the thighs, fronts of the lower legs, middles of the arms, combiner connector, and gun from the original mold), with the alternate mode changed to a black {{w|Grumman F-14 Tomcat|F-14 Tomcat}} fighter jet, whereas the robot mode homages his original form. He is also able to form either an arm or leg for any ''Combiner Wars''-style Voyager Class figure or form one of [[Godbomber#Legends|''Legends'' Godbomber]]'s legs, but is intended to be combined with the other Deluxe Class Aerialbots ([[Alpha Bravo#Generations|Alpha Bravo]], [[Fireflight (G1)/toys#Generations|Firefly]], and the aforementioned Skydive) and the Voyager Class [[Silverbolt (G1)/toys#Generations|Silverbolt]] to form [[Superion (G1)#Generations|Superion]]. He is also officially associated with [[Galvatronus (CW)#Generations|Galvatronus]].

:The hand-painted [[prototype]]s on display at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2014, as well as the prototype used for early [[stock photography|stock photos]] of Superion, featured some minor coloring differences with the final product. Notably, Air Raid's upper arms were originally colored silver. However, the hand-painted prototype used for stock photos of Air Raid himself is closer to the final product.

:Air Raid comes with a copy of "''Combiner Wars'' #7" (actually [[Plan for Everything|''Robots in Disguise'' #15]]). Non-American releases instead come with a collector card featuring art from the "[[Nemesis Rising]]" episode of ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Transformers Legends]]''.

:As a part of the first and second wave promotion in Hasbro's Asian markets, a free sticker sheet for the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s and [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]]s was given out when purchasing any four Deluxe Class toys from those waves. As such, Air Raid was given Generation 1 toy-esque stickers for the owner to apply if they wanted.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-generations-combiner-wars-free-g1-sticker-sheet-with-tru-singapore/32469/ Aerialbot and Stunticon sticker promotion on Seibertron.com]</ref>

:Air Raid was retooled into ''[[Transformers Unite Warriors|Unite Warriors]]'' [[Thrust (Armada)#Unite Warriors|Curse Armada Thrust]].
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2015/Autobot/CWAirRaid/airraid.htm More information on Combiner Wars Air Raid at TFU.info]''
{{CWSkydiveMold}}

{{-}}{{anchor|CWG2}}{{anchor|GenerationsG2}}
[[File:Generations-Combiner-Wars-G2-Air-Raid.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|I laugh at [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]]'s bleeding optics (that I caused)!]]
*'''Superion''' (Collection Pack, 2016)
**''Accessories:'' Rifle, individual Aerialbots guns/fists/feet

:A G2-themed redeco of ''Combiner Wars'' Air Raid was packed along with the other Aerialbots (including [[Powerglide (G1)/toys#CWG2|Powerglide]]), and sold as a [[giftset]].

:The Superion "Collection Pack" was (at least in theory) a "shared exclusive" between various online retailers (such as [[Hasbro Toy Shop]], [[Amazon (website)|Amazon]], [[BigBadToyStore]], and Entertainment Earth) and the online storefronts of major "big box" retailers (such as [[Toys"R"Us]], [[Walmart]], [[Target]], and [[Kmart]]). It was still available at general retail in Hasbro's Asian markets, though.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2016/Autobot/CWAirRaid/airraid.htm More information on Combiner Wars G2 Air Raid at TFU.info]''
{{CWSkydiveMold}}
{{--}}

===''Unite Warriors''===
[[File:TF-Unite-Warriors-UW01-Air-Raid.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|I laugh at my show-accurate paint ops!]]
*'''UW-01 Superion''' (Giftset, 2015-[[June 27|06-27]])

:TakaraTomy's ''[[Transformers Unite Warriors|Unite Warriors]]'' iteration of [[Superion (G1)#Unite Warriors|Superion]] features a redeco of Air Raid, swapping out colors on his detailing, and lacking both the gold trim and blue forehead of the Hasbro version.
{{CWSkydiveMold}}
{{--}}

===''Titans Return''===
*'''Blunderbuss & Broadside''' (2017)
:''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' [[Broadside (G1)#Generations|Broadside]] comes with tiny Aerialbot jets (specifically in the alternate modes of their ''Combiner Wars'' figures) molded on a sprue; once cut off this sprue, the jets can be attached to his carrier and robot mode ports.

===''Legends''===
*'''Broadside''' ([[November 25]], [[2017]])
**''ID number'': '''LG53'''

:The ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' release of [[Broadside (G1)#Legends|Broadside]] also includes five Airbot sprues, redecoed in a different shade of gray to match Broadside's cartoon-accurate appearance.

==Merchandise==
===''Transformers Trading Card Game''===
[[File:W2AirRaid.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|I laughed at my own successful effect!]]
*'''Air Raid, Fearless Flyer''' ([[2019]])
**'''Wave 2: Rise of the Combiners'''
**''Rarity: '''''CT'''
**''Card Number: '''''T02/T46'''
**''Stars: ''5

:Air Raid, Fearless Flyer was released as part of the ''[[Transformers Trading Card Game]]'' Wave 2: Rise of the Combiners. Like all other members of [[combiner]] teams released in the set, Air Raid, Fearless Flyer is a folding card, with the Bot and Alt modes being depicted when the card is folded in half, and a holofoil portion of the the combined mode depicted when unfolded. The reverse of Air Raid, Fearless Flyer depicts [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]'s right arm, which is formed by Air Raid in the artwork.

:The artwork for Bot Mode is reused from the [[Combiner Wars (franchise)|Combiner Wars]] Air Raid toy's packaging art, and is based on said figure.

:Air Raid, Fearless Flyer can be used to form Superion, Sky Protector with the use of the Action card [[Enigma of Combination|Aerialbot Enigma]] while he and the other Wave 2 Aerialbots are in Bot mode on the battlefield or KO area.
{{--}}

==Notes==
*The ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Air Raid/[[Wind Sheer (Universe)#Toys|Wind Sheer]] two-pack was initially listed under the name "Skyjack" in [[Walmart]] computers.
*Most modern Hasbro molds include a "pretooled" alternate head on the sprue, with ''Combiner Wars'' Air Raid's alternate tooling being based on the Generation 1 Coneheads ([[Dirge (G1)/toys|Dirge]], [[Thrust (G1)/toys|Thrust]], and [[Ramjet (G1)/toys|Ramjet]]). For clarification, TakaraTomy's ''Unite Warriors'' [[Thrust (Armada)#Unite Warriors|Curse Armada Thrust]] uses this pretooled head and not a TakaraTomy-original element.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Aerialbots]]
[[Category:Bot Shots Autobots]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Combiner Wars Autobots]]
[[Category:Cyberjets]]
[[Category:Generation 1 toy Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Autobots]]
[[Category:Kre-O Autobots]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Mail order items]]
[[Category:Target exclusives]]
[[Category:Unite Warriors Autobots]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Universe Autobots]]

Devastator (ROTF)

2021-09-15T00:24:29Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Revenge of the Fallen (mobile game) */

{{featured}}
{{factions|decepticonfilm}}
{{disambig3|Devastator}}
:''Devastator is a [[Decepticon]] [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicon]] [[combiner]] from the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen]] portion of the [[live-action film series]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:ROTF_Devastator_promo.jpg|thumb|400px|[[City of Steel (episode)|King Kong]] ain't got nothin' on me!]]

Whether he's formed from six, seven, eight, or even nine [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicons]], '''Devastator''' is a giant among giants. He is in fact so huge that his body simply cannot support itself when carrying his weight upright, forcing him to lumber on all fours.

Devastator is a tormented being, his very formation wracking his component Constructicons with pain and stressing them to the breaking point both physically and mentally. The imperfect fusion process produces a mind that's very much less than the sum of its parts; rage and pain are all he knows, pushing aside whatever intelligence he might possess. Devastator relies on almost pure instinct in battle.

Devastator is named after [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s unwithstandable and terrifyingly destructive [[Devastator Winds]], due to his intimidating strength. Devastator can also create powerful gravity wells by generating an artificial [[black hole]] with his [[Vortex Grinder]], located in his mouth.<ref>Devastator's [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/Battle-Bios.cfm Battle Bio] at Hasbro.com</ref> Nearby objects are drawn into his gaping mouth to be crushed.

Devastator is made up of:
*[[Scavenger (ROTF)|Scavenger]] (torso)
*[[Hightower (ROTF)|Hightower]] (left arm)
*[[Long Haul (ROTF)|Long Haul]] (right leg)
*[[Mixmaster (ROTF)|Mixmaster]] (head)
*[[Skipjack (ROTF)|Skipjack]] (left leg, or left foot if the yellow dump truck is included)
*[[Scrapper (ROTF)|Scrapper]] (right arm)
;Sometimes omitted
*[[Overload (ROTF)|Overload]] (lower waist)
*[[Unknown Constructicon dump truck|Yellow dump truck]] (left leg)
*[[Unknown Constructicon shovel|Second bulldozer]] (left hand)
;Other configurations
*[[Demolishor (ROTF)|Demolishor]] (stand-in for Scavenger)
*[[Hook (ROTF)|Hook]] (stand-in for Hightower)
*[[Bonecrusher (ROTF Constructicon)|Bonecrusher]] (stand-in for Skipjack)
*[[Rampage (ROTF)|Rampage]] (another stand-in for Skipjack)
*[[Scrapmetal (ROTF)|Scrapmetal]] (stand-in for the second bulldozer)

==Fiction==
===''Revenge of the Fallen'' film===
{{voiceactor|[[Frank Welker]] (English), [[Yasuyoshi Hara]] (Japanese)}}

[[File:Devastator-ROTFvsLeoSpitz.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6|He's like a giant puppy! Who wants to eat you.]]
Upon arrival in [[Egypt]], the Constructicons that made up Devastator combined and attacked [[Leo Spitz]], [[Seymour Simmons]], [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]], and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]]. It rampaged through the construction facility, sucking up anything not anchored down, such as sand, cars, and Mudflap. Despite the powerful vacuum, Mudflap held out for a while before being sucked further in. Seeking vengeance, Skids clambered up Devastator for revenge. However, Mudflap had survived, and he blasted a hole through the giant Decepticon's eye to climb out before further attacking the combiner and slowing it down.

[[File:ROTF Devastator death.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|Hi ho, hi ho-HOLY SLAG!]]
[[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] yelled Devastator's name from atop the [[Great Pyramid of Giza]] to end the twins' distraction. Devastator clambered out of the construction pit and grappled his way to the peak of the pyramid, where he used his vortex grinder to suck up the stones that hid the [[Star Harvester|star harvester]] inside. By this point, Simmons had made his way to the pyramid, and he radioed a nearby navy ship to fire its experimental [[rail gun]], which had been developed based on studies of Megatron during his captivity at [[Hoover Dam]]. The gun's projectile hit Devastator, blasting off an arm and the lower half of his leg, making him lose his balance, causing him to shatter into many pieces as his body tumbled down the pyramid. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

{{note|Devastator's involvement in the preceding events, or events mostly similar, were also chronicled in the novels ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (novel)|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]'', ''[[Revenge of the Fallen: The Junior Novel]]'' and ''[[The Last Prime]]''; the comic mini-series ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Official Movie Adaptation]]''; and the storybooks "[[I Am Optimus Prime (ROTF)|I Am Optimus Prime]]", "[[Rise of the Decepticons]]", "[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Electronic Voice Changer]]" and "[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Mix & Match]]".}}

===IDW movie comics===
[[File:Possibly Devastator TOTF Flashback.jpg|thumb|left]]
Someone who was possibly Devastator was involved in a battle with [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] and [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]], thousands of years ago. {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 2|Tales of the Fallen #2}}
{{-}}

===Titan movie comics===
[[File:Rotf devastator vs stratosphere.jpg|thumb|275px|''The CLAAAAAWWWW!'']]
The Decepticons recovered Devastator's remains, and brought them to the peaks of [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]], so that the behemoth could be repaired by a squad under the watchful optics of [[Skywarp (Movie)|Skywarp]]. Hiding the construction site with a dense, artificially-generated cloudbank, the Decepticons proceeded with repairs until the unfortunate Autobot [[Stratosphere]] stumbled across their location while on a routine patrol in the area. The partially functional Devastator lashed out at the airborne Autobot, smashing off one of his wings and causing him to crash. Stratosphere survived the hit and fought his way past Skywarp to co-opt the Decepticons' communications array, using it to call in an air-strike on Devastator's position. Stratosphere and his fellow Autobots wondered if Devastator could have survived the massive blast that followed, but they decided not to wait around to find out. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.14|Head in the Clouds}}
{{-}}

===Toy bios===
[[File:HFTD Devastator Wallpaper.jpeg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
Devastator chose a green color scheme at some point in time based on the [[oxide shark]]s of the [[Rust Sea]], the most feared predators on Cybertron.

In order to look more like a predator, he once threatened a group of Decepticon scientists into making drastic changes to his body that saw the installation of the Vortex Grinder. The installation of this weapon broke his mind, but made him a mighty force.<ref>[[Toys"R"Us]]-exclusive Devastator's on-line [[bio]]</ref>

After getting dismantled by the railgun, at least some of the components that formed him at the time survived the ordeal. Ironhide made it his mission to hunt the components down one-by-one, starting with Mixmaster.
{{storylink|Mixmaster (ROTF)#Speed_Stars|Enforcer Ironhide VS Mixmaster}}

Devastator was last seen partially deactivated (presumably due to damage wrought to him by the railgun) and hiding in the [[Africa]]n disaster zone.<ref>The most wanted Decepticons Devastator card</ref>
{{--}}

==Games==
===Transformers: Battle for the Matrix===
{{Note|Battle for the Matrix is a simplified retelling of the events of [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]. It can be played from the perspective of either [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] or [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]].}}

[[File:Devastator battleforthematrix.jpg|thumb|Oh, are you filling in for the railgun by shooting my balls? ''No way'', Jose! Or Bumblebee!]]
{{storylink|Transformers: Battle for the Matrix}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'' - The Game===
{{voiceactor|[[Fred Tatasciore]] (English)}}
====Xbox 360/Sony PS3/PC====
=====Autobot campaign=====
[[File:ROTFgame_360PS3PC_Devastatorbattle.jpg|thumb|300px|Don't think about how out of scale the limbs are and let the awesomeness of this picture sink in.]]
After the Autobots defeated Megatron and [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], the Decepticons' ultimate weapon, Devastator, was unleashed upon [[Cairo]]. [[William Lennox|Major Lennox]]'s [[NEST]] forces as well as the local military were unable to hold back the titanic Decepticon, and were relegated to a supporting role once the Autobots arrived in the city. However, NEST helicopters provided invaluable assistance by laser-painting critical weapons subsystems for the Autobots to attack, such as his back-mounted missile launchers, his hip-mounted cannons and his arm-mounted guns, before they could attack his head-mounted armored node. Once the node was breached, Devastator collapsed in the streets of Cairo. {{Storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)}}

====PSP====
=====Autobot Campaign=====
After [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/games|Optimus prime]] combined with [[Jetfire (Movie)|Jetfire]]'s parts, NEST informed him of an "ECHO ROMEO" terrorizing Cairo. When Optimus approached the signal, he discovered it was Devastator, leading him to engaged the titan. After a long and tiresome battle, Optimus triumphed over the giant, leaving Devastator in scraps.

=====Decepticon Campaign=====
After the [[Axiom Gun]] was destroyed, [[Megatron (Movie)/games|Megatron]] stated that Devastator is uncovering the [[Star Harvester]].

{{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PSP)}}
{{-}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen: Autobots/Decepticons''===
In a variable universal stream, Devastator worked to uncover the Star Harvester for the Fallen in Cairo. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Autobots/Decepticons|Revenge of the Fallen: Autobots/Decepticons}}
{{-}}

===Transformers RPMs: Devastator's Demise===
[[File:Devastatorsdemise devastor.jpg|thumb|"Alright, Devastator, your next gig is a game called 'Devastator's Demise.'" "... Do I win?"]]
Devastator confronted Optimus Prime, [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] and Bumblebee as they dodged around the pyramid and ruins. {{storylink|Transformers RPMs: Devastator's Demise}}
{{-}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' (mobile game)===
[[File:ROTFMobile Devastator.jpg|thumb|Karl Heisenberg had to start somewhere before Resident Evil 8 was finished.]]
Traveling to [[Egypt]], Devastator got his hands on the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and defeated [[Jetfire (Movie)|Jetfire]]. While he was waiting for [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] to arrive, [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] attacked him. Devastator attempted to bash Bumblebee with his claws, but the diminutive Autobot managed to destroy both his arms. Despite being without his arms, Devastator was not disarmed, and began firing beams of energy from his mouth. Bumblebee evaded them and shot Devastator in the head until the giant fell and he could get the Matrix back. Of course, then Megatron turned up and immediately retook the Matrix... {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Glu)}}
{{-}}

===Transformers: Dark of the Moon Autobots/Decepticons===
Mixmaster had attempted to reactivate the rest of the Constructicons and Devastator, but was defeated by Ironhide. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon: Autobots/Decepticons|Dark of the Moon: Autobots/Decepticons}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: The Ride – 3D''===
Devastator had assembled himself in the [[Chicago]] streets and was lumbering around when he activated his Vortex Grinder to draw in the fleeing [[Evac (Ride)|Evac]], but the force of his vortex sent the Autobot flying over his head and on the other side of him. He then activated his Vortex Grinder again to catch Evac but Evac escaped through a hole on some train tracks created by his attack while Ratchet and Ironhide fired on him. He soon came upon Evac again and succeeded in sucking the Autobot up but Evac survived his inner systems by activating his Battle shields and emerged in one piece. {{storylink|Transformers: The Ride – 3D}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''Revenge of the Fallen''===
====Legends Class====
[[File:ROTF Devastator ezcollectiondx.jpg|300px|thumb|The one you will actually buy.]]
*'''Scavenger/Demolishor''' (EZ Collection DX/Legends Class, [[2009]])
*'''Hightower''' (EZ Collection DX, 2009)
*'''Long Haul''' (EZ Collection DX, 2009)
*'''Mixmaster''' (EZ Collection DX, 2009)
*'''Rampage''' (EZ Collection DX, 2009)
*'''Scrapper''' (EZ Collection DX, 2009)
*'''Overload''' (EZ Collection DX, 2009)
*'''Constructicon Devastator''' (Legends Class multi-pack, 2009)
**''TakaraTomy name'': '''EZ Collection DX Devastator'''
**''TakaraTomy release date'': [[Template:July|July]] 2009

:Like the on-screen combiner, but unlike the Supreme Class Devastator toy, the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Legends Class Devastator comprises seven Constructicons, including the elusive [[Overload (ROTF)|Overload]], each with individual robot modes. Because of this, he is a lot more complex than the Supreme class toy, with a more "layered" look than his movie counterpart had. Devastator is (roughly) Deluxe sized while standing up. The only real drawback he has is that he almost has no articulation. But hey, you can't have everything, right?
[[File:TF-ROTF-EZ-Collection-Constructicons.jpg|left|thumb]]
:In [[Hasbro]]'s markets, this Devastator set was available as a [[Walmart]] [[exclusive]] in North America, an Argos exclusive in the UK and a Farmers exclusive in New Zealand, packaged in a currently-unique clear box in gestalt mode. A huge two-sided instruction sheet explains transformation in both directions from gestalt to vehicles and vehicles to robots, with the curious note that "Some poses may require hand support".

:In [[Japan]], the Constructicon team members were available individually. Unlike the usual EZ collection toys, the Constructicons are not blind packed but packed in much the same way as Hasbro's Legends class releases.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2010/Decepticon/WMConstructiconDevastator/devastator.htm More information on Legends Constructicon Devastator at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

[[File:Image-ROTF Devastator ezcollectiondxG1.jpg|300px|thumb|Bet yer ''green'' with envy.]]
*'''EZ Collection Devastator - G1 Colors Version''' (EZ Collection, [[2010]])
:Takara reissued the seven Legend class Constructicons in G1 inspired green and purple color schemes. He even comes packaged in the same clear box set the Hasbro version used.

:This configuration of Devastator includes [[Hook (ROTF)#Toys|Hook]] as the left arm and [[Bonecrusher (ROTF Constructicon)#Toys|Bonecrusher]] as the left leg.
{{-}}

====Supreme Combiner Class====
[[File:ROTF Devastator combiner toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Actually movie accurate... [[Overload (ROTF)|NOT.]] (''Hasbro version pictured'')]]
[[File:TF-ROTF-Supreme-Class-Devastator-(Takara-Tomy).jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|You've got red on you. (''TakaraTomy version pictured'')]]
*'''Constructicon Devastator''' (Supreme Combiner Class, 2009)
**''TakaraTomy ID number'': '''RD-16'''
**''Accessories'': Mixmaster's truck "nose", Scavenger's shovel-bucket

:''Revenge of the Fallen'' Supreme Class Devastator is formed from the combination of six transforming construction vehicle toys that do not have individual robot modes. Unlike [[Duocon|prior]] [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#Energon|cases]] of this format, Devastator's vehicles represent separate Transformers, [[Scavenger (ROTF)|and]] [[Rampage (ROTF)|most]] [[Long Haul (ROTF)|of]] [[Mixmaster (ROTF)|them]] have other non-combiner toys that ''do'' have robot modes.

:Despite the figure's complex appearance (from the front anyway), the limbs' transformations into combined mode are rather simple. Fortunately, this makes him a lot easier to muck with than some of the other larger-scale ''Revenge of the Fallen'' toys. This is good, because Devastator is ENORMOUS. His smallest limbs (his legs) are the size of Deluxe-class toys, and his largest components are bigger than Leader-class toys. While the legs can not be swapped (unless for some reason you want a backwards walking Devastator), the arms can be swapped around. The pegs meant to plug Rampage and Long Haul into Devastator's hips also fit snugly into the sockets meant for connecting Scrapper and Hightower to Scavenger... if you're inclined to have a random arm connected to a stray leg with no body in between, or a vehicle mode about as useful as a poorly matched [[Micromaster Combiner]] pair.

:The toy's electronics are all in the Mixmaster component. Pressing the button makes Devastator's mouth open and activates voice clips and engine sounds, as well as green lights in his mouth and eyes. Pressing the button for a few seconds activates his "Vortex grinder". However, the button trigger is so sensitive that he ''never shuts up''. In Devastator mode, his mouth can be locked into the open position by clicking his lower jaw sections into the large tank treads that form his shoulders. His mouth is enormous, and it lights up all pretty and green. He can easily swallow any Legends Class toy and spit it out the other side by opening up the back of his head. Covering Devastator's head when separating him from the torso and turning him back into Mixmaster's vehicle mode activates the transformation noise, and after that somehow makes engine stalling noises without pulling the trigger.

:Right out of the packaging, Scavenger's bucket and Mixmaster's truck "nose" are detached and must be assembled, the former of the two requires a bit of force to get attached, but loosens up with time. Scrapper's rear guard-railing and Scavenger's side railing pieces are also removable and are likely to be missing when searching for a loose Devastator on the aftermarket.

:Sadly, Devastator has a hard time standing on all four of his limbs, and is most stable standing on his hind legs. This is mainly because the most weight is located in the head, and his fingers are not made to hold that weight. He will also look straight to the ground unless you lock his head in place with the lower jaw.

:The [[TakaraTomy]] release of this figure has extra paint applications on Devastator's face, for a better resemblance to the final CG model.

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

====''Mega Power Bots''====
[[File:ROTF MegaPowerBots Devastator.jpg|300px|thumb|Not a Power Rangers Megazord.]]
*'''Constructicon Devastator''' (Mega Power Bot, 2009)
:''Revenge of the Fallen'' [[Power Bots|Mega Power Bots]] Devastator is a simple toy for younger children, featuring plenty of playing sounds and flashing lights. His limbs have limited swivel articulation and do not detach into separate vehicles. He has a distinctly more humanoid stature than normal.

:Unlike regular [[Power Bots]], and unlike other portrayals of the character in general, Devastator features a transformation! It consists of putting his arms up and laying him flat on his stomach, which lets him roll around using the wheels on his limbs.

:Pressing down the Decepticon shield on his crotch (!) spins the vortex in his chest, lights up his eyes and makes him utter one of many Welker-recorded phrases, including [[The Transformers: The Movie|"Prepare for extermination!"]], "Crush Autobots!" and "I am Devastator!" Pressing on the crane of his excavator arm makes a cannon blast sound effect, while pressing the cab of his loader arm turns the scoop into claws.
{{-}}

===''Transformers'' (2010)===
[[File:TF2010-toy_GreenDevastator.jpg|thumb|250px|I DARE you to spot any purple in this picture.]]
*'''Constructicon Devastator''' (Legends Class multi-pack, 2010)

:A [[Toys"R"Us]]-exclusive Generation 1-themed redeco of Legends Devastator and his components was released in the 2010 ''Transformers'' toyline. Unlike Takara's go at the same idea, this Devastator only uses purple for the Constructicons' windshields, and as a result is mostly lime green and gray. The seven individual Constructicons also have brown [[paint operation]]s on and around their wheels to simulate dirt.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2010/Decepticon/TRUConstructiconDevastator/devastator.htm More information on "Toys'R'Us" Constructicon Devastator at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Movie Advanced Series===
[[File:Lost Age AD-13 Devastator.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Sculpted robot testicles still not included. Thank Primus.]]
*'''Devastator''' (Gift set, [[May 17]], [[2014]])
**''ID number:'' '''AD13'''
:Released as part of Takara's ''[[Movie Advanced Series]]'' line, Devastator is a redeco of the ROTF Legends Devastator and his components in a deco that more closely resembles his on-screen portrayal.

:However, thanks to either mold degradation or just poor [[quality control]], some sets have had figures (most noticeably Scrapper) with weak ball joints, showing very visible stress marks specifically on the stems of the joints, which can break off easily with enough pressure, as well as some really loose joints and missing heads.
{{-}}

===''Studio Series''===
[[File:TF-Studio-Series-Devastator.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Devastator, supreme at last!]]
*'''Constructicon Scrapmetal''' (Deluxe Class, [[2019]])
*'''Constructicon Hightower''' (Deluxe Class, 2019)
*'''Constructicon Skipjack''' (Voyager Class, 2020)
**'''Constructicon Rampage''' (Voyager Class, 2019)
*'''Constructicon Long Haul''' (Voyager Class, 2019)
*'''Constructicon Mixmaster''' (Voyager Class, 2019)
*'''Constructicon Scavenger''' (Leader Class, 2019)
*'''Constructicon Scrapper''' (Voyager Class, [[2020]])
*'''Constructicon Overload''' (Leader Class, 2020)

:Announced to commemorate the 10th anniversary of ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', the holy grail known as ''[[Studio Series]]'' Devastator consists of eight (yes, eight) Constructicons that combine into one mechanical giant. While meant to celebrate the film's tenth anniversary, some members were released in 2020.

:Despite the ''Studio Series'' line's focus on screen-accuracy, Devastator once again omits the yellow dump truck Constructicon (though the truck mode was used for [[Long Haul (ROTF)|Long Haul]], albeit in green). The second bulldozer who forms Devastator's left hand in the film is replaced entirely by an excavator, [[Scrapmetal (ROTF)|Scrapmetal]] (who died before Devastator was formed on-screen). One of the first releases in the set, [[Rampage (ROTF)|Rampage]], was later redecoed into [[Skipjack (ROTF)|Skipjack]] as an option for a more screen-accurate left leg. [[Hasbro]] would later reveal that Skipjack was always intended to be the definitive leg for the combiner and made Rampage an individual to recreate the iconic battle between him and [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]].<ref>[https://hasbropulse.com/blogs/unboxed/behindthedesign-transformers-devastator Behind the Design on Hasbro Pulse]</ref> Because Skipjack and Rampage share the same design this also gave fans the option to use Rampage in place of Skipjack if they so desired. The ''Studio Series'' packaging bios for both figures were written to reflect this.

:Due to the connectors used, it is possible to swap or double the components used as the arms, but not the feet. This means that you may form a less screen-accurate Devastator using seven or nine components instead of eight by duplicating or omitting [[Scrapper (ROTF)|Scrapper]] or both [[Hightower (ROTF)|Hightower]] & Scrapmetal. Long Haul is the only component able to connect as a right foot, while Rampage and Skipjack are both left feet and cannot be used simultaneously.

:With compound hip and ankle joints and fixed-angle "knees", along with complex shoulder and bicep assemblies, this Devastator has far greater flexibility than any previous version, and as such can stand more erect than is typical for the character. This allows a pose similar to early [[:File:ROTF Devastator and components concept art.jpg|concept art]], and makes him easily the largest ''Studio Series'' figure to date.

:On the flip side, in his intended configuration, Devastator cannot stand on all fours for several reasons: his joints don't orient in the needed positions, his head is largely immobile, and the joints in his hands are not designed to support his weight. It is possible to get him on all fours, though you'll have to disconnect some components and really stretch the limits of his joints. Many fans have taken to creating unique [[Fan mode|fan-modes]] to give Devastator his screen-accurate quadrupedal stature.

:Where other Studio Series packages feature a red window with an Autobot logo, Devastator's components display [[:File:StudioSeries_Dev_Sym.jpg|an insignia of Devastator's face]]. Unusual for a ''Studio Series'' figure, Devastator—and many of his components—lacks a Decepticon insignia.

:While wrecking balls are not included, he does, however, have a 5 mm port placed on his rump meant to store the stands included with the Rampage/Skipjack mold. The shield from Scrapmetal can also be plugged into his left thigh to represent Skipjack's mass being integrated further up into the combiner's left thigh, making for more screen accuracy.

{{-}}{{anchor|SSBoxset}}
[[File:TF-ROTF-Studio-Series-69-Devastator.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|The [[Heinrad (BWN)|second Transformer to ever have testicles]], and they slap a 69 on the box. Classy.]]
*'''Devastator''' (Gift Set, 2020)
**''ID number'': '''69'''
**''Accessories'': "[[Operation: Firestorm|Pyramid Desert Battle]]" backdrop (2nd version)

:This boxset was released as the 69th (yes, har har) ''Studio Series'' figure. It contains 8 of the ''Studio Series'' Constructicons seen in the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' film. In order to keep Devastator accurate to his on-screen appearance, [[Skipjack (ROTF)|Skipjack]] is included in the set, completely omitting [[Rampage (ROTF)|Rampage]], as he was busy [[Bumblebee (Movie)|elsewhere]].

:This set also includes several new deco additions including dirt and metallic scuff patterns on Long Haul, Skipjack, Scrapper, and Scrapmetal, as well as additional applications on Devastator's face.

:The gift set first saw release in Thailand without any announcement from Hasbro, with it later being officially revealed on the [[October 16]]th [[Hasbro Pulse#Fan First Friday|Fan First Friday]].

:There are a few silly mistakes in Devastator's stock photo. The neck armor piece that comes with Overload is pushed too far back, preventing it's ability to snap onto Mixmaster's mixing barrel properly. Scavenger's wheels that form Devastator's vortex grinder aren't tabbed together, and his shoulders are also rotated where his arms are prevented from tabbing into place. And of course, the most glaring of all, Overload's head is turned around, leaving it fully exposed.
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
====Burger King====
[[File:ROTFMerchandise-BurgerKingDevastator.jpg|thumb|the toy to stand on all fours....]]
*'''Constructin' Devastator''' (2009)
:Burger King Devastator consists of five parts — a head and body, and simplified versions of the vehicle modes for Long Haul, Scrapper, Rampage and Hightower, which connect to the torso on [[ball joint]]s. The generic connectors mean that they can be attached in any configuration, however the intended layout is marked with letters from A to D. The ball joints are loose enough to allow limited articulation.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Decepticon/BKDevastator/devastator.htm More information on Constructin' Devastator at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

====''RPMs - Robot Powered Machines''====
=====Track Set=====
[[File:ROTF RPM Devastator Showdown Playset.jpg|150px|thumb|Rejected name: Escape The Teabag.]]
*'''Devastator Showdown''' (2009)
**'''Includes:''' [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] [[Robot Powered Machines|Mini-Vehicle]].
:The Devastator Showdown track set is a [[retool]] of the ''Indiana Jones'' race track. This playset is compatible with the other Hot Wheels-like miniature cars. It fires the car on a track to an area that (when a car goes over it) releases a "wrecking ball" and the Devastator head lights up and makes sounds. The wrecking ball will follow the car down the track until the tracks stop.

:Yes, that means he fires his testicles at you. Lovely.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Decepticon/RPMDevastator/devastator.htm More information on Devastator Showdown Devastator at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

====''Robot Heroes''====
*'''Desert Devastation''' (Multi-pack, 2009)
[[File:rotf_desertdevastation_rh.jpg|thumb|300px|D'awwwvstator.]]
:"Desert Devastation" Devastator is a super-sized ''[[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]]'' figure, at least twice as big as other toys in the line. He is only available in a multi-pack with [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] in their vehicle modes and [[William Lennox]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Decepticon/RHConstructiconDevastator/devastator.htm More information on ''Robot Heroes'' Devastator at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

==Notes==
{{quote|[[Steven Spielberg|Spielberg]] saw [Devastator] and said, 'This is [expletive] awesome!' It's always nice when you can make him swear.|[[Michael Bay]]|"[http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2009-04-01-transformers-first-look_N.htm First look: Robo-brawlers big, small in new 'Transformers']" in ''USA Today'' ([[April 3]], [[2009]])}}

[[File:ROTF Devastator and components concept art.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|"Six?! What happened to seven?!" "Just kidding."]]
*Technically, Devastator stands at 100 feet tall, as illustrated in the film's official scale chart. However, he's so top-heavy that it is only possible for him to rise to 45 feet. This makes him about twice as tall Optimus Prime and on a roughly equal level to [[Grimlock (AOE)|Grimlock]], although he far surpasses either of them in bulk.
*In the film, none of Devastator's components are shown as individual Transformers. This might vaguely justify why the components of his Supreme class toy lack individual robot modes.
*Devastator's final CGI head differed from that used for his promotional images, including more red panels and several pulleys and wires, four highly pronounced horns, and a trio of throat gears lit like a furnace instead of a single complex vortex machine lit green like his eyes. All of the toys and most of the video games released around the film depicted Devastator with a completely grey head, with later Takara releases of his Supreme and Legends class toys adding more screen-accurate red paint applications.
**Interestingly, the prototype image for the ''Studio Series'' figure, revealed in early 2019, presented the figure with a grey face and green lit mouth similar to the original promotional images for the movie, with the final figure having a face sculpted from screen-accurate red plastic.
[[File:Hightower-Scrapmetal-Continuity Error.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|The mysterious "tenth" Devastator component.]]
*In the film, there are ''nine'' vehicles that form Devastator! A [[Unknown Constructicon shovel|yellow bulldozer]] is seen unfolding and is then scooped up by Devastator's left arm, which has been formed by [[Hightower (ROTF)|Hightower]]. Another [[Unknown Constructicon dump truck|yellow dump truck]] lines up next to Skipjack and helps him form the leg. This means two things: It explains why Devastator's left arm has scoops on it while Hightower's vehicle mode has no such equipment, and also why none of the Devastator toys are movie-accurate. However, a ''tenth'' vehicle, a Volvo excavator with a visually obvious Decepticon [[insignia]] (the same vehicle prop used for [[Scrapmetal (ROTF)|Scrapmetal]] in the early barge scene) can be spotted behind Hightower for one brief moment, yet every other shot before and after this, it is nowhere to be seen. Does this mean Scrapmetal is a part of Devastator or just a continuity error? Who knows!
**In the [[Hasbro Q&A/December 2009: Answers|December 2009 Q&A]] Hasbro stated that there are seven Constructicons that form Devastator. [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] explained that Devastator can be formed by any number from six to nine.<ref>[[Transformers Comic issue 2.13#Law and Disorder|Transformers Comic issue 2.13, Law and Disorder]]</ref> [[Vector Sigma]]'s online [[Datatrax|Data Tracks]] revealed that Devastator's composition is not set. Devastator is simply bigger the more Constructicons that unite.<ref>[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/cybertronian-database.cfm#/glossary/constructicon Vector Sigma's online glossary]</ref>
*Devastator is made up of 52,632 geometric pieces and 11,716,127 polygons. The total length of all the pieces is 13.84 miles.<ref>Robertson, Barbara (2009). Weighty Matters. Computer Graphics World, 32(7), 20-29</ref>
*Devastator is made up of 6467 total textures, taking up 32 gigabytes of computer space.<ref>Robertson, Barbara (2009). Weighty Matters. Computer Graphics World, 32(7), 20-29</ref>
*When Devastator punches the pyramid, its hand is traveling at 390 miles per hour.<ref>Robertson, Barbara (2009). Weighty Matters. Computer Graphics World, 32(7), 20-29</ref>
[[File:Devastator-ROTFenemyscrotum.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|NSFW]]
*Devastator's got [[Humanization#Nuts.2C bolts.2C and screws|brass balls]]. Exactly ''how'' is pretty questionable; even the crane Hightower would only have one wrecking ball as a counterweight meaning this was just another cheap, throw-away gag. When Hasbro was asked if there ever will be a Devastator toy with wrecking balls, they replied straight out "no".
**The Devastator Showdown track set does, however, feature one wrecking ball that chases cars down the track. Hmmm.
*Devastator also has what looks to be two smaller excavator shovels that fold out of his mouth as he expands it to use his "Vortex Grinder." At this point it feels as if the animators were just throwing in random construction equipment components all over the show to exaggerate his size, despite there only being between a debatable nine or ten vehicles visible pre-transformation.
*According to [[Shawn Kelly]], the [[Industrial Light & Magic|ILM]] lead animator for ''Revenge of the Fallen'', Devastator caused a computer to catch fire spontaneously and its insides to melt.<ref>''[[Nickelodeon]] Magazine'', issue 153, published June 2009</ref> One assumes he was exaggerating for the purposes of publicity, as it is improbable for modern computers to actually catch fire under operations for which they are designed, such as rendering an extremely complex model. The special features on the DVD do (indirectly) show one of the computers blowing, with lots of black smoke and the poor animator (and his keyboard) covered in soot. (This was all done as a prank, leading to said animator asking "What the hell, man?") Not quite melting, but still.
*Interestingly, despite the supreme class toy being formed from vehicles similar to his [[Devastator (G1)|''Generation 1'' counterpart]] (dump truck, bulldozer, front end loader, crane, excavator, mixing truck), none of them form the same component in both versions.
**However he does, in the film at least, have a (albeit articulated) [[Overload (ROTF)|dump truck]] that forms his lower torso, similar to his [[Long Haul (G1)|''Generation 1'' counterpart]].
*In [[Transformers Generations 2009]], volume 3, a very early Devastator mock-up is pictured that places more emphasis on height than width (being rather creepily lanky) and includes among other things, a [[Blackout (Movie)|Sikorsky]] helicopter as a component. It was [[customizing|customized]] from various figures from other lines, including some from Spawn and Kamen Rider.
*Massive Black's concept art is totally different from the film version: a red mining truck forms the torso, an excavator and timber harvester form the arms, and the legs are formed by a military plow and bulldozer. The resulting robot is human in posture.<ref>[http://www.kempart.com/CAPOST/CApost4rt/Devastator01.jpg]</ref>
*Devastator has a [[tongue]], which is cool and disturbing-looking at the same time.
*According to a [[catalog]] included with ROTF toys, the ONLY way for the Autobots to defeat Devastator is by combining Optimus Prime and Jetfire.
*Given that the film establishes multiple sets of Constructicons, it seems entirely possible that more than one "Devastator" could be formed.
*Devastator was in an early draft of ''[[Transformers: The Reign of Starscream|The Reign of Starscream]]'', but was dropped at Hasbro's request.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/members/mowry-73165.html#vmessage167559 Mowry's profile at TFW2005.com]</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Devastator''' (デバステーター ''Debasutētā'')

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Age of Extinction Decepticons]]
[[Category:Combined forms]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Constructicons]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Studio Series Decepticons]]
[[Category:Toys"R"Us exclusives]]
[[Category:Transformers (2010) Decepticons]]
[[Category:Wal-Mart exclusives]]

Slipstream (Animated)

2021-07-13T02:44:36Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Animated cartoon */

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Slipstream}}
:''Slipstream is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]] [[continuity family]]''.

[[Image:AnimatedSlipstreamModel.jpg|thumb|250px|You say "bitch" like it's a ''bad'' thing!]]
'''Slipstream''' (aka '''Slipstrike'''), the '''Female Starscream''', is the [[Starscream clone (Animated)|Starscream clone]] that raises the most questions. She possesses considerable strategic thinking, a biting sense of humor, and a short temper. Like all of the clones, she represents an aspect of the [[Starscream (Animated)|original Starscream's]] personality... though which aspect that is, he's better off not asking (or so she says).

Practically everything she ever says to the original Starscream is an insult of some form. Really makes you wonder about Starscream, doesn't it?

{{quote|''Any'' leader has to be an improvement over you!|Slipstream offers an opinion on her template|"[[A Bridge Too Close, Part II]]"}}

{{TOCclear}}
==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
====''Animated'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Tara Strong]] (English), [[Atsuko Tanaka]] (Japanese)|[[Silvia Mißbach]] (German), [[Daniele Demma]] (Italian), [[Samira Fernandes]] (Portuguese), [[Jessica Toledo]] (Latin-American Spanish, seasons 1 and 2), [[Adriana González]] (Latin-American Spanish, season 3), [[Antía Jiménez Álvarez]] (Castilian Spanish), [[Minna Tasanto]] (Finnish), [[Anne Plumet]] (French)}}

[[Image:TFA ABTC1 Screamer Clones Argue.jpg|thumb|left|"You're not those boring masculinists, are you?"]]

When his clones were brought online, Starscream was confronted with various personality issues. The female clone revealed that each one represented an aspect of his personality: [[Thundercracker (Animated)|megalomania]], [[Skywarp (Animated)|cowardice]], [[Sunstorm (Animated)|bootlicking]], and [[Ramjet (Animated)|deception]]. When Starscream asked where she came from, Slipstream informed him that he was better off not knowing. Once they were ready to depart, Thundercracker pushed Starscream aside, and the original realized that he really ''was'' a pain in the gearshaft. Slipstream bitingly noted that he'd finally "arrived at the party", then childishly claimed that she wasn't starting anything. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part I}}

[[File:Slipstream Thats It.jpg|thumb|right|"So, we finally meet."]]

Slipstream proved to be a capable fighter, managing to get a pair of stasis cuffs on the massive [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]]. After the original Starscream was decapitated by [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]] piloting a [[Headmaster (Animated)|Headmaster]] unit, Slipstream promptly declared that she was better off being led by [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]. When [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] joined the battle, she and the other Decepticons were blasted away. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}}

Slipstream apparently decided to lay low on Earth after the space bridge battle, managing to evade capture unlike her fellow clones (and several non-clone Decepticons). However, when she spotted a [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|red figure flying through the sky]], she mistook it for Starscream and chased after it in a rage. She shot at him, causing him to fall in a river. Seeing it wasn't Starscream, she promptly fled the scene. {{storylink|Endgame, Part I}}
{{-}}

====''Legends'' comic====
[[File:LegendsBusinessTrip11-villainladies.jpg|thumb|]]
In one of the [[Legends World]]'s [[Tigatron]]'s dreams, Slipstream led a group of the evil female Transformers in an attempt to kidnap him, fighting the heroic female Transformers guarding him in the process. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 11|Bonus Edition Vol. 11}} Later, [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] saw Slipstream, [[Blackarachnia (BW)#Transformers Legends comic|Blackarachnia]], and [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird Shadow]] in a vision of things to come. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 14|Bonus Edition Vol. 14}}

[[File:Transformers Legends LG16 Slipstream upgrade.jpg|thumb|left]]
In her home universe, Slipstream became a fugitive on Cybertron following the defeat of the Decepticons. Learning of the Legends World from [[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]], she had the slippery salesman remodel her body to include interdimensional gyro-rotors that let her flee to this peaceful universe where she hoped to wreak havoc as she pleased. Unfortunately for her, since Alpha Trion had foreseen her arrival, she was immediately defeated by a group of Autobots and [[Maximal]]s determined to protect the Legends World from intruders like her. While wandering the street wondering what went wrong, the damaged Slipstream was found by [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] and offered a position at his side. She accepted, only to find that "at his side" meant "doing office work at [[Tera-Kura Co.]]". {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 16|Bonus Edition Vol. 16}}

[[File:TFLegendVol17DecepticonHalloweenCostumes.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
When [[Halloween]] came around, Megatron hatched a plan to gather energy by having his employees go trick-or-treating for it. Slipstream dressed up as a devil and went knocking on Tigatron's door alongside Blackarachnia and Nightbird Shadow, which attracted Autobot attention, though Blackarachnia was able to deal with them. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 17|Bonus Edition Vol. 17}}

At some point during the work day, male employees at Tera-Kura drooled over Slipstream and Blackarachnia, but their attentions quickly switched to Nightbird when she took off her mask. {{Storylink|LG-15 Nightbird Shadow Sequel}}

While recapping the story of her arrival in the Legends World to [[Rattrap (BW)#Transformers Legends comic|Rattrap]], Slipstream added that she'd also made her face look younger during her remodeling. As she was talking about her creation as a clone and how she'd lost track of the original Starscream, Rattrap pointed her in the direction of a [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]] he knew of. Angry over having been left to fend for herself, Slipstream began choking Starscream, brushing aside his claims that he was a ''different'' Starscream by arguing that he'd probably remodeled his body too. {{storylink|LG-16 Slipstream Sequel}} Slipstream later swooned over the foreign [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] with the other female Tera-Kura employees, {{storylink|LG19 Sprung Prologue}} driving Tigatron to envy. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 19|Bonus Edition Vol. 19}}

Slipstream and the other ladies were off visiting a hot spring with Megatron when [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] took over Tera-Kura Co., meaning no battle-capable employees were around to stop him. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Waspinator)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}} She was later targeted by [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], a dimensional investigator out to send all the Legends World's interdimensional visitors back to their homeworlds, and her pleas that she'd be arrested if she went home fell on deaf ears. She was saved by Megatron, and in the end Skids gave up and allowed them to stay. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 20}} After her company partnered with the Decepticon [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], forming the Decepticon Tera-Kura Co., she was included on a chart detailing the employees as one of the "three office ladies". {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 22|Bonus Edition Vol. 22}} When Megatron went on a rampage as [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], Slipstream pointed out that he was being a hypocrite, having previously said he wanted to conquer the Legends world peacefully. Galvatron didn't take kindly to being told what to do, and responded by blasting her and the other two. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 23|Bonus Edition Vol. 23}} Slipstream was present for [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]]'s failed attempt at usurping Megatron. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 26|Bonus Edition Vol. 26}}

[[File:Transformers Legends Animated cameos.jpg|thumb|left|350px]]
Slipstream was hypnotized into being all over [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] during his brief hypnotism-powered reign over the world, {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 34|Bonus Edition Vol. 34}} and was present in the office when [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] confronted Megatron {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 40|Bonus Edition Vol. 40}} as well as when the Decepticons were forced to sit tight during a [[Dimensional Patrol]] invasion. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Scourge 2)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}} When the Headmaster faction betrayed Tera-Kura and came to steal [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s [[transformation cog]] from them, Slipstream was defeated by [[Trickdiamond]]'s earthquake powers. {{storylink|LG43 Trypticon Mobilization Chapter: Decepticon Civil War|Decepticon Civil War}} She remained loyal to Megatron even after he quit his job to be mayor, and helped him reclaim Tera-Kura'office from the [[Concurrence]] by taking out their [[Viper]]s. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 63|Bonus Edition Vol. 63}} Slipstream participated in the battle with [[Majin Zarak]], a battle that ended with destruction and evacuation of the Legends World. {{storylink|Targetmaster Chapter Finale: Legends World in Imminent Danger! Part Two|Legends World in Imminent Danger! Part Two}} She returned to her own universe, where she joined forces with Swindle and Starscream and infiltrated an Autobot prison. {{storylink|Transformers Legends Final Chapter "Epiloge"|Epiloge}}
{{-}}

===''The Cool'' comic===
[[Image:SlipstreamTheCoolMegatron01.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"I do ''not'' think you're dreamy! That's an entirely different [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|purple female Decepticon]]."]]

As the Autobots and Decepticons fought over the [[space bridge#Animated cartoon|Space Bridge]], [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] chose that moment as the most opportune time to unleash his [[Starscream clone (Animated)|Clone Army]] on both factions. Slipstream was among them and seemed to fare best, as the other clones were being easily swatted by the joint efforts of [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]. Slipstream managed to get a clear shot at Megatron and, after screaming an insult at him, sent a powerful energy blast headed his way. Megatron saw the attack coming, however, and quickly used Optimus as a living shield. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 7}}

Defeated, Slipstream was forced to follow Megatron's orders and attack the oncoming [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]]. She and the other clones were greatly outmatched and taken out by a single blast from Omega's arm cannon. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 8}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
Slipstrike attended [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s unveiling of a statue built in his image. {{storylink|Enter the New Emperor of Destruction!? Stop Galvatron's Rampage!}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
When asked on [[Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|his ANN Q&A column]] which aspect of Starscream's personality Slipstream represented, [[Vector Prime]] gave an answer that was cut out by the [[Axiom Nexus Auto-Censors]]. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/07/31}} Seriously, don't be an idiot who wastes your time asking.
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Kre-O===
[[File:KreO-Toy SlipstrikeKreon.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Yep lego minifigures again.]]
*'''Slipstrike''' (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2014)
**''Collection'': '''4'''
**''Bag number'': '''*****43'''
**''Accessories'': Stand-brick, 2 clip-on rifles

: Part of the fourth assortment of [[blindpacking|blind-bagged]] [[Kreon]] [[Micro-Changer]]s, "Slipstrike" is a Kreon figurine that can be rebuilt into a jet. Initially, this Collection was basically only available at Walgreens drug stores.

: Her [[stock photography]] shows her vehicle mode with the wings swept-forward, which matches the original ''Animated'' Slipstream. However, the [[instructions]] tell you to attach them so they swing back (as shown above).

: Eventually, they saw release at other "dollar" stores and continued release through Walgreens up through 2016. Unfortunately, these later releases lack the individual-Kreon-identifying number stamps, which thanks to the gigantic thick [[instructions|instruction sheet]] this wave came with, makes finding the ones you want by the "bag feel" method much trickier. These releases all have the 2014 slight [[retool]]ing to their arms, making the cuffs less rounded and better-suited to being used as studs. Some figures did get minor deco changes; this release of Slipstrike has much brighter lavender accent paint on her torso than the original.

: She uses the [[Starscream (Kre-O)|Starscream]] helmet.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2014/Decepticon/Kre-OSlipstrike/slipstrike.htm More information on Slipstrike at TFU.info]''

===Legends===
[[File:Legendstoy-Slipstream.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*'''Slipstream''' (Deluxe Class, [[2015]]-[[October 24|10-24]])
**''ID number:'' '''LG16'''
**''Accessories'': 2 guns

:''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' Slipstream is a [[retool]] of ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' [[Windblade (G1)#Generations|Windblade]] with a new head, chest, and [[Null-ray|forearms]] based on her cartoon design. She transforms into a jet with tilting, spinning VTOL fans and fold in front landing gear. She features new arm-mounted weapon instead of Windblade's sword and scabbard. She was packaged with [[Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 16|volume 16]] of the [[Transformers Legends (comic)|''Legends'' manga]].

:This toy was [[Repurposing|repurposed]] as the [[Slipstream (G1)|Generation 1 version of Slipstream]] in ''[[Transformers: Earth Wars]]''. This mold was also redecoed into [[BotCon 2016]] souvenir [[Airazor (BW)#Combiner Wars|Airazor]], and served as the basis of the non-toy ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' incarnation of [[Stiletto (BW)#Beast Wars: Uprising|Stiletto]].
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[Image:BC05InfiltrationCoverSeekette.jpg|thumb|250px]]

*Where Slipstream got her colors from was debated within the fandom, with the most frequent guess being ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' [[Ramjet (G1)/toys#Generation 2 |Ramjet]]. However, when contacted about it, [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] revealed that her color scheme was actually "loosely inspired" by the [[Godmaster (lifeform)|Godmaster]] [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]. Unexpected! Still, half of Overlord ''was'' technically [[Mega|female]].

*As her colors weren't closely based on any of the pre-existing [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s, fans didn't have much of a clue what to call her, and created a lot of different nicknames. No official name had been created for her, either (she was just referred to as "Female Starscream" in the show's credits), a situation that writers [[Jim Sorenson]] and [[Bill Forster]] sought to rectify for her entry in ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac]]''. Forster and Sorenson proposed "Slipstream" to [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] and [[Marty Isenberg]], who both liked it, and the name was subsequently included in the first draft of the ''Almanac''.<ref>[http://boltax.blogspot.com/2009/05/dont-cross-slipstream.html Disciples of Boltax: Don't cross the Slipstream.]</ref> Hasbro raised no objection to the idea, and publicly announced the name for the first time during the Hasbro panel at [[BotCon 2009]].

*While the Transformers [[fandom]] has long mused upon the possibility of female "Seekers" (and produced countless {{w|Mary Sue|self-insertion characters}} that are variants on the theme), Slipstream is the first ''canonical'' female character to share a body template with Starscream. This is either great or horrible, depending on your perspective. ([[Hasbro]] concept art of what appeared to be a female Seeker design did appear on the [[BotCon 2005]]-exclusive cover of [[Infiltration issue 0|Infiltration #0]], but the idea doesn't seem to have been developed further than that at the time.)

*Slipstream's existence is, of course, a gag about the famously effeminate Starscream having a "feminine side," but the show holds back from making this joke outright; when Starscream asks Slipstream what side of him she represents, she responds only by saying "Don't ask," and a few pieces of media (like the ''AllSpark Almanac'') would play up the gag by also never actually giving an answer. ''Transformers'' fandom, being the cluster of [[Darksyde (BW)|imagination-killing literalists]] that they are, summarily failed to ''get'' this, and have spent years trying to "solve" the "mystery" of what she represents, going so far as to repeatedly ask Derrick J. Wyatt over and over on his social media. Early on he tried to light-heartedly brush it off by saying "I try not to think about that one!"<ref>[http://community.livejournal.com/tf_animated/271043.html Derrick J. Wyatt Q&A... answers!]</ref> but the questions were so persistent that an exhausted Wyatt took to automatically agreeing with whatever theory was put to him, no matter how absurd.<ref>[http://archive.is/Tc5Hy Does Slipstream represent the sorrow Starscream feels when reflecting on the plight of the Native Americans as both their land and buffalo were violently taken from them during westward expansion?]</ref>

*To make sure Slipstream was sufficiently Starscream-y during recording, Tara Strong would have [[Tom Kenny]] read her lines first, allowing his delivery and intonation to inform her own.

*In the Italian dubbing of ''Transformers Animated'', the voice of Slipstream was provided by Daniele Demma, the same male voice actor that does Starscream and the other clones. This resulted in a more exaggerated representation of the character.

*Slipstream was originally intended to appear in "[[Endgame, Part II]]", in which she would revive Starscream after the Autobots left Earth, but the scene was cut for time.<ref>''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II]]''</ref>

*TFCC magazine, which went into greater details of the planned fourth season, indicated Slipstream would have led her own team of Decepticons on earth and allied with the Autobots in the final battle with Megatron.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Slipstream''' (スリップストリーム ''Surippusutorīmu'')

==See also==
{{OtherVersions
|charname=Slipstream
|disambig=Slipstream (disambiguation)
|body=
*[[Slipstream (WFC)|Slipstream]], the Decepticon Seeker from the [[Aligned continuity family]].
*[[Slipstream (G1)|Slipstream]], the Decepticon from [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]].
*[[Slipstream (Cyberverse)|Slipstream]], the Decepticon from ''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (franchise)|Cyberverse]]''.}}

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Female Transformers]]
[[Category:Kre-O Decepticons]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Legends Decepticons]]
[[Category:Starscream clones]]

Jurassic Park

2021-06-30T12:42:45Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Generations */

[[File:War Without End movie theatre.jpg|upright=2.0|thumb|Take THAT, ''[[Scorn|Jurassic Park III]]''!]]
'''''Jurassic Park''''' is a [[film]] released some time in [[1993]] that features [[Dinosaur (dinosaur)|dinosaurs]].

==Fiction==
===Fleetway ''Generation 2'' comic===
''Jurassic Park'' was in theaters in [[London]] when [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s army of [[Decepticon]]s attacked the city. {{storylink|War Without End (issue)|War Without End}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
Upon seeing the [[Cobra]]-redesigned [[Transformer]]s battling one another on [[Cobra Island]], one of the [[G.I. Joe (team)|Joes]] remarked it was just like ''Jurassic Park''... if all the dinosaurs had been heavily armed. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}}

===Grim Grams===
[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Him Grimlock]] ''love'' film! {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Grim Grams, 2015/10/01}}

==Toys==
====''Generations''====
[[File:Collab-toy-Jurassic Park-box.jpg|thumb|upright=2.0|Well, this sure is no E-Ticket! Think I'll tell them where to stick it! Cause I'm never coming back this way again! Ohhh noooo!!]]
*'''Tyrannocon Rex / Autobot JP93''' ([[2021]])

:"[[Tyrannocon Rex]]" and "[[JP93|Autobot JP93]]" are packaged together in a ''Jurassic Park''-themed crossover two-pack in the ''[[Transformers Collaborative]]'' line. JP93 (a reference to the release date of the first ''Jurassic Park'' movie) transforms into one of the Ford Explorer XLTs that were used as the park tour vehicles, and comes equipped with a blaster.

:Tyrannocon Rex is a new-head retool of [[Megatron (BW)/toys#War for Cybertron: Kingdom|''Kingdom'' Megatron (Beast)]] based on Rexy, the ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' that appears in the original ''Jurassic Park'' film as well as the ''Jurassic World'' trilogy.
{{comingsoontoy}}

==Notes==
*''Jurassic Park'' was, of course, directed by [[Steven Spielberg]], and produced and distributed by [[Universal]], based on the {{w|Jurassic Park (novel)|1990 novel}} by {{w|Michael Crichton}}.
**Speilberg would go on to direct its sequel, ''The Lost World: Jurassic Park'' in [[1997]].
*[[Dino Drive]] is a homage to ''Jurassic Park''.

==External links==
*{{w|Jurassic Park (film)|''Jurassic Park'' at Wikipedia}}

[[Category:Films]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:Generation 2]]
[[Category:Real-world cultural references]]

JP93

2021-06-30T12:39:19Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Generations */

{{faction|autobot}}
:''JP93 is an [[Autobot]] from [[Jurassic Park]] (via [[Transformers Collaborative|Collaborative]]).''
[[File:TFCollaborativeJP93.jpg|thumb|right|350px|I'm afraid those things will harm me, cause they sure don't act like Barney. And they think that I'm their dinner, not their friend!]]

'''JP93''' stands in the way of [[Tyrannocon Rex]]'s rampage in [[Jurassic Park]].<ref>''Transformers Collaborative'' Tyrannocon Rex and JP93 product description</ref>

{{TOCclear}}

==Toys==
===''Generations''===
[[File:Collab-toy-Jurassic Park-box.jpg|thumb|upright=2.0|I admit it's kind of eerie. But this proves my Chaos Theory. And I don't think I'll be coming back again! Oh noooo!]]
*'''Tyrannocon Rex / Autobot JP93''' ([[2021]])
**''Accessories'': Gun

: Part of the sixth release in the ''[[Transformers Collaborative|Collaborative]]'' line, JP93 is an original roughly Deluxe-sized mold that transforms into a licensed Ford Explorer with the iconic livery from the 1993 film. The toy's sculpted hat, sunglasses, and rifle accessory are inspired by, respectively, the film's paleontologist Alan Grant and game warden Robert Muldoon.

: JP93 was sold with [[Tyrannocon Rex#Toys|Tyrannocon Rex]] in a two-pack exclusively debuted by [[Amazon (website)|Amazon]] in the United States market.

{{Comingsoontoy}}

==Notes==
*The name "JP93" is, of course, based on the release year of [[Steven Spielberg]]'s {{w|Jurassic Park (film)|first ''Jurassic Park'' film}}.
*The toy two-pack was designated as "Transformers TRA Project Park" in store listings.
*JP93 is based on Explorer 04, the tour vehicle that carried Lex, Tim, and Gennaro, which the ''T. rex'' destroyed in the iconic breakout scene.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Collaborative]]
[[Category:Jurassic Park]]
[[Category:Toy-only characters]]

Tyrannocon Rex

2021-06-30T12:35:05Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Generations */

{{faction|decepticon}}
{{disambig2|the dinosaur Decepticon from Collaborative|the similarly-named [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] commander from the Aligned continuity|Tyrannicon}}
:''Tyrannocon Rex is a [[Decepticon]] from [[Jurassic Park]] (via [[Transformers Collaborative|Collaborative]]).''
[[File:Transformers-Jurassic-Park-Tyrannocon-Rex.jpg|thumb|upright=2|Hopefully she eats those two annoying kids from ''Jurassic World'' and NOT the kids from ''Camp Cretaceous''.]]

'''Tyrannocon Rex''' is ready to wreak havoc on [[Jurassic Park]]! Only the [[Autobot]] [[JP93]] stands in her way.<ref>[https://corporate.hasbro.com/en-us/articles/new_transformers_x_jurassic_park_collaboration_pre_order_on_amazon_now ''Transformers Collaborative'' Tyrannocon Rex and JP93 product description]</ref>

{{TOCclear}}

==Toys==
===''Generations''===
[[File:Collab-toy-Jurassic Park-box.jpg|thumb|upright=2.0|I cannot approve of this attraction. Because getting disembowelled always makes me kind of mad.]]
*'''Tyrannocon Rex / Autobot JP93''' ([[2021]])

: The seventh release in the ''[[Transformers Collaborative|Collaborative]]'' line, Tyrannocon Rex is a new-head retool of ''[[War for Cybertron: Kingdom|Kingdom]]'' Leader Class [[Megatron (BW)/toys#War for Cybertron: Kingdom|Megatron (Beast)]], transforming into a ''[[Dinosaur (dinosaur)|Tyrannosaurus rex]]'' appropriately inspired by the ''Jurassic Park'' school of design. Though Tyrannocon Rex does not come with any [[Fire Blast effect|fire blast effects]], those from other toys can be attached inside her dinosaur mode mouth. While she features a left hand underneath the tail weapon in robot mode, the tail weapon cannot be detached from her forearm.

:Most of the beast mode shell is cast in a rubbery PVC [[plastic]] material, likely to enhance the texture of the dinosaur mode as well as assist the part-clashing transformation. The beast mode itself is well articulated, especially with thigh pieces on a slider to ensure vertical hip movement, as well as spring-loaded pieces around her neck to prevent the sculpt from breaking up too much while posing.

:Tyrannocon Rex's red robot chest and visor, black robot parts, and tan dino parts seemingly take inspiration from the classic [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]] colors.

:The toy comes with [[JP93#Toys|Autobot JP93]], and two are exclusive to Amazon in the United States and went up for pre-order on [[June 29]], 2021. They will later, on [[December 1]], 2021, be available on Hasbro Pulse in the United States, and select retailers worldwide.

:This mold was also used for ''Kingdom'' [[T-Wrecks#Generations|T-Wrecks]].
{{Comingsoontoy}}

==Notes==
*The toy two-pack was designated as "Transformers TRA Project Park" in-store listings.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Collaborative]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Female Transformers]]
[[Category:Jurassic Park]]
[[Category:Toy-only characters]]

Rack'n'Ruin (Cyberverse)

2021-05-06T09:04:06Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Cyberverse cartoon */

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Rack'n'Ruin}}
:''Rack'n'Ruin is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: Cyberverse (franchise)|Cyberverse]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:Rack n Ruin Cyberverse Concept.jpg|thumb|300px|"Oh what I'd do, if I didn't have you..."]]

Loud, enthusiastic, self-congratulatory, and more than a bit dim, it's a good thing that the two Cybertronians known as '''Rack''' and '''Ruin''' are pretty much the same in both personality and temperament, because these two conjoined Autobots make up the composite warrior known as '''Rack'n'Ruin'''. Together, these two 'bots make up the muscle of the Autobot force, eager warriors always ready to flatten [[Decepticon]]s with their hammers and save the day—and although teamwork ''is'' their strong suite, it's probably a better idea to leave the actual battle plan to someone else, because concepts like "subtlety" or "tactical thinking" are skills that are definitely not in their wheelhouse.

As a member of [[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|Optimus Prime]]'s crew aboard the ''[[Ark (Cyberverse)|Ark]]'', the pair mostly perform menial odd jobs like lifting crates, stacking boxes, and... well, that's about it. Fortunately, the pair accept this job with the same kind of gung-ho bravado they'll express on their deadliest missions.

==Fiction==
===''Cyberverse'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Jeremy Levy]] (English), [[Satoshi Tsuruoka]] (Japanese)|[[Luca Bottale]] (Italian), [[Jean-Marc Amé]] (French), [[Kevin Kraus]] (German), [[Miguel de León]] (Latin-American Spanish)}}

[[File:Cyberverse-s1e11-Sabotage-RacknRuin-tells-Bee-of-engine-room-explosions-(false-memory).jpg|thumb|left|300px|"Mayday...Maayyydaayyy...This is the Queen Zenobia..."]]

When it was determined that Optimus had made a mistake in launching the [[AllSpark|Allspark]], the [[Ark (Cyberverse)|''Ark'']] was launched to retrieve it, Rack'n'Ruin amongst its crew. As the ship sailed through the void however, its [[energon]] stores dipped, forcing the crew into [[stasis pod]]s. [[Teletraan-1 (Cyberverse)|Teletraan-1]] eventually tracked the AlsSpark to [[Earth]] only for the ''Ark'' to suffer a hull breach and crash-land in [[Mount St. Hilary]]. {{storylink|Eruption}}

Some 66 million years later, [[Shockwave (Cyberverse)|Shockwave]] trapped [[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)|Bumblebee]] in a false memory to try and extract the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s location from his brain. Within the illusion, Rack'n'Ruin was present at [[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|Optimus]]' announcement where the Allspark was found and cheered on with the rest of the crew. They later encountered Bumblebee in a corridor aboard the ''Ark'' and told him that there had been explosions in two of the engine rooms, not knowing that Bumblebee was the responsible party. {{storylink|Sabotage}}

[[File:Eruption-AutobotsRollOut.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Look, all the big name Autobots! Optimus Prime! Bumblebee! Prowl! Wheeljack! Arcee! Grimlock! Windblade! Chromia! Rack'N'Ruin!]]

Not long afterward, the real Rack'n'Ruin, along with the rest of the crew, was reawakened by Bumblebee and [[Teletraan-X (Cyberverse)|Teletraan-X]] in time to see the [[Decepticon fleet]] invade Earth. {{storylink|Eruption}} Later, during a battle on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], they knocked some [[Seeker (Cyberverse)|Seekers]] about, only to get blown away by a few projectiles sent by [[Soundwave (Cyberverse)|Soundwave]]. {{storylink|Sea of Tranquility}}

Bumblebee asked Rack'n'Ruin if they had seen a [[Cheetor (Cyberverse)|creature]] during their recent battle, to which both denied doing so. They managed to stack a large group of crates and continued to admire their work until a hyperactive [[Grimlock (Cyberverse)|Grimlock]] smashed straight through it. {{storylink|The Visitor}} Rack'n'Ruin were able to rebuild their stack until they knocked it down courtesy of Cheetor. {{storylink|Spotted}}

Rack'n'Ruin mocked [[Starscream (Cyberverse)|Starscream]] when he tried an Allspark-fueled attack, unaware that the Allspark was removed from his frame. {{storylink|Escape From Earth}} Unwittingly, Rack'n'Ruin gave Starscream a window for havoc, when an Allspark badge they dropped slipped into his cell, leading them to go berserk due to an overload. Prime later restored their party moods. {{storylink|Party Down}} Rack'n'Ruin were later frozen as they celebrated a complete stack... Only for it to be demolished once more by [[Arcee (Cyberverse)|Arcee]] and Grimlock. {{storylink|Perfect Storm}}

Rack'n'Ruin later celebrated as the Autobots returned to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|The Crossroads}} As the ''Ark'' entered Cybertron's atmosphere, Rack'n'Ruin eagerly awaited to return home. {{storylink|Battle For Cybertron I}} However, along with the rest of the crew, they bailed out of the ship when Optimus suspected a Decepticon trap. They took part in the fight with the amassed Decepticon forces, during which they fought [[Clobber (Cyberverse)|Clobber]] with a pair of [[hammer (weapon)|hammer]]s. {{storylink|Battle For Cybertron II}}

After the [[Great War (Cyberverse)|Great War]] was won in the Autobots' favor, Rack'n'Ruin were among the Transformers imprisoned by the [[Quintesson]]s in the Loop, which made they relive the same five minutes of a parade over and over. During their presence in the Loop, Rack'n'Ruin sold red and blue foam fingers. {{storylink|The Loop}} {{storylink|The Sleeper}} Rack'n'Ruin were eventually freed from the simulation alongside the other Autobots thanks to the Cybertronian resistance, who got them to transform when they unleashed [[Air Hammer (Cyberverse)|Air Hammer]]s into the Loop. {{storylink|The Scientist}}

{{charfictionstub|{{storylink|The Alliance}} {{storylink|The Judge (episode)|The Judge}} {{storylink|Enemy Line}} {{storylink|Rack 'n' Ruin 'n' Ratchet}} {{storylink|Dweller In The Depths (Cyberverse)|Dweller In The Depths}} {{storylink|Silent Strike}} {{storylink|The Other One}}}}

====Alternate universes====
In an alternate universe, it was Rack'n'Ruin who commanded the ''Ark'' when it found itself in unspace. During a conference with multiples of Optimus Prime in command of several other Arks, Rack'n'Ruin confirmed that their [[Wheeljack (Cyberverse)|Wheeljack]] concurred with the other Wheeljacks that using the combined power of all their Allsparks would be enough to create and power a Space Bridge to let them all escape. The plan worked, and the Rack'n'Ruin Ark presumably continued on their way to their Cybertron. {{storylink|The Crossroads}}

==Toys==
===''Cyberverse''===
[[File:TF-Cyberverse-2018-Ultra-Rack-n-Ruin.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Literally the only physical toy of this character in existence right now... So you know you'll have to buy them!]]
*'''Rack'n'Ruin''' (Ultra Class, 2020)
**''Accessories'': Cannon

:Released as part of the reinvented Ultra Class lineup, ''Cyberverse'' Ultra Class Rack'N'Ruin is a Voyager-sized mold that transforms from a two-headed robot into a giant armored car. Like their Ultra Class brethren, Rack'N'Ruin feature a flip-out armor gimmick, and like Clobber, they feature more articulation than is typical for their size class, featuring compound hinge joints and mushroom pegs in the elbows and knees with ball-joints in the hips and shoulders. The mine plow on the front of their vehicle mode becomes a clawed blaster in robot mode. The facemasks of their armor are sculpted in homage to the v-shaped visor faces of their G1 counterpart.

:Along with a few ''Cyberverse'' figures, Rack'n'Ruin was meant to be released for the Japanese markets by [[TakaraTomy]], under the name "TCV-40 Weapon Trigger Rack'n'Ruin" with a May 2020 release date. Unfortunately, unlike the Deluxe Class figures, the toy's release was canceled due to either poor sales or the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, or both.
{{-}}

==Notes==
*Unlike prior incarnations of the character—who were formerly two independent Autobots artificially modified into their present state—story editor [[Randolph Heard]] has clarified that this version of Rack'n'Ruin was simply sparked as conjoined twins. According to him, Shockwave's creation of a [[two-headed Seeker]] was inspired by Rack'n'Ruin.<ref>[https://mobile.twitter.com/RandolphHeard/status/1061729208169164800 Randolph Heard on Twitter, 11 November 2018]</ref>
*Incorporating Rack'n'Ruin into the series was Randolph's idea. [[Mae Catt]] refers to the twins using plural pronouns, though the twins themselves refer to each other using male pronouns.<ref>"[https://shikai-the-storyteller.tumblr.com/post/613237429097365504/i-absolutely-didnt-go-back-through-and-edit-this Transformers: Cyberverse – Mae Catt Q&A Session (Unedited Edition)]", 21 March 2020</ref>
*The twins use a modified variation of the bodies used by their Generation 1 [[Rack'n'Ruin (G1)|counterparts]]' appearances in the [[2005 IDW continuity]] including a single set of legs, more prominent vehicle mode kibble, and actual hands instead of wrist-mounted weapons.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Rack'n'Ruin''' (ラックンルーイン ''Rakkunrūin''), '''Rack''' (ラック ''Rakku''), '''Ruin''' (ルーイン ''Rūin'')

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Cyberverse Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]

Roadbuster (G1)

2021-05-04T02:24:28Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Legends comic */

{{factions|autobot|wreckers}}
{{disambig3|Roadbuster}}
:''Roadbuster is an [[Autobot]] [[Deluxe Vehicle]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:G1Roadbuster MTMTE.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|[[Ghostbusters|Who ya gonna call?]]]]

'''Roadbuster''' is a powerful and charismatic fighter. Usually armed to the teeth, he's an inspiration to other Autobots in combat and a natural leader on any battlefield. Outside of combat though, his natural ease and surety fail him. He simply doesn't know how to handle life out of combat. He becomes the quietest of the Autobots, grows withdrawn and depressed, and is easily bored. He counters this by spending most of his free time between battles either planning for the next one or "demolishing" any random [[Decepticon]]s he can find. Some Autobots worry about what will become of the heroic and well-loved Roadbuster they know if the war ever ends. Combat truly is his life and without it, he might just fade away.

Roadbuster is a member of the elite [[Wrecker]]s unit in, well, every universe he's been in.

Sometimes his name is spelled '''Road Buster'''.

{{bigquote|Know what you call thirty enemy combatants on the wrong side of an atmos-field? A good start.|Roadbuster|"[[The War to End All Wars, Part 4]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
[[File:Target2006 RoadbusterwatchesShrapnel.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|I'm studying the effect of negative reinforcement on ESP ability.]]
Roadbuster was a member of the elite Wreckers unit under the command of [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]]. Alongside [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], he accompanied his commander as Impactor argued with [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]] over [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]' trip to [[Earth]] to investigate the disappearance of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]].

[[File:Target 2006 Whirl Roadbuster Do It.jpg|right|upright=1.5|thumb|I love this plan! I'm excited to be a part of it!]]
Roadbuster was a rather hardened soldier, deliberately feeding false information to an Autobot who had turned [[Autobot traitor|informant]] for the Decepticons, and stood by in the shadows while [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] tortured the Autobot for the info and then executed him. Despite allowing this to happen, he still felt that even a traitor deserved better than that. Roadbuster took part in a training session with the rest of the Wreckers involving [[facsimile construct]]s. The training session was in anticipation of [[Operation: Volcano]], an effort to assassinate some of the Decepticons' deadliest warriors. When Impactor decided that the Wreckers were going to bow out of Operation: Volcano, Roadbuster, Whirl, and [[Twin Twist]] took some down-time at [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]]. Both Twin Twist and Roadbuster felt distinctly uneasy about Impactor's decision. When a Decepticon by the name of [[Fang]] started bullying [[Tusks|one of the bar's patrons]], Roadbuster urged Twin Twist not to get involved. But Twin Twist trashed Fang anyway, coming to the realization that as Autobots, it was always their duty to stand in the Decepticons' way. Casting their doubts aside, Roadbuster, Whirl, and Twin Twist all decided to go ahead with Operation: Volcano. Likewise, Impactor was convinced by Xaaron to go through with the mission, despite his earlier doubts. Unfortunately, Volcano was a bust, leaving Impactor dead and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] the new leader of the Wreckers. {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

[[File:RoadbusterdeathTimeWars.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.]]
After both [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and Optimus Prime wound up teleported back to Cybertron, Megatron set about spreading false rumors that a Decepticon spy, disguised as Optimus, had been set loose to infiltrate the Autobots' ranks. Roadbuster helped capture what he believed to be the imposter alongside the rest of the Wreckers. {{storylink|...The Harder They Die!}} {{storylink|Legion of the Lost!}} The Wreckers readied to gun down their captive, only for the execution to be interrupted by [[Outback (G1)|Outback]]. Though the little guy wasn't able to convince the others that Prime was the real thing, he created the distraction necessary for the Autobot leader to escape his restraints and vamoose. {{storylink|Under Fire!}} {{storylink|Distant Thunder!}} Prime's name was eventually cleared, leading to him rallying the Autobot forces on Cybertron, and leading them on many successful raids on Decepticon encampments. Roadbuster helped secure Decepticon energon stores on these raids, the last of which ended with Optimus Prime returning to Earth alongside Megatron and Ultra Magnus. {{storylink|Resurrection!}}

Roadbuster was absent from the Wreckers for a while, but returned to take part in the so-called Time Wars. The Wreckers were forced to temporarily ally with the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]] in order to combat the combined threat of [[Straxus (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. The mission to eliminate the two powerful Decepticon leaders was a complete disaster, with most of the Wreckers and Mayhems meeting violent ends. For Roadbuster's part, he managed to blow off a chunk of Galvatron's face with an experimental Decepticon [[Pathblaster]] weapon. However, as Roadbuster took the time to celebrate his shot, the weapon's power core exploded, killing him. {{storylink|Time Wars}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
[[File:ScattershotKillsRoadBusterUkAnnual88.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Shorten your stream! I don't want my face burned off!]]
In the year [[2510]], Roadbuster joined the Wreckers on Cybertron's northern front where they finally exterminated the last Decepticon outpost, bringing the war to an end. Later on, [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] called an official end to the war effort and announced his plans to pass the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] on to Springer. The Decepticons were not totally gone, however—a deep cover agent named [[Triton]] lived on inside the Autobot ranks. In order to stir up discord, Triton challenged Prime's decision, declaring that [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] was a better choice to carry the Matrix. Whirl manhandled the little creep to make him pipe down, but Triton punched the Wrecker to the ground. Roadbuster raised his gun in anger, but it was the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]] [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] who fired first in defense of Triton and Magnus's reputation, blowing up Roadbuster's head. This disastrous turn of events led to a new Autobot Civil War between the forces of Ultra Magnus and Springer. {{storylink|Peace}}
{{-}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{NoteRG1}}
[[File:Wreckers loose ends.jpg|thumb|upright=1.95|We're exterminators. Someone saw a [[Insecticon (G1)|cockroach]] up on twelve.]]
Roadbuster was a member of the Wreckers, under the command of [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]]. Acting against [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s explicit orders, they successfully brought a siege in the [[Pax Cybertronia Decommissioning Depot]] in [[Kalis]] to an end by trapping [[Venom (G1)|Venom]], [[Chop Shop (G1)|Chop Shop]], and [[Ransack (G1)|Ransack]] inside a [[detention-sphere]]. Soon afterwards, Kup led the Wreckers away from Cybertron to visit the other planets touched by the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] and they hitched a ride with [[Berko]]'s [[Cosmic Carnival]] to Earth. However Roadbuster and the Wreckers found the major cities of Earth had been devastated by Megatron, who promptly launched nuclear warheads at their shuttle, destroying it. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 1}}

Having managed to travel to Earth in the escape pods before the detonation of their shuttle, Roadbuster and the Wreckers made for the [[Deep Space Network]] in [[Goldstone]] to try and send a warning back to Cybertron. When they discovered that they were being pursued by the [[zombie]] army that Megatron had forged from the Decepticon victims of the [[Underbase Saga]], Springer ordered [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]], Roadbuster, and [[Leadfoot (G2)|Leadfoot]] to run interference and draw the zombies away from the rest of the team. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 2}}

While a distress call was successfully sent to Cybertron, Kup was captured by Megatron's forces and the remaining Wreckers found themselves confronting a vengeful [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Circuit Smasher]]. The super-powered human formerly known as Spike Witwicky was eventually talked down, and Roadbuster and the others were invited to [[Argus Base]], the headquarters of the human resistance. There, a plan was hatched to both rescue Kup and attack the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]—the core of Megatron's power base. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 3}}

[[File:Roadbuster CircuitSmasher LooseEnds4.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.75|Everything you are doing is bad. I want you to know this.]]
Roadbuster was put in command of the group that ventured into the [[Yukon]] to reach the Ark. He devised an attack plan to breach the outer perimeters of defense, assigning roles to the Wreckers and humans. Circuit Smasher took a moment to make sure he and Roadbuster saw eye-to-eye on the subject of the Ark, and after a tense pause, Roadbuster agreed that there'd be no attempts to salvage the ship for their own purposes. The attack began, and the group found themselves facing landmines and [[autogun]]s in their path. Eventually, Roadbuster and the rest made it through to the Ark itself, which released [[Guardian (Marvel)|Guardian]] units to bar the way. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 4}}

After engaging the Guardians, Circuit Smasher quickly noticed they weren't registering him as a threat. Roadbuster told him to exploit the advantage and get inside the Ark, while the rest held the Guardians off. Once inside, Circuit Smasher managed to disable the Ark's computer [[Aunty|Auntie]], putting a halt to both the Guardian units and Megatron's plans. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 5}} Along with [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], Roadbuster later kept watch over the secured Ark. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part One}}

Upon returning to Cybertron, Roadbuster worked crowd control as [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] gave a speech in [[Eugenesis Plaza]]. When a riot was incited, Roadbuster and the other Autobots engaged in some fisticuffs with the unruly mob. {{storylink|Destiny, Part One}} Later, when a group of agitated citizens set up a highway blockade, the Wreckers confronted the protestors. Roadbuster disapproved of Kup's hostile approach to the situation and opined that Springer wouldn't have handled things this way. Before Roadbuster and Kup could argue any further, the situation devolved into a brawl between the protestors and other irate citizens who wanted through the blockade. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Two}} Roadbuster participated in a raid on [[Fort Scyk]] with the other Wreckers, seeking to take down [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s cell of Decepticon insurgents. However, it turned out to be a trap and the Wreckers barely survived after Fort Scyk exploded with them in it. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Three}}

[[File:DestinyPt5 BludgeonRoadbuster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.55|"Get him!" That was your whole plan, huh- "get him."]]
During [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s massive attack on Cybertron, Roadbuster infiltrated the [[Warworld]] with the other Wreckers, seeking to disable it from within. They were confronted by Bludgeon himself, who dominated them in combat and cost Roadbuster an arm. In the end, Bludgeon was defeated by the newly arrived [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]], and the Wreckers managed to escape before the Warworld was destroyed. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Five}}

[[File:Roadbuster atmosfield RegenOne99.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|left|It's ''Milla'' Time!]]
The Wreckers were among the Autobot space fleet when Rodimus Prime ordered an attack on the [[Hub (G2)|Hub Network]] created by [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 3}} Ordered to "go dark" by Kup after Jhiaxus' forces began decimating the Autobots, Roadbuster and the others undertook a sabotage mission within the "[[slam rail]]" transit system that linked the network. Severing worlds from the network with targeted nuclear explosions and eliminating any resistance in their path, the Wreckers provided enough of a distraction for the other Autobots to escape as [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|other]] [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|factors]] in play led to the destruction of the Hub and Jhiaxus. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 4}}

Returning to Cybertron to find it transformed into a barren wasteland populated by [[shadow-leech]]es, the Autobots had to combat the [[Dark Matrix|dark entity]] formed from the corruption of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]]. For his part, Roadbuster was among a group that journeyed back to Earth through a [[space bridge]] portal to ascertain the creature's designs on the planet. They encountered [[Linda Chang]] and the remaining human resistance, who initially fired upon the Autobots. Having fought beside these humans before, Roadbuster managed to calm things down and the two groups compared notes. With the humans joining them, Roadbuster's group then journeyed to [[Nebulos]], where they were forced to put down the Matrix-corrupted [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]]. After Rodimus was forced to sever their connection with [[Primus]], Roadbuster, along with all other Transformers, became decidedly mortal and eventually died of old age. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 5}}

====''Transformers '84''====
[[File:Wreckers secrets and lies.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|right|Suck in the guts, guys.]]
Roadbuster and [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] met with [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and gave him a pep talk when the Autobot commander doubted his ability to measure up to the departed [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Having heard of Magnus' need of a "wrecking crew", Roadbuster joined a [[Wrecker|new team]] to aid [[Punch (G1)|Punch]] in sabotaging [[Project Dreadnought]]. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 3|Secrets & Lies #3}} The Wreckers deployed on their first mission to [[Stanix]] where Project Dreadnought was being enacted and encountered [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] guarding the site. Roadbuster and the others managed to fight past the [[combiner]] and other Decepticons present, seeing to the destruction of Dreadnought and establishing their rep for the many years of conflict to come. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 4|Secrets & Lies #4}}

===Marvel Storybooks continuity===
Roadbuster was stationed on [[Earth]]. The Autobots initially failed to stop a new plan of Megatron's to take millions of people hostage, but came back to fight again once they were repaired. Roadbuster blasted a hole in the Decepticons' fortress wall so the Autobots could get inside, taking pride in the power of his weapon. {{storylink|Battle for Earth}}

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

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:War and Peace 4 RoadbusterWhirl.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Kitten, what I think I'm saying is, sometimes, slag happens, somebody's gotta deal with it, and who ya gonna call?]]
When [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] went missing in a [[space bridge]] accident, Roadbuster became part of an elite force of Autobots known as the Wreckers who broke off as an independent faction, led by Springer. Much of their efforts were concentrated on keeping [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s [[Ultracon]]s contained inside [[Polyhex]] and away from the [[Tagan Heights]], an area which contributed to a full 40% of Cybertron's manufacturing potential. One of their missions brought them to blows against [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], who had allied himself with Ratbat's sub-faction. {{storylink|Escalation}} [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] joined the fight against the Decepticon combiner, but the resulting clash was so brutal that Roadbuster and the other Wreckers were forced to retreat to avoid becoming collateral damage. {{storylink|Devastation (issue)|Devastation}}

During the Age of Internment, Roadbuster was imprisoned by the Decepticons as slave labor along with most of the other surviving Autobots. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

Much later, after the loss of the ''Ark'', Roadbuster was one of the Autobots who helped train a new generation of soldiers called the [[Micromaster]]s. {{storylink|Victims of the Revolution}} After the Micromasters were combat-ready, Roadbuster, critically low on energy, was ambushed by a group of Decepticon Micromasters and defeated by them. A group of Autobot Micromasters led by [[Big Daddy (G1)|Big Daddy]] intervened and managed to pull Roadbuster's inert chassis out of there, sparing him the indignity of having what little [[Energon]] that remained in his system drained. {{storylink|Destined for Nothing|Destined For Nothing}}

During [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s rule of Cybertron, Roadbuster was a member of the new Wreckers, a small unit of Autobots under Ultra Magnus's command, dedicated to keeping the peace wherever (and however) necessary. {{storylink|Cold War (issue)|Cold War}} When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] released the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] from their imprisonment in Cybertron's [[Detention Banks]], the Wreckers were sent in to deal with the escapees. Unfortunately, both Roadbuster and [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] were crushed before Magnus brought the Stunticon combined form, [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], down. {{storylink|Passive Aggression}}
{{-}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
:*''First Appearance:'' [[Stormbringer issue 2|Transformers: Stormbringer #2]]

[[Image:The Roadbuster affair.jpg|thumb|300px|right|"On a mountain of skulls, in a castle of pain, I sat on a throne of blood!"]]
Before the war, Roadbuster was a member of the [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]] security services. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} He was quite brutally 'trained' as a cadet, including "[[Transform-up|mode drilling]]": being forced to transform over and over in quick succession. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 4|Sins of the Wreckers #4}} During all of this, he never learned to read and after the war started, Roadbuster signed up with the Autobots. {{storylink|Zero Point}}

At some point, Roadbuster was in charge of training cadets and developed a strong emotional bond to those in his care. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 1|Sins of the Wreckers #1}} [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] [[Size changing|shrank down]] to tiny form, crawled into Roadbuster's head and began whispering in his ear. Roadbuster came to believe it was [[Mortilus]] speaking to him and over time he began to do what the voice told him... which was to brutalise his cadets and eventually dump their lifeless bodies into a pit for the death-god to consume. As the cadets were forced to "mode drill" and savagely beaten, Roadbuster told them this was how ''he'' was taught, back in the day. The Autobots found out just in time to save [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] from this grisly fate and Prowl had Roadbuster locked up for a long, long time for what was assumed to be madness, as Roadbuster screamed out for Mortilus to talk to him again. The exact nature of the [[Roadbuster affair|whole sordid incident]] was covered up and after minimum rehab, Prowl had Roadbuster released back into the Wreckers to kill again, as a favour to Impactor. Roadbuster secretly still missed the voice and wanted it to come back. He was cured, all right. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 4|Sins of the Wreckers #4}} Roadbuster was present with the entire team to welcome [[Springer (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Springer]] into the Wreckers. {{storylink|Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers|Requiem of the Wreckers}}

[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers4-triumphoverevil.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|left|Since I joined these men, I've seen slag that'll turn you white!]]
Roadbuster and the Wreckers embarked on a hunt for [[Squadron X]], a Decepticon battle unit known for the atrocities it left in its wake. The hunt culminated in a battle between the two groups on [[Pova]]. Roadbuster himself brought down Squadron X's ship, the ''[[Pale Fire]]'', with a single shot. {{storylink|Bullets}} According to official paperwork, a desperate surprise tactic by Springer and Impactor, along with support from Roadbuster and [[Rack'n'Ruin (G1)|Rack'n'Ruin]], turned the tide in the Wreckers' favor and Squadron X was defeated. However, as the Wreckers were prepping them for transport and imprisonment, Squadron X managed to escape. Impactor would not allow this, and a second battle with them ended in the deaths of every single member of Squadron X. However, this particular version of events was a cover story. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4|Last Stand of the Wreckers #4}}

What had ''actually'' occurred on Pova was that the Wreckers were going to be forced to release the captive Squadron X, as they were violating a neutrality agreement with the Povians by fighting there. Not willing to go along with this, Impactor locked himself in a room with the bound and helpless Decepticons and personally executed them all. Roadbuster and the other Wreckers, save Springer, made no move to stop him. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}}

Having been the one who handed Impactor the gun that was used to execute Squadron X, Roadbuster was inwardly proud of his leader's actions. However, once Springer reported Impactor to [[Autobot High Command]], Roadbuster and the others realized that they were in danger of being implicated in the crime as well. Roadbuster and the other Wreckers approached Springer individually in the time leading up to Impactor's trial, each telling him that they had no idea what Impactor was going to do. For his part, Roadbuster claimed that he had thought Impactor WAS going to release Squadron X as planned, and that the gun was only for self-defense. The Wreckers asked Springer to be their new leader and Springer bought into their pleas, officially clearing them of complicity in Impactor's crime at the trial. {{storylink|Zero Point}}

[[File:Animals-RadarGatoraider.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|"Radar, you are a most fortunate individual!" 
"I know!" 
"You've been a participant in the biggest interdimensional cross rip since the [[Tunguska event|Tunguska Blast of 1909!]]" 
"Felt great...!" 
"I'd like to get a sample of your brain tissue." 
"Okay-AAHHKKK!"]]
At some point, the Wreckers attacked a Decepticon squad led by [[Krok (G1)|Krok]]. High on [[Syk]], Roadbuster tore out [[Radar]]'s spine and made him ''eat it''. The attack would traumatize Krok. {{storylink|Animals}}

Many stellar cycles later, Roadbuster used his considerable armament against the Decepticons holed up in their [[Infiltration protocol|siege mode]] armature on the world of [[Varas Centralus]] in the [[Kol System]]. During the battle he handed Springer a comm-unit with an urgent call from Operations Command: orders from [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] himself redeploying the Wreckers to Cybertron. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 2|Stormbringer #2}}

[[File:Roadbustertotherescue.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Why worry? Each one of us is carrying an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back.]]
After the Wreckers arrived on Cybertron, Roadbuster saved [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] and [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] from a group of [[Centurion droid]]s, before having [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] evacuate the two unconscious [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] out of the area. After the Wreckers blasted their way into [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s base and very, very, very quickly defeated the cultists, Roadbuster and Whirl rescued [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] from where he and the other Technobots were being recycled into raw materials. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}} After [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] returned to Cybertron, Roadbuster, [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]], and [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] served as advanced scouts, watching the giant [[Pretender]]'s activity. They legged it when Thunderwing unleashed a wave of destruction in memory of his failed attempts to convince [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] and the scientific community of Cybertron to support his experimentation. As the battle was joined, Roadbuster's group tried to get Thunderwing's attention, but were blown away by a thunderous clap of his giant hands. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}}

Much later, the Wreckers were called in by [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]'s unit to fight Thunderwing on [[Corata-Vaz]]. Roadbuster was part of the [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] ground assault, but all the Autobot combatants were blown away by the monster's ionic discharge. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}} Thunderwing eventually assumed his powered-up [[Super Mode|Ultra Mode]], and Roadbuster poured hundreds of rounds into the being's left flank before Jetfire came up with an idea to take control of Thunderwing. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}}

[[File:SpotlightSideswipe ThunderwingVSWreckers.jpg|right|upright=1.7|thumb|Funny us going out like this. Killed by a 100-foot [[Pretender]].]]
Jetfire managed to gain remote control using Bludgeon's old axis cradle trick, and the Wreckers slipped past to disable the [[Nega-Core]] that Thunderwing had been guarding. Jetfire eventually lost control and Thunderwing turned back to advance on Roadbuster and the others as they futilely poured firepower into the massive Pretender. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

Some time later, more than half of the Wreckers were captured and imprisoned by the Decepticon commander [[Turmoil]] and his crew. The recently rehabilitated [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] led a rescue team that included Roadbuster to infiltrate Turmoil's ship. There, they ran into [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], who was also trying to rescue the captured Wreckers. Roadbuster and the others managed to rescue their comrades and Kup formally offered Drift a spot on a new unit he was planning to form. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}}

Subsequently, Roadbuster appeared as part of the crew of the starship ''[[Trion]]'', under Kup's command. Receiving a distress call from [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]], Kup's team went to rescue him. They found Hot Rod being menaced by Bludgeon and the [[Pretender Monster|Monstructor Six]]. Bludgeon quickly commanded the team to merge into [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] and the [[combiner|gestalt]] easily brushed Roadbuster aside, knocking off his shoulder cannon. But Monstructor was soon thereafter defeated when [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] demonstrated his newly honed sniping skills. Bludgeon opted to retreat in his ship and the crew of the Trion, now joined by Hot Rod, went in pursuit of the fleeing Decepticons. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|Lost & Found}}

[[File:Slowmotionmoviewalkahm5.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|right|Let's show this prehistoric bitch how we do things downtown.]]
The Trion was eventually lured into an enemy ambush, and had its defenses disabled due to its command codes having been gleaned from an Autobot traitor. Forced to crash-land, Roadbuster was stranded with the remainder of the ship's crew on the surface of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], using their former ship as a base of operations. They eventually met up with the demoralized crew of the incapacitated Optimus Prime. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}}

After the Trion's crew had settled in, [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] and Roadbuster had a little chat outside, where Roadbuster revealed how frustrated he was that they had been taken down by the Decepticons without even a chance to shoot back. Noting Roadbuster's eagerness for a fight, Ironhide began to tell him something, but caught sight of a strange creature in the distance. It turned out to be an advance scout of the [[Insecticon swarm]], and Roadbuster immediately notified Kup of its presence. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}}

The Autobots soon relocated their base-camp, and in his vehicle mode, Roadbuster served as a mobile command platform for Kup to ride on and [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] to snipe from as they traveled. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}}

[[File:Roadbuster Loves Guns.jpg|right|upright=1.4|thumb|You're not ''sleeping'' with it, are you, Roadbuster?]]
After Optimus Prime was repaired and the Autobots prepared to make their final stand against the Insecticon swarm, [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] removed and modified one of the ''Trion''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s cannons to be used as a mounted turret for Roadbuster to fire. Roadbuster was quite enamored with the weapon and wanted to give it a name. When the swarm attacked, Roadbuster managed to destroy quite a few of them with his new cannon. But eventually he was forced to shove the cannon off its mount to crush a few of the Insecticon horde as they scaled the walls of the Autobots' temporary fortress. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}}

After the Autobots returned to Earth aboard [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], Roadbuster jumped into battle alongside his comrades against the Decepticons. He grappled with [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and overpowered him, disappointed that the Decepticon turned out to be a "lightweight". Roadbuster was then blasted away by Megatron. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} He survived though, and stood victorious behind Optimus Prime and the others as the Decepticons retreated. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

At some point following Megatron's defeat, Roadbuster became deeply involved with inventing a new weapon he dubbed the "[[Sparkeater (weapon)|Sparkeater]]", and was unavailable when Springer started to reform the Wreckers. {{storylink|Bullets}}

[[File:Roadbuster Bumblebee TheImpossibleKnot.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|No offense, guys, but I've gotta get my own lawyer.]]
He was on Earth when Optimus Prime chose to surrender to [[Skywatch]] two years after the defeat of Megatron. Hot Rod and some like-minded individuals broke off from the main Autobot force to find a way off the planet. Roadbuster chose to stay behind with the remaining Autobots, who elected [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] as their new leader. {{storylink|The Impossible Knot}} He had to learn how to ''not'' pat Bumblebee on the head when he saw him.{{storylink|Zero Point}}

After the liberation of [[Garrus-9]], Springer was left in a comatose state following near-fatal injuries received at the hands of [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]. Roadbuster, along with Whirl, were stationed on ''[[Debris]]'' to watch over their former leader. {{storylink|Zero Point}} (Hubcap was there too but Roadbuster did not recognise him) {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 4|Sins of the Wreckers #4}} Whirl attempted to euthanize Springer with the Sparkeater weapon Roadbuster had developed. Stopping him before the deed could be done, Roadbuster issued "the Veto" on Whirl; the ability of any Wrecker to remove any other Wrecker from the team. After Whirl had been removed from the premises, Roadbuster continued his solemn vigil over Springer alone. {{storylink|Interiors}} To help Springer reawaken, it was recommended by [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] that Roadbuster read to him from ''[[Wreckers: Declassified]]''.

Before starting, he had to undertake the non-trivial task of learning to read.

[[File:SinsoftheWreckers1 ImpactorRoadbusterArgue.jpg|thumb|right|upright=2.0|Let's see what happens when we take away the puppy.]]
Despite disliking his portrayal in them as a one-dimensional gun-nut, Roadbuster eventually read him every datalog—twice, the second time attempting the difficult words which escaped him the first time—except [[Wreckers: Declassified|113]], which detailed their showdown with Squadron X at Pova. Roadbuster was extremely guilty about lying to avoid taking the fall with Impactor, and confessed this to his unconscious leader, also acknowledging that he felt that Springer was the best leader the Wreckers had ever had. After this disclosure, Roadbuster noticed some faint signs of stirring from Springer. {{storylink|Zero Point}}

Years later, Roadbuster was still reading and believed this had made for a positive change in himself, even as Impactor believed Springer should be allowed to die with dignity. Roadbuster and Impactor both lamented the lack of work for the Wreckers, outside of titchy Decepticon cells; Impactor also lamented that his protege [[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]] had gone killcrazy nuts and had to be locked in a box, but Roadbuster said trying to help was a sign of strength. (And he mentioned the, ah, ''connection'' he'd had with trainees himself) During another round of their ongoing debate about euthanising Springer, with Impactor quietly checking that Roadbuster wasn't hearing the guy 'talk' to him, the leader suddenly ''got up'' and dragged them (and Hubcap) to Earth, alerted by Kup that Prowl was MIA. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 1|Sins of the Wreckers #1}}

[[File:SinsoftheWreckers2 RoadbustertorturesClawJaw.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|300px|left|Being miserable and treating other people like dirt is every Wrecker's god-given right!]]
Suspicion for the disappearance fell first on the human [[Verity Carlo]] but it turned out to be a Cybertronian faction, [[Mayhem Attack Squad|the anarchic Mayhem]], which was first revealed to a sickened Roadbuster when Kup began ''talking in Prowl's voice'' and revealed the manipulator had had remote access to Kup's brain for years. The job was still the job though, and the Wreckers pursued the Mayhems. After a vicious battle with Mayhem's living mobile HQ, [[Tidal Wave (G1)|Tidal Wave]], the Wreckers entered said HQ and Roadbuster began to violently torture [[Claw Jaw]] for info. Springer was horrified but Roadbuster just snapped back that reading to him didn't cancel out being a violent bastard or vice versa. The cowed Claw Jaw led them into the [[Noisemaze]] {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 2|Sins of the Wreckers #2}} but this turned out to be a trap: only Mayhems were protected against the Noisemaze dimension's mental destabilising! Roadbuster was knocked out by the sheer pain and taken to [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]], to be locked into the guilt extracting computer [[Impetus]] and spit out all his crimes. In among them, he admitted he deep down wished he'd been brave enough to euthanise Springer like Whirl had tired to. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 3|Sins of the Wreckers #3}}

[[Image:K-PLUTCH.jpg|thumb|300px|right|I'm terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought.]]

Tarantulas gleefully revealed to Roadbuster that way back in the day, he'd been "Mortilus" and had deliberately used Roadbuster to collect bodies for experiments; and Hubcap had been working for Tarantulas for ''years'', willing to do this in exchange for revenge against both Roadbuster and Prowl, for releasing him early. (Almost unnoticed by his fellows, an upset Roadbuster told Tarantulas he'd missed his voice and wanted to know "where did you ''go''?") It was lucky for all concerned that Hubcap had enough qualms to release the other Wreckers under Prowl's prodding but Roadbuster, even with the others, struggled to take down Tarantulas.

And so Roadbuster made a sacrifice play. After begging Springer to remember him as a friend and not remember him for all his violent horrors, he transformed to vehicle mode and rammed Tarantulas through a window and down to the rocks below. He survived the fall, but so had Tarantulas, who had shrunk down... and crawled inside the Wrecker's head. The last thing Roadbuster heard was one more malicious whisper before the spider mass-shifted ''back'' to regular size. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 4|Sins of the Wreckers #4}}

{{-}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
[[File:KreO-webcomic-6-Roadbuster.jpg|75px|thumb|left|[[Ernie Hudson|"This job is not worth eleven-five a year!"]]]]
Roadbuster was one of several Autobots reeling from the appearance of the mighty [[Devastator (Kre-O)|Devastator]]. {{Storylink|A New Menace! The Giant Soldier Devastator Appears!}}
{{-}}

===''Cloud''===
[[File:Cloud Roadbuster.jpg|thumb|"I love [[Japan|this town!]]"]]
Roadbuster is a [[Wrecker]], but unlike most other members of the volatile team, possesses a gentle, friendly and serious-minded personality. Sometimes he can get a bit ''too'' serious, though, and get bogged down by his doubts about the future, uncertain what will happen to him if peace is ever achieved and he won't be of use anymore. Skilled at both fighting and weapons engineering, Roadbuster wields the "Calibur Arms" (キャリバーアームズ ''Kyaribā Āmuzu''), a collection of weapons of his own design that can combine in various ways.

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Metamorphosis (Cloud)|Metamorphosis}} {{storylink|Overwhelm}} {{storylink|Concealment}} {{storylink|Struggle}} {{storylink|Fury (Cloud)|Fury}} {{storylink|Transcendence}} {{storylink|TFC-A04}} {{storylink|TFC-D04}} {{storylink|Transformers Cloud (issue)|Transformers Cloud}} {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Deadlock)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}}}}

===''Legends'' comic===
[[File:LG04 comic Roadbuster.jpg|thumb|"If there's a steady paycheck in it, I'll believe anything [[Tankor (BM)|you]] say."]]
Roadbuster and [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] were built in the [[Legends World]] by [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]], inspired by designs from a [[w:Special Armored Battalion Dorvack|certain '80s giant robot anime]], to aid him in his plans to return the world to how it was in the '80s. In spite of Tankor's design intentions, however, [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] recognized them as Autobots from a [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|British ''Transformers'' comic]], an origin story that confused the pair. While Whirl went on to have a change of heart and decided to be a hero instead, Roadbuster remained loyal to his commander Tankor and engaged his former partner in combat. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 4|Bonus Edition Vol. 4}} Declaring it time to enact his Total Humanity '80s Transformation Plan, Tankor entrusted his '80s Transformation Beam to Roadbuster and sent him to cause havoc by blasting everyone around him into various '80s forms. An impassioned speech from [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] briefly halted Tankor's resolve, leaving him open to attack, but Roadbuster loyally shielded his commander and was broken into pieces by an air-dropped Rattrap as a result. Tankor retreated and had Roadbuster fixed up, after which the two started running an '80s-themed café instead. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 5|Bonus Edition Vol. 5}}

Waspinator later taught [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] about Roadbuster and Whirl during his ''Transformers'' lesson, again explaining that they first appeared in a British comic. The concept of British Transformers had Megatron thinking of the pair as English stereotypes, and he imagined Roadbuster decked up as [[Sherlock Holmes]]. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 15#Whirl and Roadbuster Now on Sale, Buzz|Whirl and Roadbuster Now on Sale, Buzz}} On [[Christmas]], Roadbuster dressed up as a reindeer and helped Santa-Tankor hand out toys from the 80s. {{storylink|Merry X'mas!!}}

Roadbuster later got concerned about Tankor when he picked a fight with [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] and [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]]. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 17#I'm Tankor, dana!|I'm Tankor, dana!}} He then ran into Whirl again and was ready for a rematch, only to be taken aback when the self-styled "hero" ''took a hostage'', and even more so when the hostage took control of Whirl and forced him to pick up garbage. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 17|Whirl Versus Roadbuster!}} Eventually, Whirl returned to Tankor and Roadbuster's side and the three went back to terrorizing the population, but it all came to an end when a dimensionally displaced [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] defeated Tankor for good. Roadbuster and Whirl were left lost and confused about what to without their leader, so Jetfire invited them back to his [[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity|home dimension]], reasoning they'd fit in better there. The pair accepted his offer and traveled through a [[solitarium]] portal to the year [[2004]] of his universe, where they joined the Autobots. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 7|Bonus Edition Vol. 7}}

Upon meeting the [[Jumpstarter]]s, Whirl and Roadbuster introduced themselves as "Wreckers", something Waspinator had identified them as. Overhearing this, [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] thought it was a great team name and founded the Wreckers as a new Autobot unit, recruiting the duo into it. {{storylink|Jumpstarter Chapter#LG-07 Jetfire Sequel|LG-07 Jetfire Sequel}} Their first mission by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] was to clean up around [[Mount St. Hilary]]. {{storylink|Jumpstarter Chapter#G1 Wreckers Birth Story|G1 Wreckers Birth Story}} At one point he and Whirl explained their origins to the Jumpstarters, who would later create Legends World to begin with in order to ensure their comrades would be born. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 66|Bonus Edition Vol. 66}} In the year [[2021]], [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] recalled Roadbuster and Whirl's origins when he and his soldiers were reduced to heads and needed new bodies built. Using residual radiation acquired from the two Wreckers, Fortress located the Legends World and traveled there in search of the expertise used to build them. {{storylink|Headmaster Chapter Prologue}}

As Wreckers, Roadbuster and Whirl fought under [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] for many years, and one day in the late 2030s, they noticed he was getting fatter. A comment from Whirl about Springer's failed relationship with [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]] ended up upsetting their leader, and Roadbuster scrambled to try to cheer him up. When Springer sought to become his old macho self again, Roadbuster and Whirl had an idea, suggesting that he go to the Legends World and have their creator, Tankor (now [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]), build him a cool new body. The two came with him on the trip to revisit their old home and observe his reconstruction. {{storylink|LG19 Sprung Prologue}} They then returned to the G1 World where they pushed Springer into asking Arcee out. {{storylink|Jumpstarter Chapter#LG19 Springer Sequel|LG19 Springer Sequel}} Upon learning that the Legends World was under attack by [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]], Roadbuster and Whirl volunteered to return and defend their homeworld. {{storylink|Jumpstarter Chapter#LG65 Twin Twist Prologue|LG65 Twin Twist Prologue}} On arrival, they were pinned down by Windblade's [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]], leaving [[Twin Twist]] to take her on. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 65|Bonus Edition Vol. 65}}

After the Legends World was destroyed, Whirl ended up back in the G1 World. In [[2038]], he and Roadbuster were on [[Micro|Zone]], where he watched the [[Powered Master]]s duke it out with [[Violen Jiger]] in their old bodies. {{Storylink|The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 2}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
Roadbuster and [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] were enlisted to assist [[Nova Prime]] in battle against Nemesis Prime, an evil future version of Nova. They were unable to prevail against this future threat. {{storylink|Prime Evil}} Roadbuster was a member of the fearless Wreckers squad which liberated Garrus-9 from the grip of [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] and the [[Air Strike Patrol]], though they destroyed most of the facility in the process. {{storylink|The Wreckers}} [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and Roadbuster were sent to prevent [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] from reviving [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]. They failed, and were forced to help the two Decepticons defeat Thunderwing. {{storylink|Stormbringer (Legends)|Stormbringer}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:BattleTacticsRoadbuster.jpg|thumb|300px|right| "Whirl, somehow this reminds me of the time you tried to drill a hole in your head. Do you remember that?"]]
Roadbuster 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 recruited by collecting 70 units of Cybermetal, 30 units of Transmetal, and 20 exclusive cores. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===The Transformers===
[[File:G1Roadbuster toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|I ain't afraid of no road!]]
*'''Roadbuster''' (Deluxe Vehicle, [[1985]])
**''Accessories:'' Laser rifle, Linear Blaster Gun, Shrapnel Missile Launcher, 5 missiles, Control Pack (with 2 Handles), power pack, antenna, Infrared Range Finder, large wheel covers (left & right), small wheel covers (left & right)

:Roadbuster transforms into an orange and green cybertronic jeep armed with a large gun. In [[robot mode]] he can hold the jeep's gun, and also has another gun resembling a real world M16A1 rifle, and a shoulder-mounted missile launcher. He also wears a large backpack that has a very tall antenna and two articulated handlebars slung beneath his arms. Oh, and mustn't forget the snap-on armor plating that hides the jeep's tires.

:For a toy of his size, Roadbuster has an enormous number of accessories, of which the rangefinder for the jeep's gun may well be the smallest ever produced for any Transformer. Finding a loose complete Roadbuster can be very challenging—are you sure ''all'' the spare missiles are there? Better count again!

::*''[http://www.transformerland.com/wiki/toy-info/transformers-g1-deluxe-vehicles-roadbuster/578/ Patent info, price guide, and further reading on Roadbuster at Transformerland.com]''
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1985/Autobot/Roadbuster/roadbuster.htm More information on Roadbuster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Universe'' (2003)===
[[File:OTFCC unreleased Roadbuster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|My parents didn't believe in toys.]]
*'''Autobot Roadbuster''' (<s>[[2005]]</s>)
**''Accessories'': Crane/cannon, 2-part spare tire/blades, energon star, energon rifle

:A retool of ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' Energon Class [[Strongarm (Energon)#Energon|Strongarm]] as ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Roadbuster was part of [[3H Productions]]' proposal for an [[BotCon#Proposed.2FUnreleased exclusives|OTFCC 2005]] convention exclusive set. However, with the financial collapse of [[3H Productions]] in late 2004 and the subsequent transfer of the ''Transformers'' convention license to [[Fun Publications]], all plans for this toy (and its companion piece [[Brawn (G1)/toys#Universe (2003)|Brawn]]) were scrapped. It would have featured a new head and an Energon rifle.

{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}

===''Universe'' (2008)===
[[File:Universe comicpack Roadbuster toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Choose! Choose the form of the Destructor!]]
*'''Autobot Ambush''' (Two-pack, [[2008]])
**''Accessories:'' "Close-combat blade", Autobot [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]-style [[Cyber Key]]

:A [[Target]]-[[exclusive]] redeco of ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' Deluxe Class [[Hot Shot (Armada)/toys#CyCDF|Cybertron Defense Hot Shot]], ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' "Autobot Roadbuster" transforms into a modified {{w|M1117 Armored Security Vehicle|M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicle}}. When a Cyber Key is inserted into the back of the turret, the two "recoilless rifle" barrels open up into dual (non-firing) missile racks. Compartments on his shoulders and legs can also open up to reveal additional missile racks, while the front bumper halves flip outward to reveal machine guns and ''even more'' missile racks. Roadbuster also comes with a blade that can peg via [[5 mm post|5 mm-compatible post]] onto his hands or onto the front of his fist, and can stow between his legs in vehicle mode as an exhaust pipe of sorts. Additionally, the blade can be put away in a sheath on his leg, and the same sheath can be used to store his Cyber Key in vehicle mode. His (conveniently color-coded) red Cyber Key is unpainted, save for its silver Autobot symbol.

:The [[instructions]] and [[package art]] for this toy depict his green shoulder panels as being swapped.

:He is packed with the Voyager-sized [[Dirge (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Dirge]] and a comic book. In its first release in Canada, the set did not include a comic (in spite of the ''INCLUDES COMIC!'' marking on the package), and in the US, the set included the ''wrong'' comic. Instead of ''The Dark Ages'' issue "[[Escalation]]", which was meant for the "Standoff Beneath the Streets" Voyager-Deluxe two-pack of [[Springer (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Springer]] and [[Ratbat (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Ratbat]], the right comic was to be a reprint of "[[Target: 2006]]" parts [[Target: 2006#Wreck and Rule!|5]] and [[Target: 2006#The Devil You Know...|6]], which was similarly and erroneously included with the "Standoff Beneath the Streets" two-pack.

:This mold was also used to make ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' [[BotCon 2007]] [[Springer (G1)/toys#Timelines|Springer]] and served as the model for the non-toy ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' incarnation of [[Hardhead (BWN)#Beast Wars: Uprising|Hard Head]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/TFURoadbuster/roadbuster.htm More information on ''Universe'' Roadbuster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Generations''===
[[File:TFGenerations Voyager Roadbuster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|I tried to think of the most harmless thing. Something I loved from my childhood. Something that could never ever possibly destroy us.]]
*'''Roadbuster''' (Voyager Class, [[2014]])
**''Series / Number:'' '''02 / 008'''
**''Accessories:'' Launcher, missile, missile pod, pistol, rifle, cannon/rifle stock, cannon/rifle scope

:Part of the seventh wave of ''[[Transformers: Generations#Thrilling 30|Generations: Thrilling 30]]'' Voyager Class toys, Roadbuster (yes, without the "Autobot" prefix) is an all-new mold, transforming into an off-road vehicle. He comes with ''numerous'' weapons, all of which peg via 5mm post onto his vehicle rear/legs, shoulders, upper & lower arms, and hands: a spring-loaded, missile-firing launcher, a pistol, a rifle, a (nonfiring) missile pod, and two small cannons that respectively form the scope and stock of the rifle. All of his weapons can combine to form an unwieldy superweapon.

:Some of Roadbuster's 5mm ports appear to be slightly too small, most notably those on his shoulders, making it difficult to fit weapons into them. His bicep swivels are also commonly found to suffer from molding issues, impeding or outright preventing them from working. Due to obstruction as a result of molding in robot mode, his legs have little-to-no forward articulation, yet extreme backwards articulation.

:Roadbuster also comes with a [[sticker]] sheet to help give him some detail, such as his much-needed Autobot chest insignia. It also comes with an alternative Wrecker insignia, although the clear-plastic nature of the stickers means that the blue ends up blackish when placed on his orange chest. Bummer. Most of the stickers are actually a pre-cut rectangular size, meaning almost all the stickers don't actually fit onto their designated spots, leading to people either leaving them off, trimming them, or placing them in different spots.

:This mold was also used by [[Transformers Cloud|''Cloud'']] Roadbuster and [[BotCon 2015]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Timelines|General Optimus Prime]] and served as the basis of the non-toy ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' incarnations of [[Killer Punch#Beast Wars: Uprising|Killer Punch]] and [[Guiledart#Beast Wars: Uprising|Guiledart]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2014/Autobot/GenRoadbuster/roadbuster.htm More information on ''Generations'' Roadbuster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Legends''===
[[File:Legends-toy Roadbuster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Relax, I'm not the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.]]
*'''Roadbuster''' ([[November 29]], 2014)
**''ID number:'' '''LG04'''
**''Accessories:'' Launcher, missile, missile pod, pistol, rifle, cannon/rifle stock, cannon/rifle scope

:''Legends'' Roadbuster is a redeco of ''Generations'' Voyager Class Roadbuster with some ever-so-slight changes, such as his optics are now unpainted giving him a light piping effect, completely orange thighs and a single patch of green on both his lower side legs. He doesn't come with a sticker sheet, instead having an Autobot sigil tampographed on his chest, but does come with a leaflet featuring a character profile, tech specs and the [[Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 4|''Legends'' Bonus Edition Vol. 4]] mini-comic. There are some reports of mold degradation, especially on his loose ratcheted shoulder joints.
{{-}}

===''Cloud''===
[[File:Takaratomy-cloud-roadbuster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"I'm the best. I'm the beautiful. I'm the only Roadbuster! I'm back!"]]
*'''Roadbuster''' ([[March 21]], [[2014]])
**''ID number:'' '''TFC-A04'''
**''Accessories:'' Launcher, missile, missile pod, pistol, rifle, cannon/rifle stock, cannon/rifle scope

:''[[Transformers Cloud|Cloud]]'' Roadbuster is a red and blue [[redeco]] of ''Generations'' Voyager Class [[#Generations|Roadbuster]] as a homage to [[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|''Energon'']] [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] (whose Japanese name was "Roadbuster"). It is unknown if he retains the loose ratcheted shoulder joints from the ''Legends'' release above.

:The first 500 customers who preordered got 1 of 3 gifts: the [[Arms Micron]] [[O.P.#Shining|Shining O.P.]], the Arms Micron [[Firebolt (Prime)#Toys|Autobot Firebolt Clear Yellow Version]], or ''EZ Collection'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Lost Age|Convoy Anniversary Clear Version]].
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===''EM Gōkin''===
[[File:EMGokin Roadbuster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Grab your stick! HOLDING! Heat 'em up! SMOKIN'! Make 'em hard! READY!"]]
*'''Transformers Roadbuster''' (2014)
**''ID number:'' '''EM-04'''
**''Accessories:'' Handheld Laser Rifle, back-mounted Linear Blaster Gun, backpack/Shrapnel Missile Launcher, shell, two fists, open left hand, display stand

:Produced by [[Art Storm]] as part of their ''EM Gōkin'' line, this posable but non-transforming Roadbuster figure shares the same origin as his original toy, being a fully licensed [[redeco]] of ''EM Gōkin'' EM-01 Mugen Calibur. His backpack piece is [[retool]]ed to add his trademark shoulder-mounted missile launcher, which can rest against his back or flip over his shoulder, and he lacks Mugen Calibur's ''Dorvack''-specific accessories. In addition to two default clenched fists, Roadbuster comes with a splayed open left hand and a right hand molded to his Laser Rifle, and on his back you can mount the aforementioned launcher backpack as well as an unwieldable Linear Blaster Gun. He also includes a shell that can be inserted in the handheld rifle's barrel, and a display stand with an Autobot symbol.

::*''[http://artstorm.co.jp/emgokin_roadbuster.html More information on ''EM Gōkin'' Roadbuster at Art Storm's official site]''
{{-}}

===''ES Gōkin''===
[[File:ESGokin Roadbuster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Roadbuster:...You know, I just realized I haven't had a successful test of all this equipment yet...I blame myself. Whirl: So do I.]]
*'''Transformers Roadbuster''' (2014)
**''Accessories:'' Laser Rifle, Linear Blaster Gun, Shrapnel Missile Launcher, two fists, two open hands, gun-wielding right hand, display stand

:Another Art Storm release, ''ES Gōkin'' Roadbuster is a cute [[super deformed]] take on the character. Similar to his ''EM'' counterpart he is a redeco/retool of ''ES Gōkin'' Mugen Calibur with an added shoulder launcher accessory, but ''this'' toy can be transformed into (an adorably chubby) jeep mode after [[Partformer|taking off his head]]. He comes with a handheld Laser Rifle that can be taken apart and combined with the back-mounted Linear Blaster Gun to increase the latter's length in vehicle mode, while the remaining handle stores on the jeep's side. Roadbuster also features an electronic light-up visor activated by a button on the back on his head.

::*''[http://artstorm.co.jp/esgokin_roadbuster.html More information on ''ES Gōkin'' Roadbuster at Art Storm's official site]''
{{-}}

===''Tiny Titans''===
*'''Roadbuster''' (Tiny Titans, 2015)
**''Series'': '''4'''
**''Number'': '''7/12'''

: Part of the fourth assortment of ''[[Tiny Titans]]'' [[blindpacking|blindpacks]], this version of Roadbuster is a very small, soft-plastic figure of him in robot mode.

: He includes a collectible card that renders him in the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 franchise)|2015 ''Robots in Disguise'']] styling. The card includes a scan-badge for the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (mobile game)|''Robots in Disguise'' mobile game]], which unlocks a random amount of Energon "currency" and a randomized bonus power-up item.

: This wave saw fairly minimal release at "big box" retailers, but unlike other waves, was ''not'' picked up by drug stores and the like later, making them particularly hard to find.
===Transformers Trading Card Game===
[[File:W5Roadbuster.jpg|thumb|Straight from the pages of Tobin's Spirit Guide.]]
*'''Roadbuster, Ground Assault Commander''' (2020)
**'''Wave 5: Titan Masters Attack'''
**''Rarity: '''''SRT'''
**''Card Number: '''''T34/T46'''
**''Stars: ''11

:This card's set was originally set for an April 2020 release, however due to the global COVID-19 pandemic the release was pushed back to May 29, 2020.
{{-}}

==Notes==
*Both [[Deluxe Vehicle]]s were licensed from [[Takatoku Toys]] by [[Hasbro]] for inclusion in the 1985 line, and hence were not included in the Japanese line, the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]], or the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|US Marvel comic]]. The Roadbuster mold was originally "Mugen Calibur" (ムゲンキャリバー) from the ''{{w|Special Armored Battalion Dorvack|Dorvack}}'' toyline, though the ''Transformers'' release uses a completely different deco.
*The ''[[Transformers Generations (guidebook)|Transformers Generations]]'' guidebook [[Engrish|mistakenly]] spelled Roadbuster's name as "Roadbaster". This would seem to imply that the cannon on his shoulder is loaded with piping hot giblet gravy.
*Poor Roadbuster never got a printed ''[[The Transformers Universe]]'' bio. One was written, though, and finally revealed to the fans on [http://boltax.blogspot.com/2011/01/extended-bio-whirl.html ''Disciples of Boltax''] in 2010.
*Like all non-toy robot Kreons in the ''Kre-O'' comics, Roadbuster is made from existing ''Kre-O'' parts. He uses the [[Hound (G1)/toys#Kre-O|Hound]] helmet, and a backpack made from a 2x4 harness, a pair of 1x2 plates with side-bars and a [[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]] cannon. He also carries a "scoped" small pistol and an M-16-style rifle.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Roadbuster''' (ロードバスター ''Rōdobasutā'')
*''French:'' '''Cahot''' (Canada, "Jolt")

[[Category:Cloud Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Autobots]]
[[Category:Kre-O Autobots]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Legends Autobots]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:Target exclusives]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Wreckers]]

Roadbuster (G1)

2021-05-02T17:58:22Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Transformers Trading Card Game */

{{factions|autobot|wreckers}}
{{disambig3|Roadbuster}}
:''Roadbuster is an [[Autobot]] [[Deluxe Vehicle]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:G1Roadbuster MTMTE.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|[[Ghostbusters|Who ya gonna call?]]]]

'''Roadbuster''' is a powerful and charismatic fighter. Usually armed to the teeth, he's an inspiration to other Autobots in combat and a natural leader on any battlefield. Outside of combat though, his natural ease and surety fail him. He simply doesn't know how to handle life out of combat. He becomes the quietest of the Autobots, grows withdrawn and depressed, and is easily bored. He counters this by spending most of his free time between battles either planning for the next one or "demolishing" any random [[Decepticon]]s he can find. Some Autobots worry about what will become of the heroic and well-loved Roadbuster they know if the war ever ends. Combat truly is his life and without it, he might just fade away.

Roadbuster is a member of the elite [[Wrecker]]s unit in, well, every universe he's been in.

Sometimes his name is spelled '''Road Buster'''.

{{bigquote|Know what you call thirty enemy combatants on the wrong side of an atmos-field? A good start.|Roadbuster|"[[The War to End All Wars, Part 4]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
[[File:Target2006 RoadbusterwatchesShrapnel.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|I'm studying the effect of negative reinforcement on ESP ability.]]
Roadbuster was a member of the elite Wreckers unit under the command of [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]]. Alongside [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], he accompanied his commander as Impactor argued with [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]] over [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]' trip to [[Earth]] to investigate the disappearance of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]].

[[File:Target 2006 Whirl Roadbuster Do It.jpg|right|upright=1.5|thumb|I love this plan! I'm excited to be a part of it!]]
Roadbuster was a rather hardened soldier, deliberately feeding false information to an Autobot who had turned [[Autobot traitor|informant]] for the Decepticons, and stood by in the shadows while [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] tortured the Autobot for the info and then executed him. Despite allowing this to happen, he still felt that even a traitor deserved better than that. Roadbuster took part in a training session with the rest of the Wreckers involving [[facsimile construct]]s. The training session was in anticipation of [[Operation: Volcano]], an effort to assassinate some of the Decepticons' deadliest warriors. When Impactor decided that the Wreckers were going to bow out of Operation: Volcano, Roadbuster, Whirl, and [[Twin Twist]] took some down-time at [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]]. Both Twin Twist and Roadbuster felt distinctly uneasy about Impactor's decision. When a Decepticon by the name of [[Fang]] started bullying [[Tusks|one of the bar's patrons]], Roadbuster urged Twin Twist not to get involved. But Twin Twist trashed Fang anyway, coming to the realization that as Autobots, it was always their duty to stand in the Decepticons' way. Casting their doubts aside, Roadbuster, Whirl, and Twin Twist all decided to go ahead with Operation: Volcano. Likewise, Impactor was convinced by Xaaron to go through with the mission, despite his earlier doubts. Unfortunately, Volcano was a bust, leaving Impactor dead and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] the new leader of the Wreckers. {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

[[File:RoadbusterdeathTimeWars.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.]]
After both [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and Optimus Prime wound up teleported back to Cybertron, Megatron set about spreading false rumors that a Decepticon spy, disguised as Optimus, had been set loose to infiltrate the Autobots' ranks. Roadbuster helped capture what he believed to be the imposter alongside the rest of the Wreckers. {{storylink|...The Harder They Die!}} {{storylink|Legion of the Lost!}} The Wreckers readied to gun down their captive, only for the execution to be interrupted by [[Outback (G1)|Outback]]. Though the little guy wasn't able to convince the others that Prime was the real thing, he created the distraction necessary for the Autobot leader to escape his restraints and vamoose. {{storylink|Under Fire!}} {{storylink|Distant Thunder!}} Prime's name was eventually cleared, leading to him rallying the Autobot forces on Cybertron, and leading them on many successful raids on Decepticon encampments. Roadbuster helped secure Decepticon energon stores on these raids, the last of which ended with Optimus Prime returning to Earth alongside Megatron and Ultra Magnus. {{storylink|Resurrection!}}

Roadbuster was absent from the Wreckers for a while, but returned to take part in the so-called Time Wars. The Wreckers were forced to temporarily ally with the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]] in order to combat the combined threat of [[Straxus (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. The mission to eliminate the two powerful Decepticon leaders was a complete disaster, with most of the Wreckers and Mayhems meeting violent ends. For Roadbuster's part, he managed to blow off a chunk of Galvatron's face with an experimental Decepticon [[Pathblaster]] weapon. However, as Roadbuster took the time to celebrate his shot, the weapon's power core exploded, killing him. {{storylink|Time Wars}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
[[File:ScattershotKillsRoadBusterUkAnnual88.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Shorten your stream! I don't want my face burned off!]]
In the year [[2510]], Roadbuster joined the Wreckers on Cybertron's northern front where they finally exterminated the last Decepticon outpost, bringing the war to an end. Later on, [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] called an official end to the war effort and announced his plans to pass the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] on to Springer. The Decepticons were not totally gone, however—a deep cover agent named [[Triton]] lived on inside the Autobot ranks. In order to stir up discord, Triton challenged Prime's decision, declaring that [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] was a better choice to carry the Matrix. Whirl manhandled the little creep to make him pipe down, but Triton punched the Wrecker to the ground. Roadbuster raised his gun in anger, but it was the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]] [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] who fired first in defense of Triton and Magnus's reputation, blowing up Roadbuster's head. This disastrous turn of events led to a new Autobot Civil War between the forces of Ultra Magnus and Springer. {{storylink|Peace}}
{{-}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{NoteRG1}}
[[File:Wreckers loose ends.jpg|thumb|upright=1.95|We're exterminators. Someone saw a [[Insecticon (G1)|cockroach]] up on twelve.]]
Roadbuster was a member of the Wreckers, under the command of [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]]. Acting against [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s explicit orders, they successfully brought a siege in the [[Pax Cybertronia Decommissioning Depot]] in [[Kalis]] to an end by trapping [[Venom (G1)|Venom]], [[Chop Shop (G1)|Chop Shop]], and [[Ransack (G1)|Ransack]] inside a [[detention-sphere]]. Soon afterwards, Kup led the Wreckers away from Cybertron to visit the other planets touched by the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] and they hitched a ride with [[Berko]]'s [[Cosmic Carnival]] to Earth. However Roadbuster and the Wreckers found the major cities of Earth had been devastated by Megatron, who promptly launched nuclear warheads at their shuttle, destroying it. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 1}}

Having managed to travel to Earth in the escape pods before the detonation of their shuttle, Roadbuster and the Wreckers made for the [[Deep Space Network]] in [[Goldstone]] to try and send a warning back to Cybertron. When they discovered that they were being pursued by the [[zombie]] army that Megatron had forged from the Decepticon victims of the [[Underbase Saga]], Springer ordered [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]], Roadbuster, and [[Leadfoot (G2)|Leadfoot]] to run interference and draw the zombies away from the rest of the team. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 2}}

While a distress call was successfully sent to Cybertron, Kup was captured by Megatron's forces and the remaining Wreckers found themselves confronting a vengeful [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Circuit Smasher]]. The super-powered human formerly known as Spike Witwicky was eventually talked down, and Roadbuster and the others were invited to [[Argus Base]], the headquarters of the human resistance. There, a plan was hatched to both rescue Kup and attack the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]—the core of Megatron's power base. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 3}}

[[File:Roadbuster CircuitSmasher LooseEnds4.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.75|Everything you are doing is bad. I want you to know this.]]
Roadbuster was put in command of the group that ventured into the [[Yukon]] to reach the Ark. He devised an attack plan to breach the outer perimeters of defense, assigning roles to the Wreckers and humans. Circuit Smasher took a moment to make sure he and Roadbuster saw eye-to-eye on the subject of the Ark, and after a tense pause, Roadbuster agreed that there'd be no attempts to salvage the ship for their own purposes. The attack began, and the group found themselves facing landmines and [[autogun]]s in their path. Eventually, Roadbuster and the rest made it through to the Ark itself, which released [[Guardian (Marvel)|Guardian]] units to bar the way. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 4}}

After engaging the Guardians, Circuit Smasher quickly noticed they weren't registering him as a threat. Roadbuster told him to exploit the advantage and get inside the Ark, while the rest held the Guardians off. Once inside, Circuit Smasher managed to disable the Ark's computer [[Aunty|Auntie]], putting a halt to both the Guardian units and Megatron's plans. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 5}} Along with [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], Roadbuster later kept watch over the secured Ark. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part One}}

Upon returning to Cybertron, Roadbuster worked crowd control as [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] gave a speech in [[Eugenesis Plaza]]. When a riot was incited, Roadbuster and the other Autobots engaged in some fisticuffs with the unruly mob. {{storylink|Destiny, Part One}} Later, when a group of agitated citizens set up a highway blockade, the Wreckers confronted the protestors. Roadbuster disapproved of Kup's hostile approach to the situation and opined that Springer wouldn't have handled things this way. Before Roadbuster and Kup could argue any further, the situation devolved into a brawl between the protestors and other irate citizens who wanted through the blockade. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Two}} Roadbuster participated in a raid on [[Fort Scyk]] with the other Wreckers, seeking to take down [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s cell of Decepticon insurgents. However, it turned out to be a trap and the Wreckers barely survived after Fort Scyk exploded with them in it. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Three}}

[[File:DestinyPt5 BludgeonRoadbuster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.55|"Get him!" That was your whole plan, huh- "get him."]]
During [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s massive attack on Cybertron, Roadbuster infiltrated the [[Warworld]] with the other Wreckers, seeking to disable it from within. They were confronted by Bludgeon himself, who dominated them in combat and cost Roadbuster an arm. In the end, Bludgeon was defeated by the newly arrived [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]], and the Wreckers managed to escape before the Warworld was destroyed. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Five}}

[[File:Roadbuster atmosfield RegenOne99.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|left|It's ''Milla'' Time!]]
The Wreckers were among the Autobot space fleet when Rodimus Prime ordered an attack on the [[Hub (G2)|Hub Network]] created by [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 3}} Ordered to "go dark" by Kup after Jhiaxus' forces began decimating the Autobots, Roadbuster and the others undertook a sabotage mission within the "[[slam rail]]" transit system that linked the network. Severing worlds from the network with targeted nuclear explosions and eliminating any resistance in their path, the Wreckers provided enough of a distraction for the other Autobots to escape as [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|other]] [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|factors]] in play led to the destruction of the Hub and Jhiaxus. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 4}}

Returning to Cybertron to find it transformed into a barren wasteland populated by [[shadow-leech]]es, the Autobots had to combat the [[Dark Matrix|dark entity]] formed from the corruption of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]]. For his part, Roadbuster was among a group that journeyed back to Earth through a [[space bridge]] portal to ascertain the creature's designs on the planet. They encountered [[Linda Chang]] and the remaining human resistance, who initially fired upon the Autobots. Having fought beside these humans before, Roadbuster managed to calm things down and the two groups compared notes. With the humans joining them, Roadbuster's group then journeyed to [[Nebulos]], where they were forced to put down the Matrix-corrupted [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]]. After Rodimus was forced to sever their connection with [[Primus]], Roadbuster, along with all other Transformers, became decidedly mortal and eventually died of old age. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 5}}

====''Transformers '84''====
[[File:Wreckers secrets and lies.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|right|Suck in the guts, guys.]]
Roadbuster and [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] met with [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and gave him a pep talk when the Autobot commander doubted his ability to measure up to the departed [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Having heard of Magnus' need of a "wrecking crew", Roadbuster joined a [[Wrecker|new team]] to aid [[Punch (G1)|Punch]] in sabotaging [[Project Dreadnought]]. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 3|Secrets & Lies #3}} The Wreckers deployed on their first mission to [[Stanix]] where Project Dreadnought was being enacted and encountered [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] guarding the site. Roadbuster and the others managed to fight past the [[combiner]] and other Decepticons present, seeing to the destruction of Dreadnought and establishing their rep for the many years of conflict to come. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 4|Secrets & Lies #4}}

===Marvel Storybooks continuity===
Roadbuster was stationed on [[Earth]]. The Autobots initially failed to stop a new plan of Megatron's to take millions of people hostage, but came back to fight again once they were repaired. Roadbuster blasted a hole in the Decepticons' fortress wall so the Autobots could get inside, taking pride in the power of his weapon. {{storylink|Battle for Earth}}

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

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:War and Peace 4 RoadbusterWhirl.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Kitten, what I think I'm saying is, sometimes, slag happens, somebody's gotta deal with it, and who ya gonna call?]]
When [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] went missing in a [[space bridge]] accident, Roadbuster became part of an elite force of Autobots known as the Wreckers who broke off as an independent faction, led by Springer. Much of their efforts were concentrated on keeping [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s [[Ultracon]]s contained inside [[Polyhex]] and away from the [[Tagan Heights]], an area which contributed to a full 40% of Cybertron's manufacturing potential. One of their missions brought them to blows against [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], who had allied himself with Ratbat's sub-faction. {{storylink|Escalation}} [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] joined the fight against the Decepticon combiner, but the resulting clash was so brutal that Roadbuster and the other Wreckers were forced to retreat to avoid becoming collateral damage. {{storylink|Devastation (issue)|Devastation}}

During the Age of Internment, Roadbuster was imprisoned by the Decepticons as slave labor along with most of the other surviving Autobots. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

Much later, after the loss of the ''Ark'', Roadbuster was one of the Autobots who helped train a new generation of soldiers called the [[Micromaster]]s. {{storylink|Victims of the Revolution}} After the Micromasters were combat-ready, Roadbuster, critically low on energy, was ambushed by a group of Decepticon Micromasters and defeated by them. A group of Autobot Micromasters led by [[Big Daddy (G1)|Big Daddy]] intervened and managed to pull Roadbuster's inert chassis out of there, sparing him the indignity of having what little [[Energon]] that remained in his system drained. {{storylink|Destined for Nothing|Destined For Nothing}}

During [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s rule of Cybertron, Roadbuster was a member of the new Wreckers, a small unit of Autobots under Ultra Magnus's command, dedicated to keeping the peace wherever (and however) necessary. {{storylink|Cold War (issue)|Cold War}} When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] released the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] from their imprisonment in Cybertron's [[Detention Banks]], the Wreckers were sent in to deal with the escapees. Unfortunately, both Roadbuster and [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] were crushed before Magnus brought the Stunticon combined form, [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], down. {{storylink|Passive Aggression}}
{{-}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
:*''First Appearance:'' [[Stormbringer issue 2|Transformers: Stormbringer #2]]

[[Image:The Roadbuster affair.jpg|thumb|300px|right|"On a mountain of skulls, in a castle of pain, I sat on a throne of blood!"]]
Before the war, Roadbuster was a member of the [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]] security services. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} He was quite brutally 'trained' as a cadet, including "[[Transform-up|mode drilling]]": being forced to transform over and over in quick succession. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 4|Sins of the Wreckers #4}} During all of this, he never learned to read and after the war started, Roadbuster signed up with the Autobots. {{storylink|Zero Point}}

At some point, Roadbuster was in charge of training cadets and developed a strong emotional bond to those in his care. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 1|Sins of the Wreckers #1}} [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] [[Size changing|shrank down]] to tiny form, crawled into Roadbuster's head and began whispering in his ear. Roadbuster came to believe it was [[Mortilus]] speaking to him and over time he began to do what the voice told him... which was to brutalise his cadets and eventually dump their lifeless bodies into a pit for the death-god to consume. As the cadets were forced to "mode drill" and savagely beaten, Roadbuster told them this was how ''he'' was taught, back in the day. The Autobots found out just in time to save [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] from this grisly fate and Prowl had Roadbuster locked up for a long, long time for what was assumed to be madness, as Roadbuster screamed out for Mortilus to talk to him again. The exact nature of the [[Roadbuster affair|whole sordid incident]] was covered up and after minimum rehab, Prowl had Roadbuster released back into the Wreckers to kill again, as a favour to Impactor. Roadbuster secretly still missed the voice and wanted it to come back. He was cured, all right. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 4|Sins of the Wreckers #4}} Roadbuster was present with the entire team to welcome [[Springer (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Springer]] into the Wreckers. {{storylink|Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers|Requiem of the Wreckers}}

[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers4-triumphoverevil.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|left|Since I joined these men, I've seen slag that'll turn you white!]]
Roadbuster and the Wreckers embarked on a hunt for [[Squadron X]], a Decepticon battle unit known for the atrocities it left in its wake. The hunt culminated in a battle between the two groups on [[Pova]]. Roadbuster himself brought down Squadron X's ship, the ''[[Pale Fire]]'', with a single shot. {{storylink|Bullets}} According to official paperwork, a desperate surprise tactic by Springer and Impactor, along with support from Roadbuster and [[Rack'n'Ruin (G1)|Rack'n'Ruin]], turned the tide in the Wreckers' favor and Squadron X was defeated. However, as the Wreckers were prepping them for transport and imprisonment, Squadron X managed to escape. Impactor would not allow this, and a second battle with them ended in the deaths of every single member of Squadron X. However, this particular version of events was a cover story. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4|Last Stand of the Wreckers #4}}

What had ''actually'' occurred on Pova was that the Wreckers were going to be forced to release the captive Squadron X, as they were violating a neutrality agreement with the Povians by fighting there. Not willing to go along with this, Impactor locked himself in a room with the bound and helpless Decepticons and personally executed them all. Roadbuster and the other Wreckers, save Springer, made no move to stop him. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}}

Having been the one who handed Impactor the gun that was used to execute Squadron X, Roadbuster was inwardly proud of his leader's actions. However, once Springer reported Impactor to [[Autobot High Command]], Roadbuster and the others realized that they were in danger of being implicated in the crime as well. Roadbuster and the other Wreckers approached Springer individually in the time leading up to Impactor's trial, each telling him that they had no idea what Impactor was going to do. For his part, Roadbuster claimed that he had thought Impactor WAS going to release Squadron X as planned, and that the gun was only for self-defense. The Wreckers asked Springer to be their new leader and Springer bought into their pleas, officially clearing them of complicity in Impactor's crime at the trial. {{storylink|Zero Point}}

[[File:Animals-RadarGatoraider.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|"Radar, you are a most fortunate individual!" 
"I know!" 
"You've been a participant in the biggest interdimensional cross rip since the [[Tunguska event|Tunguska Blast of 1909!]]" 
"Felt great...!" 
"I'd like to get a sample of your brain tissue." 
"Okay-AAHHKKK!"]]
At some point, the Wreckers attacked a Decepticon squad led by [[Krok (G1)|Krok]]. High on [[Syk]], Roadbuster tore out [[Radar]]'s spine and made him ''eat it''. The attack would traumatize Krok. {{storylink|Animals}}

Many stellar cycles later, Roadbuster used his considerable armament against the Decepticons holed up in their [[Infiltration protocol|siege mode]] armature on the world of [[Varas Centralus]] in the [[Kol System]]. During the battle he handed Springer a comm-unit with an urgent call from Operations Command: orders from [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] himself redeploying the Wreckers to Cybertron. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 2|Stormbringer #2}}

[[File:Roadbustertotherescue.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Why worry? Each one of us is carrying an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back.]]
After the Wreckers arrived on Cybertron, Roadbuster saved [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] and [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] from a group of [[Centurion droid]]s, before having [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] evacuate the two unconscious [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] out of the area. After the Wreckers blasted their way into [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s base and very, very, very quickly defeated the cultists, Roadbuster and Whirl rescued [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] from where he and the other Technobots were being recycled into raw materials. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}} After [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] returned to Cybertron, Roadbuster, [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]], and [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] served as advanced scouts, watching the giant [[Pretender]]'s activity. They legged it when Thunderwing unleashed a wave of destruction in memory of his failed attempts to convince [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] and the scientific community of Cybertron to support his experimentation. As the battle was joined, Roadbuster's group tried to get Thunderwing's attention, but were blown away by a thunderous clap of his giant hands. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}}

Much later, the Wreckers were called in by [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]'s unit to fight Thunderwing on [[Corata-Vaz]]. Roadbuster was part of the [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] ground assault, but all the Autobot combatants were blown away by the monster's ionic discharge. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}} Thunderwing eventually assumed his powered-up [[Super Mode|Ultra Mode]], and Roadbuster poured hundreds of rounds into the being's left flank before Jetfire came up with an idea to take control of Thunderwing. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}}

[[File:SpotlightSideswipe ThunderwingVSWreckers.jpg|right|upright=1.7|thumb|Funny us going out like this. Killed by a 100-foot [[Pretender]].]]
Jetfire managed to gain remote control using Bludgeon's old axis cradle trick, and the Wreckers slipped past to disable the [[Nega-Core]] that Thunderwing had been guarding. Jetfire eventually lost control and Thunderwing turned back to advance on Roadbuster and the others as they futilely poured firepower into the massive Pretender. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

Some time later, more than half of the Wreckers were captured and imprisoned by the Decepticon commander [[Turmoil]] and his crew. The recently rehabilitated [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] led a rescue team that included Roadbuster to infiltrate Turmoil's ship. There, they ran into [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], who was also trying to rescue the captured Wreckers. Roadbuster and the others managed to rescue their comrades and Kup formally offered Drift a spot on a new unit he was planning to form. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}}

Subsequently, Roadbuster appeared as part of the crew of the starship ''[[Trion]]'', under Kup's command. Receiving a distress call from [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]], Kup's team went to rescue him. They found Hot Rod being menaced by Bludgeon and the [[Pretender Monster|Monstructor Six]]. Bludgeon quickly commanded the team to merge into [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] and the [[combiner|gestalt]] easily brushed Roadbuster aside, knocking off his shoulder cannon. But Monstructor was soon thereafter defeated when [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] demonstrated his newly honed sniping skills. Bludgeon opted to retreat in his ship and the crew of the Trion, now joined by Hot Rod, went in pursuit of the fleeing Decepticons. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|Lost & Found}}

[[File:Slowmotionmoviewalkahm5.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|right|Let's show this prehistoric bitch how we do things downtown.]]
The Trion was eventually lured into an enemy ambush, and had its defenses disabled due to its command codes having been gleaned from an Autobot traitor. Forced to crash-land, Roadbuster was stranded with the remainder of the ship's crew on the surface of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], using their former ship as a base of operations. They eventually met up with the demoralized crew of the incapacitated Optimus Prime. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}}

After the Trion's crew had settled in, [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] and Roadbuster had a little chat outside, where Roadbuster revealed how frustrated he was that they had been taken down by the Decepticons without even a chance to shoot back. Noting Roadbuster's eagerness for a fight, Ironhide began to tell him something, but caught sight of a strange creature in the distance. It turned out to be an advance scout of the [[Insecticon swarm]], and Roadbuster immediately notified Kup of its presence. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}}

The Autobots soon relocated their base-camp, and in his vehicle mode, Roadbuster served as a mobile command platform for Kup to ride on and [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] to snipe from as they traveled. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}}

[[File:Roadbuster Loves Guns.jpg|right|upright=1.4|thumb|You're not ''sleeping'' with it, are you, Roadbuster?]]
After Optimus Prime was repaired and the Autobots prepared to make their final stand against the Insecticon swarm, [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] removed and modified one of the ''Trion''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s cannons to be used as a mounted turret for Roadbuster to fire. Roadbuster was quite enamored with the weapon and wanted to give it a name. When the swarm attacked, Roadbuster managed to destroy quite a few of them with his new cannon. But eventually he was forced to shove the cannon off its mount to crush a few of the Insecticon horde as they scaled the walls of the Autobots' temporary fortress. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}}

After the Autobots returned to Earth aboard [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], Roadbuster jumped into battle alongside his comrades against the Decepticons. He grappled with [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and overpowered him, disappointed that the Decepticon turned out to be a "lightweight". Roadbuster was then blasted away by Megatron. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} He survived though, and stood victorious behind Optimus Prime and the others as the Decepticons retreated. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

At some point following Megatron's defeat, Roadbuster became deeply involved with inventing a new weapon he dubbed the "[[Sparkeater (weapon)|Sparkeater]]", and was unavailable when Springer started to reform the Wreckers. {{storylink|Bullets}}

[[File:Roadbuster Bumblebee TheImpossibleKnot.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|No offense, guys, but I've gotta get my own lawyer.]]
He was on Earth when Optimus Prime chose to surrender to [[Skywatch]] two years after the defeat of Megatron. Hot Rod and some like-minded individuals broke off from the main Autobot force to find a way off the planet. Roadbuster chose to stay behind with the remaining Autobots, who elected [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] as their new leader. {{storylink|The Impossible Knot}} He had to learn how to ''not'' pat Bumblebee on the head when he saw him.{{storylink|Zero Point}}

After the liberation of [[Garrus-9]], Springer was left in a comatose state following near-fatal injuries received at the hands of [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]. Roadbuster, along with Whirl, were stationed on ''[[Debris]]'' to watch over their former leader. {{storylink|Zero Point}} (Hubcap was there too but Roadbuster did not recognise him) {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 4|Sins of the Wreckers #4}} Whirl attempted to euthanize Springer with the Sparkeater weapon Roadbuster had developed. Stopping him before the deed could be done, Roadbuster issued "the Veto" on Whirl; the ability of any Wrecker to remove any other Wrecker from the team. After Whirl had been removed from the premises, Roadbuster continued his solemn vigil over Springer alone. {{storylink|Interiors}} To help Springer reawaken, it was recommended by [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] that Roadbuster read to him from ''[[Wreckers: Declassified]]''.

Before starting, he had to undertake the non-trivial task of learning to read.

[[File:SinsoftheWreckers1 ImpactorRoadbusterArgue.jpg|thumb|right|upright=2.0|Let's see what happens when we take away the puppy.]]
Despite disliking his portrayal in them as a one-dimensional gun-nut, Roadbuster eventually read him every datalog—twice, the second time attempting the difficult words which escaped him the first time—except [[Wreckers: Declassified|113]], which detailed their showdown with Squadron X at Pova. Roadbuster was extremely guilty about lying to avoid taking the fall with Impactor, and confessed this to his unconscious leader, also acknowledging that he felt that Springer was the best leader the Wreckers had ever had. After this disclosure, Roadbuster noticed some faint signs of stirring from Springer. {{storylink|Zero Point}}

Years later, Roadbuster was still reading and believed this had made for a positive change in himself, even as Impactor believed Springer should be allowed to die with dignity. Roadbuster and Impactor both lamented the lack of work for the Wreckers, outside of titchy Decepticon cells; Impactor also lamented that his protege [[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]] had gone killcrazy nuts and had to be locked in a box, but Roadbuster said trying to help was a sign of strength. (And he mentioned the, ah, ''connection'' he'd had with trainees himself) During another round of their ongoing debate about euthanising Springer, with Impactor quietly checking that Roadbuster wasn't hearing the guy 'talk' to him, the leader suddenly ''got up'' and dragged them (and Hubcap) to Earth, alerted by Kup that Prowl was MIA. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 1|Sins of the Wreckers #1}}

[[File:SinsoftheWreckers2 RoadbustertorturesClawJaw.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|300px|left|Being miserable and treating other people like dirt is every Wrecker's god-given right!]]
Suspicion for the disappearance fell first on the human [[Verity Carlo]] but it turned out to be a Cybertronian faction, [[Mayhem Attack Squad|the anarchic Mayhem]], which was first revealed to a sickened Roadbuster when Kup began ''talking in Prowl's voice'' and revealed the manipulator had had remote access to Kup's brain for years. The job was still the job though, and the Wreckers pursued the Mayhems. After a vicious battle with Mayhem's living mobile HQ, [[Tidal Wave (G1)|Tidal Wave]], the Wreckers entered said HQ and Roadbuster began to violently torture [[Claw Jaw]] for info. Springer was horrified but Roadbuster just snapped back that reading to him didn't cancel out being a violent bastard or vice versa. The cowed Claw Jaw led them into the [[Noisemaze]] {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 2|Sins of the Wreckers #2}} but this turned out to be a trap: only Mayhems were protected against the Noisemaze dimension's mental destabilising! Roadbuster was knocked out by the sheer pain and taken to [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]], to be locked into the guilt extracting computer [[Impetus]] and spit out all his crimes. In among them, he admitted he deep down wished he'd been brave enough to euthanise Springer like Whirl had tired to. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 3|Sins of the Wreckers #3}}

[[Image:K-PLUTCH.jpg|thumb|300px|right|I'm terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought.]]

Tarantulas gleefully revealed to Roadbuster that way back in the day, he'd been "Mortilus" and had deliberately used Roadbuster to collect bodies for experiments; and Hubcap had been working for Tarantulas for ''years'', willing to do this in exchange for revenge against both Roadbuster and Prowl, for releasing him early. (Almost unnoticed by his fellows, an upset Roadbuster told Tarantulas he'd missed his voice and wanted to know "where did you ''go''?") It was lucky for all concerned that Hubcap had enough qualms to release the other Wreckers under Prowl's prodding but Roadbuster, even with the others, struggled to take down Tarantulas.

And so Roadbuster made a sacrifice play. After begging Springer to remember him as a friend and not remember him for all his violent horrors, he transformed to vehicle mode and rammed Tarantulas through a window and down to the rocks below. He survived the fall, but so had Tarantulas, who had shrunk down... and crawled inside the Wrecker's head. The last thing Roadbuster heard was one more malicious whisper before the spider mass-shifted ''back'' to regular size. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 4|Sins of the Wreckers #4}}

{{-}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
[[File:KreO-webcomic-6-Roadbuster.jpg|75px|thumb|left|[[Ernie Hudson|"This job is not worth eleven-five a year!"]]]]
Roadbuster was one of several Autobots reeling from the appearance of the mighty [[Devastator (Kre-O)|Devastator]]. {{Storylink|A New Menace! The Giant Soldier Devastator Appears!}}
{{-}}

===''Cloud''===
[[File:Cloud Roadbuster.jpg|thumb|"I love [[Japan|this town!]]"]]
Roadbuster is a [[Wrecker]], but unlike most other members of the volatile team, possesses a gentle, friendly and serious-minded personality. Sometimes he can get a bit ''too'' serious, though, and get bogged down by his doubts about the future, uncertain what will happen to him if peace is ever achieved and he won't be of use anymore. Skilled at both fighting and weapons engineering, Roadbuster wields the "Calibur Arms" (キャリバーアームズ ''Kyaribā Āmuzu''), a collection of weapons of his own design that can combine in various ways.

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Metamorphosis (Cloud)|Metamorphosis}} {{storylink|Overwhelm}} {{storylink|Concealment}} {{storylink|Struggle}} {{storylink|Fury (Cloud)|Fury}} {{storylink|Transcendence}} {{storylink|TFC-A04}} {{storylink|TFC-D04}} {{storylink|Transformers Cloud (issue)|Transformers Cloud}} {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Deadlock)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}}}}

===''Legends'' comic===
[[File:LG04 comic Roadbuster.jpg|thumb|"If there's a steady paycheck, I'll believe anything [[Tankor (BM)|you]] say."]]
Roadbuster and [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] were built in the [[Legends World]] by [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]], inspired by designs from a [[w:Special Armored Battalion Dorvack|certain '80s giant robot anime]], to aid him in his plans to return the world to how it was in the '80s. In spite of Tankor's design intentions, however, [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] recognized them as Autobots from a [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|British ''Transformers'' comic]], an origin story that confused the pair. While Whirl went on to have a change of heart and decided to be a hero instead, Roadbuster remained loyal to his commander Tankor and engaged his former partner in combat. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 4|Bonus Edition Vol. 4}} Declaring it time to enact his Total Humanity '80s Transformation Plan, Tankor entrusted his '80s Transformation Beam to Roadbuster and sent him to cause havoc by blasting everyone around him into various '80s forms. An impassioned speech from [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] briefly halted Tankor's resolve, leaving him open to attack, but Roadbuster loyally shielded his commander and was broken into pieces by an air-dropped Rattrap as a result. Tankor retreated and had Roadbuster fixed up, after which the two started running an '80s-themed café instead. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 5|Bonus Edition Vol. 5}}

Waspinator later taught [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] about Roadbuster and Whirl during his ''Transformers'' lesson, again explaining that they first appeared in a British comic. The concept of British Transformers had Megatron thinking of the pair as English stereotypes, and he imagined Roadbuster decked up as [[Sherlock Holmes]]. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 15#Whirl and Roadbuster Now on Sale, Buzz|Whirl and Roadbuster Now on Sale, Buzz}} On [[Christmas]], Roadbuster dressed up as a reindeer and helped Santa-Tankor hand out toys from the 80s. {{storylink|Merry X'mas!!}}

Roadbuster later got concerned about Tankor when he picked a fight with [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] and [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]]. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 17#I'm Tankor, dana!|I'm Tankor, dana!}} He then ran into Whirl again and was ready for a rematch, only to be taken aback when the self-styled "hero" ''took a hostage'', and even more so when the hostage took control of Whirl and forced him to pick up garbage. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 17|Whirl Versus Roadbuster!}} Eventually, Whirl returned to Tankor and Roadbuster's side and the three went back to terrorizing the population, but it all came to an end when a dimensionally displaced [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] defeated Tankor for good. Roadbuster and Whirl were left lost and confused about what to without their leader, so Jetfire invited them back to his [[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity|home dimension]], reasoning they'd fit in better there. The pair accepted his offer and traveled through a [[solitarium]] portal to the year [[2004]] of his universe, where they joined the Autobots. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 7|Bonus Edition Vol. 7}}

Upon meeting the [[Jumpstarter]]s, Whirl and Roadbuster introduced themselves as "Wreckers", something Waspinator had identified them as. Overhearing this, [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] thought it was a great team name and founded the Wreckers as a new Autobot unit, recruiting the duo into it. {{storylink|Jumpstarter Chapter#LG-07 Jetfire Sequel|LG-07 Jetfire Sequel}} Their first mission by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] was to clean up around [[Mount St. Hilary]]. {{storylink|Jumpstarter Chapter#G1 Wreckers Birth Story|G1 Wreckers Birth Story}} At one point he and Whirl explained their origins to the Jumpstarters, who would later create Legends World to begin with in order to ensure their comrades would be born. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 66|Bonus Edition Vol. 66}} In the year [[2021]], [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] recalled Roadbuster and Whirl's origins when he and his soldiers were reduced to heads and needed new bodies built. Using residual radiation acquired from the two Wreckers, Fortress located the Legends World and traveled there in search of the expertise used to build them. {{storylink|Headmaster Chapter Prologue}}

As Wreckers, Roadbuster and Whirl fought under [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] for many years, and one day in the late 2030s, they noticed he was getting fatter. A comment from Whirl about Springer's failed relationship with [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]] ended up upsetting their leader, and Roadbuster scrambled to try to cheer him up. When Springer sought to become his old macho self again, Roadbuster and Whirl had an idea, suggesting that he go to the Legends World and have their creator, Tankor (now [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]), build him a cool new body. The two came with him on the trip to revisit their old home and observe his reconstruction. {{storylink|LG19 Sprung Prologue}} They then returned to the G1 World where they pushed Springer into asking Arcee out. {{storylink|Jumpstarter Chapter#LG19 Springer Sequel|LG19 Springer Sequel}} Upon learning that the Legends World was under attack by [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]], Roadbuster and Whirl volunteered to return and defend their homeworld. {{storylink|Jumpstarter Chapter#LG65 Twin Twist Prologue|LG65 Twin Twist Prologue}} On arrival, they were pinned down by Windblade's [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]], leaving [[Twin Twist]] to take her on. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 65|Bonus Edition Vol. 65}}

After the Legends World was destroyed, Whirl ended up back in the G1 World. In [[2038]], he and Roadbuster were on [[Micro|Zone]], where he watched the [[Powered Master]]s duke it out with [[Violen Jiger]] in their old bodies. {{Storylink|The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 2}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
Roadbuster and [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] were enlisted to assist [[Nova Prime]] in battle against Nemesis Prime, an evil future version of Nova. They were unable to prevail against this future threat. {{storylink|Prime Evil}} Roadbuster was a member of the fearless Wreckers squad which liberated Garrus-9 from the grip of [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] and the [[Air Strike Patrol]], though they destroyed most of the facility in the process. {{storylink|The Wreckers}} [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and Roadbuster were sent to prevent [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] from reviving [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]. They failed, and were forced to help the two Decepticons defeat Thunderwing. {{storylink|Stormbringer (Legends)|Stormbringer}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:BattleTacticsRoadbuster.jpg|thumb|300px|right| "Whirl, somehow this reminds me of the time you tried to drill a hole in your head. Do you remember that?"]]
Roadbuster 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 recruited by collecting 70 units of Cybermetal, 30 units of Transmetal, and 20 exclusive cores. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===The Transformers===
[[File:G1Roadbuster toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|I ain't afraid of no road!]]
*'''Roadbuster''' (Deluxe Vehicle, [[1985]])
**''Accessories:'' Laser rifle, Linear Blaster Gun, Shrapnel Missile Launcher, 5 missiles, Control Pack (with 2 Handles), power pack, antenna, Infrared Range Finder, large wheel covers (left & right), small wheel covers (left & right)

:Roadbuster transforms into an orange and green cybertronic jeep armed with a large gun. In [[robot mode]] he can hold the jeep's gun, and also has another gun resembling a real world M16A1 rifle, and a shoulder-mounted missile launcher. He also wears a large backpack that has a very tall antenna and two articulated handlebars slung beneath his arms. Oh, and mustn't forget the snap-on armor plating that hides the jeep's tires.

:For a toy of his size, Roadbuster has an enormous number of accessories, of which the rangefinder for the jeep's gun may well be the smallest ever produced for any Transformer. Finding a loose complete Roadbuster can be very challenging—are you sure ''all'' the spare missiles are there? Better count again!

::*''[http://www.transformerland.com/wiki/toy-info/transformers-g1-deluxe-vehicles-roadbuster/578/ Patent info, price guide, and further reading on Roadbuster at Transformerland.com]''
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1985/Autobot/Roadbuster/roadbuster.htm More information on Roadbuster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Universe'' (2003)===
[[File:OTFCC unreleased Roadbuster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|My parents didn't believe in toys.]]
*'''Autobot Roadbuster''' (<s>[[2005]]</s>)
**''Accessories'': Crane/cannon, 2-part spare tire/blades, energon star, energon rifle

:A retool of ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' Energon Class [[Strongarm (Energon)#Energon|Strongarm]] as ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Roadbuster was part of [[3H Productions]]' proposal for an [[BotCon#Proposed.2FUnreleased exclusives|OTFCC 2005]] convention exclusive set. However, with the financial collapse of [[3H Productions]] in late 2004 and the subsequent transfer of the ''Transformers'' convention license to [[Fun Publications]], all plans for this toy (and its companion piece [[Brawn (G1)/toys#Universe (2003)|Brawn]]) were scrapped. It would have featured a new head and an Energon rifle.

{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}

===''Universe'' (2008)===
[[File:Universe comicpack Roadbuster toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Choose! Choose the form of the Destructor!]]
*'''Autobot Ambush''' (Two-pack, [[2008]])
**''Accessories:'' "Close-combat blade", Autobot [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]-style [[Cyber Key]]

:A [[Target]]-[[exclusive]] redeco of ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' Deluxe Class [[Hot Shot (Armada)/toys#CyCDF|Cybertron Defense Hot Shot]], ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' "Autobot Roadbuster" transforms into a modified {{w|M1117 Armored Security Vehicle|M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicle}}. When a Cyber Key is inserted into the back of the turret, the two "recoilless rifle" barrels open up into dual (non-firing) missile racks. Compartments on his shoulders and legs can also open up to reveal additional missile racks, while the front bumper halves flip outward to reveal machine guns and ''even more'' missile racks. Roadbuster also comes with a blade that can peg via [[5 mm post|5 mm-compatible post]] onto his hands or onto the front of his fist, and can stow between his legs in vehicle mode as an exhaust pipe of sorts. Additionally, the blade can be put away in a sheath on his leg, and the same sheath can be used to store his Cyber Key in vehicle mode. His (conveniently color-coded) red Cyber Key is unpainted, save for its silver Autobot symbol.

:The [[instructions]] and [[package art]] for this toy depict his green shoulder panels as being swapped.

:He is packed with the Voyager-sized [[Dirge (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Dirge]] and a comic book. In its first release in Canada, the set did not include a comic (in spite of the ''INCLUDES COMIC!'' marking on the package), and in the US, the set included the ''wrong'' comic. Instead of ''The Dark Ages'' issue "[[Escalation]]", which was meant for the "Standoff Beneath the Streets" Voyager-Deluxe two-pack of [[Springer (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Springer]] and [[Ratbat (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Ratbat]], the right comic was to be a reprint of "[[Target: 2006]]" parts [[Target: 2006#Wreck and Rule!|5]] and [[Target: 2006#The Devil You Know...|6]], which was similarly and erroneously included with the "Standoff Beneath the Streets" two-pack.

:This mold was also used to make ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' [[BotCon 2007]] [[Springer (G1)/toys#Timelines|Springer]] and served as the model for the non-toy ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' incarnation of [[Hardhead (BWN)#Beast Wars: Uprising|Hard Head]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/TFURoadbuster/roadbuster.htm More information on ''Universe'' Roadbuster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Generations''===
[[File:TFGenerations Voyager Roadbuster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|I tried to think of the most harmless thing. Something I loved from my childhood. Something that could never ever possibly destroy us.]]
*'''Roadbuster''' (Voyager Class, [[2014]])
**''Series / Number:'' '''02 / 008'''
**''Accessories:'' Launcher, missile, missile pod, pistol, rifle, cannon/rifle stock, cannon/rifle scope

:Part of the seventh wave of ''[[Transformers: Generations#Thrilling 30|Generations: Thrilling 30]]'' Voyager Class toys, Roadbuster (yes, without the "Autobot" prefix) is an all-new mold, transforming into an off-road vehicle. He comes with ''numerous'' weapons, all of which peg via 5mm post onto his vehicle rear/legs, shoulders, upper & lower arms, and hands: a spring-loaded, missile-firing launcher, a pistol, a rifle, a (nonfiring) missile pod, and two small cannons that respectively form the scope and stock of the rifle. All of his weapons can combine to form an unwieldy superweapon.

:Some of Roadbuster's 5mm ports appear to be slightly too small, most notably those on his shoulders, making it difficult to fit weapons into them. His bicep swivels are also commonly found to suffer from molding issues, impeding or outright preventing them from working. Due to obstruction as a result of molding in robot mode, his legs have little-to-no forward articulation, yet extreme backwards articulation.

:Roadbuster also comes with a [[sticker]] sheet to help give him some detail, such as his much-needed Autobot chest insignia. It also comes with an alternative Wrecker insignia, although the clear-plastic nature of the stickers means that the blue ends up blackish when placed on his orange chest. Bummer. Most of the stickers are actually a pre-cut rectangular size, meaning almost all the stickers don't actually fit onto their designated spots, leading to people either leaving them off, trimming them, or placing them in different spots.

:This mold was also used by [[Transformers Cloud|''Cloud'']] Roadbuster and [[BotCon 2015]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Timelines|General Optimus Prime]] and served as the basis of the non-toy ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' incarnations of [[Killer Punch#Beast Wars: Uprising|Killer Punch]] and [[Guiledart#Beast Wars: Uprising|Guiledart]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2014/Autobot/GenRoadbuster/roadbuster.htm More information on ''Generations'' Roadbuster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Legends''===
[[File:Legends-toy Roadbuster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Relax, I'm not the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.]]
*'''Roadbuster''' ([[November 29]], 2014)
**''ID number:'' '''LG04'''
**''Accessories:'' Launcher, missile, missile pod, pistol, rifle, cannon/rifle stock, cannon/rifle scope

:''Legends'' Roadbuster is a redeco of ''Generations'' Voyager Class Roadbuster with some ever-so-slight changes, such as his optics are now unpainted giving him a light piping effect, completely orange thighs and a single patch of green on both his lower side legs. He doesn't come with a sticker sheet, instead having an Autobot sigil tampographed on his chest, but does come with a leaflet featuring a character profile, tech specs and the [[Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 4|''Legends'' Bonus Edition Vol. 4]] mini-comic. There are some reports of mold degradation, especially on his loose ratcheted shoulder joints.
{{-}}

===''Cloud''===
[[File:Takaratomy-cloud-roadbuster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"I'm the best. I'm the beautiful. I'm the only Roadbuster! I'm back!"]]
*'''Roadbuster''' ([[March 21]], [[2014]])
**''ID number:'' '''TFC-A04'''
**''Accessories:'' Launcher, missile, missile pod, pistol, rifle, cannon/rifle stock, cannon/rifle scope

:''[[Transformers Cloud|Cloud]]'' Roadbuster is a red and blue [[redeco]] of ''Generations'' Voyager Class [[#Generations|Roadbuster]] as a homage to [[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|''Energon'']] [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] (whose Japanese name was "Roadbuster"). It is unknown if he retains the loose ratcheted shoulder joints from the ''Legends'' release above.

:The first 500 customers who preordered got 1 of 3 gifts: the [[Arms Micron]] [[O.P.#Shining|Shining O.P.]], the Arms Micron [[Firebolt (Prime)#Toys|Autobot Firebolt Clear Yellow Version]], or ''EZ Collection'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Lost Age|Convoy Anniversary Clear Version]].
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===''EM Gōkin''===
[[File:EMGokin Roadbuster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Grab your stick! HOLDING! Heat 'em up! SMOKIN'! Make 'em hard! READY!"]]
*'''Transformers Roadbuster''' (2014)
**''ID number:'' '''EM-04'''
**''Accessories:'' Handheld Laser Rifle, back-mounted Linear Blaster Gun, backpack/Shrapnel Missile Launcher, shell, two fists, open left hand, display stand

:Produced by [[Art Storm]] as part of their ''EM Gōkin'' line, this posable but non-transforming Roadbuster figure shares the same origin as his original toy, being a fully licensed [[redeco]] of ''EM Gōkin'' EM-01 Mugen Calibur. His backpack piece is [[retool]]ed to add his trademark shoulder-mounted missile launcher, which can rest against his back or flip over his shoulder, and he lacks Mugen Calibur's ''Dorvack''-specific accessories. In addition to two default clenched fists, Roadbuster comes with a splayed open left hand and a right hand molded to his Laser Rifle, and on his back you can mount the aforementioned launcher backpack as well as an unwieldable Linear Blaster Gun. He also includes a shell that can be inserted in the handheld rifle's barrel, and a display stand with an Autobot symbol.

::*''[http://artstorm.co.jp/emgokin_roadbuster.html More information on ''EM Gōkin'' Roadbuster at Art Storm's official site]''
{{-}}

===''ES Gōkin''===
[[File:ESGokin Roadbuster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Roadbuster:...You know, I just realized I haven't had a successful test of all this equipment yet...I blame myself. Whirl: So do I.]]
*'''Transformers Roadbuster''' (2014)
**''Accessories:'' Laser Rifle, Linear Blaster Gun, Shrapnel Missile Launcher, two fists, two open hands, gun-wielding right hand, display stand

:Another Art Storm release, ''ES Gōkin'' Roadbuster is a cute [[super deformed]] take on the character. Similar to his ''EM'' counterpart he is a redeco/retool of ''ES Gōkin'' Mugen Calibur with an added shoulder launcher accessory, but ''this'' toy can be transformed into (an adorably chubby) jeep mode after [[Partformer|taking off his head]]. He comes with a handheld Laser Rifle that can be taken apart and combined with the back-mounted Linear Blaster Gun to increase the latter's length in vehicle mode, while the remaining handle stores on the jeep's side. Roadbuster also features an electronic light-up visor activated by a button on the back on his head.

::*''[http://artstorm.co.jp/esgokin_roadbuster.html More information on ''ES Gōkin'' Roadbuster at Art Storm's official site]''
{{-}}

===''Tiny Titans''===
*'''Roadbuster''' (Tiny Titans, 2015)
**''Series'': '''4'''
**''Number'': '''7/12'''

: Part of the fourth assortment of ''[[Tiny Titans]]'' [[blindpacking|blindpacks]], this version of Roadbuster is a very small, soft-plastic figure of him in robot mode.

: He includes a collectible card that renders him in the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 franchise)|2015 ''Robots in Disguise'']] styling. The card includes a scan-badge for the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (mobile game)|''Robots in Disguise'' mobile game]], which unlocks a random amount of Energon "currency" and a randomized bonus power-up item.

: This wave saw fairly minimal release at "big box" retailers, but unlike other waves, was ''not'' picked up by drug stores and the like later, making them particularly hard to find.
===Transformers Trading Card Game===
[[File:W5Roadbuster.jpg|thumb|Straight from the pages of Tobin's Spirit Guide.]]
*'''Roadbuster, Ground Assault Commander''' (2020)
**'''Wave 5: Titan Masters Attack'''
**''Rarity: '''''SRT'''
**''Card Number: '''''T34/T46'''
**''Stars: ''11

:This card's set was originally set for an April 2020 release, however due to the global COVID-19 pandemic the release was pushed back to May 29, 2020.
{{-}}

==Notes==
*Both [[Deluxe Vehicle]]s were licensed from [[Takatoku Toys]] by [[Hasbro]] for inclusion in the 1985 line, and hence were not included in the Japanese line, the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]], or the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|US Marvel comic]]. The Roadbuster mold was originally "Mugen Calibur" (ムゲンキャリバー) from the ''{{w|Special Armored Battalion Dorvack|Dorvack}}'' toyline, though the ''Transformers'' release uses a completely different deco.
*The ''[[Transformers Generations (guidebook)|Transformers Generations]]'' guidebook [[Engrish|mistakenly]] spelled Roadbuster's name as "Roadbaster". This would seem to imply that the cannon on his shoulder is loaded with piping hot giblet gravy.
*Poor Roadbuster never got a printed ''[[The Transformers Universe]]'' bio. One was written, though, and finally revealed to the fans on [http://boltax.blogspot.com/2011/01/extended-bio-whirl.html ''Disciples of Boltax''] in 2010.
*Like all non-toy robot Kreons in the ''Kre-O'' comics, Roadbuster is made from existing ''Kre-O'' parts. He uses the [[Hound (G1)/toys#Kre-O|Hound]] helmet, and a backpack made from a 2x4 harness, a pair of 1x2 plates with side-bars and a [[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]] cannon. He also carries a "scoped" small pistol and an M-16-style rifle.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Roadbuster''' (ロードバスター ''Rōdobasutā'')
*''French:'' '''Cahot''' (Canada, "Jolt")

[[Category:Cloud Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Autobots]]
[[Category:Kre-O Autobots]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Legends Autobots]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:Target exclusives]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Wreckers]]

Roadbuster (G1)

2021-05-02T17:55:25Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Legends comic */

{{factions|autobot|wreckers}}
{{disambig3|Roadbuster}}
:''Roadbuster is an [[Autobot]] [[Deluxe Vehicle]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:G1Roadbuster MTMTE.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|[[Ghostbusters|Who ya gonna call?]]]]

'''Roadbuster''' is a powerful and charismatic fighter. Usually armed to the teeth, he's an inspiration to other Autobots in combat and a natural leader on any battlefield. Outside of combat though, his natural ease and surety fail him. He simply doesn't know how to handle life out of combat. He becomes the quietest of the Autobots, grows withdrawn and depressed, and is easily bored. He counters this by spending most of his free time between battles either planning for the next one or "demolishing" any random [[Decepticon]]s he can find. Some Autobots worry about what will become of the heroic and well-loved Roadbuster they know if the war ever ends. Combat truly is his life and without it, he might just fade away.

Roadbuster is a member of the elite [[Wrecker]]s unit in, well, every universe he's been in.

Sometimes his name is spelled '''Road Buster'''.

{{bigquote|Know what you call thirty enemy combatants on the wrong side of an atmos-field? A good start.|Roadbuster|"[[The War to End All Wars, Part 4]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
[[File:Target2006 RoadbusterwatchesShrapnel.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|I'm studying the effect of negative reinforcement on ESP ability.]]
Roadbuster was a member of the elite Wreckers unit under the command of [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]]. Alongside [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], he accompanied his commander as Impactor argued with [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]] over [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]' trip to [[Earth]] to investigate the disappearance of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]].

[[File:Target 2006 Whirl Roadbuster Do It.jpg|right|upright=1.5|thumb|I love this plan! I'm excited to be a part of it!]]
Roadbuster was a rather hardened soldier, deliberately feeding false information to an Autobot who had turned [[Autobot traitor|informant]] for the Decepticons, and stood by in the shadows while [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] tortured the Autobot for the info and then executed him. Despite allowing this to happen, he still felt that even a traitor deserved better than that. Roadbuster took part in a training session with the rest of the Wreckers involving [[facsimile construct]]s. The training session was in anticipation of [[Operation: Volcano]], an effort to assassinate some of the Decepticons' deadliest warriors. When Impactor decided that the Wreckers were going to bow out of Operation: Volcano, Roadbuster, Whirl, and [[Twin Twist]] took some down-time at [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]]. Both Twin Twist and Roadbuster felt distinctly uneasy about Impactor's decision. When a Decepticon by the name of [[Fang]] started bullying [[Tusks|one of the bar's patrons]], Roadbuster urged Twin Twist not to get involved. But Twin Twist trashed Fang anyway, coming to the realization that as Autobots, it was always their duty to stand in the Decepticons' way. Casting their doubts aside, Roadbuster, Whirl, and Twin Twist all decided to go ahead with Operation: Volcano. Likewise, Impactor was convinced by Xaaron to go through with the mission, despite his earlier doubts. Unfortunately, Volcano was a bust, leaving Impactor dead and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] the new leader of the Wreckers. {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

[[File:RoadbusterdeathTimeWars.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.]]
After both [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and Optimus Prime wound up teleported back to Cybertron, Megatron set about spreading false rumors that a Decepticon spy, disguised as Optimus, had been set loose to infiltrate the Autobots' ranks. Roadbuster helped capture what he believed to be the imposter alongside the rest of the Wreckers. {{storylink|...The Harder They Die!}} {{storylink|Legion of the Lost!}} The Wreckers readied to gun down their captive, only for the execution to be interrupted by [[Outback (G1)|Outback]]. Though the little guy wasn't able to convince the others that Prime was the real thing, he created the distraction necessary for the Autobot leader to escape his restraints and vamoose. {{storylink|Under Fire!}} {{storylink|Distant Thunder!}} Prime's name was eventually cleared, leading to him rallying the Autobot forces on Cybertron, and leading them on many successful raids on Decepticon encampments. Roadbuster helped secure Decepticon energon stores on these raids, the last of which ended with Optimus Prime returning to Earth alongside Megatron and Ultra Magnus. {{storylink|Resurrection!}}

Roadbuster was absent from the Wreckers for a while, but returned to take part in the so-called Time Wars. The Wreckers were forced to temporarily ally with the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]] in order to combat the combined threat of [[Straxus (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. The mission to eliminate the two powerful Decepticon leaders was a complete disaster, with most of the Wreckers and Mayhems meeting violent ends. For Roadbuster's part, he managed to blow off a chunk of Galvatron's face with an experimental Decepticon [[Pathblaster]] weapon. However, as Roadbuster took the time to celebrate his shot, the weapon's power core exploded, killing him. {{storylink|Time Wars}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
[[File:ScattershotKillsRoadBusterUkAnnual88.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Shorten your stream! I don't want my face burned off!]]
In the year [[2510]], Roadbuster joined the Wreckers on Cybertron's northern front where they finally exterminated the last Decepticon outpost, bringing the war to an end. Later on, [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] called an official end to the war effort and announced his plans to pass the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] on to Springer. The Decepticons were not totally gone, however—a deep cover agent named [[Triton]] lived on inside the Autobot ranks. In order to stir up discord, Triton challenged Prime's decision, declaring that [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] was a better choice to carry the Matrix. Whirl manhandled the little creep to make him pipe down, but Triton punched the Wrecker to the ground. Roadbuster raised his gun in anger, but it was the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]] [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] who fired first in defense of Triton and Magnus's reputation, blowing up Roadbuster's head. This disastrous turn of events led to a new Autobot Civil War between the forces of Ultra Magnus and Springer. {{storylink|Peace}}
{{-}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{NoteRG1}}
[[File:Wreckers loose ends.jpg|thumb|upright=1.95|We're exterminators. Someone saw a [[Insecticon (G1)|cockroach]] up on twelve.]]
Roadbuster was a member of the Wreckers, under the command of [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]]. Acting against [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s explicit orders, they successfully brought a siege in the [[Pax Cybertronia Decommissioning Depot]] in [[Kalis]] to an end by trapping [[Venom (G1)|Venom]], [[Chop Shop (G1)|Chop Shop]], and [[Ransack (G1)|Ransack]] inside a [[detention-sphere]]. Soon afterwards, Kup led the Wreckers away from Cybertron to visit the other planets touched by the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] and they hitched a ride with [[Berko]]'s [[Cosmic Carnival]] to Earth. However Roadbuster and the Wreckers found the major cities of Earth had been devastated by Megatron, who promptly launched nuclear warheads at their shuttle, destroying it. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 1}}

Having managed to travel to Earth in the escape pods before the detonation of their shuttle, Roadbuster and the Wreckers made for the [[Deep Space Network]] in [[Goldstone]] to try and send a warning back to Cybertron. When they discovered that they were being pursued by the [[zombie]] army that Megatron had forged from the Decepticon victims of the [[Underbase Saga]], Springer ordered [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]], Roadbuster, and [[Leadfoot (G2)|Leadfoot]] to run interference and draw the zombies away from the rest of the team. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 2}}

While a distress call was successfully sent to Cybertron, Kup was captured by Megatron's forces and the remaining Wreckers found themselves confronting a vengeful [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Circuit Smasher]]. The super-powered human formerly known as Spike Witwicky was eventually talked down, and Roadbuster and the others were invited to [[Argus Base]], the headquarters of the human resistance. There, a plan was hatched to both rescue Kup and attack the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]—the core of Megatron's power base. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 3}}

[[File:Roadbuster CircuitSmasher LooseEnds4.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.75|Everything you are doing is bad. I want you to know this.]]
Roadbuster was put in command of the group that ventured into the [[Yukon]] to reach the Ark. He devised an attack plan to breach the outer perimeters of defense, assigning roles to the Wreckers and humans. Circuit Smasher took a moment to make sure he and Roadbuster saw eye-to-eye on the subject of the Ark, and after a tense pause, Roadbuster agreed that there'd be no attempts to salvage the ship for their own purposes. The attack began, and the group found themselves facing landmines and [[autogun]]s in their path. Eventually, Roadbuster and the rest made it through to the Ark itself, which released [[Guardian (Marvel)|Guardian]] units to bar the way. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 4}}

After engaging the Guardians, Circuit Smasher quickly noticed they weren't registering him as a threat. Roadbuster told him to exploit the advantage and get inside the Ark, while the rest held the Guardians off. Once inside, Circuit Smasher managed to disable the Ark's computer [[Aunty|Auntie]], putting a halt to both the Guardian units and Megatron's plans. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 5}} Along with [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], Roadbuster later kept watch over the secured Ark. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part One}}

Upon returning to Cybertron, Roadbuster worked crowd control as [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] gave a speech in [[Eugenesis Plaza]]. When a riot was incited, Roadbuster and the other Autobots engaged in some fisticuffs with the unruly mob. {{storylink|Destiny, Part One}} Later, when a group of agitated citizens set up a highway blockade, the Wreckers confronted the protestors. Roadbuster disapproved of Kup's hostile approach to the situation and opined that Springer wouldn't have handled things this way. Before Roadbuster and Kup could argue any further, the situation devolved into a brawl between the protestors and other irate citizens who wanted through the blockade. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Two}} Roadbuster participated in a raid on [[Fort Scyk]] with the other Wreckers, seeking to take down [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s cell of Decepticon insurgents. However, it turned out to be a trap and the Wreckers barely survived after Fort Scyk exploded with them in it. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Three}}

[[File:DestinyPt5 BludgeonRoadbuster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.55|"Get him!" That was your whole plan, huh- "get him."]]
During [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s massive attack on Cybertron, Roadbuster infiltrated the [[Warworld]] with the other Wreckers, seeking to disable it from within. They were confronted by Bludgeon himself, who dominated them in combat and cost Roadbuster an arm. In the end, Bludgeon was defeated by the newly arrived [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]], and the Wreckers managed to escape before the Warworld was destroyed. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Five}}

[[File:Roadbuster atmosfield RegenOne99.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|left|It's ''Milla'' Time!]]
The Wreckers were among the Autobot space fleet when Rodimus Prime ordered an attack on the [[Hub (G2)|Hub Network]] created by [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 3}} Ordered to "go dark" by Kup after Jhiaxus' forces began decimating the Autobots, Roadbuster and the others undertook a sabotage mission within the "[[slam rail]]" transit system that linked the network. Severing worlds from the network with targeted nuclear explosions and eliminating any resistance in their path, the Wreckers provided enough of a distraction for the other Autobots to escape as [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|other]] [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|factors]] in play led to the destruction of the Hub and Jhiaxus. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 4}}

Returning to Cybertron to find it transformed into a barren wasteland populated by [[shadow-leech]]es, the Autobots had to combat the [[Dark Matrix|dark entity]] formed from the corruption of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]]. For his part, Roadbuster was among a group that journeyed back to Earth through a [[space bridge]] portal to ascertain the creature's designs on the planet. They encountered [[Linda Chang]] and the remaining human resistance, who initially fired upon the Autobots. Having fought beside these humans before, Roadbuster managed to calm things down and the two groups compared notes. With the humans joining them, Roadbuster's group then journeyed to [[Nebulos]], where they were forced to put down the Matrix-corrupted [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]]. After Rodimus was forced to sever their connection with [[Primus]], Roadbuster, along with all other Transformers, became decidedly mortal and eventually died of old age. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 5}}

====''Transformers '84''====
[[File:Wreckers secrets and lies.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|right|Suck in the guts, guys.]]
Roadbuster and [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] met with [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and gave him a pep talk when the Autobot commander doubted his ability to measure up to the departed [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Having heard of Magnus' need of a "wrecking crew", Roadbuster joined a [[Wrecker|new team]] to aid [[Punch (G1)|Punch]] in sabotaging [[Project Dreadnought]]. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 3|Secrets & Lies #3}} The Wreckers deployed on their first mission to [[Stanix]] where Project Dreadnought was being enacted and encountered [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] guarding the site. Roadbuster and the others managed to fight past the [[combiner]] and other Decepticons present, seeing to the destruction of Dreadnought and establishing their rep for the many years of conflict to come. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 4|Secrets & Lies #4}}

===Marvel Storybooks continuity===
Roadbuster was stationed on [[Earth]]. The Autobots initially failed to stop a new plan of Megatron's to take millions of people hostage, but came back to fight again once they were repaired. Roadbuster blasted a hole in the Decepticons' fortress wall so the Autobots could get inside, taking pride in the power of his weapon. {{storylink|Battle for Earth}}

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

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:War and Peace 4 RoadbusterWhirl.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Kitten, what I think I'm saying is, sometimes, slag happens, somebody's gotta deal with it, and who ya gonna call?]]
When [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] went missing in a [[space bridge]] accident, Roadbuster became part of an elite force of Autobots known as the Wreckers who broke off as an independent faction, led by Springer. Much of their efforts were concentrated on keeping [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s [[Ultracon]]s contained inside [[Polyhex]] and away from the [[Tagan Heights]], an area which contributed to a full 40% of Cybertron's manufacturing potential. One of their missions brought them to blows against [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], who had allied himself with Ratbat's sub-faction. {{storylink|Escalation}} [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] joined the fight against the Decepticon combiner, but the resulting clash was so brutal that Roadbuster and the other Wreckers were forced to retreat to avoid becoming collateral damage. {{storylink|Devastation (issue)|Devastation}}

During the Age of Internment, Roadbuster was imprisoned by the Decepticons as slave labor along with most of the other surviving Autobots. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

Much later, after the loss of the ''Ark'', Roadbuster was one of the Autobots who helped train a new generation of soldiers called the [[Micromaster]]s. {{storylink|Victims of the Revolution}} After the Micromasters were combat-ready, Roadbuster, critically low on energy, was ambushed by a group of Decepticon Micromasters and defeated by them. A group of Autobot Micromasters led by [[Big Daddy (G1)|Big Daddy]] intervened and managed to pull Roadbuster's inert chassis out of there, sparing him the indignity of having what little [[Energon]] that remained in his system drained. {{storylink|Destined for Nothing|Destined For Nothing}}

During [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s rule of Cybertron, Roadbuster was a member of the new Wreckers, a small unit of Autobots under Ultra Magnus's command, dedicated to keeping the peace wherever (and however) necessary. {{storylink|Cold War (issue)|Cold War}} When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] released the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] from their imprisonment in Cybertron's [[Detention Banks]], the Wreckers were sent in to deal with the escapees. Unfortunately, both Roadbuster and [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] were crushed before Magnus brought the Stunticon combined form, [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], down. {{storylink|Passive Aggression}}
{{-}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
:*''First Appearance:'' [[Stormbringer issue 2|Transformers: Stormbringer #2]]

[[Image:The Roadbuster affair.jpg|thumb|300px|right|"On a mountain of skulls, in a castle of pain, I sat on a throne of blood!"]]
Before the war, Roadbuster was a member of the [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]] security services. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} He was quite brutally 'trained' as a cadet, including "[[Transform-up|mode drilling]]": being forced to transform over and over in quick succession. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 4|Sins of the Wreckers #4}} During all of this, he never learned to read and after the war started, Roadbuster signed up with the Autobots. {{storylink|Zero Point}}

At some point, Roadbuster was in charge of training cadets and developed a strong emotional bond to those in his care. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 1|Sins of the Wreckers #1}} [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] [[Size changing|shrank down]] to tiny form, crawled into Roadbuster's head and began whispering in his ear. Roadbuster came to believe it was [[Mortilus]] speaking to him and over time he began to do what the voice told him... which was to brutalise his cadets and eventually dump their lifeless bodies into a pit for the death-god to consume. As the cadets were forced to "mode drill" and savagely beaten, Roadbuster told them this was how ''he'' was taught, back in the day. The Autobots found out just in time to save [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] from this grisly fate and Prowl had Roadbuster locked up for a long, long time for what was assumed to be madness, as Roadbuster screamed out for Mortilus to talk to him again. The exact nature of the [[Roadbuster affair|whole sordid incident]] was covered up and after minimum rehab, Prowl had Roadbuster released back into the Wreckers to kill again, as a favour to Impactor. Roadbuster secretly still missed the voice and wanted it to come back. He was cured, all right. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 4|Sins of the Wreckers #4}} Roadbuster was present with the entire team to welcome [[Springer (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Springer]] into the Wreckers. {{storylink|Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers|Requiem of the Wreckers}}

[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers4-triumphoverevil.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|left|Since I joined these men, I've seen slag that'll turn you white!]]
Roadbuster and the Wreckers embarked on a hunt for [[Squadron X]], a Decepticon battle unit known for the atrocities it left in its wake. The hunt culminated in a battle between the two groups on [[Pova]]. Roadbuster himself brought down Squadron X's ship, the ''[[Pale Fire]]'', with a single shot. {{storylink|Bullets}} According to official paperwork, a desperate surprise tactic by Springer and Impactor, along with support from Roadbuster and [[Rack'n'Ruin (G1)|Rack'n'Ruin]], turned the tide in the Wreckers' favor and Squadron X was defeated. However, as the Wreckers were prepping them for transport and imprisonment, Squadron X managed to escape. Impactor would not allow this, and a second battle with them ended in the deaths of every single member of Squadron X. However, this particular version of events was a cover story. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4|Last Stand of the Wreckers #4}}

What had ''actually'' occurred on Pova was that the Wreckers were going to be forced to release the captive Squadron X, as they were violating a neutrality agreement with the Povians by fighting there. Not willing to go along with this, Impactor locked himself in a room with the bound and helpless Decepticons and personally executed them all. Roadbuster and the other Wreckers, save Springer, made no move to stop him. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}}

Having been the one who handed Impactor the gun that was used to execute Squadron X, Roadbuster was inwardly proud of his leader's actions. However, once Springer reported Impactor to [[Autobot High Command]], Roadbuster and the others realized that they were in danger of being implicated in the crime as well. Roadbuster and the other Wreckers approached Springer individually in the time leading up to Impactor's trial, each telling him that they had no idea what Impactor was going to do. For his part, Roadbuster claimed that he had thought Impactor WAS going to release Squadron X as planned, and that the gun was only for self-defense. The Wreckers asked Springer to be their new leader and Springer bought into their pleas, officially clearing them of complicity in Impactor's crime at the trial. {{storylink|Zero Point}}

[[File:Animals-RadarGatoraider.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|"Radar, you are a most fortunate individual!" 
"I know!" 
"You've been a participant in the biggest interdimensional cross rip since the [[Tunguska event|Tunguska Blast of 1909!]]" 
"Felt great...!" 
"I'd like to get a sample of your brain tissue." 
"Okay-AAHHKKK!"]]
At some point, the Wreckers attacked a Decepticon squad led by [[Krok (G1)|Krok]]. High on [[Syk]], Roadbuster tore out [[Radar]]'s spine and made him ''eat it''. The attack would traumatize Krok. {{storylink|Animals}}

Many stellar cycles later, Roadbuster used his considerable armament against the Decepticons holed up in their [[Infiltration protocol|siege mode]] armature on the world of [[Varas Centralus]] in the [[Kol System]]. During the battle he handed Springer a comm-unit with an urgent call from Operations Command: orders from [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] himself redeploying the Wreckers to Cybertron. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 2|Stormbringer #2}}

[[File:Roadbustertotherescue.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Why worry? Each one of us is carrying an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back.]]
After the Wreckers arrived on Cybertron, Roadbuster saved [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] and [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] from a group of [[Centurion droid]]s, before having [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] evacuate the two unconscious [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] out of the area. After the Wreckers blasted their way into [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s base and very, very, very quickly defeated the cultists, Roadbuster and Whirl rescued [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] from where he and the other Technobots were being recycled into raw materials. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}} After [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] returned to Cybertron, Roadbuster, [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]], and [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] served as advanced scouts, watching the giant [[Pretender]]'s activity. They legged it when Thunderwing unleashed a wave of destruction in memory of his failed attempts to convince [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] and the scientific community of Cybertron to support his experimentation. As the battle was joined, Roadbuster's group tried to get Thunderwing's attention, but were blown away by a thunderous clap of his giant hands. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}}

Much later, the Wreckers were called in by [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]'s unit to fight Thunderwing on [[Corata-Vaz]]. Roadbuster was part of the [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] ground assault, but all the Autobot combatants were blown away by the monster's ionic discharge. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}} Thunderwing eventually assumed his powered-up [[Super Mode|Ultra Mode]], and Roadbuster poured hundreds of rounds into the being's left flank before Jetfire came up with an idea to take control of Thunderwing. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}}

[[File:SpotlightSideswipe ThunderwingVSWreckers.jpg|right|upright=1.7|thumb|Funny us going out like this. Killed by a 100-foot [[Pretender]].]]
Jetfire managed to gain remote control using Bludgeon's old axis cradle trick, and the Wreckers slipped past to disable the [[Nega-Core]] that Thunderwing had been guarding. Jetfire eventually lost control and Thunderwing turned back to advance on Roadbuster and the others as they futilely poured firepower into the massive Pretender. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

Some time later, more than half of the Wreckers were captured and imprisoned by the Decepticon commander [[Turmoil]] and his crew. The recently rehabilitated [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] led a rescue team that included Roadbuster to infiltrate Turmoil's ship. There, they ran into [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], who was also trying to rescue the captured Wreckers. Roadbuster and the others managed to rescue their comrades and Kup formally offered Drift a spot on a new unit he was planning to form. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}}

Subsequently, Roadbuster appeared as part of the crew of the starship ''[[Trion]]'', under Kup's command. Receiving a distress call from [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]], Kup's team went to rescue him. They found Hot Rod being menaced by Bludgeon and the [[Pretender Monster|Monstructor Six]]. Bludgeon quickly commanded the team to merge into [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] and the [[combiner|gestalt]] easily brushed Roadbuster aside, knocking off his shoulder cannon. But Monstructor was soon thereafter defeated when [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] demonstrated his newly honed sniping skills. Bludgeon opted to retreat in his ship and the crew of the Trion, now joined by Hot Rod, went in pursuit of the fleeing Decepticons. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|Lost & Found}}

[[File:Slowmotionmoviewalkahm5.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|right|Let's show this prehistoric bitch how we do things downtown.]]
The Trion was eventually lured into an enemy ambush, and had its defenses disabled due to its command codes having been gleaned from an Autobot traitor. Forced to crash-land, Roadbuster was stranded with the remainder of the ship's crew on the surface of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], using their former ship as a base of operations. They eventually met up with the demoralized crew of the incapacitated Optimus Prime. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}}

After the Trion's crew had settled in, [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] and Roadbuster had a little chat outside, where Roadbuster revealed how frustrated he was that they had been taken down by the Decepticons without even a chance to shoot back. Noting Roadbuster's eagerness for a fight, Ironhide began to tell him something, but caught sight of a strange creature in the distance. It turned out to be an advance scout of the [[Insecticon swarm]], and Roadbuster immediately notified Kup of its presence. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}}

The Autobots soon relocated their base-camp, and in his vehicle mode, Roadbuster served as a mobile command platform for Kup to ride on and [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] to snipe from as they traveled. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}}

[[File:Roadbuster Loves Guns.jpg|right|upright=1.4|thumb|You're not ''sleeping'' with it, are you, Roadbuster?]]
After Optimus Prime was repaired and the Autobots prepared to make their final stand against the Insecticon swarm, [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] removed and modified one of the ''Trion''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s cannons to be used as a mounted turret for Roadbuster to fire. Roadbuster was quite enamored with the weapon and wanted to give it a name. When the swarm attacked, Roadbuster managed to destroy quite a few of them with his new cannon. But eventually he was forced to shove the cannon off its mount to crush a few of the Insecticon horde as they scaled the walls of the Autobots' temporary fortress. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}}

After the Autobots returned to Earth aboard [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], Roadbuster jumped into battle alongside his comrades against the Decepticons. He grappled with [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and overpowered him, disappointed that the Decepticon turned out to be a "lightweight". Roadbuster was then blasted away by Megatron. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} He survived though, and stood victorious behind Optimus Prime and the others as the Decepticons retreated. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

At some point following Megatron's defeat, Roadbuster became deeply involved with inventing a new weapon he dubbed the "[[Sparkeater (weapon)|Sparkeater]]", and was unavailable when Springer started to reform the Wreckers. {{storylink|Bullets}}

[[File:Roadbuster Bumblebee TheImpossibleKnot.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|No offense, guys, but I've gotta get my own lawyer.]]
He was on Earth when Optimus Prime chose to surrender to [[Skywatch]] two years after the defeat of Megatron. Hot Rod and some like-minded individuals broke off from the main Autobot force to find a way off the planet. Roadbuster chose to stay behind with the remaining Autobots, who elected [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] as their new leader. {{storylink|The Impossible Knot}} He had to learn how to ''not'' pat Bumblebee on the head when he saw him.{{storylink|Zero Point}}

After the liberation of [[Garrus-9]], Springer was left in a comatose state following near-fatal injuries received at the hands of [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]. Roadbuster, along with Whirl, were stationed on ''[[Debris]]'' to watch over their former leader. {{storylink|Zero Point}} (Hubcap was there too but Roadbuster did not recognise him) {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 4|Sins of the Wreckers #4}} Whirl attempted to euthanize Springer with the Sparkeater weapon Roadbuster had developed. Stopping him before the deed could be done, Roadbuster issued "the Veto" on Whirl; the ability of any Wrecker to remove any other Wrecker from the team. After Whirl had been removed from the premises, Roadbuster continued his solemn vigil over Springer alone. {{storylink|Interiors}} To help Springer reawaken, it was recommended by [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] that Roadbuster read to him from ''[[Wreckers: Declassified]]''.

Before starting, he had to undertake the non-trivial task of learning to read.

[[File:SinsoftheWreckers1 ImpactorRoadbusterArgue.jpg|thumb|right|upright=2.0|Let's see what happens when we take away the puppy.]]
Despite disliking his portrayal in them as a one-dimensional gun-nut, Roadbuster eventually read him every datalog—twice, the second time attempting the difficult words which escaped him the first time—except [[Wreckers: Declassified|113]], which detailed their showdown with Squadron X at Pova. Roadbuster was extremely guilty about lying to avoid taking the fall with Impactor, and confessed this to his unconscious leader, also acknowledging that he felt that Springer was the best leader the Wreckers had ever had. After this disclosure, Roadbuster noticed some faint signs of stirring from Springer. {{storylink|Zero Point}}

Years later, Roadbuster was still reading and believed this had made for a positive change in himself, even as Impactor believed Springer should be allowed to die with dignity. Roadbuster and Impactor both lamented the lack of work for the Wreckers, outside of titchy Decepticon cells; Impactor also lamented that his protege [[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]] had gone killcrazy nuts and had to be locked in a box, but Roadbuster said trying to help was a sign of strength. (And he mentioned the, ah, ''connection'' he'd had with trainees himself) During another round of their ongoing debate about euthanising Springer, with Impactor quietly checking that Roadbuster wasn't hearing the guy 'talk' to him, the leader suddenly ''got up'' and dragged them (and Hubcap) to Earth, alerted by Kup that Prowl was MIA. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 1|Sins of the Wreckers #1}}

[[File:SinsoftheWreckers2 RoadbustertorturesClawJaw.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|300px|left|Being miserable and treating other people like dirt is every Wrecker's god-given right!]]
Suspicion for the disappearance fell first on the human [[Verity Carlo]] but it turned out to be a Cybertronian faction, [[Mayhem Attack Squad|the anarchic Mayhem]], which was first revealed to a sickened Roadbuster when Kup began ''talking in Prowl's voice'' and revealed the manipulator had had remote access to Kup's brain for years. The job was still the job though, and the Wreckers pursued the Mayhems. After a vicious battle with Mayhem's living mobile HQ, [[Tidal Wave (G1)|Tidal Wave]], the Wreckers entered said HQ and Roadbuster began to violently torture [[Claw Jaw]] for info. Springer was horrified but Roadbuster just snapped back that reading to him didn't cancel out being a violent bastard or vice versa. The cowed Claw Jaw led them into the [[Noisemaze]] {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 2|Sins of the Wreckers #2}} but this turned out to be a trap: only Mayhems were protected against the Noisemaze dimension's mental destabilising! Roadbuster was knocked out by the sheer pain and taken to [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]], to be locked into the guilt extracting computer [[Impetus]] and spit out all his crimes. In among them, he admitted he deep down wished he'd been brave enough to euthanise Springer like Whirl had tired to. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 3|Sins of the Wreckers #3}}

[[Image:K-PLUTCH.jpg|thumb|300px|right|I'm terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought.]]

Tarantulas gleefully revealed to Roadbuster that way back in the day, he'd been "Mortilus" and had deliberately used Roadbuster to collect bodies for experiments; and Hubcap had been working for Tarantulas for ''years'', willing to do this in exchange for revenge against both Roadbuster and Prowl, for releasing him early. (Almost unnoticed by his fellows, an upset Roadbuster told Tarantulas he'd missed his voice and wanted to know "where did you ''go''?") It was lucky for all concerned that Hubcap had enough qualms to release the other Wreckers under Prowl's prodding but Roadbuster, even with the others, struggled to take down Tarantulas.

And so Roadbuster made a sacrifice play. After begging Springer to remember him as a friend and not remember him for all his violent horrors, he transformed to vehicle mode and rammed Tarantulas through a window and down to the rocks below. He survived the fall, but so had Tarantulas, who had shrunk down... and crawled inside the Wrecker's head. The last thing Roadbuster heard was one more malicious whisper before the spider mass-shifted ''back'' to regular size. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 4|Sins of the Wreckers #4}}

{{-}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
[[File:KreO-webcomic-6-Roadbuster.jpg|75px|thumb|left|[[Ernie Hudson|"This job is not worth eleven-five a year!"]]]]
Roadbuster was one of several Autobots reeling from the appearance of the mighty [[Devastator (Kre-O)|Devastator]]. {{Storylink|A New Menace! The Giant Soldier Devastator Appears!}}
{{-}}

===''Cloud''===
[[File:Cloud Roadbuster.jpg|thumb|"I love [[Japan|this town!]]"]]
Roadbuster is a [[Wrecker]], but unlike most other members of the volatile team, possesses a gentle, friendly and serious-minded personality. Sometimes he can get a bit ''too'' serious, though, and get bogged down by his doubts about the future, uncertain what will happen to him if peace is ever achieved and he won't be of use anymore. Skilled at both fighting and weapons engineering, Roadbuster wields the "Calibur Arms" (キャリバーアームズ ''Kyaribā Āmuzu''), a collection of weapons of his own design that can combine in various ways.

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Metamorphosis (Cloud)|Metamorphosis}} {{storylink|Overwhelm}} {{storylink|Concealment}} {{storylink|Struggle}} {{storylink|Fury (Cloud)|Fury}} {{storylink|Transcendence}} {{storylink|TFC-A04}} {{storylink|TFC-D04}} {{storylink|Transformers Cloud (issue)|Transformers Cloud}} {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Deadlock)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}}}}

===''Legends'' comic===
[[File:LG04 comic Roadbuster.jpg|thumb|"If there's a steady paycheck, I'll believe anything [[Tankor (BM)|you]] say."]]
Roadbuster and [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] were built in the [[Legends World]] by [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]], inspired by designs from a [[w:Special Armored Battalion Dorvack|certain '80s giant robot anime]], to aid him in his plans to return the world to how it was in the '80s. In spite of Tankor's design intentions, however, [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] recognized them as Autobots from a [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|British ''Transformers'' comic]], an origin story that confused the pair. While Whirl went on to have a change of heart and decided to be a hero instead, Roadbuster remained loyal to his commander Tankor and engaged his former partner in combat. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 4|Bonus Edition Vol. 4}} Declaring it time to enact his Total Humanity '80s Transformation Plan, Tankor entrusted his '80s Transformation Beam to Roadbuster and sent him to cause havoc by blasting everyone around him into various '80s forms. An impassioned speech from [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] briefly halted Tankor's resolve, leaving him open to attack, but Roadbuster loyally shielded his commander and was broken into pieces by an air-dropped Rattrap as a result. Tankor retreated and had Roadbuster fixed up, after which the two started running an '80s-themed café instead. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 5|Bonus Edition Vol. 5}}

Waspinator later taught [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] about Roadbuster and Whirl during his ''Transformers'' lesson, again explaining that they first appeared in a British comic. The concept of British Transformers had Megatron thinking of the pair as English stereotypes, and he imagined Roadbuster decked up as [[Sherlock Holmes]]. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 15#Whirl and Roadbuster Now on Sale, Buzz|Whirl and Roadbuster Now on Sale, Buzz}} On [[Christmas]], Roadbuster dressed up as a reindeer and helped Santa-Tankor hand out toys from the 80s. {{storylink|Merry X'mas!!}}

Roadbuster later got concerned about Tankor when he picked a fight with [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] and [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]]. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 17#I'm Tankor, dana!|I'm Tankor, dana!}} He then ran into Whirl again and was ready for a rematch, only to be taken aback when the self-styled "hero" ''took a hostage'', and even more so when the hostage took control of Whirl and forced him to pick up garbage. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 17|Whirl Versus Roadbuster!}} Eventually, Whirl returned to Tankor and Roadbuster's side and the three went back to terrorizing the population, but it all came to an end when a dimensionally displaced [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] defeated Tankor for good. Roadbuster and Whirl were left lost and confused about what to without their leader, so Jetfire invited them back to his [[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity|home dimension]], reasoning they'd fit in better there. The pair accepted his offer and traveled through a [[solitarium]] portal to the year [[2004]] of his universe, where they joined the Autobots. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 7|Bonus Edition Vol. 7}}

Upon meeting the [[Jumpstarter]]s, Whirl and Roadbuster introduced themselves as "Wreckers", something Waspinator had identified them as. Overhearing this, [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] thought it was a great team name and founded the Wreckers as a new Autobot unit, recruiting the duo into it. {{storylink|Jumpstarter Chapter#LG-07 Jetfire Sequel|LG-07 Jetfire Sequel}} Their first mission by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] was to clean up around [[Mount St. Hilary]]. {{storylink|Jumpstarter Chapter#G1 Wreckers Birth Story|G1 Wreckers Birth Story}} At one point he and Whirl explained their origins to the Jumpstarters, who would later create Legends World to begin with in order to ensure their comrades would be born. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 66|Bonus Edition Vol. 66}} In the year [[2021]], [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] recalled Roadbuster and Whirl's origins when he and his soldiers were reduced to heads and needed new bodies built. Using residual radiation acquired from the two Wreckers, Fortress located the Legends World and traveled there in search of the expertise used to build them. {{storylink|Headmaster Chapter Prologue}}

As Wreckers, Roadbuster and Whirl fought under [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] for many years, and one day in the late 2030s, they noticed he was getting fatter. A comment from Whirl about Springer's failed relationship with [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]] ended up upsetting their leader, and Roadbuster scrambled to try to cheer him up. When Springer sought to become his old macho self again, Roadbuster and Whirl had an idea, suggesting that he go to the Legends World and have their creator, Tankor (now [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]), build him a cool new body. The two came with him on the trip to revisit their old home and observe his reconstruction. {{storylink|LG19 Sprung Prologue}} They then returned to the G1 World where they pushed Springer into asking Arcee out. {{storylink|Jumpstarter Chapter#LG19 Springer Sequel|LG19 Springer Sequel}} Upon learning that the Legends World was under attack by [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]], Roadbuster and Whirl volunteered to return and defend their homeworld. {{storylink|Jumpstarter Chapter#LG65 Twin Twist Prologue|LG65 Twin Twist Prologue}} On arrival, they were pinned down by Windblade's [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]], leaving [[Twin Twist]] to take her on. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 65|Bonus Edition Vol. 65}}

After the Legends World was destroyed, Whirl ended up back in the G1 World. In [[2038]], he and Roadbuster were on [[Micro|Zone]], where he watched the [[Powered Master]]s duke it out with [[Violen Jiger]] in their old bodies. {{Storylink|The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 2}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
Roadbuster and [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] were enlisted to assist [[Nova Prime]] in battle against Nemesis Prime, an evil future version of Nova. They were unable to prevail against this future threat. {{storylink|Prime Evil}} Roadbuster was a member of the fearless Wreckers squad which liberated Garrus-9 from the grip of [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] and the [[Air Strike Patrol]], though they destroyed most of the facility in the process. {{storylink|The Wreckers}} [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and Roadbuster were sent to prevent [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] from reviving [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]. They failed, and were forced to help the two Decepticons defeat Thunderwing. {{storylink|Stormbringer (Legends)|Stormbringer}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:BattleTacticsRoadbuster.jpg|thumb|300px|right| "Whirl, somehow this reminds me of the time you tried to drill a hole in your head. Do you remember that?"]]
Roadbuster 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 recruited by collecting 70 units of Cybermetal, 30 units of Transmetal, and 20 exclusive cores. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===The Transformers===
[[File:G1Roadbuster toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|I ain't afraid of no road!]]
*'''Roadbuster''' (Deluxe Vehicle, [[1985]])
**''Accessories:'' Laser rifle, Linear Blaster Gun, Shrapnel Missile Launcher, 5 missiles, Control Pack (with 2 Handles), power pack, antenna, Infrared Range Finder, large wheel covers (left & right), small wheel covers (left & right)

:Roadbuster transforms into an orange and green cybertronic jeep armed with a large gun. In [[robot mode]] he can hold the jeep's gun, and also has another gun resembling a real world M16A1 rifle, and a shoulder-mounted missile launcher. He also wears a large backpack that has a very tall antenna and two articulated handlebars slung beneath his arms. Oh, and mustn't forget the snap-on armor plating that hides the jeep's tires.

:For a toy of his size, Roadbuster has an enormous number of accessories, of which the rangefinder for the jeep's gun may well be the smallest ever produced for any Transformer. Finding a loose complete Roadbuster can be very challenging—are you sure ''all'' the spare missiles are there? Better count again!

::*''[http://www.transformerland.com/wiki/toy-info/transformers-g1-deluxe-vehicles-roadbuster/578/ Patent info, price guide, and further reading on Roadbuster at Transformerland.com]''
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1985/Autobot/Roadbuster/roadbuster.htm More information on Roadbuster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Universe'' (2003)===
[[File:OTFCC unreleased Roadbuster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|My parents didn't believe in toys.]]
*'''Autobot Roadbuster''' (<s>[[2005]]</s>)
**''Accessories'': Crane/cannon, 2-part spare tire/blades, energon star, energon rifle

:A retool of ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' Energon Class [[Strongarm (Energon)#Energon|Strongarm]] as ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Roadbuster was part of [[3H Productions]]' proposal for an [[BotCon#Proposed.2FUnreleased exclusives|OTFCC 2005]] convention exclusive set. However, with the financial collapse of [[3H Productions]] in late 2004 and the subsequent transfer of the ''Transformers'' convention license to [[Fun Publications]], all plans for this toy (and its companion piece [[Brawn (G1)/toys#Universe (2003)|Brawn]]) were scrapped. It would have featured a new head and an Energon rifle.

{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}

===''Universe'' (2008)===
[[File:Universe comicpack Roadbuster toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Choose! Choose the form of the Destructor!]]
*'''Autobot Ambush''' (Two-pack, [[2008]])
**''Accessories:'' "Close-combat blade", Autobot [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]-style [[Cyber Key]]

:A [[Target]]-[[exclusive]] redeco of ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' Deluxe Class [[Hot Shot (Armada)/toys#CyCDF|Cybertron Defense Hot Shot]], ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' "Autobot Roadbuster" transforms into a modified {{w|M1117 Armored Security Vehicle|M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicle}}. When a Cyber Key is inserted into the back of the turret, the two "recoilless rifle" barrels open up into dual (non-firing) missile racks. Compartments on his shoulders and legs can also open up to reveal additional missile racks, while the front bumper halves flip outward to reveal machine guns and ''even more'' missile racks. Roadbuster also comes with a blade that can peg via [[5 mm post|5 mm-compatible post]] onto his hands or onto the front of his fist, and can stow between his legs in vehicle mode as an exhaust pipe of sorts. Additionally, the blade can be put away in a sheath on his leg, and the same sheath can be used to store his Cyber Key in vehicle mode. His (conveniently color-coded) red Cyber Key is unpainted, save for its silver Autobot symbol.

:The [[instructions]] and [[package art]] for this toy depict his green shoulder panels as being swapped.

:He is packed with the Voyager-sized [[Dirge (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Dirge]] and a comic book. In its first release in Canada, the set did not include a comic (in spite of the ''INCLUDES COMIC!'' marking on the package), and in the US, the set included the ''wrong'' comic. Instead of ''The Dark Ages'' issue "[[Escalation]]", which was meant for the "Standoff Beneath the Streets" Voyager-Deluxe two-pack of [[Springer (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Springer]] and [[Ratbat (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Ratbat]], the right comic was to be a reprint of "[[Target: 2006]]" parts [[Target: 2006#Wreck and Rule!|5]] and [[Target: 2006#The Devil You Know...|6]], which was similarly and erroneously included with the "Standoff Beneath the Streets" two-pack.

:This mold was also used to make ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' [[BotCon 2007]] [[Springer (G1)/toys#Timelines|Springer]] and served as the model for the non-toy ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' incarnation of [[Hardhead (BWN)#Beast Wars: Uprising|Hard Head]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/TFURoadbuster/roadbuster.htm More information on ''Universe'' Roadbuster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Generations''===
[[File:TFGenerations Voyager Roadbuster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|I tried to think of the most harmless thing. Something I loved from my childhood. Something that could never ever possibly destroy us.]]
*'''Roadbuster''' (Voyager Class, [[2014]])
**''Series / Number:'' '''02 / 008'''
**''Accessories:'' Launcher, missile, missile pod, pistol, rifle, cannon/rifle stock, cannon/rifle scope

:Part of the seventh wave of ''[[Transformers: Generations#Thrilling 30|Generations: Thrilling 30]]'' Voyager Class toys, Roadbuster (yes, without the "Autobot" prefix) is an all-new mold, transforming into an off-road vehicle. He comes with ''numerous'' weapons, all of which peg via 5mm post onto his vehicle rear/legs, shoulders, upper & lower arms, and hands: a spring-loaded, missile-firing launcher, a pistol, a rifle, a (nonfiring) missile pod, and two small cannons that respectively form the scope and stock of the rifle. All of his weapons can combine to form an unwieldy superweapon.

:Some of Roadbuster's 5mm ports appear to be slightly too small, most notably those on his shoulders, making it difficult to fit weapons into them. His bicep swivels are also commonly found to suffer from molding issues, impeding or outright preventing them from working. Due to obstruction as a result of molding in robot mode, his legs have little-to-no forward articulation, yet extreme backwards articulation.

:Roadbuster also comes with a [[sticker]] sheet to help give him some detail, such as his much-needed Autobot chest insignia. It also comes with an alternative Wrecker insignia, although the clear-plastic nature of the stickers means that the blue ends up blackish when placed on his orange chest. Bummer. Most of the stickers are actually a pre-cut rectangular size, meaning almost all the stickers don't actually fit onto their designated spots, leading to people either leaving them off, trimming them, or placing them in different spots.

:This mold was also used by [[Transformers Cloud|''Cloud'']] Roadbuster and [[BotCon 2015]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Timelines|General Optimus Prime]] and served as the basis of the non-toy ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' incarnations of [[Killer Punch#Beast Wars: Uprising|Killer Punch]] and [[Guiledart#Beast Wars: Uprising|Guiledart]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2014/Autobot/GenRoadbuster/roadbuster.htm More information on ''Generations'' Roadbuster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Legends''===
[[File:Legends-toy Roadbuster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Relax, I'm not the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.]]
*'''Roadbuster''' ([[November 29]], 2014)
**''ID number:'' '''LG04'''
**''Accessories:'' Launcher, missile, missile pod, pistol, rifle, cannon/rifle stock, cannon/rifle scope

:''Legends'' Roadbuster is a redeco of ''Generations'' Voyager Class Roadbuster with some ever-so-slight changes, such as his optics are now unpainted giving him a light piping effect, completely orange thighs and a single patch of green on both his lower side legs. He doesn't come with a sticker sheet, instead having an Autobot sigil tampographed on his chest, but does come with a leaflet featuring a character profile, tech specs and the [[Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 4|''Legends'' Bonus Edition Vol. 4]] mini-comic. There are some reports of mold degradation, especially on his loose ratcheted shoulder joints.
{{-}}

===''Cloud''===
[[File:Takaratomy-cloud-roadbuster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"I'm the best. I'm the beautiful. I'm the only Roadbuster! I'm back!"]]
*'''Roadbuster''' ([[March 21]], [[2014]])
**''ID number:'' '''TFC-A04'''
**''Accessories:'' Launcher, missile, missile pod, pistol, rifle, cannon/rifle stock, cannon/rifle scope

:''[[Transformers Cloud|Cloud]]'' Roadbuster is a red and blue [[redeco]] of ''Generations'' Voyager Class [[#Generations|Roadbuster]] as a homage to [[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|''Energon'']] [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] (whose Japanese name was "Roadbuster"). It is unknown if he retains the loose ratcheted shoulder joints from the ''Legends'' release above.

:The first 500 customers who preordered got 1 of 3 gifts: the [[Arms Micron]] [[O.P.#Shining|Shining O.P.]], the Arms Micron [[Firebolt (Prime)#Toys|Autobot Firebolt Clear Yellow Version]], or ''EZ Collection'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Lost Age|Convoy Anniversary Clear Version]].
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===''EM Gōkin''===
[[File:EMGokin Roadbuster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Grab your stick! HOLDING! Heat 'em up! SMOKIN'! Make 'em hard! READY!"]]
*'''Transformers Roadbuster''' (2014)
**''ID number:'' '''EM-04'''
**''Accessories:'' Handheld Laser Rifle, back-mounted Linear Blaster Gun, backpack/Shrapnel Missile Launcher, shell, two fists, open left hand, display stand

:Produced by [[Art Storm]] as part of their ''EM Gōkin'' line, this posable but non-transforming Roadbuster figure shares the same origin as his original toy, being a fully licensed [[redeco]] of ''EM Gōkin'' EM-01 Mugen Calibur. His backpack piece is [[retool]]ed to add his trademark shoulder-mounted missile launcher, which can rest against his back or flip over his shoulder, and he lacks Mugen Calibur's ''Dorvack''-specific accessories. In addition to two default clenched fists, Roadbuster comes with a splayed open left hand and a right hand molded to his Laser Rifle, and on his back you can mount the aforementioned launcher backpack as well as an unwieldable Linear Blaster Gun. He also includes a shell that can be inserted in the handheld rifle's barrel, and a display stand with an Autobot symbol.

::*''[http://artstorm.co.jp/emgokin_roadbuster.html More information on ''EM Gōkin'' Roadbuster at Art Storm's official site]''
{{-}}

===''ES Gōkin''===
[[File:ESGokin Roadbuster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Roadbuster:...You know, I just realized I haven't had a successful test of all this equipment yet...I blame myself. Whirl: So do I.]]
*'''Transformers Roadbuster''' (2014)
**''Accessories:'' Laser Rifle, Linear Blaster Gun, Shrapnel Missile Launcher, two fists, two open hands, gun-wielding right hand, display stand

:Another Art Storm release, ''ES Gōkin'' Roadbuster is a cute [[super deformed]] take on the character. Similar to his ''EM'' counterpart he is a redeco/retool of ''ES Gōkin'' Mugen Calibur with an added shoulder launcher accessory, but ''this'' toy can be transformed into (an adorably chubby) jeep mode after [[Partformer|taking off his head]]. He comes with a handheld Laser Rifle that can be taken apart and combined with the back-mounted Linear Blaster Gun to increase the latter's length in vehicle mode, while the remaining handle stores on the jeep's side. Roadbuster also features an electronic light-up visor activated by a button on the back on his head.

::*''[http://artstorm.co.jp/esgokin_roadbuster.html More information on ''ES Gōkin'' Roadbuster at Art Storm's official site]''
{{-}}

===''Tiny Titans''===
*'''Roadbuster''' (Tiny Titans, 2015)
**''Series'': '''4'''
**''Number'': '''7/12'''

: Part of the fourth assortment of ''[[Tiny Titans]]'' [[blindpacking|blindpacks]], this version of Roadbuster is a very small, soft-plastic figure of him in robot mode.

: He includes a collectible card that renders him in the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 franchise)|2015 ''Robots in Disguise'']] styling. The card includes a scan-badge for the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (mobile game)|''Robots in Disguise'' mobile game]], which unlocks a random amount of Energon "currency" and a randomized bonus power-up item.

: This wave saw fairly minimal release at "big box" retailers, but unlike other waves, was ''not'' picked up by drug stores and the like later, making them particularly hard to find.
===Transformers Trading Card Game===
[[File:W5Roadbuster.jpg|thumb]]
*'''Roadbuster, Ground Assault Commander''' (2020)
**'''Wave 5: Titan Masters Attack'''
**''Rarity: '''''SRT'''
**''Card Number: '''''T34/T46'''
**''Stars: ''11

:This card's set was originally set for an April 2020 release, however due to the global COVID-19 pandemic the release was pushed back to May 29, 2020.
{{-}}

==Notes==
*Both [[Deluxe Vehicle]]s were licensed from [[Takatoku Toys]] by [[Hasbro]] for inclusion in the 1985 line, and hence were not included in the Japanese line, the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]], or the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|US Marvel comic]]. The Roadbuster mold was originally "Mugen Calibur" (ムゲンキャリバー) from the ''{{w|Special Armored Battalion Dorvack|Dorvack}}'' toyline, though the ''Transformers'' release uses a completely different deco.
*The ''[[Transformers Generations (guidebook)|Transformers Generations]]'' guidebook [[Engrish|mistakenly]] spelled Roadbuster's name as "Roadbaster". This would seem to imply that the cannon on his shoulder is loaded with piping hot giblet gravy.
*Poor Roadbuster never got a printed ''[[The Transformers Universe]]'' bio. One was written, though, and finally revealed to the fans on [http://boltax.blogspot.com/2011/01/extended-bio-whirl.html ''Disciples of Boltax''] in 2010.
*Like all non-toy robot Kreons in the ''Kre-O'' comics, Roadbuster is made from existing ''Kre-O'' parts. He uses the [[Hound (G1)/toys#Kre-O|Hound]] helmet, and a backpack made from a 2x4 harness, a pair of 1x2 plates with side-bars and a [[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]] cannon. He also carries a "scoped" small pistol and an M-16-style rifle.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Roadbuster''' (ロードバスター ''Rōdobasutā'')
*''French:'' '''Cahot''' (Canada, "Jolt")

[[Category:Cloud Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Autobots]]
[[Category:Kre-O Autobots]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Legends Autobots]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:Target exclusives]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Wreckers]]

Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity

2021-04-29T13:44:02Z

Spark Mandrill: /* The Lost Light */

{{factions|autobot|wreckers}}
{{suite}}
[[File:Perceptor lost and found.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|This is ''not'' your father's microscope.]]
The brilliant '''Perceptor''' was able to serve the Autobots admirably for millions of years utilizing his expertise in a myriad of different scientific fields. However, a brush with death forced him to reassess his worth on the battlefield, and Perceptor began cultivating a different role for himself as a cold, detached sniper. His clinical focus, patience, and built-in magnification abilities all translated perfectly to this occupation, and Perceptor was even recruited into the [[Wrecker]]s thanks to his deadly new skill set.

After the war ended, Perceptor joined the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'', where he was able to partially rediscover his old self and serve as the ship's chief science officer. He often unwillingly finds himself in a one-sided competition with the self-proclaimed "ship's genius" [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]], who causes Perceptor no small measure of annoyance. However, the two share the same passion for science, and Perceptor has even admitted that Brainstorm's unorthodox work has impressed and inspired him on occasion.

{{first|''[[Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1]]'' (cameo); ''[[Spotlight: Kup]]'' (full appearance)}}

{{bigquote|When Perceptor and physics make '''eye contact''', physics blinks first.|''Getaway''|"[[The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|''Filling in the Blanks'']]"}}

==Fiction==
===Joining the Autobots===
In the time preceding the Great War, Perceptor worked for security control for Sentinel Prime's government. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}}

[[File:Underworld ScienceTeam.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6|[[Fantastic Four|No need to fear; they're here. Just call for four]].]]
In the earliest days of the war, Perceptor was part of [[Jetfire (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jetfire]]'s science team when they were sent to search the former location of the [[Toraxxis mega-refinery]] for signs of [[energon]]. His colleague [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] believed something to be living in the crater, but Perceptor assured him the odds of life existing in the high-pressure underground environment were very low. {{storylink|Fallout (issue)|Fallout}} When they discovered a lake of energon in the caves, Perceptor found unstable particle anomalies within it, and indeed something proved to be very wrong when Ratchet fell in and was turned into a growling beast who mindlessly attacked Perceptor. He calmed down, but the team was in turn attacked by actual monsters who against Perceptor's earlier conclusion were native to the tunnels. Fleeing to another cave, the scientists stumbled onto the dormant form of a [[Trypticon (G1)|much larger monster]], seemingly sealed away since ancient times. {{storylink|Underworld (IDW)|Underworld}} After reporting their findings to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]], Perceptor shared some new low odds with Ratchet—this time, the odds of their survival if the giant monster was to wake up. {{storylink|Prey (issue)|Prey}} During a major Decepticon assault on [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], Perceptor reported to Optimus Prime that the city's coolant plants had been ruptured, causing extensive flooding and [[acid rain]]. {{storylink|Primacy issue 3|Primacy #3}}

At some point during the war, Perceptor fought alongside Ultra Magnus, Springer, and Wheelie. Unfortunately, like most other bots, he had a tendency to overlook Wheelie, due to the latter's small stature. {{storylink|Spotlight: Wheelie}}

More than five hundred years ago, Perceptor was one of the cross-factional scientists consulted by [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] when he first identified Cybertron's failing energon resources. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1}}

[[File:SpotlightBlaster Perceptor whitestatic.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Cut the crap, Perceptor, and just get the cable back up!]]
In the 21st century, Perceptor led an expedition aboard the ''[[Ark-17]]'', along with [[Springer (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Springer]] and others in a mission to rescue an insane [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]] from [[Tsiehshi]]. The old Autobot was deranged from his ordeal, and attacked any rescuers who came down to the heavily-irradiated planet. Perceptor voiced concerns to Springer that he was needlessly risking lives in an effort to recover one Autobot. Luckily, the force field specialist [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] soon arrived and recovered Kup without any further loss of life. {{storylink|Spotlight: Kup}}

Perceptor later served on the [[Autobot Orbital Command Hub]], working as a peer to acting-commander [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]]. He appeared to know [[Blaster (G1)/toys|Blaster]] of old, and welcomed the communications officer back from his long absence. Perceptor helped Blaster with his investigation into who tried to assassinate him years ago, the attack which prompted his disappearance. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

===Serving With Kup: Sniper===
After Jetfire and the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s recovered and improved upon the unstable [[Pretender]] technology, Perceptor worked with [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] at the [[Kimia Facility]] to apply a variation of the tech to help repair Kup. Overseeing the operation, [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] also had Perceptor secretly install subroutines into Kup that would allow Prowl to have control over the old codger. Though Perceptor opposed this, he followed his orders. Perceptor also was assigned to Kup's unit to keep a supply of [[cy-gar]]s handy to keep Kup sane. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15#Everything in Its Right Place|Everything in Its Right Place}}

[[File:LostNFound-brainiac.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|"...half naked..."]]
Perceptor later accompanied Kup on a mission to rescue some captured [[Wrecker]]s and was badly injured during the operation, but was saved by [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}} After healing from his injuries, Perceptor decided to make some upgrades to his body, making him more useful as a warrior. He gave himself a [[adamant crystal|near-impervious]] breastplate, aiming arm stabilizers and a monocle-like targeting optic. He demonstrated these to great effect, taking out [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] in one blast during a rescue of [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15#Lost & Found|Lost & Found}}

[[File:AHM8-Perceptor.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|IDW Transformers drinking game: Take a sip for every panel of Perceptor shooting things while looking badass.]]
Sporting a decidedly dour demeanor, Perceptor obtained a modicum of prominence on Kup's team. Perceptor opted to become more directly involved in deeply discomfiting the Decepticons... until their inopportune crash-landing on Cybertron. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}} When some [[Insecticon swarm|swarms of Insecticons]] made an appearance, he once again displayed his disturbing targeting proficiency, inflicting immediate and conclusive damage on one scout with only minimal effort. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} He rode upon [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]]'s vehicle mode with Kup when the Autobots decided to relocate to a more-defensible position. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}}

Before the Autobots fled from the Swarm, they had planted some explosive charges to several bridges in order to cut off their pursuers. When they passed one of the bridges, Kup ordered Perceptor to shoot the charges, which he did with two small hand-blasters. However, he was taken out by a dart fired off by a Swarm (who got blasted for its effort). {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}} He was soon back on his feet, helping the other Autobots set up a defensive turret at their base. This saddened Ratchet, who would rather have had the "old" Perceptor help him and [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] repair Optimus Prime. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} After almost getting overrun by the Swarm, Perceptor and the other Autobots were rescued by [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], who carried them all to [[Earth]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}}
{{-}}
===The Wreckers===
[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers2 Perceptor Sniping.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|*sip*]]
Perceptor was still by Kup's side three years later, by which time both of them had joined the [[Wrecker]]s. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|Last Stand of the Wreckers #1}}

When they stumbled upon the injured former Wrecker [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]], Perceptor checked up on him and found a [[deterrence chip]] embedded in his skull. He soon had to switch mindsets from scientist to sniper again, though, as the Wreckers were sent to liberate [[Garrus-9]] from [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]'s clutches. During the initial attack, Perceptor shot down Decepticon jets while hanging upside-down from the Autobots' drop pod. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2|Last Stand of the Wreckers #2}}

[[File:LastStandOfTheWreckers3 PerceptorBuysTime.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.1|*slurrrrrp*]]
After their drop pod had crash-landed inside Garrus-9, Perceptor and his team found themselves surrounded by Decepticons and confronting Overlord himself. Overlord killed [[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]] right in front of them and told the Wreckers to surrender. Perceptor calmly ordered [[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]] to protect the stowaway [[Verity Carlo]], while he, [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]], and [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] launched themselves at the Decepticon. Overlord easily thrashed all of them, and upon hearing that there were Wreckers in another part of Garrus-9, offered freedom to any other Decepticon who brought him the head of a Wrecker. The Wreckers beat a hasty retreat as a mob of Decepticons started after them, and Perceptor managed to delay them by sniping and detonating a spare fuel tank they had brought along.

Perceptor and Topspin had to take a moment to deal with a shaken Ironfist's anxiety over Rotorstorm's death, then set to finding their main objective; [[Aequitas]]. Perceptor located the chamber in which it was housed and a ravaged [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Fortress Maximus]], who had been made into a "living lock pick" for the door. Perceptor had the access codes and got everyone in, revealing Aequitas to them. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 3|Last Stand of the Wreckers #3}}

Perceptor explained what Aequitas was to the others, and he quickly set to work on trying to find an access terminal for it. When he finally did locate it, he discovered a problem; Aequitas was protected by a “suicide lock”. Perceptor told the others that someone had to willingly donate their spark to bypass it, and it couldn't be him, as he was the only one who could operate the supercomputer. After some argument, Ironfist agreed to be the sacrifice, only to be beaten to the punch by Topspin. With Topspin's death, Perceptor gained access to Aequitas’ system. He copied the hard drive and uploaded it into Ironfist for safekeeping. As Decepticons began to break through the chamber's door, Perceptor pointed out he could kill them all by triggering their deterrence chips through Aequitas.

[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers5- Ironfist Perceptor Verity.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|left|And now you have alcohol poisoning.]]
Pyro and Verity were against this, as it meant Impactor would die as well, but Perceptor denied Verity a vote and looked to Ironfist for the tie-breaker. Ironfist, having learned the truth of Impactor's crimes from the Aequitas upload, glumly cast his lot in with Perceptor. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4|Last Stand of the Wreckers #4}}

Verity continued to argue against it, arguing that the Wreckers as idealized by Ironfist would never take the easy way out. Perceptor changed his mind, deciding that Verity was right and they’d simply fight their way out. Pyro volunteered to stay behind and buy them time to escape, and once the door was breached, Perceptor and Ironfist slipped by the Decepticons. At Ironfist's prompting, they headed to Garrus-9's armory.

Shortly thereafter, Perceptor and the others arrived outside, where the remaining Wreckers were fighting Overlord. As the Decepticon held Springer up with one arm, Perceptor sniped his hand off, forcing him to drop the Wreckers’ leader. But Overlord managed to tear Springer's face off and blast Perceptor into unconsciousness before finally being defeated by Ironfist, Verity, and the revived Impactor. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}}

[[File:ChaosTheory1 AntiMatterEyes.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|right|Perceptor's going to owe Ratchet an apology in [[The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|five years]].]]
After the liberation of Garrus-9, Perceptor resumed working at Kimia for a while. Alongside [[Xaaron]], he would later rejoin the main Autobot force as it headed towards Cybertron on board Omega Supreme. Together with Ratchet, he scanned a surrendered [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] for any hidden weapons or bombs, but found nothing. Ratchet was worried about an old legend that their prisoner had the ability to draw [[antimatter]] from [[black hole]]s, but Perceptor dismissed this as "stupid" and deemed Megatron safe. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}}

During the Autobots' battle with [[D-Void]] on Cybertron, Optimus Prime used the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and [[Vector Sigma]] to "reset" the entire planet into a primordial state, an event that probably even Perceptor couldn't explain. Once it was all over, Prime had Perceptor and [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] examine the core of the Matrix, which had been split in two in the process. Together, they found that the artifact was a complex synthetic structure, designed to be split open to reveal a message from the ancient [[Knights of Cybertron]]. Along with this message was a star map, which the Autobots assumed showed the way to [[Cyberutopia]]. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}}

===The ''Lost Light''===
[[File:Brainstorm Hangers On.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left|"Wow! Perceptor! It's an honor to meet you! My plot would never have existed without yours!" "That's what I told my lawyers!!"]]
Hoping to find the Knights of Cybertron using the Matrix map, Rodimus asked for any willing Autobots to join him on the ''[[Lost Light]]''. Perceptor was among those who volunteered, but an explosion during launch caused the ship to [[Quantum generator|quantum jump]] to an unknown point in space. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}} As the crew set the ''Lost Light'' down on a nearby planet, Perceptor worked with [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] to inspect and repair its [[quantum generator]]s. They found [[Ore]] jammed into one of them, but Perceptor didn't want to make an official statement until he had done numerous tests. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}} Later, a [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]] was unleashed aboard the Lost Light. Rodimus cornered it by an engine block and ordered Perceptor to quantum jump, mashing the Sparkeater into the quantum generator. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}}

[[File:Perceptor floor The Waiting Game.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|Ceiling Perceptor is watching you snark.]]
Perceptor attended an award ceremony for [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]], Brainstorm and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] after they'd heroically repaired a hull breach. {{storylink|The Reluctant Specialist}} Shortly thereafter he was sent on a scavenging mission to the planet [[Deimus]], but the shuttle ended up crashing and causing overheating coils to melt his legs into the floor (or the ceiling, since the craft ended up upside down). When his crewmate [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] ran into an illusions of [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]], Megatron, [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]], [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]], and [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] on the surface of the planet, Perceptor theorized that Deimus was protected by a [[phobia shield]], a device that caused Transformers to see their worst fears. As they were attacked by an illusory [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], Hoist carried Perceptor to safety before knocking him unconscious to keep the phobia shield from accessing his mind. {{storylink|The Waiting Game}}

[[File:MtMtE13 - Perceptor.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.34|He gives Swerve a taste of his own medicine.]]
While attending [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]]'s [[Act of Affiliation]] ceremony, Perceptor got word that Ore had mysteriously come back to life. Worried that the quantum generators might trigger another random jump if he panicked, he advised that they avoid telling Ore about his condition for the time being. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} In an attempt to repair the damage to the psychiatrist [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'s brain, Rewind gathered Perceptor, [[Blaster (G1)/toys|Blaster]], [[Siren (G1)|Siren]], [[Gears (G1)|Gears]], and [[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]] together in [[Swerve's|Swerve's bar]] to tell a story, indicating that they had all shared an adventure at some point in the past. The attempt was unsuccessful, possibly due to the overbearing volume of Siren's voice. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}} Perceptor then participated in the battle with a rogue group of Decepticons discovered on [[Temptoria]]. {{storylink|Before & After}} At one point he helpfully explained to a curious Swerve why the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s initial disappearance looked like an explosion from the outside, but Swerve didn't understand a word of it. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}} When [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] visited the ''Lost Light'' to ask for their assistance in recharging [[Vis Vitalis|his ship]]'s power supply from their quantum engines, Perceptor didn't believe it could be done but was happy to be corrected by the legendary Autobot. {{storylink|Little Victories}}

[[File:NoGunsNoSwordsNoBriefcases-Toaster.jpg|thumb]]
Having found that it was impossible to copy or even memorize the star map within the Matrix, Perceptor reported his discovery to Rodimus, who much to his annoyance forced him use layman's terms. Their conversation was cut short when the alarm alerted them that somehow Overlord was loose on their ship, causing both Autobots to rush into action. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} {{storylink|Signal to Noise}} He later rushed an injured [[Tripodeca]] into Swerve's, now repurposed as a triage centre, and set him down as Hoist got to work on him. He then left to continue fighting Overlord. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}} Security footage of Perceptor aboard the ''Lost Light'' was edited into Rewind's final message to Chromedome. {{storylink|The Gloaming}}

When Ultra Magnus's dying body disappeared after the fight with Overlord, the ''Lost Light'' followed his signal through a space warp and miraculous came across the long missing [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]. Perceptor did the initial scans of the planet's surface for Rodimus and got back what he was sure must be flawed data: despite an utter lack of signs of settlement or civilization, lifesigns registered in the neighborhood of ONE BILLION inhabitants. Perceptor joined the away team with Rodimus as they set off to investigate the moon, only to have an enormous [[hot spot (phenomenon)|hot spot]] ignite when they touched down. Perceptor's methodical, scientific ways shrieked in conflict with Brainstorm's impulsive curiosity, as the weapons engineer started ''harvesting'' a [[Point One Percenter]] spark right there on the field. The discussion became academic when a team of Decepticon [[Titan Hunter]]s suddenly arrived and attacked. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}}

[[File:MTMTE21 Rodimus crucifixion metaphor.jpg|thumb|left]]
The Autobots were soon overcome by the Hunters and brought before their unexpected leader, Chief Justice [[Solomus|Tyrest]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}} They were incarcerated in a cell for "harboring a criminal suspect", a charge that more light was shed upon after the arrival of their crewmate Skids, captured and dropped into [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]], new Enforcer of the Tyrest Accord. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} Turned out Prowl had tapped Tyrest for some light [[shadowplay]]-enforced treatment, and sent Skids and Getaway of Special Ops to deliver it via [[nudge gun]]s. They were stopped and Getaway captured as Skids escaped to the ''Lost Light'', ensuring Tyrest's antipathy towards the crew. Learning that Tyrest planned to eliminate all Cybertronians who were [[Reproduction#2005 IDW continuity|constructed cold]] using his "[[universal killswitch]]", Perceptor and the crew escaped their cell and confronted the chief justice. Unfortunately, he managed to incapacitate the heroes and triggered the killswitch. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}} After Tailgate surprised and disabled Tyrest's incapacitator, Perceptor rigged up a defense to the killswitch. By linking up Rodimus and his half-Matrix to the sparkcode frequency targeted by Tyrest's device, he succeeded in reinstating the code and preventing the deaths of a major percentage of the Cybertronian race. {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}} In the aftermath, Perceptor managed to adapt Tyrest's communication equipment to their purposes, and finally make contact again with Cybertron. And... Starscream?!? {{storylink|The Sound of Breaking Glass}}

[[File:Perceptor brainstorm into the abyss.jpg|thumb|upright=1.9|"EUREKA!"{{-}}"NO, ''you'' reek-ah!"]]
Continuing to work with the communicator, Perceptor later picked up an incoming call from Starscream. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}} As the crew debated whether to chase after [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] or track down [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], Perceptor was in favor of the latter, convincing Ultra Magnus to follow the Titan's signal to [[Hydrophena]]. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}} As they arrived and were faced with a group of robots, Perceptor offered his theory as to where they came from, and was parroted the entire time by Brainstorm. Once their identities were revealed as hostile [[Ammonite]]s, he set out on board the [[Rodpod]] alongside some others, leading to their discovery of Metroplex nearby. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} Entering the Titan's body, the crew tried to explore him only to get lost within his labyrinthine insides and find themselves where they started. And then the Rodpod blew up. {{storylink|No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6|No Exit}} After interrogating the Ammonite who sabotaged it, the team was approached by [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] and [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]], {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} guardians of Metroplex's brain. Interrupted by more Ammonites, Perceptor and several others stayed behind to fight off the intruders while the others made it to the brain. {{storylink|Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|Burning Bright}} After Metroplex warped back to Cybertron, Perceptor relocated to the brain room where he got to watch the defeat of the [[Quintessa (IDW)|Necrotitan]] and listen to Brainstorm's dumb jokes. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}}

[[File:Perceptor and the damage done.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.5]]
A brief celebration and reunion with the other Autobots ensued, but was interrupted by the arrival of an army of Ammonites summoned by [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] tried to organize an evacuation, but Perceptor warned that there was nowhere to run, as evidence was suggesting Shockwave was trying to end the entire universe. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} The ''Lost Light'' was able to take out some ten thousand of the invaders, but as Perceptor pointed out, it didn't even make a dent in the ''seventy billion''-strong army. Nevertheless, it all worked out in the end. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}} He continued to serve on the ''Lost Light'' under the command of a reformed Megatron, {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} and evacuated alongside everyone else when the ship suddenly began disappearing piece by piece. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Perceptor ended up disappearing himself, along with most of the crew. The remaining Autobots stumbled upon a quantum duplicate ''Lost Light'' in ruins, where all aboard had been slaughtered by the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. The duplicate Perceptor had been shredded alive by [[Tesarus (DJD)|Tesarus]]. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}} When the duplicate ship's quantum engines were shut down, the missing crew members reappeared, Perceptor included. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}

[[File:Perceptor all our parlous yesterdays.jpg|thumb|upright=2.0]]
Back on the ''Lost Light'' Brainstorm—now revealed to be a Decepticon double agent—had poisoned the crew, taken Ultra Magnus apart with a [[disaggregator gun]] and disappeared. Perceptor deduced that Brainstorm's [[Time case|briefcases]] were in fact a time machine and that he had fled four million years into the past. With the help of second control case retrieved from Brainstorm's corpse on the duplicate ''Lost Light'', Perceptor devised a way for Rodimus and a team of crewmembers with compatible sparks to also [[Time travel|travel back in time]] in pursuit. {{storylink|The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|The Custom-Made Now}} Perceptor remained with Megatron and Magnus on the ''Lost Light'' in the present as they were transported to [[Alyon]] in the 1st Cycle 502, believing that Brainstorm was intending to kill Orion Pax. Although the time travellers quickly found the future Autobot leader and became embroiled in local events, Brainstorm was nowhere to be seen and when he time jumped further into the past, Perceptor called Rodimus on the [[time phone]] and again sent them after him. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|All Our Parlous Yesterdays}}

When Rodimus contacted him again with the news that Rewind's database was being overwritten with an alternate history, Perceptor warned that he might have to attempt to dismantle Brainstorm's time machine in order to save their timeline, though it would be incredibly dangerous. Just as Cyclonus located Brainstorm, the rogue Decepticon spy jumped a year back to 4th Cycle 499 and so once more Perceptor sent the team after him. While they tried to avoid getting involved in local events—with mixed results—back of the ''Lost Light'', Megatron was coming to the realisation that Brainstorm's target wasn't Orion Pax after all but Megatron himself. As Perceptor announced Brainstorm's final location, Megatron had already guessed it would be 1st Cycle 012, the day he was created. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|Stet}}

[[File:PredestinationAnExpertsGuide PerceptorScopeMode.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
Panicking for his very existence, Megatron physically attacked Perceptor, demanding that he be sent back in time, although he quickly backed down when Ultra Magnus got involved and Perceptor explained there wasn't enough energy left in the quantum engines anyway. In the past, the team managed to prevent Megatron's death (sort of) and the timestream began moving again in the present day, although the quantum engines were exhausted, leaving Rodimus et al. stranded. Summoning enough power for a local teleport, Perceptor transported Cyclonus and Rodimus to nearby [[Unitrex]] where they found a prototype generator. While Cyclonus held off the security guard and his clutch of [[Turbofox]]es, Perceptor told Rodimus how to upgrade the generator into a quantum generator capable of recharging the time case, which was successful, although they inadvertently transported the prototype quantum generator and the ship it was attached to some way into the future. Upon the team's return to the present, Perceptor talked with Rung, confessing that by tampering with the time machine's paradox locks, he may have also inadvertently created the [[Functionist Universe]], if not the [[multiverse]] itself. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}}

[[File:Brainstorm's final word Will Always Rhyme.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Perceptor subsequently attended the first meeting of the [[Lost Light Internal Legal Affairs Committee|''Lost Light'' Internal Legal Affairs Committee]] where he stood and applauded Brainstorm's defence of his recent actions, although afterwards he assisted Rodimus in destroying the time machine in accordance with the Committee's decision. {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}} Later, he was part of the team that visited the [[Necroworld]] in the Rodpod. {{storylink|The Not Knowing}}

===A mutineer===
Perceptor attended one of Megatron's lectures on the Knights of Cybertron where he postulated the theory that a symbol they had seen was the heraldry of one of the Knights' clans. When Megatron, Rodimus, and their closest allies were attacked by some kind of psychic weapon shortly afterwards, they piled into the Rodpod and set off to investigate, leaving Perceptor aboard the ''Lost Light''... along with all the other mutineers, who left their former "co-captains" and their supporters stranded on the Necroworld. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}}

[[File:FillingInTheBlanks TheWarren.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
Along with the others, Perceptor was horrified to hear about Getaway's liberal usage of the [[nudge gun]] on the crew. After Getaway insisted that he had to be in charge so as to be properly held accountable, Perceptor opened the floodgates by grilling Getaway on the "visitors" he'd mentioned with the crew being shocked at Getaway having involved the [[Galactic Council]]. To try and win over the crew, Getaway charged Perceptor with finding an opening to the [[Warren]]. Using Tyrest's "notes", Perceptor found an opening to cosmic structure before attending a bridge briefing on Getaway's plan. After Getaway overruled everyone's desire to help the planet [[Frayus]], the last will and testament of Rodimus came through revealing that Team Rodimus was going to be killed by the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] in a few hours to everyone's shock. Along with the others, Perceptor had his memories remotely altered by [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]] so as to believe Rodimus had left of his own volition and that Getaway was awesome. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|Filling the Blanks}}

At some point, Perceptor and [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] received Springer's final message before he entered the [[Timemaze]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers|Requiem of the Wreckers}} After a trip through the Warren, Perceptor marveled at the temporal properties of the quantum system, which had actually deposited them four minutes in time earlier than they left. Another trip through the network took the ''Lost Light'' directly to [[Cyberutopia]]. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|Journey's End}}

[[File:YouAreHere AutobotSparkeaters.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4]]
It was all for naught, however. Cyberutopia was revealed to be nothing more than an elaborate illusion created by the medical moon of [[Mederi]]. When the ship came under attack from the forces of the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]], Getaway bargained with the mysterious being and swore allegiance to him. To prove his loyalty, he turned the crew over to [[Scorponok (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Scorponok]], who afflicted them with a bio-weapon causing the Autobots to become [[Sparkeater (creature)|sparkeaters]]. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}} When Rodimus and his friends caught up with Cyberutopia, they were treated to the horrible sight of their diseased friends descending on them from the heavens. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}} Brainstorm tried to reach out to Perceptor when he landed, only to receive a faceful of acid vomit for his troubles. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|A Dance Before Dying}} The assembled Cybertronians lured the sparkeaters to the doors of the medical centre where [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] discovered a means of curing them via the usage of concussive medicine. The kinetic program code knocked all the sparkeaters into stasis with the medics then bringing them inside for further treatment. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}}

Once they'd all been cured and Rodimus had reclaimed the ''Lost Light'', everyone made ready to evacuate Mederi before a massive tear in the Warren consumed the moon. As he was being loaded aboard, Perceptor attempted to apologize to Rodimus only to be told to save his strength and that the entirety of the crew was already forgiven. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness|Farsickness}}

[[File:LostLight25 PerceptorBrainstormSimpatico.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.45]]
After the threat of the Grand Architect had ended, Perceptor went along on the ''Lost Light'''s final "lap of honor" before the ship was decommissioned, spending his time talking science with Brainstorm and Nautica. The trio brought a proposal to Rodimus; to attempt a slightly-altered "quantum duplication" trick again on their final jump back to Cybertron, possibly creating another ''Lost Light'' that would emerge in a different universe. This duplicate ship and its crew would be free to indulge in a new quest to explore the different universe, and Rodimus could see the appeal. Perceptor noted that the odds of this experiment succeeding were fairly slim, but one ship would definitely make it back to Cybertron safely. Rodimus put it to a vote, and the crew decided to do it.

After safely returning to Cybertron and far in the future, Perceptor attended Ratchet's funeral.

In a different universe, a duplicate ''Lost Light'' materialized and the crew prepared for another round of adventures. Perceptor congratulated a giddy Brainstorm on the successful experiment and confirmed that they two were, in fact, "simpatico". {{storylink|How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2}}

[[Category:IDW (2005) Autobots]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Wreckers]]

Getaway

2021-04-27T16:37:33Z

Spark Mandrill:

{{featured}}
{{factions|autobot|adaptus}}
{{disambig3|Breakaway}}
:''Getaway is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:G1Getaway boxart.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Magnum Foreshortening]]

'''Getaway''' (aka '''Breakaway''') is an escape artist without compare. He's cool-headed and logical under even the craziest, most dire circumstances and that lets him figure his way out of even the trickiest surprise or sneak attack. His reputation for cool-headed escapes is legendary, dating all the way back to the infamous [[Armornecking Incident]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. He even has an escape kit concealed in a hidden compartment in his heel which he can reach even when bound.<ref>Seen in "[[Prime Bomb!]]"</ref>

However, Getaway is also a bot of strong convictions and opinions and has no problem using his wily cunning to deceive and manipulate others to get what he wants. Not even his closest friends are spared from his machinations. While he understands the dubious morality of his actions, he rationalizes them, feeling the alternative he's preventing is worse. Unfortunately, the more times he gets away with crossing the line, the more comfortable he is doing it. Especially to save his skin, and/or carve a bigger name for himself.

Because at his core and at his worst, he is a budding narcissistic sociopath. Who with a little prodding and encouragement, disregards what fleeting remorse he has for what he's done. And is willing to sacrifice anyone to achieve the higher purpose he feels destined for. One that he not only doesn't deserve, but doesn't even qualify for.

As a [[Powermaster]], Getaway is partnered with [[Rev]].

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Powermasterspeoplepower.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Getaway will not stand for being miscolored! ...okay, yes, he will.]]
Getaway was a member of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]]'s crew on board the ''[[Steelhaven (G1)|Steelhaven]]'', and was part of a skeleton crew left aboard the ship when everyone else disembarked to watch [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] battle for leadership on the surface of the [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Their presence helped prevent ''Steelhaven'' from being destroyed in a Decepticon attack. On Fortress Maximus's orders, Getaway, his crewmates, and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]] left the battle and took the ship back to Nebulos, on a mission to revive the fallen [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|Totaled!}} They made contact with a friend of the old Nebulan [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] leader [[Galen]] named [[Hi-Q]], but found that Nebulans had developed an acceptable level of robo-phobia after the Transformers nearly decimated their civilization last time. Hi-Q had led a research project which detonated a bomb in the atmosphere, spreading a molecular revisioning agent that converted all fuel supplies on Nebulos into a type poisonous to Transformer life. The poisoning passed the "acid test" when a pair of [[Decepticon]] vagabonds named [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] and [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] came to Nebulos looking for [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]]'s army, and ended up poisoning themselves on local fuel and being rendered inert. Unfortunately, a jealous assistant named [[Hi-Test (G1)|Hi-Test]] stole and modified a new form of biomechanical engineering, enabling him and his partner [[Throttle (G1)|Throttle]] to [[Binary bonding|binary-bond]] with the Decepticons and restore them to functionality, bringing Nebulos once more under Decepticon attack.

Hearing this story, Getaway and his fellow Autobots attempted to stop the Decepticons but proved a poor match for these new Powermaster warriors in their weakened condition. Hi-Q and his staff came to respect the Autobots for their devotion to repairing their fallen leader and determination to protect the very people intent on poisoning them if they stayed on Nebulos. They chose to undergo the same Powermaster Process that Hi-Test did, and Getaway was binary-bonded to [[Rev]], one of Hi-Q's aides. Through this transformation, the Autobots succeeded in restoring Prime to functionality and driving the Decepticons off of Nebulos. Their new Nebulan partners chose to return to Earth alongside Getaway, Prime and the others. {{storylink|People Power!}}

[[File:Border Flats.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|Which means none of ''these'' guys are welcome.]]
On its way to Earth, the ''Steelhaven'' received a transmission advertising the "[[Cosmic Carnival]]," an intergalactic traveling show with attractions from many worlds. Getaway wasn't all that impressed with it, and dismissed the whole thing as a "freakshow for malfunctioning morons." Optimus and Goldbug wound up investigating it when they learned that fellow Autobot [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] was part of the line-up. Due to the carnival's steep admission fee, none of the others wound up partaking in Sky Lynx's rescue. {{storylink|The Cosmic Carnival}} ''They arrived on Earth during Christmas time. Itching for action while Prime gathered his thoughts, Getaway led the Powermasters to investigate suspected Decepticon activity in the town of [[Border Flats]]. Instead, they discovered the Autobot [[Advance Surveillance Unit]] had made a mess of the town while trying to join in on the festivities. As the Autobots settled down, Optimus Prime returned from his moment alone to impart on Getaway and the rest about their responsibility to the planet.''{{storylink|Cold Comfort and Joy!}}

''A [[solid light simulation]] of Getaway was used in a training mission for the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]]. He was likely among what [[Snarler]] referred to as "Autobot non-entities" contained within the simulation.'' {{storylink|The Hunting Party (Marvel)|The Hunting Party}}

''After Getaway had reunited with the Autobots aboard the Ark, the ship received a distress call from Earth's surface. In response, Nightbeat assembled a combat team that included Getaway, [[Siren (G1)|Siren]], [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]], [[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]], and himself. Under Optimus Prime's command, they rushed to Earth to help their fallen comrades, only to find what seemed to be mythology come to life: a [[Deathbringer (Marvel)|Deathbringer]] had come to cleanse the planet of life! Getaway and the others fought valiantly against the Deathbringer, but their efforts proved futile against the seemingly invulnerable foe. Using a plan hatched by Nightbeat, Optimus used the Deathbringer's own programming against it, and caused it to self-destruct, removing Getaway and the others from danger.'' {{storylink|Deathbringer (issue)|Deathbringer}} ''Getaway also defended the Ark against an attack by the borderline deranged [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]].'' {{storylink|Assault on the Ark!}}

[[File:Getaway dreadwing down.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8|He's hopelessly hopeless.]]
''During a battle against [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], Joyride inadvertently led to a human getting seriously injured. Though [[Hi-Q]] built a life-support system to heal the human, its power source was stolen by [[Throttle (G1)|Throttle]]. The Autobots' initial attempt at retrieving the battery led to the [[Dreadwing (G1)|Dreadwing]], Throttle's ship, crashing down into the ocean. Despite Getaway's complaints that he would [[rust]], he was enlisted alongside the rest of the Autobot Powermasters to retrieve the power cell from the briny deep. Already on a thirty-minute time limit before their Nebulan partners ran out of air, the Autobots were met with further interference when the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]] turned up. Despite barely holding his own against the likes of [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakill]] and [[Overbite (G1)|Overbite]], Getaway was forced to disengage from Rev so that his partner could see the power cell's retrieval through while he carried on fighting. This ultimately led to the Autobots' triumph; as soon as the Dreadwing's cockpit was breached, putting the Decepticon Nebulans inside at risk of drowning, the Seacons abandoned the offensive to rescue them. The Autobots resurfaced with both their hides and the power cell intact... though that didn't stop Getaway from complaining as he spotted a spot of rust on his wrist.'' {{storylink|Dreadwing Down!}}

When the Decepticon [[Air Strike Patrol]] attacked [[MacDill Air Force Base]] in [[Tampa]], Getaway questioned the need for Autobot involvement. Limited resources and personnel meant the Ark would be virtually unguarded if they ventured down to Earth. Nevertheless, Prime insisted. {{storylink|Back from the Dead}} Getaway's words proved prophetic, however, as it quickly became apparent that the Decepticon [[Micromaster]]s had lured the Autobots away from the Ark deliberately. {{storylink|The Resurrection Gambit!}} Optimus Prime ordered a full Autobot retreat back to the shuttle while he remained behind as a rear guard. Reluctantly, Getaway and the others complied, even when [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] broke ranks to remain behind with Prime. {{storylink|All the Familiar Faces!}} Back aboard the Ark, Getaway tried to throttle information out of [[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]], the Micromaster who rigged the Ark with explosives, only to discover the countdown had already begun and was irreversible. Ratchet managed to rig a portal to transport the explosives to Cybertron, but seemingly at the cost of his own life. {{storylink|Skin Deep}}

[[File:Getaway manacles.jpg|upright=0.6|thumb|"Now, I will disarm the missiles with both hands tied behind my back..."]]
''At some point during his time on Earth, Getaway learned that some humans would use credit cards to open locked doors. He immediately procured one for himself, and stashed it in a secret compartment should the need ever arise for it.''

''Out of nostalgia for a time when he had lived inside a computer game, Optimus kept a spare copy of his mind stored in a floppy disc at [[Alternate Reality, Inc.]] Unfortunately, this made the installation a target for Decepticons, who could put the disc to malicious use. Getaway, Slapdash and Joyride were tasked with guard duty at the game company, and shortly after they had taken up the task, Darkwing and Dreadwind attacked. The Autobots were forced to scramble for cover, allowing Darkwing access to the building while Dreadwind remained on the offensive. Though Getaway managed to double back and get inside Alternate Reality, Inc. as well, Slapdash and Joyride were temporarily taken out by enemy fire.''

''Getaway battled Darkwing inside, while [[Rev]] likewise fought with [[Throttle (G1)|Throttle]]. The scuffle ended with Getaway's shotgun destroyed, and the Decepticons limping away with the disc in-hand. Knowing that if the Decepticons combined into their [[Dreadwing (G1)|Dreadwing]] mode they would definitely escape, Getaway pushed his Powermaster partner to his limit and leaped upon the two jets as they reached one another. Dreadwind and Darkwing managed to combine, but with Getaway's hand stuck in their combination joint! As they took off, Getaway and Rev wound up getting tugged along for the ride.''

''Getaway was captured by the Decepticons aboard Scorponok's orbiting spacecraft, where both he and Rev were imprisoned in energy manacles, and thrown in the brig. Left unsupervised, Getaway immediately got to work on an escape plan. Using the credit card he kept hidden on him, he deflected one of his cage's energy bars (which only affected metal) allowing him a gap to reach out and turn the cage's power off. Getaway was now free to move about, and in due course had Rev mobile as well. He instructed his Nebulan partner to find them an escape pod while he saw to botching up Optimus's assassination. Getaway interfaced with the computer Scorponok was using to program a smart missile, one that could track Optimus wherever he went. The computer showed signs of rudimentary intelligence, and introduced itself as "[[A.B.C.]]"''

''Getaway desperately attempted to appeal to A.B.C., telling the computer of how the missile's target was a brave and noble soul. A.B.C. could only state that it had not been programmed to disarm the missile as Getaway continued to delve into Optimus's inspirational qualities. Though Getaway seemingly failed to get through to A.B.C., Rev succeeded in locating a means of escape. With the Decepticons due to check up on them, Getaway and his partner were forced to leave. As the smart missile launched, Getaway at least managed to contact Optimus Prime, warning him of the incoming payload.''

''By the time Getaway and Rev made it back to [[Autobase]], Optimus Prime has already left to meet the missile on his own. Getaway went after Prime to help in any way he could. Arriving at Prime's side, he found his leader intact while the smart missile was lying on the ground, an apparent dud. Getaway realized that he had gotten through to A.B.C. after all and that the computer had disarmed the missile after hearing of Prime's greatness and compassion. Though Optimus was saddened that the sentient computer would have likely been destroyed once Scorponok learned of its betrayal, Getaway told him to rejoice instead, as he was the one who inspired Earth's very first fully-independent A.I. to make a decision for itself.'' {{storylink|Prime Bomb!}}

[[File:Starscream autobots fallen star.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6]]
''After Starscream came back, revived as a [[Pretender]] and joined the ranks of Scorponok's Decepticons, he (mistakenly) thought every other Con thought him of a loser and relic—while in truth they were terrified of his power. Going on a stroll, he stumbled into an Autobot scout party composed of Getaway, [[Chainclaw (G1)|Chainclaw]] and [[Cloudburst]]. Scared, the Autobots proposed to leave peacefully, but the angry Starscream (thinking the Bots meant he wasn't worth fighting) attacked them. After seeing his comrades quickly dispatched, Getaway fled, stating "Gotta... get away!" But he did NOT get away this time; Starscream overtook him, and with a single blast, left him a smoldering wreck on a nearby dirt road.'' {{storylink|Fallen Star!}}

After the Autobots sought out the lost [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]], only for the Decepticon [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] to come into possession of the mystical artifact, the latter began to rampage through the Ark. With the Matrix's energies fueling Thunderwing's rampage, Getaway and many others were unsuccessful in beating him back. Only the ingenuity of Nightbeat allowed the Autobots to escape total annihilation, and Thunderwing was cast out into the void of space. {{storylink|All Fall Down}} Afterward, Getaway and his fellow Powermasters were part of a team that retrieved the [[Classic Pretender]]s from [[VsQs]], left stranded there by Thunderwing. Thereafter, the Autobots pursued recreational exploits to get their minds off the imminent threat of [[Unicron]]. During this period, an unhappy [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] lost a game of [[Cybertronian games#Fullstasis|Fullstasis]] to Getaway. {{storylink|Eye of the Storm}} [[File:Getaway end of the road.jpg|thumb|"I'm Getaway, not [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]]!"]] When the grotesque fusion of [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] began rampaging aboard the Ark, Optimus Prime was reluctant to harm the creature that was half his oldest friend. As more Autobots were injured by the entity, however, [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] became fed up with Prime's hesitation and demanded he deal with the problem, permanently, or else he would invoke the [[Crisis Act]] and forcibly remove Optimus from command. A quick glance at the Autobots present, Getaway among them, confirmed that Kup's threat wasn't an idle one. {{storylink|The Pri¢e of Life!}}

Despite the growing mistrust in Optimus Prime's leadership, Getaway and the Autobots agreed to his unconditional surrender to Scorponok and the Decepticons, in the interests of establishing a united front against [[Unicron]]. Getaway was taken into custody by Octopunch and Bludgeon as Optimus spoke with Scorponok on the matter. {{storylink|Surrender!}} As the war moved back to Cybertron, Getaway and the Autobots battled a squad of Unicron cultists. {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

Getaway was among the last Autobots standing during the Decepticons' assault on [[Klo]]. He was eventually trapped in a box canyon and took a direct hit from [[Dreadwing (G1)|Dreadwing]], which blew him up but good. Presumably, he would have almost immediately have been revived by the [[Last Autobot]]. {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}

=====Trigger-Happy!=====
After Backstreet botched a sting operation, endangering many humans in the process, he panicked and went on the run rather than face the consequences of his actions. Fearing that Backstreet might imperil himself or more innocents in his flight from justice, Optimus ordered the other Autobots to track him down and bring him in. Getaway and [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]] nearly spotted the fugitive while driving down a winding mountain trail, but Backstreet drove off a cliff to evade capture. Unsure whether or not the suddenly-vanished vehicle had been their teammate in any case, the two Autobots drove on. {{storylink|Trigger-Happy!}}
{{-}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
[[File:Getaway ShadowOfEvil.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|"A-anything for a [[Getaway#Notes|running gag]], Simon! ''Urk-''"]]
Getaway was seen among the Autobots in [[2009]], after the [[Time Wars]] altered the flow of history to make the Autobots the losers of the war for Cybertron. Limping their way back to [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] on Earth, the Autobots were sabotaged by one of their own and crashlanded on the planet. Hard. Those that survived then had to face [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]], who had been driven mad by the evil essence of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] growing inside him. Getaway's smoldering corpse was seen among the ruins of the [[Future Autobot evacuation ship|ship]], although whether he died in the crash or was exterminated by his own leader is unclear. {{storylink|Shadow of Evil}}
{{-}}

=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
[[File:Grimlock prime ark crew break-away.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Getaway was among the "new age" Autobots who attended [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s meeting with [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] about their more brutal methods. When Grimlock threatened to quit the Autobots, Prime seemed all too willing to let him, and the two of them actually came to blows. After about ten minutes, though, Getaway and [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]] decided the fight was probably a "draw". Having apparently beaten some sense into each other, Optimus Prime agreed to allow Grimlock his autonomy, to lead "Earthforce" while he and the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s crew took off for space. {{storylink|Break-Away!}}

=====Rhythms of Darkness!=====
In an alternate future of [[2009]], Getaway was one of seven surviving Autobots on Earth, possibly in the universe. Alongside [[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]], [[Chainclaw (G1)|Chainclaw]], [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], [[Crossblades (G1)|Crossblades]], and [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]], he participated in a last-ditch effort to show the rest of the world that there remained resistance in the United States, fighting against [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]]'s tyrannical rule. Upon approaching the Decepticons' Powerbase, however, Getaway snapped, unable to simply sneak past the installations' guards and avoid a direct confrontation further. He leaped upon [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], prompting Guzzle and Chainclaw to join him in the impromptu distraction while the rest of their team proceeded. He wound up getting slain in battle, though the rest of his team succeeded in their task. {{storylink|Rhythms of Darkness!}}

====''Transformers Comic-Magazin''====
Getaway was among the Autobots monitoring the Decepticons from a distance when [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] made peaceful gestures to Humanity in [[New York City]]. The Autobots returned to the Ark and discovered that a statue of [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]] that the Decepticons had gifted to New York was actually Snaptrap in disguise. Snaptrap went on a rampage and the Decepticons used this distraction to attack various other targets. Prime led the Autobots to narrowly defeat this menace. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 4#Transformers in Action: The Troy Principle|The Troy Principle}} Those events were recorded on a videotape that was later found and watched by Autobots on Cybertron after a [[City of Fear!|nuclear disaster]] in [[Kalis]]. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 21|In Memory of Earth}}

In [[1973]], {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 17|Powermaster Optimus Prime - A Robot, a Hero}} Getaway attended a meeting in which Optimus Prime lectured the Autobots on the basics of their mission and existence, and applauded Slapdash's call for a one-world Autobot government. He reminded his fellow Autobots that they were loners and weren't as committed to their cause as the Decepticons. Later, the Decepticons attacked an [[oil tanker]], and Getaway helped in the rescue effort. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 6|A Big Day for Powermaster Optimus Prime}} Those events would later be observed via log recording by Autobots in the year [[2008]]. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 17|Powermaster Optimus Prime - A Robot, a Hero}}

Getaway was among the Autobots sent to stop a group of Decepticons led by Darkwing from stealing missiles from the Nevada Alpha nuclear base. Along with Joyride and Slapdash, he faced off against Darkwing, but proved unable to stop him escaping with three missiles in tow. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 8|Save Nevada Alpha}} When a dimensional portal opened during a battle with Megatron in Alaska, allowing Transformers from the past and future to join the battle, Getaway and Joyride expressed confusion as to how that could have happened. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 9|The Transformers' Grand Hour: Headmaster of the Dimensions}} At some point, Getaway, Slapdash, Joyride, and Optimus Prime battled Dreadwind and Darkwing in Central Park. Optimus later watched a recording of the battle to try and determine the Decepticons' next move. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 10|Transformers in Action: Wanderer Between the Worlds}} The Autobot Powermasters participated in a battle to stop a group of Decepticons from destroying a freighter carrying barrels of plutonium. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 13|The Energon Trap}} They later rolled out to stop the Decepticons from preventing the launch of an Earth spy satellite. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 14|Transformers in Action: The Countdown to a New Space Age!}}

The characteristics of Getaway and the other Powermaster Autobots were reviewed by Optimus Prime and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] in a simulation watched by [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]]. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 15|Memories of Bumblebee}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{NoteRG1}}
[[File:Lancer two crew war to end all wars.jpg|thumb|left]]
As he traveled through [[Zero Space]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] observed the Autobots' confrontation with a [[Deathbringer (Marvel)|Deathbringer]] in [[Denver]] in the past; a battle at which Getaway was present. {{storylink|Less Than Zero}}

During the invasion of the [[Hub (G2)|Hub Network]], Getaway and a team of Autobots comprising [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], [[Sky High (Pretender)|Sky High]], [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] aboard the ''[[Lancer Two]]'' were shot down by [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s forces when they revealed their full defensive power. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 3}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:TWW AgeofWrath2 Getaway.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|Where we're going, we don't need roads.]]
After [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] managed to take over Cybertron, Getaway remained one of the few free Autobots, not enslaved in the Decepticons' labor camps. As part of a ploy to capture one of Megatron's [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]], the drones he had used to conquer the planet, Getaway acted as bait for the Autobot resistance and led a squadron into [[Nova Cronum]]. There, the drones were ambushed by [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]'s squad of Autobots. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2|The Age of Wrath #2}} After two had been destroyed, the surviving drone appeared to shut itself down before suddenly reactivating and augmenting itself with upgraded weaponry. Getaway was the first to go down but managed to attach the [[inhibitor claw]] onto the drone just as it was preparing to execute [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.3|The Age of Wrath #3}}
{{Unreleased WW comic}}
Nightbeat and Getaway brought the inert drone to Perceptor, who discovered upon analyzing it that it was powered by cyberstatic energy. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.4}}
{{-}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|''[[Spotlight: Blaster]]'' (cameo); [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|''More than Meets the Eye'' #19]] (full appearance)}}

{{quote|''Bomp''. When you—''bomp''—say something funny or clever or ''bomp'', that's what I do. You hate it. You say it's patronising. Which it '''''is'''''. Which is why I do it.|Getaway}}
{{quote|I have '''''no''''' idea who you are. Or why you keep saying "bomp".|[[Skids (G1)|Skids]]|"[[Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely]]"}}

[[File:TheLopsidedTriangle-MTOs.jpg|left|upright=1.5|thumb|"We were to be airdropped into a virtual hell on Earth in order to engage in a life-or-death offensive to locate and retrieve the Commissioner's lost keys."]]

'''Getaway of the [[Corcapsia Incursion]]''' was a "[[M.T.O.|Made To Order]]" soldier, [[Reproduction#2005 IDW continuity|constructed cold]] from a stockpile of frozen [[spark]]s originally harvested from the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] during the days of [[Nova Prime]]. Getaway was just one of several Autobots who was "born" moments before they were deployed over [[Corcapsia]]; according to Getaway, he was airdropped into the battlefield, and, as his newborn brain hadn't yet grasped his primary function, he panicked and ran away. {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}}

Having survived his first experience on the battlefield, Getaway eventually discovered that he showed several of the [[Signs of Affinity]], seemingly-supernatural traits that supposedly marked him as one of the few Transformers "worthy" enough to carry the Matrix of Leadership. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} Over the years, these traits snowballed into a toxic variation on the Cybertronian personality disorder known as ''[[primus apotheosis]]'': he possessed a "special destiny" that was owed to him, and his prophesied ascension to [[Prime (rank)|Primehood]] would ultimately justify anything he did. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|Journey's End}} His growing ego manifested in a variety of ways; combined with his natural charisma, the most obvious sign was a tendency to make passive-aggressive jokes and putdowns at the expense of others around him. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

[[File:SpotlightBlaster GetawayKupHufferBroadside.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Stuck in a trench with three complainers. Getaway is planning his escape even as we speak.]]

Four hundred years before the present day, an injured Getaway took shelter in a trench alongside [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]], [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]], and [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] shortly before [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]'s first apocalyptic assault. The group waited for [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'s morale-boosting broadcast to the Autobot forces, but the transmission never came. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

A few centuries later, Getaway joined the Autobot [[Diplomatic Corps]], a front organization for the covert [[Special Operations]] division. Answering to [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] and partnered with [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], Getaway embarked on a mission to investigate [[Chief Justice]] [[Solomus|Tyrest]]. The two became close friends, and Getaway would often playfully jab (''"bomp"'') Skids on the chin, an in-joke that Skids found patronizing.

[[File:Getaway Skids ArmTheLonely.jpg|thumb|left|''Se-cret... Aaaaa-gent 'Bots!'']]

When it became clear that Tyrest had become unhinged and needed to be removed from the Autobot ranks, Prowl ordered Getaway and Skids to hunt the Chief Justice down, equipping the pair with a [[nudge gun]] would implant within Tyrest the impulse to resign from his position. After they tracked Tyrest to his secret staging ground- [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]], Skids successfully made the shot. However, Tyrest's mind had already been damaged and the thought bullet did nothing more than alert him to the Autobot duo's presence. While Skids managed to escape Luna 1, Getaway was captured and imprisoned by Tyrest's [[Legislator]]s. He spent months alternately being ranted over by the Chief Justice or tortured on the [[variable voltage harness|VVH]] by Tyrest's new enforcer, [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]]; the only reason Getaway was not executed was because Tyrest felt the information he possessed was too valuable. Eventually, Getaway got a full picture of what Tyrest was planning, discovering that he planned to build and activate a "[[universal killswitch]]" that would terminate any Transformers that were constructed cold. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}} Conversely, Getaway was able to gather information regarding Tyrest's plan to reach [[Cyberutopia]] through the network of warped space known as the [[Warren]]. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|Filling in the Blanks}}

[[File:Getawaymtmte.jpg‎|upright=1.87|thumb|They say that first impressions are always the hardest to forget.]]
Finally, the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' happened upon Luna 1, and Getaway and Skids were reunited in one of Tyrest's prisoner cells. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} Skids had followed protocol after escaping, wiping his own memories, and thus was unable to recognize his old partner. Getaway filled in the blanks related to Skids' memory problems and told [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] of Tyrest's plan, cobbling together a means to escape from various items donated by the other Autobots in the cell, and the group headed off to confront Tyrest. Unfortunately, the Chief Justice had managed to reverse-engineer a "weapon of mass-suggestion" from the thought bullet that was used on him, paralyzed the Autobots with it, and activated the killswitch. Having been constructed cold himself, Getaway spasmed in agony on the ground as the killswitch began its lethal work. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

Fortunately, Tyrest's plans were foiled and the killswitch was deactivated, saving Getaway's life, among others. {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}} The next day, Rodimus and Getaway ventured back to the initial [[spark]] "hot spot" the ''Lost Light'' crew had discovered upon first landing on Luna-1, only to discover it had gone dark and would not reignite. Getaway then accompanied Rodimus to Tyrest's control room, where [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] had managed to establish contact with [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|The Sound of Breaking Glass}}

[[File:Winners&Losers Getaway.jpg|left|upright=0.6|thumb|You say that now, [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|but just wait...]]]]

After Ultra Magnus had been left in charge of the ''Lost Light'', he and Getaway were summoned by [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] to one of its shuttle bays, discussing how Magnus was attempting to "soften his image." After arriving at the shuttle bay, they beheld the severed tip of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s thumb, which had been previously stored there and was now levitating and pressing against the inside of the ship's hull. Getaway was awed by the very fact that they even had a piece of Metroplex aboard, let alone what it was currently doing. Going from what Tyrest had once upon a time told Getaway about [[Titan (group)|Titans]] being interconnected, Brainstorm theorized that Metroplex was somehow communicating with them and nudging the ''Lost Light'' in a certain direction. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}}

Now on a mission to find the rest of Metroplex, the ''Lost Light'' made a quantum jump to the oceans of [[Hydrophena]] and subsequently came under attack from a mob of [[Ammonite]]s. Getaway joined a group heading for something called the [[Rodpod]], and was flabbergasted to find Rodpod was a shuttle designed after Rodimus's head. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} This proved to be the moment that Getaway had his epiphany: if the crew of the ''Lost Light'' ever wanted to make it to Cyberutopia and find the Knights, the egotistical Rodimus needed to be deposed for the good of the mission. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}}

[[File:TheDeadAreNotEnough SkidsArrows.jpg|thumb|upright=2.0|right|]]
While being pursued by Ammonites, the Autobots discovered they had flown into Metroplex's eye socket; {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} while Getaway was still trying to deal with the fact that they were inside a head inside a head, Brainstorm discovered traces of [[admium]] in the water and had Getaway try and fail to contact [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] for metallurgical advice. Disembarking at a nearby drydock simply led them in a circle, and the group arrived back at the Rodpod in time for it to explode, courtesy of an Ammonite stowaway.{{storylink|No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6|No Exit}}

Swerve eventually returned Getaway's call, with an urgent message to evacuate the area on account of the Ammonite swarm heading their way. After an attempt to interrogate the bomber Ammonite — which ended with the questionee self-destructing — the group of Autobots encountered the [[Caminus (planet)|Camiens]] [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] and [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]]; {{Storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Getaway defused the tension by pointing out the two newcomers were Autobots. He, [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], and Skids engaged the Ammonite swarm while the others went to meet with [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]]. {{storylink|Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|Burning Bright}} When Metroplex teleported back to Cybertron, the Ammonites travelled with them, but the trio was saved when Metroplex's immune system abruptly came back online and annihilated the Ammonites. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}} Getaway and Skids later hung out in [[Swerve's]], at least until the proprietor almost messed himself over [[Blurr (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Blurr]] being in the bar, and Getaway hastily excused himself. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} When billions of Ammonites invaded, Getaway joined in the defense of Cybertron as [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] led a team to face [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]], the mastermind behind the whole affair. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}}

{{bigquote|I'm not a bad person, I just have strong beliefs.|Getaway|[[The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds]]}}

[[File:PredestinationABeginnersGuide- GetawayandTailgate.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|Getaway wears a literal shadow to aid in literary foreshadowing.]]
Over the next six months, Getaway put his plan into action, finding a willing accomplice in [[Atomizer]]. The pair came up with a plan to blackmail him into surrendering his position by tricking him into violating the confidential vote he had held to determine if he should remain as captain, but he failed to take the bait. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Then it became clear that [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], who had chosen to join the Autobots at the conclusion of the "Dark Cybertron" crisis, would receive a suspended sentence and co-captaincy of the ''Lost Light.'' Disgusted by this apparent miscarriage of justice, and further incensed by Rodimus's complacency in allowing this to happen, he and Atomizer recruited [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] into their conspiracy to goad Megatron into "attacking" an Autobot and disgracing himself. {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}} When the ''Lost Light'' returned to space, Whirl's first attempt failed, {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} so the escapologist hit on a new plan: he'd groom a patsy, who would deliberately, and fatally, provoke Megatron into attacking. {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}}

Getaway found what he was looking for in the naïve [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}} and struck up a friendship with the little 'bot, bigging up his heroics on Luna-1 and even claiming that his deeds were Prime-worthy. Getaway gave Tailgate an affectionate "bomp" on the chin, unaware of [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] storming out of the bar in disapproval. All of this was interrupted when the spaceship began to vanish, and the pair found themselves drifting in space in the Rodpod with the other Autobot castaways. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}}

[[File:Slaughterhouse SkidsGetawayDiscussMegs.jpg|left|upright=1.3|thumb|]]
Then the crew of the Rodpod ''also'' began to vanish and the Autobots tried to work out what was causing it. Getaway admitted to being an M.T.O. in case that was the cause but it turned out that only original crewmembers were vanishing. This left Getaway as part of the remaining crew, who proceeded to stumble upon a destroyed ''Lost Light''. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} They split up to investigate and Getaway and Skids, together again, searched the wreckage. En route, they talked about their issues with Megatron and that they worried they would stop hating him because his death toll was too big to process. Things took a macabre turn when they caught up with [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] and found a huge pile of mutilated corpses of their fellow crewmembers, corpses that indicated the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] had been through. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}} It luckily (well, not for ''this'' crew) turned out that these were quantum duplicates of the original crew, and they were able to get the original ''Lost Light'' back. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}

As the ''Lost Light'' carried on its mission, Getaway and his cabal began asking the crew what side they'd take in a ''purely hypothetical'' mutiny against Megatron and Rodimus. Any crew member that would not join was shot with the "nudge gun" and forgot all about the conversation. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}}

[[File:Getaway's innocent conversation with Tailgate.jpg‎|right|upright=1.67|thumb|''When you're out in a club And you see a Tailgate DO THE CREEP! (Haaaa!)'']]
Getaway arranged to go fishing for [[Legislator]] parts in the oil lake with Tailgate (50 points for a head!) but they met up for drinks first. After listening to a ''slight'' fabrication of Tailgate's recent time travel escapades, Getaway just ''happened'' to ''accidentally'' mention that Cyclonus had called him a "simple-minded" coward behind his back for being scared on his deathbed. He was ''totally'' against that and Cyclonus's problems! Don't worry Tailgate, another drink would help (oh hush that you don't want anymore) and oh don't mention to Cyclonus that I told you this, eh? {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}}

And I definitely didn't nudge gun you, that's just a headache Tailgate, 'cos you sure can't hold your drink. {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}} {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}}

Brainstorm, Getaway, and Skids invaded [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]]'s room to <s>show off</s> teach her practical skills (escaping chains in his case) only to find she would rather read a psychological treatise by [[Froid]]. When Nautica said Rung had implied he ghostwrote it "just now", Getaway passive-aggressively insulted Rung as boring and tried to "bomp" his way out of it when Skids objected. It was ''just a joke'', Skids, geez! They patched it up when they went to [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]'s pre-wake on the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'' i.e. to a huge dance party, where both of them hit on [[Firestar (G1)|Firestar]].

[[File:FrailGaze-survivorsclub.jpg|left|upright=0.8|thumb|Okay, I hear the NZ accent... but is that a touch of Will Arnett in there?]]
Later, a fatigued Getaway was found resting by Nightbeat and both of them found a panicked, screaming [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]]. They pursued him to the ship's morgue out of curiosity and Getaway found the ''warm'' corpse of [[Countdown (G1)|Countdown]]. After accidentally using one of Brainstorm's devices that exposed cloaking fields, they discovered some strange technorganic parasites on the corpses and on Getaway's ''face'', which started burning as soon as noticed. That's when strange alien creatures attacked! {{storylink|The Sensuous Frame}} The pair managed to fight them off for a time until Nightbeat realized that the aliens were [[personality tick]]s feeding off of Getaway's natural charisma. After Rodimus and Megatron accidentally took care of the entire infestation, Getaway joined the rest of the crew for a disco party. Naturally, Getaway took the opportunity to go dancing with Tailgate, much to Cyclonus's chagrin. {{storylink|The Frail Gaze}} Getaway later went along on the trip to the [[Mortilus|Necrobot]]'s planet, spending the ride there chatting with Tailgate. {{storylink|The Not Knowing}}

Among Getaway and Atomizer's last "recruits" was [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]], and Getaway was able to win the lonely bot's support by claiming to have faith in him to take advantage of a situation in which they could use to remove Megatron and his supporters from the ''Lost Light''. While pleased with the ease of this particular manipulation, Getaway then shared his thoughts on their next interviewee, the temporarily awake Thunderclash, believing him to be nothing more than a glorified trophy cabinet. Indeed, Getaway would later scoff at how readily the popular Autobot agreed to the plans for a mutiny. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|Filling in the Blanks}}

[[File:GetawaypressuresTailgate TheLopsidedTriangle.jpg|right|upright=1.4|thumb|"No, really, you ''are'' a bad enough 'Bot to save the President. Would I lie?"]]
Getaway put the final stages of his anti-Megatron plan in motion one night at [["Visages"]]; after recounting the story of his birth and teaching Tailgate some [[chirolinguistics]], Getaway offered Tailgate a gift: a pair of clip-on [[mnemosurgery]] needles. Although Tailgate was surprised- as he'd never asked for a pair—Getaway changed the subject by telling him that he'd been setting up the ancient bond of the [[Conjunx Endura|Conjunx Ritus]]—the first step of becoming a [[Conjunx Endura]]. In order to finish the ceremony Getaway told Tailgate that he would need to prove his commitment with a spectacular demonstration of his love. Getaway requested that Tailgate use the mnemo-needles to reprogram the sleeping Megatron's mind; the needles were fakes, but Getaway knew that Megatron would immediately flip out and kill the little guy. To ensure that Tailgate wouldn't survive, Getaway also gave Tailgate a dud 'Ravage detector', knowing that Ravage would alert Megatron to the intrusion. Getaway later met with Whirl and Atomizer after Whirl started having second thoughts about the plan. However, Tailgate had already set off to do the deed, and Atomizer shot Whirl with Getaway's old nudge gun to keep him from squealing. {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}}

[[File:Getawaybound SpeakMemoryPt2.jpg|left|upright=0.9|thumb|Oh, he will. At least as far as he's concerned -- much to the chagrin of everybody else.]]
However, Whirl was able to send out one last warning to Cyclonus before his memory was lost and Cyclonus subsequently foiled Getaway's plan. After [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] used his mnemosurgery skills to find out who put Tailgate up to it, Ultra Magnus arrested both Getaway and Atomizer. {{storylink|Speak, Memory: Part 1}} During the rogue mnemosurgeon [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder's]] attack on the ''Lost Light'', Tailgate discovered Getaway locked away in the ship's brig, the escape artist's arms, legs, jaw and voicebox having been removed to prevent any possible escape. {{storylink|Speak, Memory! (Part 2)}}

And he didn't escape. Instead, the bots who'd agreed to his idea of getting rid of Megatron let him out, and Mainframe informed Getaway that he had followed Getaway's suggestion and taken advantage of a signal coming from the Necrobot's planet to get Megatron and his "fan club" off-ship. Getaway had Atomizer contact General [[Neech]] of the [[Galactic Council]] to inform him they were stranding Megatron and were free to move in. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|Filling in the Blanks}}

[[File:Getawayunloads HowBrightTheirFrailDeeds.jpg|right|upright=1.7|thumb|"Look, I'm a bot on a big TV! Just listen!"]]
Once Megatron, Rodimus, and all the people who'd said "no" (including Whirl, because how ''dare'' he get in the way) were trapped on the Necrobot's planet, they contacted the ''Lost Light'', just as Getaway arrived on the bridge. Getaway took the time to inform the abandoned crewmembers of exactly how he'd done that and why, snarling at how Megatron's atrocities were being written off as "missteps—painful but necessary—on Megatron's path to self-discovery", and informed them they were about to have visitors before cutting the transmission. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}} Getaway's moment of triumph was interrupted by the rest of the crew questioning his deal with the Council, and so Getaway lied to them that he had made sure their fellow Autobots would not be harmed. He contacted the Galactic Council to try and amend their agreement to allow for the safety of the stranded Autobots, but the only response the Council was prepared to give him was that they made no such promise to do so and refused his attempts to deal with them. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}} {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|Filling in the Blanks}}

Getaway agreed with Atomizer's suggestion that they needed to get the crew back on their side with a clean win and set Perceptor to work trying to decrypt the information the escapologist had gathered from Tyrest regarding the Warren. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|Filling in the Blanks}} In spite of his braggadocio, he may have felt guilty about sacrificing so many Autobots. When a time fissure reopened at [[Swerve's]], allowing him to look back at departed souls, Getaway looked back at a gathering of the ones he'd left for the Council. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}}

[[File:FillingInTheBlanks GetawayFakeNews.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|left]]
Three weeks after the mutiny, Getaway held a team meeting regarding Perceptor's confirmation of the Warren, concluding that they could use it to reach Cyberutopia within weeks. Getaway was briefly alarmed when a distress signal came in, though when he learned it was only from the [[Frayus|Frayians]], he claimed that aiding them would only be a "distraction" now that their goal was in sight and that was why they had gotten rid of Rodimus. An incensed Thunderclash snapped at Getaway, and ''then'' the transmission from Rodimus that Getaway had been afraid of was broadcast to everyone gathered, announcing the stranded crewmates would soon be executed by the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] and that Getaway was responsible. The panicked Getaway deleted the rest of the transmission, claiming it to be fake and asked for everyone but Atomizer and Thunderclash to clear the room. Unable to come up with a convincing lie to discredit the transmission, once Thunderclash declared that he was going to round up volunteers for a rescue mission, Atomizer incapacitated him with an arrow and Getaway then emptied his nudge gun onto Thunderclash, knocking him into stasis, before unloading a final blast onto the eavesdropping Riptide.

[[File:FillingInTheBlanks GetawayNudgeGunsThunderclash.jpg|upright=1.15|thumb|right|]]
Knowing that word would soon spread through the ship of his treachery, Getaway had [[Froid]] and [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]] released from the brig, informing the psychotherapist about the recent events and requesting Sunder's help to put Thunderclash in a memory loop and alter the rest of the crews' memories so that they believed Rodimus and the others to have left of their own volition. Sunder was happy to help... provided that they gave him [[life cord]]s from twenty-five crew members for him to feast upon in exchange. Getaway actually refused at first, but Froid, fascinated with Getaway's narcissism and inferiority complexes, nudged him to accept the deal, and so Getaway agreed to give Sunder those who were undecided with the initial proposal to join the mutiny. With the additional manipulation of the ''Lost Light'''s security team to believe anyone acting against Getaway was an undercover Decepticon, Getaway and Atomizer filled the oil reservoir with domesticated [[scraplet]]s so that the twenty-five sacrifices could be stripped down to their life-cords, which were then preserved in the vats of Engex at [[Swerve's]] for Sunder. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|Filling in the Blanks}}

[[File:FullCircle GetawayLyingLiar.jpg|thumb|upright=1.65|left|I lie a lot. That's what makes me cool.]]
After two weeks, Mirage and the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] returned to the ''Lost Light''. Getaway informed them of his leadership, skirting First Aid's questions by pointing out [[Blades (G1)|Blades]]' injuries. First Aid was suspicious of his inability to access the medical files, as well as Thunderclash's condition, and so Getaway, prepared to throw him in the oil reservoir if First Aid admitted he didn't trust him, lied about why a substantial part of the crew was missing. First Aid didn't buy it, and later met up with his team, Mirage, and Riptide at the now-defunct Swerve's... but Getaway had known of their secret meeting, and showed up with the ''Lost Light'''s security team. As Riptide had revealed most of the details about Getaway's mutiny, he was forced to tell them the truth about Thunderclash. However, when [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] turned on the bar's lights, revealing the horrifying sight of the engex-preserved life-cords, Getaway realized the point of no return was crossed. He prepared his gun but was decked across the face with a glass by an invisible Mirage. First Aid and the others tried to escape, but were captured after a firefight with the security team. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 1): Full Circle|Full Circle}}

[[File:FillingInTheBlanks RiptideZingsGetaway.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|right|]]
Getaway confronted Riptide, who had apparently been unaffected by the nudge gun, seemingly due to the gun's power running dry after repeated use on Thunderclash. While Getaway claimed to Riptide that "team Megatron" had never cared about him, Riptide threw the accusation back in Getaway's face. His ego bruised, Getaway decided to have Mirage and the Protectobots placed in memory loops as well. In order to pay Sunder for the arrangement, he again blasted Riptide with the nudge gun, intending to make him forget how to transform, and threw him in the scraplet-filled oil reservoir. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|Filling in the Blanks}} He almost immediately went on to talking about the need to hire a new, outside security agent, thinking of offering [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] protection (and making the crew change course to collect him despite being extremely close to Cyberutopia), only to find that sissy Atomizer asking if he had to be so cruel when he defeated people. Getaway made a note to fix him for that.

[[File:JourneysEnd AtomizerDead.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|left|"Okay, so Team Getaway? You're no longer a member. You've been ''dis''-membered."]]
After another visit to the time window, to show it off to Froid, Getaway said he believed everyone he'd thrown off the ship had survived; more than that, he wanted them to finally ''find'' Cyberutopia and see the glorious Getaway Prime, living humbly amongst the people after having created a paradise society. Thunderclash, in particular, would be one of his grateful constituents. When Getaway began a speech to Froid about his own worthiness (citing his Matrix affinity, among other things), the psychotherapist tried to get a rise out of him by saying this was an early sign of [[Primus apotheosis]]. To re-establish his dominance of the ship and shut Atomizer up, Getaway took his compatriot to the medical ward and forced him to execute a Protectobot, on grounds that this would prevent them from combining if they escaped. When the deed was done, he informed Atomizer that he had now "gone too far" just as Getaway himself had.

Riptide, immune to the nudge gun's effects due to his low intelligence, had survived and duly freed the Protectobots and Thunderclash, who almost brought Getaway down as he greeted the newly-arrived Star Saber. Terrified, Getaway vainly tried to sway Thunderclash back to his side and was decked for his trouble. Star Saber came to his rescue and slaughtered his way through the escapees. Only Atomizer's traitorous intervention, brought on by an attack of conscience, allowed a few of them to escape. For this, Getaway killed him by ''tearing his body apart'' and demanded Sunder make his security team believe Thunderclash had done the deed.

[[File:Lustrare GetawayVRodimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|right|]]
Their haggling over price was interrupted by the ''Lost Light'' finally arriving at what ''appeared'' to be the mythical Cyberutopia, {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|Journey's End}} but what was actually the planet [[Mederi]], a planet-sized euthanasia clinic that operated by creating what its occupants ''wanted'' to see. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}} Having never formed a coherent vision of what "Cyberutopia" might be, the telepaths who operated the simulation were unable to process the crew's desire, revealing the planet in its default, barren state. They were then attacked by the forces of the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]]; to save himself, Getaway struck a deal with the mysterious being, claiming that Rodimus and his loyalists were on their way to foil the Architect's plans. In exchange for a position of power among the Architect's retinue, Getaway was asked to prove his loyalty to the cause... and so allowed the Grand Architect's associate [[Scorponok (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Scorponok]] to transform the rest of the crew into [[Sparkeater (creature)|sparkeaters]], {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}} which were then unleashed on Rodimus's team when they arrived on Mederi. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|A Dance Before Dying}}

[[File:Lustrare GetawayConsumed.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|left|Just desserts or just dessert?]]
Managing to keep the sparkeaters at bay, Rodimus and a small group boarded the ''Lost Light''. When the former captain of the ship confronted Getaway, the escapologist fled to the ship's fuel furnace, improvising a pair of flammable [[nucleon (substance)|nucleon]] rods as weapons. Having lost everything — his new position with the Grand Architect and his dream of finding Cyberutopia — in one fell swoop, Getaway prepared to take himself, Rodimus, and the ship out with one blow, accusing his enemy of feigning his emotions to justify meting out revenge on Getaway... only to have his arm severed by Cyclonus. Getaway fled further into the inferno he'd created, and after a moment of self-reflection Rodimus charged in after him to drag the unconscious 'bot to safety.

As Rodimus and Cyclonus struggled to douse the fire, Getaway regained consciousness and prepared to stab Cyclonus in the back with his own sword. Before he could do so, however, he was confronted by a vision of [[Primus]] himself, offering him his hand. Unbeknownst to Getaway, this was merely a construct created by the domesticated scraplets he had used to dispose of his victims; having interfaced with Mederi's systems, they took the form of his deepest desire. Believing that Primus had come to finally bestow the title of Primehood upon him, Getaway took his hand... and was promptly devoured, reduced to nothing but a few scraps of metal. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}}
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
[[Snapper]] referred to [[Stiletto (BW)|Stiletto]] as making "like Getaway". {{storylink|Cultural Appropriation}}

==Commercial appearances==
[[File:GetawayQuickswitchCommercial.jpg|upright=0.9|thumb|left|Getaway just hates anyone who [[James Roberts]] planned to give [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|that character arc]] to.]]
*Getaway, [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]], and [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]] were shocked to discover that the Decepticons had developed [[Powermaster]] technology as well when they encountered [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] and [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] while out for a drive. The three Autobots used their Nebulan partners to transform into robot mode and fight back. They were soon joined by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and his own partner, [[Hi-Q]] who provided additional firepower against the Decepticons. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Powermasters|Powermasters commercial}}
*During a battle on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], Getaway mistook [[Quickswitch]] for a Decepticon and ordered him destroyed. He was quickly corrected by another Autobot, and Quickswitch made use of his many modes to help the Autobots overpower the Decepticons. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Quickswitch|Quickswitch commercial}}
{{--}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
During a battle eons ago, Getaway, Slapdash, and Joyride were defeated and almost killed by [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] and [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]]. They were only saved from certain doom when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] arrived and drove both of the Decepticons off. Many years later on [[Earth]], the three Autobots encountered Dreadwind and Darkwing again, and this time they weren't so lucky. {{storylink|End of the Road (Legends)|End of the Road}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[File:MF-toy Lightfoot.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|I want to Getaway, I want to flyyyyy away...]]
*'''Getaway''' (Powermaster, [[1988]])
**''Accessories:'' Rev Powermaster unit, [[plasma-shell shotgun|Plasma-Shell Shotgun]]

:Getaway transforms into a racing-modified white [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Mazda RX|Mazda RX-7 FC3S]]. Plasma-Shell shotgun can be plugged into the vehicle roof for storage via [[5 mm post]]. Attaching [[Rev]] (or any other Powermaster unit) into the Powermaster socket on the vehicle's hood unlocks Getaway's transformation sequence into [[robot mode]], though one ''can'' unlock the transformation simply by pressing down on the panel without Rev. Getaway's robot mode is mostly static with articulation restricted to arms.

:Getaway has some design peculiarities. The lower legs work like a single unit à la fellow Powermaster [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]], but they are actually separate sections only held together by the spoiler. Even the spoiler's sticker has a cut down the middle! Furthermore, the car front hinge was likely double-jointed to allow the car chunk to go flat against the figure's back but was budgeted out. Evidence of this is left behind in the two layered plates (instead of a single piece) that form the figure's back for no reason. Getaway is also nearly 1" taller in robot mode than either of his fellow Powermasters, Joyride and Slapdash.

:This toy was sold in Japan as [[Lightfoot (Masterforce)#Super-God Masterforce|Lightfoot]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1988/Autobot/Getaway/getaway.htm More information on Getaway at TFU.Info]''
{{-}}

===Generations===
[[File:TF-Generations-Titans-Return-Deluxe-Breakaway.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|With this increased [[articulation]] I can backstab my friends with even greater efficiency!]]
*'''Autobot Throttle & Autobot Breakaway''' (Deluxe Class, [[2016]])
**''Accessories:'' Small gun, big gun, [[Rev#Generations|Throttle]] Titan Master

:Part of the third wave of ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' Deluxe Class toys, "Autobot Breakaway" is a retool of the second wave's [[Chromedome (G1)#Generations|Chromedome]], with a new face based on Alex Milne's Getaway design from ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]''. His packaging art features a head sculpt based on Chromedome, most likely a result of the artist working from incorrect reference material. He transforms from a robot (based on Chromedome's appearance in the "[[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Shadowplay]]" story) to futuristic car and back. Breakaway's head can transform into the [[Titan Master]] Throttle, who can either drive Breakaway in vehicle mode or pilot Breakaway's larger weapon, which can also attach via tabs to the roof of the vehicle mode. The toy shares some engineering with ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' [[Dead End (G1)#Combiner Wars|Dead End]] while not actually sharing any parts. It ''does'' reuse several parts from ''Titans Return'' [[Blurr (G1)/toys#Titans Return|Blurr]], including the thighs and kneepads, smaller rifle, and the Titan Master's robot mode.

:Some of the instructions were erroneously packaged with ''Titans Return'' [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Titans Return|Hot Rod]].
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:Breakaway movie toy.jpg|thumb|"Hey! I'm no Bay-former!"]]
*An [[homage]] to Getaway, [[Breakaway (Movie)#Toys|Breakaway]], was released as a Wal-Mart [[exclusive]] as a late part of the [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|2007 movie toyline]]. Its name was intended to be "Getaway", but the [[trademark]] could not be secured. The [[redeco]] would have been part of the [[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|2008 ''Universe'' toyline]] and thus would have gone on this page, by this wiki's [[continuity]] classification.
*When asked why Getaway was killed so often in his stories, [[Simon Furman]] commented that with a name like Getaway it would be funny if he did not get away.
*For some reason Getaway's character model in the Marvel UK and US features a mouth and a reasonably prominent chin. His toy and IDW appearances feature a [[mouthplate|faceplate]] (as does his Japanese cartoon counterpart [[Lightfoot (Masterforce)|Lightfoot]]). His movie-verse homage (see above) goes without a faceplate.
*The IDW incarnation of Getaway is written with a New Zealand accent.<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/383004941192687616 James Roberts (@jroberts332) on Twitter, 25 September 2013]</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''French:'' '''Fugitif''' (Canada, "Fugitive")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Menekítő''' ("Rescuer")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Gray''' (China, 格雷 ''Géléi''), '''Duó Lù''' (China, 夺路, "Seize Road")

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Powermasters]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:Strategists]]
[[Category:Titans Return Autobots]]

Overlord (G1)

2021-04-25T05:19:59Z

Spark Mandrill: /* 2005 IDW continuity */

{{faction|decepticon}}
{{featured}}
{{Disambigm|Overlord (disambiguation)|Gigatron (disambiguation)}}
:''Overlord is a [[Decepticon]] [[Godmaster (lifeform)|Godmaster]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:Overlord.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Check out these killer abs!]]
[[Autobot]]s quake in fear when '''Overlord''' (オーバーロード ''Ōbārōdo'', aka '''Gigatron'''[[#Notes|[Note]]]) thunders on to the battlefield. This towering warrior is an amalgamation of the deadliest [[Decepticon]] weaponry known, armed with laser blasters and grenade launchers in his stomach, and the terrifying ability to prevent the wounds he inflicts upon his opponents from healing. He is even equipped with an internal arms factory. Overlord is formed from two individual vehicles, a tank and a jet, which combine together to form his colossal [[robot mode]], a heavily armed advance base, or a larger jet capable of space flight.<ref>Hybridized summary from the 1988 ''Masterforce'' anime and the 2005-2018 IDW comics</ref>

{{note|Exactly who—and even ''what''—Overlord is varies greatly from continuity to continuity, to the point that it could conceivably be argued whether or not the different incarnations represent different characters. See individual sections below for details.}}

==Fiction==
===Japanese Generation 1 continuity===
The story of the Overlord begins with the mysterious alien energy-being and self-styled Decepticon god, [[Devil Z]], who schemed to create the ultimate lifeform by merging Transformers and humans into one. Devil Z stole a collection of Transformer [[Transtector]]s from the [[G Nebula 89|G Nebula]] and brought them to Earth. Devil Z recruited two human beings, husband and wife [[Giga]] and [[Mega]], and charged them with creating an army for him. Mega and Giga were both bonded to the largest Transtector, and together, they became the terrifying Overlord, serving as Devil Z's "Ambassador of Destruction" on Earth.

In this continuity, each of Overlord's two components are piloted by Giga and Mega, and are hence known as the '''Gigatank''' and the '''Megajet'''. As deadly as his "Chōkon Daemon Blast" lasers and "Chōkon Bolt Masher" grenade launcher are, Overlord has little need for projectile weapons: as a [[Godmaster (lifeform)|Godmaster]], he is capable of manipulating [[Chōkon Power]], and can even employ it to inhibit the regenerative abilities of other Godmasters.

====Cartoon continuity====
=====''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon=====
{{voiceactor|[[Keiichi Noda]] (Japanese)|[[Rik Thomas]] (English, Omni Productions dub)}}
[[File:Overlord r.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|Believe it or not, this is a crane shot.]]
Giga and Mega took their Transtectors into battle for the first time after a string of failures that resulted in several of the Godmaster Transtectors falling into the hands of the [[Autobot]]s. The couple had [[Hydra (Masterforce)|Hydra]] and [[Buster (Masterforce)|Buster]] lure Autobot commander [[Ginrai (human)|Ginrai]] into the desert, and then confronted him as Overlord, immediately proving their superiority by beating him to near-death. {{storylink|Super Ginrai Gets Blown Away in the Desert!?}} Believing Ginrai dealt with, Overlord subsequently departed into space, {{storylink|Will the Bomber Project Be Destroyed!?}} taking control of a [[Weather Observatory Moon Base|weather-monitoring base]] on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]] in order to rendezvous with the approaching [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]] there. Ginrai, however, proved entirely too stubborn to die, and, powered-up through his combination with the freshly-constructed [[Godbomber]] drone, soon pursued Overlord and engaged him in battle above the moon's surface. {{storylink|God Ginrai - Into the Sky!!}} During the fight, Ginrai was blindsided by BlackZarak and sent crashing down to the moon, where he found himself hunted by the two powerful Decepticons. Luckily, the Autobot battleship [[Grand Maximus]] arrived to help, and the two Decepticon tried to break off the fight an return to Earth. Ginrai and Grand vowed to stop them, and a shot from Ginrai's God Cannon sent Overlord plummeting back to the moon, forcing Giga and Mega to split into their individual Transtectors to soften their impact and save their lives. The Autobot pair managed to drive BlackZarak back to the moon as well, and the dark Decepticon insisted that Overlord return to Earth alone and inform Devil Z of the situation. Overlord refused, furious that anyone other than Devil Z would presume to give him orders, but when Ginrai and Grand returned to press their attack, he realised the damage he had sustained prevented him from carrying on the fight, and he relented. After Overlord departed for Earth, however, the outnumbered BlackZarak was then beaten by Ginrai and sent fleeing back into the depths of space. {{storylink|God Ginrai - Showdown on the Surface of the Moon}}

[[File:Overlord v.jpg|205px|thumb|I'm easy come. Easy go. Little High. Little Low.]]
Incensed by this failure, Giga decided to reduce Ginrai's power level by destroying Godbomber. A desert again served as Ginrai and Overlord's battleground, as Overlord used his Chōkon Power to create a massive whirling tornado out of the shifting sands, but when he was thrown off balance by a sneaky God Punch attack, Overlord's "Chōkon Tornado" quickly backfired on him and sent him spinning off wildly through the sky. {{storylink|Overlord - Terror of the Chōkon Tornado}} Despite this setback, Overlord made another attempt to eliminate Godbomber, this time by separating him from Ginrai with an ambush in the American heartland. In their separate Transtectors, Giga and Mega wore down Ginrai until he no longer had enough Chōkon Power to animate Godbomber, but the plan was foiled when the Autobot [[Headmaster Junior]]s discovered they could combine their own energy to control Godbomber themselves. With Ginrai and Godbomber reunited, Overlord was sent packing by a blast of Chōkon Power. {{storylink|Destroy Godbomber!!}}

[[File:Overlord b.jpg|left|205px|thumb|Umm, Giga? Where are we supposed to sleep?]]
Overlord later adopted his base mode for the first time to act as a staging ground for the search for the final Godmaster. The search came to an abruptly end, however, when the Godmaster himself, [[Clouder]], sought out the Decepticons, and the villains decided to use his ability to adopt two robot forms to install him as a double agent within the Autobot ranks. {{storylink|Appearance!! The Final Godmaster}} Using information fed to them by Clouder, the Decepticons initiated a full-scale attack on the Autobots' headquarters, again using Overlord's base mode as a mobile headquarters from which the assault was masterminded. {{storylink|Secret Orders! Destroy the Autobot Base!!}} When Ginrai (who had been lured away from the base so the attack to begin) returned to aid his fellow Autobots, Overlord transformed to [[robot mode]] and again engaged him in battle, intending to keep him occupied until a [[Seacon (Masterforce)|Seacon]] force could destroy the Autobot base from within. Although defeated in combat, Overlord was still able to gloat, as Ginrai failed to realise that he was being stalled until it was too late. Furious at his own short-sightedness, Ginrai hurled Overlord and embedded him, head-first, in the side of the mountain housing the Autobot base. At that moment, the base's magma converter power core finally exploded, and Overlord was sent flying over the horizon by a jet of lava. {{storylink|Disaster! The Autobot Base Explodes}}

[[File:Overlord spacejet.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Set controls to outer space, now, flying higher than ever before!]]
Soon thereafter, BlackZarak returned to Earth, and the Decepticons began "Operation M-1" to cut a swathe of devastation across the Earth. While BlackZarak tore through [[New York City|New York]], Overlord landed in the heart of [[Paris]], decimating military resistance and destroying the [[Arc de Triomphe]]. With these cities in ruins, the two Decepticons began to converge on Tokyo; while passing over China, Overlord landed on the Great Wall and broadcasted a message to the leaders of the world, warning them to surrender or witness Tokyo's destruction. Overlord then carried on his way, easily defeating [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]], [[Phoenix (Masterforce)|Phoenix]] and [[Diver (Masterforce)|Diver]] when they attempted to block his path. Overlord and BlackZarak soon arrived in Tokyo, and with no surrender forthcoming, began razing the city. In the midst of the chaos, however, Ginrai and Grand Maximus—who had been trapped in a black hole by BlackZarak, and only just managed to escape—arrived to stop their evil deeds. During the ensuing battle, Ginrai manoeuvred himself between the two Decepticons, and dodged at the last second, causing them to blast each other. With his two most powerful warriors damaged, Devil Z called off Operation M-1, and initiated Operation M-2 {{storylink|BlackZarak - Destroyer from Space}} which involved destroying the Earth's atmosphere from orbit with the unholy [[Death Para-Machine]]. Overlord transformed to his "space jet" mode to carry the Decepticon Headmaster Juniors into space for the operation, but naturally, the Autobots pursued their enemies, and Ginrai was able to destroy the Death Para-Machine before it caused irreparable damage to Earth. {{storylink|Crisis! The Day of Human Extinction}}

[[File:Overlord vs ginrai.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|"I outrank you, Ginrai!" "You do NOT! 'God' outranks 'Overlord'!"]]
After a battle with [[Lightfoot (Masterforce)|Lightfoot]] in southern Europe, {{storylink|God Ginrai - Save Cancer!?}} Overlord tried a more underhanded tactic, capturing Autobot Headmaster Junior [[Shūta Gō]], and using him as a bargaining chip to bring Ginrai to the Decepticon base. The battle that followed was distinctly one-sided, as Ginrai was unable to fight back due to Shūta being in danger, but this suddenly took an unexpected turn when Decepticon Junior [[Cancer (Masterforce)|Cancer]] turned on his teammates and freed Shūta. Even as the shocked Overlord commanded him to stop, Ginrai got back in the fight, and flattened Overlord before escaping with Shūta and Cancer. {{storylink|God Ginrai: Showdown at the Decepticon Base}} With the information Cancer provided them, the Autobots were able to stage an all-out attack on the Decepticon base, during which Overlord again battled Ginrai. The fight came to a sudden end when Devil Z merged with BlackZarak and collapsed the Decepticon base in a failed attempt to destroy the Autobots. {{storylink|The Ultimate Combination!! BlackZarak, the New Lifeform}}

For a time, Devil Z's hatred of humankind had been steadily growing, and rankled with Giga and Mega, reaching a head when the alien abandoned [[Wilder (Masterforce)|Wilder]] and [[Bullhorn (Masterforce)|Bullhorn]] in the ruins of the Decepticon base, and transformed Hydra and Buster into true robots. {{storylink|Battle to the Death!! God Ginrai VS Darkwings Reborn}} Confronting God Ginrai for one final time in the heart of the [[Grand Canyon]], Overlord vowed to fight him without weapons, battling him only through the use of his physical strength and the power of his human flesh. He didn't explain his motives to Ginrai, but Ginrai observed Overlord's refusal to draw his weapons, and fought honourably. When Grand Maximus arrived on the scene, however, he was not so concerned, and simply shot Overlord out of the sky. {{storylink|Autobots! Desperate Attack!!}}

[[File:Overlord ginrairescue.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|I get by with a little help from my ... uh, foes.]]
After the battle in the Grand Canyon, the Decepticons relocated to the Alps, and the Autobots again gave chase. Overlord was willing to engage the Autobot Godmasters, but the merged Devil Z/BlackZarak entity held him back and instead buried them under an avalanche. Meanwhile, Ginrai again defeated Hydra and Buster, and the two brothers limped back to the peak of the Matterhorn, where Devil Z turned on them for their failure. As their punishment continued, Overlord at last stood up to his leader and attempted to stop him, only to be on the receiving end of Devil Z's wrath. {{storylink|Malevolent and Inhuman! The True Form of Devil Z}} Unexpectedly, Overlord was rescued by Ginrai, and as the Autobot leader began his final battle with BlackZarak, Giga and Mega realized that they owed him a debt of honor for saving them and finally made the decision to turn against their former master. When Overlord attempted to aid God Ginrai in his battle with BlackZarak, however, they were struck down and enveloped in a sphere of Devil Z's [[Devil Power]]. Devil Z separated Mega and Giga from their Transtectors, bringing Overlord to life as a true super-robot lifeform. As their [[Master-Brace]]s vanished from their wrists, Giga and Mega died, regretting that they could not settle their rivalry with Ginrai honourably. Alas, there was not even time to mourn, as the new, robotic Overlord lunged for Ginrai, but was tackled by Grand Maximus. Ginrai subsequently united his powers with the Headmasters Juniors to finally destroy Devil Z and BlackZarak, and at the sight of his leader being vaporized, Overlord immediately called for the Decepticons to retreat. As they fled into space, the Autobots' Transtectors were also brought to life, as Overlord's had been, by the death of Devil Z, and they headed into space in pursuit of Overlord's Decepticons. {{storylink|A Battle... and Then...}}
{{-}}

=====''Legends'' comic=====
The now-living Overlord transtector and his followers joined with the Decepticon forces in space, and in [[2021]], Overlord led an attack on the [[transtector]] factory in [[G Nebula 89]], forcing [[Grand Maximus|Grand]] to send the former [[Decepticon]] [[Headmaster Junior]]s to the [[Legends World]] for their safety. {{storylink|LG24 Shockwave & Cancer Prologue}} During one of his assaults, Overlord was defeated by a [[Getmaster]]-powered [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 39|Bonus Edition Vol. 39}}

=====''Victory'' cartoon=====
[[File:Decepticons in the g nebula.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Those car washes get more dangerous every year.]]
Overlord briefly led the Decepticon army before the rise to power of [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]]. {{storylink|Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus's toy bio}} Following this, Overlord commanded the Sector Two Decepticon force, based in the G Nebula, where they battled the Autobots under the command of his old foe, God Ginrai. {{storylink|Planet Micro - The Mysterious Warrior}}
{{-}}

=====''Zone'' cartoon=====
{{voiceactor|[[Keiichi Noda]] (Japanese)}}
[[File:OverlordZone1.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Robots should not wear [[Transformer clothing#Capes|capes]].]]
Years later, when the supernatural creature known as [[Violen Jiger]] seized command of the Decepticons, his first act was to recruit nine "[[Nine Great Demon Generals|Demon Generals]]" from Decepticon history. Overlord was selected to be one of those Generals and was given new power and weaponry to make him an even greater threat than before. At Violen Jiger's instruction, Overlord was sent to the planet [[Feminia]] to wreak havoc along with [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]. Together, the three Decepticon Demon Generals destroyed the entire planet and nearly killed Autobot [[Supreme Commander]] [[Star Saber (Victory)|Victory Saber]] in the process.

Two-and-a-half months later, Overlord led Menasor, Abominus, and [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] in an attack on the planet of [[Micro|Zone]], gleefully blasting [[Micromaster]]s and using his trident to slice into [[Zone Base]] to retrieve a sample of [[Energon Z]] for Decepticon use. With the Micromasters completely unable to harm the Decepticon generals, Overlord left the planet in triumph, handing the Energon Z off to the second group of Generals, who went on to attack Earth, but were stopped by Autobot [[Powered Master]] [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]]. {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}

=====Wars manga=====
In the aftermath of Violen Jiger's defeat, Overlord's faction of Decepticons in G Nebula 89 tried to reorganize and desired to take control of the nebula's transtector factory to create more Decepticon soldiers. {{storylink|Train Wars: Goshooter & Shūta Gō Chapter}}
{{-}}

====Manga continuity====
=====''Super-God Masterforce'' manga=====
[[File:Overlord manga.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|"I am a freak?, Not so, I am a devil!"]]

After a failed assault on planet [[Athenia]] and the defeat of [[Scramble 7]], the Decepticons returned to Earth and were met by their new commander, the mysterious Overlord. {{storylink|The Battle Begins! The United Earth-Space Troops}}

Giga and Mega debuted their Transtectors in an attack on a city, during which they combined into Overlord and devastated the Autobot Godmasters with their Daemon Blast and Bolt Masher weapons. Blindsided and badly damaged by the newly created God Ginrai, Overlord was goaded into pursuing the Autobot out into space, where BlackZarak was battling the Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]]. As BlackZarak turned to face the approaching Ginrai, the cunning Autobot swiftly ducked out of the way, causing Overlord and BlackZarak to attack each other. Gravely wounded, Overlord returned to Earth, while BlackZarak fled back into space. {{storylink|God Ginrai's Amazing Super-God Combination!}}

Overlord's base mode was employed by the Decepticon to hold Shūta Gō and [[Cab (human)|Cab]] prisoner, when they attempted to torture the two boys into becoming members of the Decepticons. Their fellow Autobot Junior, [[Minerva (Masterforce human)|Minerva]], came to their rescue when she crashed Godbomber through Overlord's walls and freed them, after which Overlord transformed to robot mode to face the approaching Ginrai and Grand Maximus. It wasn't his best showing: after Ginrai combined with Godbomber, Grand crashed his battleship directly into Overlord's face, and God Ginrai used the Headmaster's "[[Master Blade (Masterforce)|Master Blade]]" to slice off Overlord's legs. Their Transtectors forcibly separated, the battered Giga and Mega escaped. {{storylink|The Earth Families of Good and Evil}}

[[File:Overlord aolaser.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|"Cry some more!"]]
From the top of [[Chomolungma]], Overlord rained destruction down on the world using the Decepticons' newest weapon, the [[A.O. Laser]]. When Ginrai and Godbomber arrived to stop him, Overlord turned the laser on them; they dodged, but they had failed to observe the presence of the Decepticons' newest member, the Godmaster Clouder, who reflected the laser beam back at them and knocked them out of the sky. Unfortunately for Overlord, a chance comment from Cancer insulting Clouder's falcon mode plunged the Godmaster into such a rage that he turned on his Decepticon allies and blew up the A.O. Laser in Overlord's hands. Although Ginrai had been temporarily blinded by the A.O. Laser, the Headmaster Juniors were able to serve as his eyes and point him in the right direction to unleash his "God Punch" attack, which clobbered Overlord so hard that Giga and Mega actually popped out of his chest. {{storylink|Decepticons' Great Counterattack!}}

Soon thereafter, when the Autobots were off-Earth visiting their space-based allies, BlackZarak was able to return to Earth, and he and Overlord took the opportunity to attack a city. The Autobots soon returned with, and Ginrai and Godbomber grappled with Overlord, forcing him to separate back into the Megajet and Gigatank. The two Autobots clung onto the separate Transtectors, however, refusing to let them escape, as they waited for the new weapon they had brought back from space, the [[VX Bomb]] to detonate. The explosion came seconds later, knocking Mega and Giga's Transtectors offline, but Ginrai and Godbomber survived by combining into God Ginrai. {{storylink|Live? Die?! The Desperate Super-God Combination}}

[[File:Overlord vs blackzarak.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Don't ever speak about Broly.]]
When BlackZarak attacked a city, Cancer happened to be here, and BlackZarak showed his disdain for humans by using the boy as a bargaining chip to prevent the Autobots from interfering with his deviltry. Horrified at this treatment of Cancer, Overlord viciously attacked BlackZarak, rescuing Cancer from his grip, but while they were fighting, it allowed the Autobots to take down both of them. {{storylink|Great Turn-Around! Autobots}}

In light of this act of treachery by Overlord, it was perhaps not surprising that in the midst of his next battle with Ginrai, Overlord himself was the subject of a betrayal. In an attempt to transform himself into the ultimate lifeform, Devil Z fused with BlackZarak, and then turned on Overlord and the Decepticon Headmaster Juniors, attempting to drain theirs and Ginrai's [[Chōkon Power|Jinchōkon]] and take it for his own. They were saved by the Autobot Pretenders, who blocked the Jinchōkon-absorbing beam, and Overlord decided to join with the Autobots in defeating Devil Z. Overlord joined with all the other Transformers in combining their energies into the "Perfect Transform Attack", which finally destroyed BlackZarak and Devil Z once and for all. With the alien's death, the Transformers' Transtectors were brought to life as true super-robot lifeforms, Overlord's included. Alas, Devil Z's energies had also been sustaining the lives of Giga and Mega, and his death also resulted in theirs. The now-living Overlord and Ginrai Transtectors decided to take their troops back into space, where Overlord vowed to defeat Ginrai in memory of Mega and Giga, and for the honor of the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Birth of the Super Lifeforms}}
{{-}}

=====''Zone'' manga and story pages=====
[[File:Overlord zone manga.jpg|upright=0.9|thumb|Your hair is like lavender but smells like strawberries.]]
Years after the end of the [[Masterforce War]], Overlord was among the Decepticons recruited by the new Decepticon emperor Violen Jiger to become the strongest of his Nine Great Demon Generals. In addition to his new title of "Super-God General", Overlord was outfitted with new armor and weapons that made him even more dangerous than before. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone Part 1}}

One month after the Demon Generals destroyed the planet Feminia, apparently taking the life of the Autobot Supreme Commander Victory Saber in the process, Overlord led Menasor, Bruticus and Abominus in an attack on the planet Zone, where they successfully stole a sample of the super-energy, Energon Z. When the Zone Base transformed into battle mode and opened fire on the Decepticons, Overlord called retreat, seeing no need to stay and fight when the prize was already theirs. Overlord then handed the Energon Z off to the second platoon of generals, who subsequently headed for Earth, but were defeated in battle there by the Autobot Powered Master Dai Atlas. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (manga)|Transformers: Zone}}

It wasn't long before Overlord got his own chance to go up against Dai Atlas, but the Powered Master didn't think much of this so-called "Strongest of the Generals," aiming to finish their battle in under eight seconds. Whether or not he achieved this lofty goal is unknown, but he ''did'' lay out Overlord with his powerful "Galactic Dash" attack. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone Part 6}}

The Generals later schooled [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]] and the [[Metrosquad]] in the ways of evil, making them formidable foes for the [[Powered Master]]s. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone Part 7}}
{{-}}

====''PDTF Comic''====
[[File:Pdtype overlord.jpg|left|thumb|I'm a foot and a half taller than you, but whatever.]]
During a battle between Overlord and Super Ginrai, the Autobot Godmaster prepared to attack with Chokon Power. When he raised his hands to summon Tenchokon, however, he was struck by a bolt of lightning, causing Overlord to smirk that the weather wasn't looking too good. {{storylink|PDTF Comic##7 "Fight! Super Ginrai!"|Fight! Super Ginrai!!}}

Sitting in a field, watching the clouds float by, Overlord started to wonder what he was doing with his life and decided he needed a day off to reflect on his lot. Unfortunately, he had chosen to sit down and have this epiphany in the middle of a huge battle, and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] began shouting at him to get back up and join the fight. {{storylink|PDTF Comic##9 "Oh Overlord."|Oh, Overlord}}
{{-}}

====Ask Vector Prime====
In some versions of the history of the [[G1 World|Primax 785.06 Alpha]] system, the G Nebula Transtector that became Overlord was intended to be a new body for a fallen Decepticon known as [[Gigatron (G1)|Gigatron]]. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/07/24}}

===European toy bio continuity===
[[File:Overlord vs motorvators.jpg|thumb|Collect all time-displaced toys.]]
A legend by virtue of his very existence, Overlord is the ultimate Decepticon anti-hero. Emerging to join the Transformers' war at some undetermined point in space and time, Overlord fights alone on the battlefield despite his Decepticon allegiance, a monolithic horror born of "advanced robotic engineering" whose special abilities—including the power to travel across dimensions—come from the "[[Energon figure]]s" that operate his multiple functions.

To counter the monstrous threat posed by this powerful new breed of Decepticon, the Autobots developed their own new team of warriors, the [[Motorvator]]s, emulating Overlord's Energon figure technology to make the trio a match for his awesome power.<ref>Overlord's European toy bio</ref><ref>Story blurb on Overlord and the Motorvators' packaging.</ref>
{{-}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[Megatron Origin issue 2|''Megatron Origin'' #2]] (cameo); [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' #1]] (full appearance)}}
{{bigquote|A good strategist is half psychologist and half '''sadist'''. And I was the '''best'''.|Overlord|[[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 3|''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' #3]]}}
[[File:Overlords spark remembrance day.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|They're so cute when they're small.]]
Overlord was born on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s [[Moonbase Two|second moon]] 4.2 million years ago, a rare breed known as a "[[Point One Percenter]]". After its "first flash" killed the [[Frak|hapless]] [[Rushcut|miners]] who discovered it, his [[spark]] was taken by the [[Functionist Council]]'s authenticator [[Three-of-Twelve]]. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}}

[[File:MegatronOrigin2 fightcrowd1.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Hey, he appeared as a rabid fan of gladiatorial combat in a crowd shot once. Wouldn't it be ''awesome'' if [[Nick Roche|someone]] built a whole character round that?]]
In the days before the [[Great War (G1)|Cybertronian civil war]], Overlord was both an avid spectator of [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'s gladiatorial matches {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} and a participant in the bouts, even fighting Megatron himself. Megatron would be the only opponent to ever defeat Overlord, and he did so regularly, giving Overlord a pathological fear of defeat. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} All the same, Overlord still joined Megatron's Decepticon faction upon its founding, though it was not the loftiness of the Decepticon cause that Megatron espoused which enticed him. Rather, it was the chance to have the glorious excess of the gladiator battles move beyond the arena, to encompass entire worlds. To Overlord, the ends didn't matter overly much when the ''means'' themselves were this pleasurable. As a result, his tactics developed a reputation as unsound, and his schemes as nothing more than flights of brutal whimsy. Unlike [[Scorponok (G1)|many]] [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|other]] powerful Decepticons, he had no interest in command, only in taking his slaughter to the next stage. Megatron was not convinced, however, believing the image of Overlord as simply interested in killing to be a façade, and began searching for a way to exert greater control over him.

[[File:Overlord UnuntriumInfusion RemembranceDay.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|left|Weapon O.]]
Recognizing Overlord's power, Megatron regularly sparred with him, and eventually, three million years ago, selected him to be the fourth candidate for an upgrade process that would transform him into a world-shatteringly powerful superwarrior. Rendered virtually indestructible by an infusion of [[ununtrium]] to his endoskeleton, Overlord's first action as a member of the "[[Warriors Elite]]" was to smash out of his capsule and kill the scientist who oversaw the process, [[Rossum]]. He could not, however, do the same to Megatron: the Decepticon leader had not been foolish, and had, during the upgrade process, had [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] equip Overlord with both a killswitch that could deactivate him, and infect him with an [[Achilles virus]] that caused a "tactical blindspot" preventing him from figuring out how to harm Megatron. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 3|Last Stand of the Wreckers #3}} When [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] was captured by the Autobots and brought to the [[Institute|New Institute]] for brainwashing, Overlord saw his chance to free himself from these shackles. While ostensibly attacking the facility to rescue Soundwave, he also captured the cerebroscientist [[Trepan]], and studied the basics of [[mnemosurgery]] from him, intending to hack Shockwave's memories and learn how to deactivate his killswitch and the virus. Megatron caught wind of Overlord's scheming before he learned how to interface with others, and had Trepan killed. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} Overlord later participated in the [[Battle for Hell's Point]] alongside the other members of the Warriors Elite. {{storylink|The Gloaming}}

[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers2-teleconference.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|I am not a number!]]
While embroiled in battle on [[Caldoon 4]], Overlord was called to a teleconference with [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], who announced the finalization of his [[infiltration protocol]], and that Overlord would join fellow Warriors Elite [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] and [[Black Shadow (Victory)|Black Shadow]] in being reclassified as "[[Phase Sixer]]s", called in to alien worlds to enact the doomsday scenario of the protocol's final phase. Dissatisfied with being declared a weapon that operated at someone else's whim, Overlord contested his appointment, and Megatron gave him two options: do as he was told, or refuse and have Megatron hunt him down. Overlord made his choice quickly, returning to the battle outside and dispatching every Autobot save one—[[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]]—who he allowed to survive so a message could be sent to Megatron: Overlord had chosen option two. He proceeded to leave Caldoon 4 to plan for Megatron's inevitable coming. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2|Last Stand of the Wreckers #2}} For his treason, Overlord found his way onto the infamous [[The List|list]] of traitors maintained by the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. {{storylink|Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|Who's Afraid of the DJD?}}

Some time later, Overlord initiated a conflict with the emperor of a star system who was in possession of interstellar travel capabilities and weapons technology that rivaled his own. Finding himself overmatched, Overlord sought and secured the aid of [[Gorelock]]'s Decepticon battalion, which, at the time, was assigned to [[Spensifax B]]. The ensuing battle, according to the estimates of science officer [[Vivisector]], set the technological development of the empire back an estimated 250,000 years. {{storylink|The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Gorelock's prisoner clemency request}}

[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers1-Overlord.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left|We peed a little.]]
At the height of the [[Surge (event)|cross-galactic Decepticon uprising]], Overlord arrived at [[Garrus-9]] in the midst of the Decepticon siege of the prison, and casually murdered garrison leader [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]] when he refused to turn command over to him. Intending to turn Garrus-9 into his home away from home, Overlord personally defeated warden [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and threw him to the crowd of Decepticon prisoners he had freed as a show of good faith. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|Last Stand of the Wreckers #1}} Overlord was not done with Maximus, though, later imprisoning him and personally torturing him for information on the [[Aequitas]] computer hidden in the bowls of Garrus-9, and the [[Epistemus|mysterious secret]] of the prison that the computer had been created to hide. Maximus refused to give up the passcodes to the device's chamber even after Overlord threatened to kill an Autobot for every second that he withheld them. {{storylink|Interiors}}

[[File:Overlord-Fort-Max-Interiors.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"Do you expect me to talk?" "No, I expect you to die and be a cheap funeral".]]
During his time in command of Garrus-9, Overlord turned the prison into a huge gladiatorial arena, and had the prisoners fight for their lives with the promise that victory meant freedom. This was, of course, a lie; those who won in twelve bouts were offered the choice of facing Overlord himself or committing suicide. Overlord forced the imprisoned [[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]] to watch footage both of these matches and of the sacking of the prison, possibly driving him insane. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4|Last Stand of the Wreckers #4}} After a year of this, some of the Decepticons began to have doubts about their sadistic leader; [[Fearswoop (G1)|Fearswoop]] was lucky to survive when he questioned Overlord's lack of sportsmanship, but [[Wingblazer]] and his partner were not so fortunate when they let an Autobot prisoner get the better of them during a hunt, and Overlord killed them for their carelessness. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|Last Stand of the Wreckers #1}} Around this time, Overlord also released Shockwave from confinement and let him leave in return for the Achilles Virus being removed. Shockwave could tell that all Overlord was doing with Garrus-9 was trying to get Megatron's attention, though Overlord denied it. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 3|Last Stand of the Wreckers #3}}

[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers1-BoreholeKickoff.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left|Better than television!]]
Two years later, Overlord and his Decepticons watched the captive Autobot [[Kick-Off (G1)|Kick-Off]] battle the Decepticon [[Borehole]] for his amusement. Kick-Off triumphed and was taken to Overlord's quarters {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|Last Stand of the Wreckers #1}} where he was offered the customary choice; {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4|Last stand of the Wreckers #4}} he evidently opted to fight Overlord, given the brutalized state of his body when it was later found. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 3|Last Stand of the Wreckers #3}}

Not long thereafter, the Autobot strike team known as the [[Wrecker]]s arrived to liberate Garrus-9, one of their drop pods crashing into the arena chamber right in front of Overlord's feet. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2|Last Stand of the Wreckers #2}} Although disappointed to discover that the new arrivals were not troops sent by Megatron, Overlord was amused by the joke made by [[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]] about Wreckers combining... right before he shot him through the head. The Wreckers turned down Overlord's proposal of surrender but were unable to injure him, and escaped into the prison by detonating a fuel tank to cover their withdrawal. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 3|Last Stand of the Wreckers #3}}

[[File:LastStandofWreckers4- OverlordSpringerReady.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|FINAL ROUND, FIGHT!]]
Regrouping with help from the Decepticon [[Snare]], who had come to believe that the Decepticons on Garrus-9 were as trapped by Overlord as the Autobots were, the Wreckers established a new mission objective: kill Overlord. They did not have to hunt him down, however, as he soon arrived to take them on. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4|Last Stand of the Wreckers #4}} The fight quickly made its way to the rooftop of Garrus-9, where [[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]] was torn in half and used to dispatch Kup. A harpoon through the eye courtesy of [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] barely fazed Overlord, who delivered a defeat more crushing than any beating: the Autobot prisoners the Wreckers had come to liberate had all been executed on his orders already. Overlord proved able even to shrug off the massive payload of a huge chaingun-like weapon provided to Springer by [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]], but after all the other Autobots around him had been dispatched, Ironfist revealed the weapon's secret: it had injected Overlord with thousands of deterrence chips, which Ironfist then remotely detonated, reducing Overlord to a flaming, yet still-functional skeleton.

[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers5-brittlebones.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left|"Megatron better not show up when I'm naked!"]]
Ironfist fell unconscious, leaving only Verity to hear Overlord's wrathful ranting, as he demanded to know how he could meet a challenge from Megatron in this sorry state. Realizing this was what Overlord had longed for all along, Verity dropped the bomb: Megatron was ''dead''. Overlord was stunned by the realization that while he had dedicated every waking hour of his existence to his supposedly inevitable fight with Megatron, the Decepticon leader had never cared, and would never come. He put up no resistance when Impactor recovered, but Impactor refused to kill Overlord, for Springer's sake, and promised to take him in to face justice. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}}

[[File:Overlord-Lost-Light-Interiors.jpg|thumb|First class may seem like a rip off but it has advantages over the alternatives.]]
[[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] believed that the Autobots had a moral obligation to return P.O.W.s to their natural state, so he had the Decepticon's body rebuilt. [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]], intent on learning from Overlord the secrets of the process that created the Phase Sixers, acquiesced to Bumblebee's decision in hopes it would encourage Overlord to talk, and released a cover story that claimed the villain's spark had been extracted and sealed in a [[whiteout vacuum]]. In the wake of Cybertron's rebirth following the [[Chaos (IDW)|Chaos event]], Prowl petitioned [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] to use his mnemosurgery skills to read Overlord's memories in the hopes of creating an army of "Autobot Phase Sixers," but Chromedome refused. Learning that Chromedome was leaving Cybertron aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]'', Prowl convinced [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] to allow him to put Overlord on the Lost Light. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} {{storylink|The Sound of Breaking Glass}} At launch, he had the [[Duobot]]s secretly load Overlord aboard the ship and instructed [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] to talk Chromedome around to his way of thinking when the time was right. As a security measure, Overlord was held within a [[slow cell]] in which time passed much more slowly. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}}

When the ''Lost Light'' launched, an accident aboard caused a massive quantum explosion, and as a result the ship was split into two identical copies—one on-course, and one off-course—each containing an identical Overlord. On the on-course Lost-Light, Rodimus died in an accident with a [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]], and Overlord's existence was never revealed to the crew. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken}} When Brainstorm—a deep-cover double agent with Decepticon ties—was contacted by his Decepticon handler and demanded proof of his loyalty to the Decepticon cause, the Autobot panicked and put through a call to the Decepticon Justice Division, sabotaging Overlord's slow cell so that the DJD could detect his energy signature. {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}} The DJD initially agreed to not harm the crew of the ''Lost Light'' so as to maintain his cover, {{storylink|The Permanent Revolution}} but reneged when they discovered Drift aboard the ship. The DJD proceeded to slaughter the entire crew of the ''Lost Light'' {{storylink|slaughterhouse}} {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}} {{storylink|The Permanent Revolution}} before finally going to chop off Overlord's head off with a saw. Crossing Overlord's name off the list, the DJD left the shattered wreckage of the ''Lost Light'' behind in orbit of [[Ofsted XVII]]. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}}

[[File:RemembranceDay-Chromedome.jpg|thumb|upright=1.50|left]]
On the off-course ''Lost Light,'' the "other" Overlord remained a prisoner of the Autobots; when a crack was cut in the cell by the stowaway Sparkeater, paranoid security director [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] began hearing noises emanating from within. After recording the noises and discovering, with aid from [[Rung (G1)|Rung]], that it was a massively-slowed down voice repeating "Kill me", {{storylink|How Ratchet Got His Hands Back}} Red Alert widened the crack and discovered the cell's occupant, {{storylink|Interiors}} but was mysteriously deactivated in an alleged suicide before he could tell anyone. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

After Chromedome's [[Conjunx Endura]] [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] was grievously injured in battle, the possibility of losing Rewind was enough to convince Chromedome to begin visiting the slow cell to probe Overlord's mind in a series of mental interrogation sessions, gradually acclimatizing himself to the Decepticon's mental architecture. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} As a safeguard in the event of Overlord's escape, he subtly altered the Decepticon's memories so as to make him associate the phrase "[['Til all are one]]!" with defeat in combat, knowing that Rodimus would undoubtedly say this in a battle and give the Autobots a potential opening to take down the stunned Decepticon. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}}

[[File:Overlord bigfight UnderColdBlueStars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|right|So Overlord walks into a [[Swerve's|bar]]. Everybody dies. Painfully.]]

During the last of these sessions, however, Chromedome made a fatal mistake when he inadvertently revealed to Overlord that Megatron was still alive. Spurred back to action, Overlord used the mnemosurgery tricks he had learned from Trepan to take over their mental link and plucked the code for the slow cell from Chromedome's memories. Bursting free from his restraints, he opened the cell and sealed Chromedome in, {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} then proceeded to go on a rampage through the ship, first stomping [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] to death, then attacking [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] in the medibay. The assembled crew of the ship confronted him in battle, during which Overlord stabbed [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] through the [[spark]], then turned on [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] asking him for last words. When Rodimus replied with "'til all are one," however, the phrase tripped Overlord's mnemonic trigger, allowing him to be herded back to the slow cell by Fortress Maximus so that he could be jettisoned from the ship. At the last moment, however, the plan was nearly thwarted when one of Overlord's stolen swords was lodged in the cell doors; as the only 'bot small enough to remove it, Rewind squeezed through the gap and pulled the sword free, allowing the cell to jettison but trapping himself inside with Overlord. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} Overlord gleefully began torturing the little Autobot {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage|Rage, Rage}} before Chromedome, in an act of mercy, used the ship's guns to destroy the floating cell. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} Overlord's still-living but inert body was left drifting in space. {{storylink|The Gloaming}} {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}}

Approximately six months later, the crew of the surviving ''Lost Light'' encountered the wreck of the quantum duplicate over Ofsted XVII following the disappearance of their own vessel. [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] and [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] discovered Overlord's headless corpse in the slow cell. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}} This, combined with numerous other historical inconsistencies and the atrocities found by the others, led the Lost Lighters to figure out that they were aboard an quantum duplicate version of their ship that had been visited by the DJD. The alternate Overlord's corpse vanished with the rest of the wrecked ''Lost Light'' when the main ''Lost Light'' was restored to reality. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}.

[[File:TarnvsOverlord.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left|And another thing, Dad told me when you were born what he really wanted was a Labrador.]]
In the meantime, the other Overlord was recovered and rebuilt by the [[Galactic Council]]. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}} After a lengthy recuperation process, {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 3: Your Fierce Tears|Your Fierce Tears}} the Council deployed him to the [[Necroworld|homeworld]] of the [[Mortilus|Necrobot]] and take down Megatron, whose recent defection to the [[Autobot]]s threatened to undermine the anti-Cybertronian sentiment that the council had spent years cultivating among its members. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}} Overlord interrupted a one-sided battle between his old tormentor and the D.J.D. commander [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]]. Declaring that only he was allowed to kill Megatron, Overlord attacked Tarn, distracting both from noticing the crippled Megatron escaping on a hoverscooter. Seeing that their goals overlapped, Tarn brought Overlord in as a temporary ally.

Aboard the ''[[Peaceful Tyranny]]'', Overlord immediately began undermining Tarn's command by trying to sow doubt in the mind of [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] while openly mocking the D.J.D. The D.J.D's image didn't benefit from a panicked [[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon]] begging Tarn to save his captured [[Dominus Ambus|"Pet"]]. Overlord watched on as Tarn decapitated Kaon and then jammed his severed head into Overlord's chest, telling him he wouldn't be mocked by such a desperate attention seeker. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 3: Your Fierce Tears|Your Fierce Tears}}

[[File:mtmte54 KRACK.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Admit it, you cheered a little at this.]]
When sundown came, Overlord stood with Tarn and Deathsaurus, a big smirk on his face, as they prepared to storm the Autobots. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day|At Close of Day}} After swatting Cyclonus to the floor, he gleefully sought out Chromedome and began to mock him with claims of what he'd done to Rewind, so Chromedome decked him, the first obvious sight the Autobots were charged with something. Once the charge ran out though, Megatron finally emerged to tear through the Decepticons...

...and Overlord dismissed this as just him getting a gun back. Bored and finding it easy to now shoot him down, {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage|Rage, Rage}} Overlord concluded that Megatron had become a coward, and—disgusted by this change of heart—grimly told Tarn that he didn't ''need'' Megatron anymore before flying off. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}}

[[File:RequiemoftheWreckers OverlordGuiglione.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|left|And now he can transform into a Karen.
He really is pure evil.]]
Overlord spent the next few years aimlessly wandering, bored with life, before coming in contact with the exiled mad scientist [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]], stationed on [[Earth]]. The two formed a partnership; after arriving on Earth, Overlord agreed to become a test subject for Tarantulas' ever-evolving [[Chimeracon]] process. Through Tarantulas' mad science, Overlord gained a third, [[human]]-based disguise; in this guise, he was able to forge an identity for himself as "Megan Guiglione," a populist anti-Cybertronian politician aiming to sow discord throughout Earth's political systems as its inhabitants struggled to adjust to life under the [[Council of Worlds]]. Not only could "Guiglione" secure funding and resources for Tarantulas' latest plan, but Tarantulas was also fascinated by the effects that "Megan" had on the government of the United States, seeing it as a twisted social experiment.

At one rally, "Megan" was attacked by Springer, who had been temporarily brainwashed by members of [[Mayhem Attack Squad|Mayhem]] and puppeteer into annihilating the firebrand politician, but only succeeded in revealing Overlord. Overlord promptly resumed his normal robot mode and slaughtered the Mayhem operatives who attempted to engage him. Intrigued by the reappearance of Verity at this meeting, Overlord abducted her and returned to the dormant volcano where he and Tarantulas had established their base. There, Tarantulas revealed the "[[Timemaze]]," a functional [[time travel|time machine]] through which Tarantulas would send Overlord back in time, over and over, and his actions would create an infinity of new timelines for Tarantulas to play with. Overlord, however, revealed that he had no interest in being Tarantulas's lackey anymore: instead, he would use the Timemaze to travel back in time and kill Megatron, wiping him from this reality and every alternate universe that might happen to spring up. He punctuated this statement (and his partnership with Tarantulas) by shooting the spider in the back of the head.

[[File:RequiemoftheWreckers Overlordsplits.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Before he could enter the machine, however, Springer and Impactor arrived; tackling Springer, the two plummeted into the volcano's caldera, causing a landslide that temporarily separated the combatants from one another. By the time Overlord found his feet and advanced on the two Autobots, Impactor sacrificed himself by allowing Springer to fire through him, giving him the opportunity to make a break for the Timemaze with Overlord in hot pursuit. As Overlord caught up to Springer, however, the villainous Phase Sixer was paralyzed by a sonic howl from [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]], forcing both halves of his body to involuntarily assume their [[alternate mode]]s. Taking advantage of this paralysis, Springer and Verity were able to send his jet half into the distant future, then sent his tank half plummeting into the distant past. The fate of each of his components remains unknown. {{storylink|Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers|Requiem of the Wreckers}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====''Classics''====
[[File:InvasionPrologue-Gigatron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.67|Everything's shrunk except those glorious lips.]]
Long ago, Gigatron, the Overlord, grew restless in his duties at [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]], and forfeited his throne to [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]]. His psychotic craving for power led him to scour the universe, ultimately leading him to Earth.

Gigatron crash-landed in [[Japan]], where he adopted a robot form resembling a shogun and a Type 90 tank altmode. With most of Earth's Decepticons offplanet with [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], he was able to gather a small army of ten warriors, and he would infrequently clash with [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] and his fellow Earthbound Autobots. {{storylink|#Timelines|BotCon 2012 Gigatron profile card}} Once, Gigatron searched in [[Kitakyushu]] for [[Musashi Miyamoto|Musashi]]'s sword, but legends of the sword's strength were exaggerated.

Soon, Gigatron had set his sights on another potential source of power, [[Rarified Energon]]. The Autobots had been guarding it for a period of time, and had been moving it frequently to keep it out of the hands of the Decepticons. But Gigatron discovered that the Rarified Energon had been moved to [[Ironworks (facility)|Ironworks]], and effortlessly battled through an army of [[Armored Robot Hunters|RUNTs]] to reach the Autobot station. There, he fought Metalhawk, and he and his Decepticons were forced to retreat. {{storylink|Overlord (Masterforce)#Timelines|BotCon 2012 Gigatron profile card}} {{storylink|Invasion Prologue}}

Gigatron continued to keep vigil over Ironworks, however, and when [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] brought him news of a skirmish involving heroic Decepticons and evil Autobots, Gigatron knew it was time to strike! With this distraction, they could easily take the Rarified Energon hidden in the vaults for themselves.

[[File:Invasion-destroythem.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Gigatron's about to be really happy he got stuck on Earth.]]
Once it was discovered that the evil Autobots were also after the Rarified Energon, Gigatron refused to be out-conquered. He and the majority of his troops came to the rescue of [[Soundwave (SG)|Sir Soundwave]], who was about to get assimilated by [[Junkion (species)#Shattered Glass|Junkions]]. Aiming to show these heroic Decepticons how it's done, he set Soundwave loose and continued battling the Junkions.

What Gigatron did not know was that the evil Autobots, led by [[Ultra Magnus (SG)|Ultra Magnus]], intended to warp this iteration of Earth to their own universe's Cybertron, destroying it in the process. Though Sir Soundwave was able to expand the force field surrounding the evil Autobots' machinery large enough to protect the entire planet, saving Gigatron and his troops, no one foresaw the true scale of Magnus's intentions. And so as Earth neared the [[Primax -408.24 Epsilon|alternate universe]] Cybertron, its [[Primax 207.0 Epsilon|entire dimension]] was destroyed behind them, leaving Gigatron and the rest of his Earth's denizens the last remnants of their universe.

Gigatron and the others were unsurprisingly distraught, so [[Straxus (SG)|the Bard of Darkmount]] recited for them a hopeful poem. {{storylink|Invasion (issue)|Invasion}}

=====''Recordicons''=====
[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] took to perching on Gigatron's arm. {{storylink|Recordicons issue 23|Recordicons #23}}
{{-}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
[[File:KreO-webcomic-5-Overlord.jpg|right|thumb|75px|He's using...the smolder.]]
Overlord was part of a massive Decepticon invasion force intended to ruin the Autobots' picnic. However, [[Optimus Prime (Kre-O)|Optimus Prime]] plowed through them with his truck and left them scattered... and then left. Returning to the scene after.. ''ahem'', taking care of some pressing business, Optimus gathered up the still-wiped-out Kreons, bound them up on a flatbed trailer, and took them to the picnic. {{storylink|Emergency! Hurry to the Base, Optimus!}}

===''TransTech''===
A [[Duocon]] Overlord found his way to [[Axiom Nexus]], and became one of its most infamous "Parallel Killers". {{storylink|Rook - Axiom Nexus News: Investigative Journalist|Rook - Axiom Nexus news, 2015/06/15}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
In one reality, Overlord was a Decepticon who was "genderfluid" by organic-based gender standards. The [[Arcee (G1)#Ask Vector Prime|Arcee]] of Overlord's reality would mention Overlord in a lecture given in [[Axiom Nexus]] which [[Vector Prime]] attended. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/12/23}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
At the onset of the [[Pax Cybertronia]], Overlord held [[Decepticon leader]]ship for a brief time, {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy–Prologue}} before he was overthrown by [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]. {{storylink|Cultural Appropriation}}

===''Titans Return'' marketing material===
A member of the ultra-elite [[Phase Sixer]] strike team, Overlord annihilated civilizations ready for Decepticon conquest. He was partnered with the ancient [[Titan Master]] [[Giga|Dreadnaut]], who granted his larger partner an Ion Impoder blast that could erase matter from existence. {{storylink|#Generations|''Titans Return'' Dreadnaut/Overlord packaging bio}}

===''Transformers: All Spark''===
Under the control of Giga, Overlord set up a trap by emitting a signal to lure in and destroy some Autobots, and was disappointed when only [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] showed up. He didn't do well while fighting the smaller opponents, however, and Mega ousted Giga from his position as Overlord's head to show him how it was done. Backed up by [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] and [[Octane]], Mega's Overlord nearly destroyed Bumblebee and Spike before Autobot reinforcements arrived and defeated the Decepticons, after which Overlord returned to his leader, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Looming Threat}}

===''Prime Wars Trilogy'' cartoons===
{{voiceactor|[[Patrick Seitz]] (English)}}
[[File:OverlordandEmissary-Overlord.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|left|Let's bury the hatch—I say—let's bury the hatchet! But not in anyone's head, boy! "Hatchet head"! That's a joke, boy, you missed it. It went past you. You got to keep—I say—you got to keep on your toes!]]
Having been defeated by Megatron in the past, the only one to ever do so, Overlord sought revenge on the Decepticon leader. Promised the power to best Megatron by [[The Fallen|Megatronus]], he pledged his loyalty and uncovered the [[Matrix of Conquest|Matrix of Chaos]] from within the remains of [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Volcanicus (episode)|Volcanicus}} Witnessing the events of the [[Combiner Wars (event)|Combiner Wars]] from afar, he decided to get a closer look for the sake of curiosity. Upon arrival in [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex City]], he eventually found his way into the [[Primal Basilica]], where he encountered the [[Mistress of Flame]].
[[File:TR-Ep4-Overlord-and-Emissary-Overlord-alt-modes.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
She attacked him, but he easily overpowered her and demanded to know where he could find Megatron. When the Mistress of Flame failed to answer, Overlord electrocuted her and departed, leaving her for dead. {{storylink|Overlord and Emissary}} Overlord later found a weakened [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and deemed him a suitable host for the Matrix of Chaos before forcibly shoving it into his chest, corrupting him and turning him into Rodimus Cron. {{storylink|At the Last Second}} Later, he and Rodimus observed the fall of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] and the return of Megatronus from afar. {{storylink|All Things Must Pass}}

Searching for Megatron and the [[Requiem Blaster (Megatronus)|Requiem Blaster]] under Megatronus's orders, he and Rodimus attacked the Combiners. He restrained [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] until he finally confessed Megatron's whereabouts, prompting Overlord to snap his neck and head to [[Primal Swamp]]. {{storylink|Volcanicus (episode)|Volcanicus}} Upon their arrival, Overlord was enraged to not find Megatron, but he and Rodimus spotted the Dinobots and interrogated them for Megatron's next destination: the [[Athenaeum Sanctorum]]. The two picked up the trail and eventually reached the library, where Overlord spotted Megatron and lunged at him, promising to take his time in making Megatron suffer. {{storylink|Athenaeum Sanctorum (episode)|Athenaeum Sanctorum}} He attempted to electrocute Megatron into submission, but Megatron escaped with Perceptor's help. Undeterred, Overlord engaged in battle with Megatron, [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]], insistent that he be the one to finish the former. However, [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] tossed the Requiem Blaster to Megatron, who completely disintegrated Overlord with a single shot. {{storylink|Countdown (POTP)|Countdown}}
{{--}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
Overlord was part of a battle at some point, fighting alongside [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]. {{storylink|Fan Favorite}}
===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
[[File:Overlord Earth Wars.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
{{gamestub}}

{{-}}

===''Transformers: Bumblebee Overdrive''===
[[File:BBOOverlord.jpg|thumb|100px]]
{{charstubgame|{{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee Overdrive}}}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Super-God Masterforce===
[[File:G1 overlord toy.jpg|upright=2|thumb|Not to be confused with Blackstar's nemesis.]]
*'''Overlord''' (Godmaster, [[1988]])
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-307'''
**''Accessories:'' Giga and Mega Godmaster engines, "Transtector Destroyer Cannon", three missiles, tank barrel, two ramps/shin guards, central ramp, two radar arrays, double-barreled laser, rocket launcher, car
:''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)#1988 (Super-God Masterforce)|Masterforce]]'' Overlord consists of two vehicles, the Gigatank and the Megajet, which are able to combine together to form a [[robot mode]] or a base mode. Like any Godmaster (or [[Powermaster]]), Overlord is only able to transform when the Giga and Mega Godmaster figures are transformed into engine mode and snapped into place in the sockets on top of the vehicles. Inserting Giga into the tank splits it in half to form legs for robot mode, or alternatively, the left and right emplacements of the base (the left containing a fold-out twin cannon, the right a poseable claw arm). Fitting Mega into the jet, meanwhile, unlocks the toy's shoulder articulation for robot mode and its fold-out launchpad for base mode. Once the toy is in its hefty, 15"-tall robot mode, the figures can be removed from their sockets and fitted into two further ports hidden beneath doors on his chest, which unlock the multi-barreled "Chōkon Daemon Blast" and spring-loaded "Chōkon Bolt Masher" weapons that pop out of his stomach. One figure can also fit into the [[Roller (G1)|Roller]]-style car that comes with the set.

:There is, unfortunately, no one mode that uses all of Overlord's many accessories.

:Overlord's instructions do not feature the additional large jet mode seen in the animated series and manga, as it (like [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]'s "Wingwolf" mode or BlackZarak's "Dakatsu" mode) was created by the production staff after fiddling around with the toy itself. As such, it's entirely possible to put the toy in this form, although it doesn't rest evenly on a flat surface.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1988/Destron/Overlord/overlord.htm More information on Overlord at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===The Transformers===
*'''Overlord''' ([[1991]])
**''Accessories:'' 2 Energon mini figures, missile-launching rifle, three missiles, tank barrel, two ramps/shin guards, central ramp, two radar arrays, double-barreled laser, rocket launcher, car

:Overlord's toy was later released in Europe and Australasia with a different shade of purple plastic, in a packaging design reminiscent of the concurrently available "[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]" figures. Diverging from previous Hasbro fiction for [[Powermaster]]s that treated the little figures that turn into their engines as [[Nebulan]]s, Overlord's companions were declared so-called "[[Energon figure|Energon mini figure]]s" instead, and the term "Powermaster" isn't mentioned at all.
{{picsneeded|European variant}}
{{-}}

===Timelines===
[[File:Timelinestoy-BC2012Gigatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Oh my, Bludgeon, you've never looked so... ''kissable''... before...]]
*'''Invasion''' ([[BotCon 2012]] box set)
**''Accessories:'' {{w|Katana}}, {{w|Wakizashi|tanto}}

:''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' "Gigatron" ([[trademark]] reasons) is a [[redeco]]/[[retool]] of ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' Voyager Class [[Bludgeon (ROTF)#Voyager|Bludgeon]], sporting a new head. Gigatron transforms from a Japanese {{w|Type 90 Kyū-maru|Type 90}} tank into a samurai-esque robot mode. He features a flexible plastic sword which is made out of a portion of the barrel of the tank's main gun as well as a smaller dagger. The dagger can be stored in a sheath which is revealed from inside the tank turret, and both blades can be slotted in holes provided on the robot mode's left hip guard. Additionally, the dagger's handle can fit in the base of the sword's handle, forming a double-bladed weapon. He has [[Mech Alive]] [[gimmick]]s in his thighs and turret: Sculpted cylinders in his thighs rotate whenever his lower legs are rotated, and pulling his turret open makes a sculpted "disc" at the center rotate while a scabbard for the tantō hinges over to the side and props itself up for use.

:The [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] is one of the very few Transformer tank toys with rubber components to its treads. Portions of the tread links can unlock, allowing them to hang from the robot mode, while the wheels of the treads are integrated separately into the robot mode form itself. The treads still do not function realistically; small plastic wheels on the underside of the treads help the tank mode roll, as is standard with nearly all Transformer tank toys.

:The original version of this mold was [[redeco]]ed into ''[[Transformers (2010 toyline)|Transformers]]'' [[Banzaitron (TF 2010)#Transformers (2010)|Banzaitron]], and it was differently retooled to make ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' [[Megatron (G1)/toys#Generations|Megatron]] and ''[[Transformers Cloud|Cloud]]'' [[Megatron (G1)/toys#Cloud|Megatron]].

:As a redeco of the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Bludgeon mold, it is highly likely that Gigatron is cursed with the same design fault as his brethren - the rubber treads break down over the course of years, causing them to corrode spots of plastic and leave melty gashes behind. This is particularly sad considering Gigatron is a convention-exclusive figure.

:Gigatron was released in a box set with [[Ultra Magnus (SG)#Timelines|Ultra Magnus]], [[Tracks (SG)#Timelines|Tracks]], [[Treadshot (SG)#Timelines|Treadshot]], [[Soundwave (SG)#Timelines|Soundwave]], and [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)#Timelines|Metalhawk]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2012/Decepticon/BCGigatron/gigatron.htm More information on BotCon Gigatron at TFU.info]''
{{ROTFBludgeonMold}}

===Kre-O===
{{anchor|BotCon2014}}
[[File:KreO-Toy BC14-Gigatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Far less kissable than previous Gigatrons.]]
*'''Kreon Gigatron''' (Kreon Souvenir Figure Set, 2014)
**''Accessories'': Katana, robot sword

:"Kreon Gigatron" is based on the [[BotCon 2012]] [[#Timelines|Gigatron figure]], and can be re-built into a battle tank. His gun barrel is partially made from/stores his katana blade, just like the larger figure. He uses the [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)#Kre-O|Sentinel Prime]] helmet.

: This figure was only available as part of a [[BotCon 2014]] ''Kre-O'' six-pack, including [[Breakdown (G1)#BotCon2014|Breakdown]], [[Fractyl#Kre-O|Fractyl]], [[Landshark (G1)#Kre-O|Landshark]], [[Rattrap (BW)/toys#Kre-O|Rattrap]], and [[Rodimus (SG)#Kre-O|''Shattered Glass'' Rodimus]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2014/Decepticon/BCKre-OGigatron/gigatron.htm More information on Gigatron at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===Generations===
====Titans Return====
[[File:TitansReturn-Overlord.jpg|thumb|right|upright=2|Hidden head nipple.]]
*'''Dreadnaut & Decepticon Overlord''' (Leader Class, 2017)
**''Accessories'': [[Giga#Generations|Dreadnaut]] Titan Master, tank barrel/gun, cockpit/shield
:Part of the fifth wave of ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' Leader Class toys, "Decepticon Overlord" is a partial redeco of the same line's [[Black Shadow (Victory)#Titans Return|Sky Shadow]]: the tank component is mostly a redeco with the waist slightly retooled, but the jet component is an entirely new sculpt. He retains the ability to split into both a tank and a jet simultaneously, as well as a combined base mode. In another change from Sky Shadow, the jet nosecone is now removable and can be worn as a shield on either shoulder in robot mode. It can also plug into his chest as additional armor, and the tip can be removed to make the bottom hatch more accessible.

:In homage to his original Godmaster gimmick, Overlord has two opening doors on his chest which reveal slots for the storage of two individual [[Titan Master]] or [[Prime Master]] figures (one in each pectoral) in head/spark mode. Care must be taken though, as these compartments are VERY snug and the Titan Master may get stuck inside or will not fit altogether, depending on the head sculpt. The pectoral slots are also not deep enough to allow the doors to close once a Titan Master or Prime Master has been inserted.

:His tank mode still has the clips from Sky Shadow that allow for Sky Shadow's jet component to carry it, but lacks the corresponding connector on his jet component. Instead the Jet can be mounted on top of the tank by clamping Overlord's chest doors along the Tank's cab sides, although this only loosely secures it. There is also a detail sculpted at the base of his torso (ostensibly landing gear) that can be used as a base connector like the ones in his feet.

:On some figures, the 5mm hole on his tank where his gun plugs in and the holes on his shoulders are extremely snug, which can make it difficult to remove anything that might be plugged into them. The 5mm post on his jet's nose that allows it to be used as a shield is also extremely prone to popping out, in part because of the former issue.

:Both the CG renders depicted on the back of his packaging and the official stock photos depicting a near-final sample show both the tank and the jet mode with the gun/tank barrel attached, thereby implying that he includes two weapons, one to be used for each mode, even though the figure only inlcudes one weapon. Additionally, both the CG render and the stock photo of his base mode have the section of the tank/right leg that contains a cockpit for a Titan Master flipped up, the same way Sky Shadow's base mode is also depicted in his own CG renders and stock photos, even though the instructions show the cockpit being folded down for the base mode.

:Sadly, his lips are not terribly kissable.

===Legends===
[[File:TF-Legends-LG-60-Overlord.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|One of my face-nipples only tells the truth - the other tells only lies. Which will you trust?]]
*'''Overlord''' (Leader Class, [[January 27]], [[2018]])
**''ID number'': '''LG-60'''
**''Accessories'': Gigatank barrel/gun, [[Giga#Legends|Giga]] Headmaster, [[Mega#Legends|Mega]] Headmaster, Megajet cockpit/shield
:''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' Overlord is a retool of the ''Titans Return'' Leader Class figure above, featuring a new chest with sculpted-in Godmaster engines, new doors, and a new helmet. The Godmaster engines are not removable, nullifying the Titan/Prime Master storage on the ''Titans Return'' toy. If one wishes to restore the chest slots, one must unscrew the jet piece, and pry the pieces out from the inside. In addition to an anime-accurate deco, Overlord also comes with new [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] figures of [[Giga#Legends|Giga]], with a neutral anime-accurate face, and [[Mega#Legends|Mega]], with a smiling feminine face (more akin to Overlord's face in the IDW comics). When using Giga as a face, his chest doors are supposed to be open and the cockpit should be attached to the arm, and is referred to as '''Overlord Giga'''. With Mega, the doors are closed and the cockpit is attached to the back, and goes by the name '''Overlord Mega'''. The [[Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 60|pack-in manga]] shows these two individually and combining into '''Overlord Tera''' (though the Overlord attached to the back uses sticker detail from the ''Titans Return'' toy).

:Promotional photography shows Overlord's feet transformed differently from the Hasbro version, placing him up on his tippy-toes so as to increase his height. This is presumably to allow him to scale better with ''Legends'' [[Ginrai (human)#Legends|Super Ginrai]]. While this does work, the front halves of the feet aren't level with the back halves, and must be adjusted at an angle to keep him standing upright, which combined with less-than-tight swivels will often having him falling over.
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Parody Deformed===
[[File:Overlord pd model.jpg|thumb|Overlooked.]]
*'''Overlord''' ([[1990]])
:A small blue and white, non-transforming [[super deformed]] model kit of Overlord was available as part of [[Kabaya]]'s "[[Parody Deformed]]" line of [[candy toy]]s. The eighth figure in the series, he came with a "[[PDTF Comic]]" comic about himself, "Oh, Overlord", and something that could charitably be described as "chocolate".
{{-}}

===Super Collection Figure===
[[File:SCF Overlord.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|I can't transform? Where's the fun in that?]]
*'''Overlord''' ([[2001]])
**''Act'': '''5'''
**''Accessories'': Stand

:A PVC figure of Overlord was part of the ''Super-God Masterforce''-centric fifth act of [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s ''[[Heroes of Cybertron|Super Collection Figure]]'' series, available in both full colour and metallic silver "pewter", in an equal ratio of one each per case of twelve figures. His incredibly wide stance makes it difficult for him to properly use the included display stand.

: In eight out of every ten cases, the pewter version of Overlord came packaged with the right leg of the wave's "build-a-figure", [[Scorponok (G1)/toys#Super Collection Figure|BlackZarak]]. This part could be in either full color or clear-plastic, at an equal 4:4 ratio.

: This mold was later released in the fourth wave of [[Hasbro]]'s ''[[Heroes of Cybertron]]'', as "[[Gigatron (G1)#Heroes of Cybertron|Powermaster Gigatron]]".

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Decepticon/HoCGigatron/gigatron.htm More information on ''Super Collection Figure'' Overlord at TFU.info]''
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Destron/PewterOverlord/overlord.htm More information on pewter Overlord at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
===Heroes of Cybertron===
[[File:HOC Gigatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Whaaaat? I'm safe! My shoulder spikes are rounded now! It's totally safe to come within arm's reach!]]
*'''Powermaster Gigatron''' ([[2003]])

:Released in the third wave of ''[[Heroes of Cybertron]]'', [[Gigatron (G1)|Gigatron]] is a slightly-altered version of the ''Super Collection Figure'' Overlord PVC, featuring rounded-off shoulder-cones [[for safety reasons]]. He is cast in clear red plastic painted over, leaving his eyes and the back of his head unpainted to attempt a [[light-piping]] effect.

: He also came with the left arm of the wave's [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/toys#Heroes of Cybertron|Fortress Maximus]] build-a-figurine.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Decepticon/HoCGigatron/gigatron.htm More information on ''Heroes of Cybertron'' Gigatron at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Transformers Gum===
[[File:KabayaDX2Overlord.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Breaking out of these plastic sprues was never a challenge - I just lacked motivation.]]
*'''Overlord''' ([[2013]])
**''Accessories:'' Giga and Mega Godmaster engines, "Transtector Destroyer Cannon", tank barrel, two ramps/shin guards, central ramp, two radar arrays, car

:Overlord was released in series 2 of Kabaya's larger-sized DX gum kits. Since the original ''Masterforce'' Overlord toy could only transform by being disassembled, this particular Kabaya kit stands out from most others in terms of near-perfectly matching the transformation mechanism of its template, and can be configured into the paired Megajet-and-Gigatank vehicle modes, city mode, and a 5" tall robot mode. It also includes tiny removable (and transformable) Mega and Giga Godmaster engines, though all of their associated spring-loaded features are no longer present.

:This kit also adds some new features to the Overlord design. There is now a gear-driven rotating platform in the city mode on which the small car can be spun around before deploying, and every accessory can now be stored in all of Overlord's modes.
{{-}}

==Notes==
*Overlord was a new [[character]] created for the 1988 Japanese ''Super God Masterforce'' series. While all his fellow Godmasters had American Powermaster counterpart characters (Ginrai had [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], Lightfoot had [[Getaway]], and so forth), Overlord's counterpart came later in the form of a 1991 European and Australasian exclusive. The bio of this figure stated that he was a dimension-hopper, which leaves the door open for him being the ''Masterforce'' character who jumped dimensions into the European toy bio continuity. Overlord did not have an American counterpart until 2003, when the ''Heroes of Cybertron'' line introduced "[[Gigatron (G1)|Gigatron]]". However, the little-known nature of this character (existing as he did only as an obscure PVC figurine), coupled with the fact that Overlord had been around for fifteen years already, meant that the idea of a Powermaster named Gigatron who existed as a separate character from the Godmaster Overlord didn't really become widespread. Dreamwave would briefly mention "Gigatron" as the originator of the Powermaster process in their contemporary ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' profiles, but when the non-Godmaster version of the character appeared again a few years later in [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' series, he was "Overlord" once more. It would not be until [[Fun Publications]] stories in [[2015]] and [[2016]] that versions of Overlord and Gigatron would be established as coexisting in the same universe.
*Early during pre-production for ''Masterforce'', Overlord was named '''Leviathan'''. This was almost certainly a name based in series creator [[Masumi Kaneda]]'s desire to sprinkle the series with assorted Biblical allegories; the name-change is fairly symptomatic of how these references wound up being downplayed to the point of near-total obfuscation in the finished show.
*[[James Roberts]] stated that he envisioned the IDW incarnation of Overlord to sound like English actor {{w|John Simm}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120829174627/http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=166284&highlight= James Roberts on the IDW forums (via the Internet Archive)]</ref> (who at the time was the most recent performer of {{w|The Master (Doctor Who)|The Master}} on ''[[Doctor Who]]''). By contrast, [[Patrick Seitz]] gives Overlord a Southern U.S. accent in the ''Prime Wars Trilogy'' webtoons.
*Like all non-toy robot Kreons in the ''Kre-O'' manga, Overlord is made from existing ''Kre-O'' parts. He uses the [[Ironhide (G1)/toys#Kre-O|Ironhide]] helmet, the twin-cannon backpack, a black clip-on tread with a small jet-fin plugged into each side, and the bazooka with an extra 1x1 cone on the end.
*The concept image for Kreon Gigatron used in the pack-in flier shows him with white tank-turret parts rather than the final toy's light gray.
*A proposed [[Fun Publications]] [[BotCon]] [[exclusive]] was a redeco of [[Mindwipe (ROTF)#Toys|''Revenge of the Fallen'' Mindwipe]] into "'''[[Mega]]'''bolt", a counterpart to the BotCon 2012 "'''[[Giga]]'''tron" toy.<ref>[http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc14/bc14br.html BotCon 2014 attendee report by griffin]</ref>
*In [[2015]], ''[[Transformers Animated: The Complete AllSpark Almanac|The Complete AllSpark Almanac]]'' retroactively declared Overlord to be a [[Duocon]] and to possess a [[mitotic spark]].

===Foreign names===
*''Korean'': '''Overlord''' (오버로드 ''Obeorodeu'')
*''Mandarin'': '''Bàwáng''' (China, 霸王, "Overlord"), '''Chāozài''' (China, 超载, "Overload")

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-images/tech-specs/Heroes-Of-Cybertron-Tech-Specs/2003-Transformers-Tech-Specs/Powermaster_Gigatron.jpg.html Powermaster Gigatron's tech-specs] at TFW2005.com

[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Decepticons]]
[[Category:BotCon exclusives]]
[[Category:Classics Decepticons]]
[[Category:Decepticon bases]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Emperors]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Godmasters]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Decepticons]]
[[Category:Kre-O Decepticons]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Legends Decepticons]]
[[Category:Multi-component Transformers]]
[[Category:Point One Percenters]]
[[Category:Super-God Masterforce Decepticons]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]
[[Category:TransTech Decepticons]]
[[Category:Zone Decepticons]]

Mnemosurgery

2021-04-09T18:28:58Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Fiction */

[[File:Chromedome mnemosurgery ChaosOfWarmThings.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|"Ooh! Ooh! Do me next!"]]
'''Mnemosurgery''' is a technique by which one [[Transformer]] can enter the mind of another, viewing the subject's memories and giving the mnemosurgeon the ability to "edit" said memories, even to the point where the subject's personality is completely rewritten. The procedure is accomplished via spikes extending from the mnemosurgeon's fingers, which are typically inserted into the subject's neck. The surgical scars fortunately only show up under ultraviolet light. Mnemosurgery can sometimes lead to surgeons experiencing flashbacks—reliving inherited memories from the minds they've worked on.

{{quote|It is the fate of every mnemosurgeon to '''die on the job'''—a victim of their addiction. We '''know''' when death is near: we can '''feel''' it creeping closer—but never close enough to make us '''stop'''. The fatal injection is always the '''next''' injection—until one day it '''isn't'''.|[[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]]|[[Speak, Memory! (Part 2)]]}}

==Fiction==
===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:Chromedome notices hands Patternism.jpg|thumb|left|They use the same syringe gloves as the Scarecrow. It only gets worse from here.]]
Mnemosurgery was an inherently dangerous profession with a high mortality rate—most mnemosurgeons died young. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} Entering traumatic memories could be traumatic in turn for the surgeon, and those who performed too many operations ran the risk of inheriting memories from their subjects and suffering painful flashbacks. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}} {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} In particular, doing a "deep reading" on a living subject could kill an incautious mnemosurgeon. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}}

Trainee mnemosurgeons practiced with finger-drills before they got the signature finger-needles. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}}

Mnemosurgery was used by the [[Institute]] as a component of [[Shadowplay]]—altering the minds of enemies of the corrupt [[Senate]]. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}} When [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] later set up the "New Institute", Tumbler was recruited to study under the mnemosurgeon [[Trepan]] and eventually adopted the name [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]]. [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] attacked the New Institute, abducting Trepan so he could learn the basics of mnemosurgery. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} Chromedome would go on to use the technique on himself, to erase the memories of those he had lost during the war. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}}

[[File:Trepan megatron births deaths and interventions.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8]]
[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'s early anti-[[Functionism|Functionist]] writings concerned the Senate enough to order his Shadowplay, dispatching Trepan to carry it out. [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'s interruption halted the operation only moments after it began, but the experience left Megatron with a lasting fear of mnemosurgery. {{storylink|Births, Deaths, and Interventions}}

Chromedome would continue to use mnemosurgery, despite his [[Conjunx Endura]] [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] not approving. He utilized it during the autopsy of [[Skyfall (G1)|Skyfall]], reliving Skyfall's suicide by [[Gideon's Glue]]. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} When [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] attempted to blackmail Chromedome, the latter simply used mnemosurgery to wipe the unwanted knowledge from Prowl's mind as well as any memory of the blackmail attempt. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}}

While on the ''[[Lost Light]]'', Chromedome interfaced with [[Shock (G1)|Shock]] to extract the deceased [[Autobot]]'s last memories of the [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]]. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}} Though he was increasingly experiencing false memory recall, he would go on to interface with a [[Titan (group)|Titan]] beneath [[Crystal City]], {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} and at [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]'s request, Chromedome unsuccessfully attempted to use mnemosurgery to unlock Skids's lost memories. {{storylink|Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|Who's Afraid of the DJD?}}

[[File:RemembranceDay-Chromedome.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8]]
Chromedome used his mnemosurgery skills on Overlord, whom had been smuggled on board the ''Lost Light'' for precisely that purpose. Chromedome succeeded in learning the secret of creating [[Phase Sixer]]s, however Overlord's own mnemosurgery knowledge allowed the Decepticon to turn the tables, taking control of the procedure so he could learn the code to open the [[slow cell]] in which he'd been imprisoned. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} Chromedome had, however, left a present in Overlord's mind, embedding a mnemonic through a process known as "[[Trepan's Trigger]]", that caused Overlord to panic when he heard the phrase "[['Til all are one]]". The trigger allowed the Autobots to defeat Overlord. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}}

Chromedome subsequently intended to erase his own memories of Rewind, who had been one of the casualties of Overlord's rampage, however a final message from Rewind caused him to change his mind (or not change his mind, technically). {{storylink|The Gloaming}}

As a precaution to avoid changing the timeline after traveling into the past, Chromedome modified his mnemosurgery equipment to work through a simple handshake. The handshake would carry out a simple operation to wipe the other person's short-term memories. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|All Our Parlous Yesterdays}}

[[Getaway]] got his hands on a set of clip-on mnemosurgery needles and gifted them to [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] as part of their [[Conjunx Endura|Conjunx Ritus]]. These needles were fakes, intended only to trigger violence from the mnemophobic Megatron. {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}}

The art of mnemosurgery survived on the colony world of [[Eukaris]] with the [[Fateweaver]] [[Airachnid (G1)|Airachnid]] using it to attack members of the other tribes in her scientific attempts to expand her group's power. As a result of her deeds, she was banished from her homeworld. {{storylink|The Price of You}} When Eukaris made contact with Cybertron, Airachnid fell into [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]]'s employ, using her talents to try and gleam the location of [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]'s body. {{storylink|07:00:00}}

When Swindle turned up as part of [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], Airachnid seized on the opportunity to alter the memories of all five [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] to make them loyal to Starscream. {{storylink|The Price of You}} She later used her talents to bridge the minds of Starscream and [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] so that the two jets could defeat [[Vigilem]]. {{storylink|Your First Mistake}} Starscream later confessed to the deeds he'd had Airachnid perform resulting in her imprisonment. {{storylink|The Chosen One}}

====Remote mnemosurgery====
Remote mnemosurgery is the ability to perform mnemosurgery telepathically, without the spikes or indeed any kind of physical contact whatsoever. [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]] is the only mnemosurgeon known to possess this particular skill, having developed it somehow after his arrest. It may, in fact, be unique to him. Though he was convinced that performing remote mnemosurgery required him to make visual contact with his victims, this was evidently a ruse on [[Froid]]'s part, who encouraged Sunder's delusion in order to keep him under control. {{storylink|Speak, Memory: Part 1}}

When his reign over the ''Lost Light'' began to falter, Getaway hired Sunder to remotely alter the crew's memories of the mutiny against [[Team Rodimus]] and more readily bring them under his control. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|Filling in the Blanks}} {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|Journey's End}} Following Froid and Sunder's recruitment by the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]], [[Scorponok (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Scorponok]] ordered the latter to use his powers to discover their master's identity. The attempt backfired with the Architect managing to not only force Sunder out but strip him of all his mnemosurgeonic powers. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness|Farsickness}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
A creepy mnemosurgeon called [[Vampire (BWU)|Vampire]] worked for the [[Predacon Secret Police]]. After [[Stiletto (BW)|Stiletto]] was left traumatized from killing her partner, the [[Maximal Command Security Force|MCSF]] packed her off to the Mandala to have her memories altered by him. {{storylink|Burning Bridges}}

After "recruiting" [[Cryotek (Universe)|Cryotek]] and his [[Minion of Unicron (BW)|Minions of Unicron]] into the [[Darksyder]]s, [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] had [[Psychobat (BWU)|Psychobat]] perform a little mnemosurgery on him to make sure he didn't get any "ideas". A short while later, [[Packrat]] noted Cryotek was acting a little off, but wasn't overly concerned. {{storylink|Not All Megatrons}}

===''Titans Return'' marketing material===
The [[Titan Master]] [[Stylor]] granted whomever he partnered with the ability of mnemosurgery. {{storylink|Stylor#Generations|''Titans Return'' Stylor/Chromedome toy bio}}

==See also==
*[[Cortical psychic patch]]

[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising technology]]
[[Category:Functions]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) technology]]
[[Category:Mnemosurgeons| ]]

Whirl (G1)

2021-02-10T12:10:32Z

Spark Mandrill:

{{factions|autobot|wreckers}}
{{disambig3|Whirl}}
:''Whirl is an [[Autobot]] [[Deluxe Vehicle]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:G1Whirl boxart.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Whirl enjoys making hand puppets in his own image.]]
[[Units of time|Vorns]] before [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] coined the phrase "Sometimes crazy works", '''Whirl''' was living it in action. Whirl believes that, logically speaking, insanity makes an extremely effective weapon. Enemies flee in terror before the absolutely insane maneuvers he pulls on the battlefield. His extreme maneuverability in helicopter mode lets him spin, bob, weave, dive, and bank like someone totally out of control. Or totally out of his mind.

Needless to say, Whirl is a rather reckless fighter and can take damage because of it. He's okay with that, because he absolutely LOVES his job... perhaps a little ''too'' much. Many of Whirl's comrades remain unsure if his wild behavior is truly an affectation, or if his increasingly-fleeting displays of rationality are actually the facade hiding a troubled psyche.

Whirl is (or was) a member of the elite [[Wrecker]]s unit.

Sometimes he is known as '''Jetstream'''.

{{bigquote|You wanna know a '''secret''', [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|hornhead]]? Life's messed up. '''I'm''' messed up. I've done bad things and I '''continue''' to do bad things, because the voice telling me '''not to'''...? He's not said much for a while. And y'know what keeps me going? <big>'''ANGER.'''</big> Anger's an '''insulator'''. Stops life getting '''too close'''. If I got myself "fixed," maybe the anger would leave me—and then I really '''would''' be screwed.|Whirl|"[[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics===
{{noteukexclusive|Whirl}}
Whirl was a member of the elite Wreckers unit under the command of [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]]. Alongside [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]], he accompanied his commander as Impactor argued with [[Xaaron]] over [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]'s trip to [[Earth]] to investigate the disappearance of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]].

[[File:Whirl copter Target 2006.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|This is one choppah you cannot get to.]]
Later, the Wreckers continued preparing for [[Operation: Volcano]], an attempt to eliminate some of the [[Decepticon]]s' [[Ten Deadliest Killers|deadliest killers]]. During the simulation, Whirl demonstrated his trademark aerial combat style to draw fire away from his teammates. As the simulation concluded, Impactor decided that without Ultra Magnus' support, the operation would basically become a suicide mission for the Wreckers. Whirl and the others agreed with him and Impactor left to tell Xaaron that the Wreckers were bowing out of Volcano. Taking some downtime, Whirl, Roadbuster, and [[Twin Twist]] went to [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]] to unwind. While Roadbuster and Twin Twist were having uneasy feelings about the decision to ditch Volcano, Whirl seemed fine with it, pointing out that it was only logical and no one would say that they were in the wrong. Their discussion was interrupted when they noticed [[Fang]], a Decepticon who began bullying a [[Tusks|smaller Transformer]] in the place. Twin Twist violently intervened, realizing that as Autobots, it was their duty to always do their best to stop the Decepticons. His sudden revelation seemed to energize Whirl and Roadbuster, and after Impactor was convinced by Xaaron to go through with Operation: Volcano, the rest of the Wreckers eagerly volunteered.

[[File:Target 2006 Whirl Roadbuster Do It.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|My face is down here, Roadbuster...I think.]]
Unfortunately, Operation: Volcano failed when most of the targeted Decepticons were unknowingly ordered clear of the ambush by [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]. Only [[Macabre]] went ahead and attempted to assassinate Xaaron, shooting and mortally-wounding Impactor instead. Whirl and the rest of the Wreckers immediately gunned Macabre down in retaliation. {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

Later, Whirl was seen alongside Ultra Magnus and his fellow Wreckers on a hunt for a Decepticon spy posing as Optimus Prime. This was revealed, thanks to the efforts of [[Outback (G1)|Outback]], to be a product of Decepticon misinformation and Prime was welcomed back into the fold. {{storylink|Distant Thunder!}}

====Marvel UK future timelines====
[[File:Whirl Triton Peace.jpg|left|upright=0.6|thumb|Hands, glorious hands!]]
In an alternate version of [[2510]], Whirl and the Wreckers led the final Autobot offensive against Decepticon held territory, bringing the war to a close. At the ceremony where he officially announced the end of the war, [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] chose to make [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], leader of the Wreckers, his successor as Autobot leader and carrier of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]]. One Autobot named [[Triton]] objected to the idea, though: he said Springer was a fighter, not a tactician, and Ultra Magnus would be a better leader for a world at peace. Whirl took offense to Triton putting down his commanding officer, and shoved the little guy in the back, asking where was his "precious Ultra Magnus" when the Wreckers were winning the war? Triton struck back, and the situation turned from bad to worse as the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] sided with Ultra Magnus against the Wreckers. Shots were fired, battle lines were drawn, and a new war picked up where the old one left off. Tragically, it seems no one took the time to examine Triton's fallen body, and the hidden Decepticon insignia on his chest. The last act of the last Decepticon was to see that there would never truly be peace on Cybertron. {{storylink|Peace}}
{{-}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{NoteRG1}}
[[File:Whirl LooseEnds2.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Seen and done some crazy things? Pffft. Call us when you're responsible for [[Chaos Theory Part 1|sparking the Autobot/ Decepticon civil war.]]]]
Along with the other [[Wrecker]]s Whirl voted to follow [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]]'s plan to leave Cybertron to visit the other planets touched by the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] and so they hitched a ride with [[Berko]]'s [[Cosmic Carnival]] to Earth. Whirl looked on in horror as their surveillance drones showed a devastated planet, and worse still—Megatron! Before any of the Wreckers could react, the Decepticon promptly launched nuclear warheads at their shuttle, apparently destroying it. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 1}}

The Wreckers managed to make it to Earth's surface in escape pods, and Whirl was sent to survey the ruined planet. He spied an incoming horde of [[Zombie|reanimated Decepticons]] sent by Megatron and reported back to the others. The Wreckers' priority then became to get a message back to Cybertron about the situation on Earth. They eventually found the [[Deep Space Network]] located in [[Goldstone]], and put a plan into action to utilize its radio transmitter to send a distress call. Whirl joined Kup and Springer in making a break for the facility while the other Wreckers distracted Megatron's forces. They succeeded in sending their message to Cybertron, but Kup was captured in the process. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 2}}

The Wreckers soon encountered [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Circuit Smasher]]—formerly Spike Witwicky, one of the last vestiges of resistance on Megatron's conquered Earth. Despite some initial hostility on his part, the Wreckers were soon invited to [[Argus Base]], the human resistance's headquarters. On the way there, Whirl asked Spike how things had gotten so bad on Earth. Spike filled them in on the tale of Megatron's rise and humanity's fall. After arriving at Argus Base and convening with the leader of the resistance, [[G.B. Blackrock]], the Wreckers agreed to aid them in destroying Megatron's chief power base—the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 3}}

Whirl embarked on a rescue mission with Springer and [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] to retrieve Kup and also to divert Megatron's forces from the assault on the Ark. While Sandstorm considered the plan to be "reckless suicide", Whirl cheerfully voiced his approval of it. They soon encountered Megatron's air defenders, and experienced trouble fighting them, as the undead Decepticons apparently no longer felt any pain. While Whirl managed to fly circles around [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] for a bit, he was eventually shot down. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 4}}

[[File:Topspin whirl destiny.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.95]]
After returning to Cybertron, Whirl was present with the other Wreckers as they attempted to defuse a tense situation between civilians on a main highway road. They failed and it erupted into a brawl. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Two}} He later participated in an attack on [[Fort Scyk]] to root out [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s cell of Decepticon insurgents, but was flung through the air when the whole place exploded. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Three}}

Whirl was with the Wreckers when the entire Autobot fleet attacked the [[Hub (G2)|Hub Network]]. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 3}} While the rest of the fleet was shot down or captured, the Wreckers covertly infiltrated the Hub's [[slam rail]] tube system and began wreaking havoc from within. The Wreckers traveled from point to point, seeking to destabilize the Hub by severing its planetary links with targeted nuclear explosions. Whirl and the others engaged the troops of [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] in a crowded slam tube and managed to blow them out into space. Eventually, the surviving Autobots managed to escape as the Hub suffered catastrophic damage. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 4}} What became of Whirl after this point is unknown, but if he managed to return to Cybertron and survive the battle with the [[Dark Matrix]] creature, he likely [[Death|died]] of old age after [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] severed their reality's link to the [[multiverse]]. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 5}}
{{-}}

====''Transformers '84''====
[[File:SecretsAndLies4 AbominusWhirlRacknRuin.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|]]
After [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] sought to reactivate [[Project Dreadnought]], Whirl was recruited by Impactor to be part of a [[Wrecker|new team]] to take out the [[Planetary engine|planetary turbines]]. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 3|Secrets & Lies #3}}

Arriving in [[Stanix]], Whirl airlifted [[Rack'n'Ruin (G1)|Rack'n'Ruin]] in his copter mode to scout ahead, only to find [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] defending the target. Whirl brought Rack'n'Ruin within striking distance of the [[combiner]]'s face and the conjoined duo whacked Abominus with a hammer blow hard enough to knock him down. The Wreckers then engaged the individual [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] and other Decepticons until they managed to plant and detonate explosives that destroyed Project Dreadnought. From thereon, the Wreckers functioned as an autonomous unit within the Autobot army, engaging in hit-and-run raids against Straxus' forces as the war continued to rage on for years. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 4|Secrets & Lies #4}}

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

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:War and Peace 4 RoadbusterWhirl.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"RAGH, WHIRL NOT IN [[The Transformers (cartoon)|CARTOON]]! MENASOR REMOVE FROM STORY!"]]
When the Autobots split into multiple factions after the disappearance of their leaders, Whirl joined Springer's group, known as the Wreckers. During one of the group's missions, he participated in an attack against [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], who sought to claim the [[Tagan Heights]] for [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] and the [[Ultracon]]s. {{storylink|Escalation}} [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] joined in to battle the Decepticon combiner, but the resulting clash was so brutal that Whirl and the other Wreckers were forced to retreat to avoid becoming collateral damage. {{storylink|Devastation (issue)|Devastation}}

Much later, during [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s rule of Cybertron, Whirl continued with the Wreckers, now a small unit of Autobots dedicated to keeping the peace wherever (and however) necessary. {{storylink|Cold War (issue)|Cold War}} When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] released the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] from their imprisonment in Cybertron's [[Detention Banks]], the Wreckers were sent in to deal with the escapees. Unfortunately, both Whirl and [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] were crushed before [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] brought down the Stunticons' combined form, [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]. {{storylink|Passive Aggression}}
{{-}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[Stormbringer issue 2|''Stormbringer'' #2]]}}
[[File:Stet WhirlPreEmpurataFlashback.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|left|Well, I'm different now. I feel I've been given a chance to start over. A new life, new identity. New purpose.]]
{{quote|Twice voted "Autobot most likely to defect".|[[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Meet the Crew]]}}

[[File:Interiors WhirlPreEmpurataFlashback.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|HAPPY DAYS]]In the pre-war era, under the reign of [[Nominus Prime]], '''Whirl of [[Polyhex]]''' {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations}} was a member of the [[Aerial Corps]]. Dissatisfied with his lot, Whirl managed to accomplish what was thought impossible, defying the function he was created with and actually changing professions to become a watchmaker. And Whirl was ''good'' at what he did—so good that the [[Functionist Council]], angry that a moderate functionary had given him permission to switch jobs, decided to teach him a lesson. They had the local criminal elements demand a cut of his profits so that when he refused, the [[Heavies]] would be sent to destroy his business and leave the Council's hands 'clean'. Whirl was left destitute and roamed the [[Dead End (place)|Dead End]], where he hung out with a bad crowd and started getting into fights. His combat prowess caught the attention of the [[Senate]]'s agents, who press-ganged a reluctant Whirl into their service. Whirl was made to do despicable things in the Senate's employ. When he tried to resist, he was put through the barbaric [[empurata]] ritual, costing him his original hands and effectively neutering his watchmaking skills. The Senate had, in fact, been ''arranged'' to hire him for all this by the vindictive Functionist Council. {{storylink|Interiors}} {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}} {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|Stet}}

[[File:Ongoing22 WhirlbeatsMegatron.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|''I'M THE HERO I CAN DO WHAT I WANT!'']]
Whirl was eventually granted a position in the [[Rodion]] police force. When a rabble-rousing miner named [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] was brought in for brawling with other law enforcement officers, the Senate ordered Whirl to kill him, presumably to silence his increasingly loud voice of dissension. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} {{storylink|Interiors}} Failing to finish the job, Whirl was arrested by his captain [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]], so the Senate sent more men to free him, fearing his actions would be exposed. Their men attacked the Rodion police station and freed Whirl, but Orion Pax wouldn't stand for it and defeated them, shooting Whirl's leg off in the process. Whirl warned his captain that the Senate would not be happy if any further harm came to him, but Orion merely picked him up, went to the [[Grand Imperium]] in person and confronted the entire Senate with his actions. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2|Chaos Theory #2}}

[[File:Whirl Impactor Patternism.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
Due to Orion Pax's public display of Whirl's crime, the Senate had no choice but to send him to [[Garrus-1]]. After Whirl's mistreatment of Megatron in Rodion was exposed, he found himself suffering constant attacks and beatings in prison by Decepticon sympathizers. Whirl saved his one [[communicube]] call for an appropriate occasion, and found it when his former handler [[Kroma]] briefly became his cellmate. Whirl was told of an impending Senate plot involving assassination and a city-destroying bomb. He consequently used his one call to bring Orion Pax to Garrus-1, where he informed his former captain of all he had heard. While Orion initially assumed Whirl was acting out of compassion, Whirl immediately corrected him, explaining that he just wanted revenge against the Senate for mutilating, using, and abandoning him. After Orion left, Whirl was introduced to his new cellmate—[[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]], who promptly beat him into critical condition. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}}

Whirl eventually wound up in the [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]] Security Service, where he witnessed the full extent of what his actions had wrought, as Megatron, now convinced that violence was the only way forward, assaulted the city and slew [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], beginning the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} Orion Pax—now Optimus Prime—personally invited Whirl to join the Autobots before the Decepticons reached him: "forgiveness as a weapon of war", as Whirl put it. After "bouncing around a bit", he changed his name to "Jetstream" and became a flight instructor at the [[Iaconian Aerial Academy]]. {{storylink|Interiors}}

One of his most promising cadets at the academy was [[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]], but he insisted on berating him in private, his verbal abuse eventually evolving into regular unprovoked beatings. After one particularly savage beating, "Jetstream" shoved Rotorstorm into the academy's newly installed [[CR chamber]], and by the time Rotorstorm recovered, his instructor had moved to a training facility in another province. Whirl later returned to using his original name, and attended the ceremony when Rotorstorm received the [[Novic Medal for Outstanding Valor]], applauding and cheering from the front row. {{storylink|Bullets}}

[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers4-triumphoverevil.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66|Category: Things That Do Not Exist.]]
Whirl eventually joined the Autobot special operations taskforce, the Wreckers. He was present with the entire team to greet [[Springer (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Springer]] on the rookie's first day. {{storylink|Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers|Requiem of the Wreckers}} Whirl was with the team when they triumphed in final battle over their longtime rivals [[Squadron X]] on the planet [[Pova]], only to discover they had no jurisdiction on the planet and would be required to let the Squadron go. Refusing to accept this, Wrecker leader Impactor murdered the entire squadron while Whirl looked away in apparent shame, but took no action. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4|Last Stand of the Wreckers #4}} {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}} The incident was covered up by [[Autobot High Command]], and to avoid being implicated in the crime alongside their leader, Whirl and the other Wreckers lied and told Springer that they had no idea what Impactor was planning on doing. Springer believed them and defended their inaction at Impactor's trial, also agreeing to become the new leader of the Wreckers at Whirl and the others' request. {{storylink|Zero Point}}

[[File:Spotlight Trailcutter Killmaster.jpg|thumb|upright=2|left]]

At some point during the war, Whirl established a rivalry with the wand-wielding Decepticon known as [[Killmaster]]. Both of them called each other "nemesis". Whirl never, ''ever'' beat him in a fight and always, ''always'' lied about to other Autobots. When Killmaster was MIA and presumed dead, Whirl told people he'd killed him after breaking into a medical center where Killmaster was recharging, crushing the Decepticon's brain as he slept, and shoving his wand up his—''AHEM!'' {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}}{{storylink|Dissolution_Part_3:_A_World_Misplaced|A World Misplaced}}

[[File:Whirl copter Stormbringer4.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Is [[Obsidian (BM)|"Obsidianesque"]] a word?]]
Years later, Whirl was deployed with the other Wreckers to [[Varas Centralus]] to help [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]'s counter-insurgency team deal with the Decepticon [[infiltration protocol|infiltration team]] there, which had just activated Siege Mode. Partway into the battle, they were forced to pull out and return to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] when news came through of the possible resurgence of [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 2|Stormbringer #2}} Arriving at their homeworld, the team saved the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] and [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] from a patrol of [[Centurion droid]]s, then joined Optimus Prime in attacking [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s secret base. Whirl and Roadbuster helped Jetfire from his imprisonment, but they were too late: Bludgeon had indeed recalled Thunderwing home. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}} Whirl joined Springer and [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] in attacking the mindless [[Pretender]], but their weapons were disabled when he ionized the air around them, forcing them to back off. Fortunately, a team of Decepticons led by [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] arrived to supplement the Autobot forces and the day was soon won. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}}

The Wreckers got a rematch with Thunderwing some time later when the denizens of the [[Dead Universe]] took control of him and stationed him on [[Corata-Vaz]] to guard one of the [[Nega-Core]]s required for their [[Expansion]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}} Whirl fought hard alongside his teammates {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}} and eventually the Wreckers were able to disable the Nega-Core when [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] lost control of Thunderwing. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

During the [[Surge (event)|Surge]], when the Decepticons launched a devastating simultaneous attack against the Autobots across the galaxy—Whirl and several other Wreckers were captured by Decepticons under the command of [[Turmoil]]. [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]] led an extraction team to rescue the Autobots from a Decepticon cruiser, and they were ultimately saved thanks to the efforts the former Decepticon [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}}

[[File:Whirl Sparkeaterweapon Interiors.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|left|"What, ''this''? It's uhm...just his new [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|Beast Hunters]] armor! Yeah, that's it."]]
Around three years later, when putting together a squad to liberate [[Garrus-9]] from the clutches of the deranged Decepticon [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], Springer ruled Whirl out of the mission on account of his recently becoming something of a liability. {{storylink|Bullets}} The mission to Garrus-9 left Springer in a comatose state, and Whirl and Roadbuster were assigned the task of watching over him and tending to his needs until he awoke. Convinced that this was never going to happen, Whirl attempted to euthanize his leader with Roadbuster's [[Sparkeater (weapon)|Sparkeater weapon]], but was caught in the act by Roadbuster and ejected from the Wreckers by the power of "the veto"—the ability of a Wrecker to have another member of the unit removed at any time. {{storylink|Interiors}} He wound up in prison for his actions, but was released and given a "final warning" by Ultra Magnus to stay out of trouble. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}}

After the war was ended and Cybertron was returned to a primordial state, Whirl and [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] were tasked with policing a mob of [[NAIL|neutral Transformers]] that had recently returned to Cybertron. They came upon Optimus Prime being harassed by [[Tappet|one of the mob]], and promptly began bullying the smaller neutral. Optimus Prime had to pointedly lower Whirl's gun and asked to be filled in on current events. Later, the mob revolted and dragged Whirl to the ground during the ensuing riot. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}}

[[File:Whirl Sweeps Liars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Dear God...they're no longer mint in box!]]
Frustrated with the NAILs and having been kicked out of the Wreckers, Whirl acquired a disturbing method of stress relief: gathering up several leftover [[Sweep (G1)|Sweep]] carcasses, pinning them to a wall inside a shabby structure out in Cybertron's wastelands, and apparently mutilating them. Eventually deciding that he'd had his fun, Whirl doused the ruins with fuel and bid a very creepy thank you and farewell to the remains, planning to burn it all—quite possibly, himself included. Interrupted by [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]], who had misidentified the Sweeps' energy readings as those of [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], Whirl immediately attacked him and set the place ablaze to cover his tracks. Their battle carried them to the [[Mitteous Plateau]], where they were discovered by [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]], [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]], and [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]], prompting Whirl to try and pin all the blame on Cyclonus before killing him so he couldn't contradict his story. Before he could, however, a huge subterranean explosion triggered by [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] erupted beneath Whirl, heavily damaging him and knocking him offline. Figuring that Whirl was too dangerous to leave lying around, Ratchet had him brought along with Tailgate aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]'' as it left Cybertron. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}}

[[File:HangersOn Whirl Cyclonus.jpg|thumb|left|110px|Expressions, glorious expressions!]]
Whirl awoke in the medibay of the ''Lost Light'', his first instinct being to reach out and throttle the nearest person to him, which turned out to be [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]. Brought to his senses with the warning that he'd go back to prison if he didn't behave, Whirl left to skulk around the hallways, where he was found by Ultra Magnus and brought him into a meeting between [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] and Cyclonus. Advised to make his peace with Cyclonus, Whirl continued to dodge all responsibility for starting the fight but nonetheless offered him a hand of "forgiveness", only to have Cyclonus respond by drawing him into a ''hug''... followed by a whispered threat that he would kill him at some point and the Autobot would never see it coming.

Later, Rodimus addressed the crew to update them on the situation. When he asked if there were any important questions, Whirl made a point to speak up and state that he was embarrassed to be among this group and that they at least needed a decent name. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}}

When a [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]] was reported to be loose on board the ''Lost Light'', the crew were ordered to pair off and lock themselves into habitation suites until the creature was dealt with. Being a jerk, Whirl locked himself in without waiting for his temporary roommate [[Animus]] and ignored the other Autobot's pleas to enter, resulting in his being killed by the Sparkeater. Whirl attacked the creature, but his missiles were intercepted by [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]'s [[force field]] to prevent the catastrophic detonation of the sparks the monster was digesting inside it. Whirl was nonplussed. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}}

During a therapy session with Rung, [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]'s extra-sensitive ears overheard Whirl having a "blazing row" with...himself. {{storylink|How Ratchet Got His Hands Back}} Whirl later attempted to cheer up and advise a despondent Trailbreaker on changing his image. His advice consisted of telling Trailbreaker to change his name, always talk big of himself, and then suggested he get [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] to build him a new weapon. After one of Brainstorm's inventions malfunctioned the entire crew of the ''Lost Light'', save the newly rechristened Trail''cutter'', were temporarily frozen in place when a [[Titan Hunter|group of Decepticons]] inconveniently boarded the ship. Whirl was in the middle of watching a furious Rodimus chew Rewind out on the bridge when he was frozen, and Trailcutter was forced to use his inert body as a shield against gunfire, stealing the guns mounted on Whirl's chest to return fire. {{storylink|The Reluctant Specialist}}

[[File:Whirl Interiors yes.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|Whirl: '''1'''. {{-}} Hostage situation: '''-2'''.]]
Not long thereafter, Whirl was having a session with Rung when recent crew addition [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] had an acute psychotic episode and went on a rampage through the ship, holing up in Rung's office and immobilizing Whirl by stabbing him to the floor with a pipe. Unfazed, Whirl taunted Maximus, trying to bait him into killing him, but Maximus only grew more curious about Whirl's mental state and reputation, and threatened Rung in order to force Whirl into telling his life story. The story provided Rewind and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] enough time to position themselves outside Rung's office and distract Maximus with a projection of his tormentor, Overlord. Whirl used the distraction to tear the pipe out of his gut, unpinning himself from the floor. When a shot intended to take Maximus out went wild and hit Rung in the head instead, Whirl took the opportunity to stab the distraught Max with the pipe, ending the hostage situation after three-plus hours. {{storylink|Interiors}}

[[File:Whirl graffiti MTMTEAnnual2012.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|left|"Yeah well, I'll gonna go build my own spaceship! With blackjack! And hookers! In fact, forget the spaceship!"]]
Whirl joined Rodimus, [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], and [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] in being shrunk down and sent to deal with a swarm of [[Nanocon]]s that had been revived within Ultra Magnus's body, where he showed some difficulty with his "no guns" orders. After Magnus smiled them to death, Whirl managed to leave some graffiti inside Ultra Magnus, a fact that he would proudly inform First Aid of during Tailgate's [[Act of Affiliation]] ceremony.

Later, Whirl was among the Autobots that were teleported to the surface of [[Theophany]] by representatives of the [[Galactic Council]]. After the group found [[Crystal City]] in ruins, Whirl openly mocked Drift's despair at seeing the desolation and was decked by the former Decepticon for his irreverence. The group ventured into the ruins and soon discovered an inert [[Titan (group)|Titan]], which had once been used to power the city. An abortive attempt by Chromedome to hack into the giant's [[brain module]] accidentally woke the Titan, causing it to fire an eye-blast that hit the Council's ship, ''[[The Benign Intervention]]''. Whirl was ordered to take a team to hold off the troops sent to take revenge on the Cybertronians, with Rodimus stressing to the trigger-happy bot that there should be ''no fatalities''. Whirl and the others successfully fended off their attackers until the Autobots were all teleported back to the ''Lost Light'' by the freed Titan, before the ship quantum-jumped to safety. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations}}

[[File:Mtmte-before-and-after-whirl-weaponup.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|right]]
Whirl declined to attend Rewind's movie night when he learned the [[Proteus|subject matter]] of the film. {{storylink|Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|Who's Afraid of the DJD?}} He did, however, agree to aid in Rewind's attempt to expedite Rung's mental recovery. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Post Hoc}} Rewind brought together a group who each took turns telling their parts in a story of past events from before the war. When Whirl's turn began, he became quite agitated when Ratchet brought up the tender subject of Whirl's encounter with Megatron in Rodion. He settled down and told the others of Orion Pax's visit to Garrus-1 and what they had discussed. When Whirl mentioned that Impactor was his cellmate for a while, Rewind became excited and posited that Impactor had earmarked Whirl then and there for the Wreckers. Whirl shot down that suggestion and admitted that he just got badly beaten-up and he and Impactor met again years later under different circumstances. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}} Everyone took a break from storytelling, giving Swerve an opportunity to leave and bring back some booze. Whirl wouldn't let him back into the room without uttering the password—''"Whirl is a million billion times tougher than Cyclonus"''. He later had fun positioning Rung's eyebrows to make the still-unresponsive psychiatrist look cross. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

[[File:BeforeAndAfter-WhirlLocksCyclonusIn.jpg|thumb|upright|left]]
When Rodimus led a mission to [[Temptoria]] to fight Decepticons, Whirl was only too happy to volunteer. Aboard the ''[[Leading Light]]'', he had Rewind record him limbering up, and joined in with some impromptu battle chants with the other Autobots. As they fought Decepticons, his attempt to bond with Cyclonus was rebuffed rather bluntly. He subsequently faked a door malfunction, trapping Cyclonus and Rewind with an exploding bomb. He apparently at least had the courtesy to take Rewind back to the ''Leading Light'', and when it turned out he had a compatible [[spark]], allowed First Aid to use him to jumpstart Rewind, earning him Chromedome's gratitude. {{storylink|Before & After}}

Whirl tagged along with Swerve's group when the crew of the ''Lost Light'' was granted leave on the planet [[Hedonia]]. He was granted a new human-based [[holomatter]] avatar, which he seemed to approve of based solely on the fact that it carried weapons. When the group found a Transformer-friendly bar, Whirl got Ultra Magnus black-out drunk after slipping him a drink containing weapons-grade [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]], much to everyone's chagrin. While waiting for Magnus to regain consciousness, the group played "the nemesis game", each sharing their own personal arch-enemies. Whirl named Killmaster as his, and proceeded to describe the graphic nature of how he ended their rivalry before being cut off by Rung. When Magnus began to stir, the group left Swerve to deal with him and took a trip to a nearby gift shop. Whirl opted to remain outside and continually bang his head against a display case—something he felt relieved pressure on his brain. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}}{{storylink|Signal to Noise}}

[[File:Whirlholomatter.jpg|right|thumb|Because {{w|Carl Grimes|one trigger-happy kid with a missing eye}} wasn't bad enough.]]
Sometime later, the group encountered a group of [[Ammonite]]s—a mechanical race similar to Transformers who were entangled in a long and bitter war with their hated foes, the [[Terradore]]s. Whirl and Skids engaged in a bit of a "my war is bigger than yours" contest with them, with the Ammonites outclassing them in most categories. When [[Imperius Drax]], the leader of the Terradores unexpectedly entered the same bar as them, Whirl took it upon himself to show the Ammonites a thing or two about war. He walked up to chat with Drax, things escalated, and then Whirl simply killed the guy, which resulted in the war escalating again. {{storylink|Little Victories}}

Ultra Magnus was still out cold when they returned to check on him, so Whirl hatched a plan to get him back in time for pick-up. He ferried the others to the shuttle, then they projected their holomatter avatars back to the bar to drive Magnus's [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] through an organics-only section. While forcing Magnus into vehicle mode proved difficult, they eventually managed it and drove him home. Whirl admitted to the others that, difficulties aside, he had a fun time. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}}

Whirl was among those interviewed for Rewind's documentary, "Little Victories". A "Person You'd Like To Punch" theme night at [[Swerve's]] had an overwhelming majority of people who attended pick Whirl. {{storylink|Little Victories}}

[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] allowed Whirl to vent some frustration and blow up a few asteroids in the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s path. They were interrupted by [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]], who wanted to record a message to send back to Cybertron whenever Blaster managed to repair the subspace communications channel. Whirl and Blaster would be the last Autobots to see Pipes alive, as the hapless [[Mini Vehicle|Minibot]] was murdered by [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] minutes later. Having escaped from his cell underneath the ''Lost Light'', Overlord was quickly discovered and dozens of Autobots threw themselves into battle with him. For Whirl's part, he only managed to be used as a club and smashed into [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] during the fight. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} In the aftermath, Whirl attended the funeral of those who lost their lives fighting Overlord and engaged in some speculation with Swerve and Skids over what was in Brainstorm's ever-present briefcase. {{storylink|The Gloaming}}

[[File:Whirl Cyclonus HouseOfAmbus.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.95]]
When a search for the abducted Ultra Magnus led the ''Lost Light'' to discover the long-missing [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]], Rodimus asked Whirl to be part of an advance landing party. Finding the "miracle moon" to be a hot spot seething with newborn [[spark]]s, Tailgate asked the others to define for him the difference between being "forged" and being "constructed cold". When Chromedome identified himself as someone who had been constructed cold, Whirl couldn't help but point out that he himself had been forged and "perfected" in a hot spot just like the one they were standing in. Shortly thereafter, the group was attacked by [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]]'s [[Titan Hunter]]s, forcing Whirl and the others to flee from superior numbers. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} Retreating didn't sit well with Whirl, and he invited Cyclonus to join him in a counterattack on their pursuers. {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}}

Their attack was successful only in that they didn't get captured along with the others. Whirl couldn't help himself in claiming that he had killed more Decepticons than Cyclonus during the battle. On smelling the enriched Nucleon of a nearby armory close to a jail suspended over a [[smelting pool]], Whirl was eager to organise a jailbreak to free Rodimus and the others.

In company with a far more cautious Cyclonus, Whirl found that he couldn't open the armory door due to his unwieldy claws and needed Cyclonus to help him. Occupied with the door mechanism, Cyclonus inquired of Whirl why he never had his empurata features "fixed". Whirl replied that he was messed up, that he had done and would continue to do bad things. While he remained angry about his mutilations, he was insulated against the voice of his conscience. If fixed he "really would be screwed". In the spirit of ''quid pro quo'' Whirl tried to ask Cyclonus about the gashes on his face, but the reply was lost when a stealthy [[Legislator]] stabbed Cyclonus through the midriff with his sword.

[[File:Whirl Cyclonus TheDividedSelf.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66|"You know what I keep thinking about, Cyclonus? You know the end of Butch Cassidy? Redford and Newman are almost out of ammunition, and the whole Bolivian army is out in front of this little hut?"{{-}} "Whirl, I'm going to make you pay for this."]]

Fortunately (or unfortunately) for Whirl, he fought Cyclonus's attacker off so that Cyclonus could remove the blade without too much injury. The pair then teamed up with other rescued prisoners, [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]] and the remaining survivors of the ill-fated [[Circle of Light]], just as an army of Legislators attacked en masse. Whirl asked Cyclonus to call off his previous death threats if they made it out of the fight alive as they rushed into battle wielding [[Great Sword]]s procured from the armory. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}}

In the middle of the battle Whirl noticed something very unusual about Cyclonus's Great Sword, it was, in Whirl's words, "frikkin nuclear-powered", glowing with light and cutting a swathe through the attacking Legislator army. Cyclonus had a surprisingly deep connection with his sword for a novice, as only Dai Atlas could manage a similar feat with his own sword. Dai Atlas suggested to Whirl that "your friend is clearly ''devout''". Whirl was more surprised by the use of the word "friend" than the rest of Atlas's explanation.

However much headway they were making, it wasn't fast enough for Cyclonus. Cyclonus's rather obtuse comment of being "needed elsewhere" made Whirl respond cattily that he was dragging their battle out for fun, that he would just finish up himself. Dai Atlas asked Cyclonus if Whirl was being sarcastic, and Cyclonus replied that he didn't believe that even Whirl knew. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

Whirl and the surviving members of the Circle of Light continued to fight the Legislators, but they were eventually overwhelmed. Moments from being killed, Whirl was saved when Chief Justice [[Solomus|Tyrest]] called all remaining Legislators to his position. In the battle's aftermath, Whirl and Cyclonus conferred on the edge of the smelting pool. A heavily damaged and unable-to-fly Whirl asked Cyclonus if he was still willing to let bygones be bygones in regards to their mutual death threats against one another. Despite briefly entertaining a fantasy of shoving Whirl into the smelting pool, a preoccupied Cyclonus agreed and departed.

Later aboard the ''Lost Light'', Whirl would reveal that Dai Atlas had commented on the unnatural strength of Cyclonus's spark—demonstrated while Cyclonus was wielding a Great Sword. Atlas had wondered if Cyclonus had the spark of a newborn with the intense energy he was producing. Relaying this information to Cyclonus, Whirl indirectly helped save Tailgate's life, as Cyclonus consequently used his excess spark energy to revitalize his dying roommate. {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}}

[[File:Whirl fightfightfight BlackMetal.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66]]
The ''Lost Light'' received a distress call from Orion Pax and headed to [[Gorlam Prime]]. They rescued the ''[[Skyroller]]'' from the collapsing planet's gravity well and welcomed Orion and his crew aboard. Whirl derived amusement from [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]]'s outright hostility toward Cyclonus. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}} Later, when Orion and Rodimus were looking for volunteers to journey into the [[Dead Universe]], Hardhead took another verbal potshot at Cyclonus. Whirl was gleeful at first, but then disappointed when they didn't come to blows. {{storylink|Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|Black Metal}}

After the ''Lost Light'' was by guided by to an unknown planet, the Autobots found themselves underwater and attacked by thousands of Ammonites. Whirl was among those who boarded the [[Rodpod]] to launch a counterattack. Eventually, the Autobots found the inert [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] hiding on the ocean floor. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}}

The Rodpod entered Metroplex's empty eye socket and made its way to the [[Brain module|brain]], where the group discovered it missing. The Autobots disembarked and after journeying around in Metroplex's head for a brief time, they ended up right back where they started at the Rodpod. Whirl took his frustration out on the garish vehicle, but it was soon discovered to be booby-trapped by an Ammonite. {{storylink|No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6|No Exit}} The Rodpod exploded, but the Autobots were shielded from the blast by a wall that had suddenly sprung up within the chamber. Ratchet worryingly noticed that Whirl had gone missing in the chaos. Whirl quickly returned, however, having captured the Ammonite that blew up the Rodpod. After some strong-arming, the Ammonite revealed that they had been ordered by [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] to sabotage the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s efforts to return to Cybertron. Before the Autobots could discuss these revelations further, they were confronted by [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] and [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]]. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}}

[[File:FinisTemporis DeaderThanADuobot.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|right|Whirl, paragon of sensitivity.]]
After a brief introduction, the two [[Female Transformer|female]] Autobots offered to lead the others to Metroplex's brain. Another horde of Ammonites appeared, and Ultra Magnus ordered the others to follow Nautica and Chromia. Whirl opted to stay behind and fight the Ammonites with a few others, noting that he was in his element in battle. Eventually, the Autobots were able to connect Metroplex to the ''Lost Light'', which he used as a makeshift life support system. He quantum-jumped back to Cybertron, bringing the ''Lost Light'' with him. {{storylink|Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|Burning Bright}} Unfortunately, this didn't solve the problem of the Ammonite infestation, and Whirl's group was still fighting for their lives within Metroplex as the giant Autobot squared off with the [[Quintessa (IDW)|Necrotitan]]. The Ammonites kept combining into larger and larger forms, prompting Whirl to admit that even he was tired of fighting with them. Thankfully, through the efforts of [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] and Megatron, Metroplex was given a sudden boost of power, which reactivated his internal defenses. This immediately eliminated any Ammonite invaders, with Whirl charmingly referring to them as being "deader than a [[Duobot]]". {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}}

[[File:Whirl Arcee DCFinale.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Arcee knows that when things aren't [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave's]] fault, they're almost certainly Whirl's.]]
After the Necrotitan was felled, Whirl, putting aside past enmities he may have for the Decepticons, sang along to a tune alongside several of them in Swerve's bar, including [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} The moment of levity was cut short, however, by the arrival of a 70 ''billion''-strong Ammonite army. Whirl was once again thrust into Ammonite-murdering duty. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} Whirl joked around with [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] about accidentally causing the re-escalation amongst the Ammonites' war, and made a little remark about his role in the start of their own war. When the Ammonites all spontaneously exploded, Whirl called foul on the whole thing for ruining his fun. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}}

[[File:Whirl Megatron MTMTE28.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4|''HUEVOS RANCHEROS!!!'']]
Whirl attended Megatron's trial, standing next to Arcee. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}}

Six months after that, Whirl was still on board the ''Lost Light'', only this time due to a series of events, the captain (or rather, co-captain) of the ship was, in fact, Megatron. Whirl began collaborating with [[Getaway]] and [[Atomizer]] to bait Megatron into attacking an Autobot so that they would have an excuse to have him re-imprisoned. {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}} Whirl first messed up Megatron's door with graffiti, and then attacked him with a crossbow before making a physical assaulted. Whirl claimed that he was tired of waiting for Megatron to make his first move, and had instead taken the initiative. However, the fight offered a shocking revelation from Megatron: the only reason Whirl had survived for so long was because Megatron had ensured it by giving an order for the Decepticons never to kill Whirl as a kind of 'gratitude' for teaching him that words were not enough—informing the ex-Wrecker that he was not as good a fighter as he, or other Autobots, believed. The enraged Whirl attempted to punch a hole in Megatron's torso, only to lose his arm through a wormhole within the ex-Decepticon. Megatron then used his revelation as leverage to get the humiliated Whirl to clean up the graffiti and left him in the engine rooms. Whirl later reported to his co-conspirators with a communicator that his attempt to bait Megatron into attacking him had failed. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}}

Whirl and his co-conspirators began planning to manipulate an Autobot into being assaulted or killed by the ex-con; once that happened, Autobot security would either arrest or kill Megatron. Getaway decided Tailgate would be the perfect patsy. {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}}

[[File:PredestinationABeginnersGuide WhirlBraidingHair.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.3]]
Later on, suspected to be behind the theft of Ultra Magnus's desk tidy (which was more likely caused by the ship disappearing piece by piece), Whirl was confined to his quarters. As 'protest' for this, Whirl watched off-world cinema at Swerve's using his holomatter avatar. While braiding his hair, Whirl revealed that he was a fan of Jean-Luc Godard's works. During the subsequent alarm as portions of the ''Lost Light'' began to disappear, Whirl's holomatter disappeared. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Whether he made it to a lifepod or not, Whirl presumably disappeared along with the rest of the original crew of the ''Lost Light''. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}}

Eventually, the remaining crew found the ruins of a quantum duplicate ''Lost Light'', which had been attacked by the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. The on-course ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Whirl had his arms torn off before having his head blown off by [[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon]]. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}}

Whirl was part of Rodimus' intrepid band of heroes chosen to chase down the rogue Brainstorm and gleefully raided Brainstorm's experimental weaponry. When asked by Magnus on why Rodimus would bring Whirl on such a high risk mission, Rodimus answered it was because Whirl would be eager to take a bullet for Orion Pax. The group travelled back to the [[Alyon]] [[hot spot]] where Whirl bluffed to the past Orion Pax that he was on day release from prison. When the larger group regrouped to compare notes, they realized that Sentinel wasn't trying to snuff out the Sparks but was experimenting on them with Whirl putting forth the idea that the [[Elite Guard]] had assumed Orion's group was trying to steal the Sparks. After the Sparks had been shielded by Trailbreaker's forcefield, Whirl joined Cyclonus in attacking the hovering weapons platform. When that mess was sorted, the group continued to follow Brainstorm but Whirl (unlike everyone else) expressed no grief that they had not prevented Trailbreaker's death. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|All Our Parlous Yesterdays}}

[[File:Stet WhirlAttacksHeavies.jpg|thumb|upright=1.9|right]]
Travelling further back to [[Rodion]], Whirl exchanged (rather terrible) banter with Rodimus as they overlooked the police station. After Brainstorm had escaped Cyclonus, the group followed him back a year and split up. Whirl went with Chromedome and Rewind back to the police station and interrupted their tense, romantic conversation to show off his past self's arrest of [[Crossbar]] giddily realizing this was the day Megatron would be arrested. His good mood was ruined when the [[Heavies]] arrived. Utterly trashing them, Whirl was only stopped by Chromedome as the Heavies had to live to ensure future (past?) events happened as they had. Hammer had heard everything about the future and proceeded to taunt Whirl that they had mutilated him at the order of the [[Functionist Council]]. In rage, Whirl turned the [[Sparkeater Gun]] on the third chap who'd come with them declaring him guilty by association. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|Stet}}

[[File:PredestinationAnExpertsGuide WhirlSavesMegatron.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|"Everything is Shockwave's fault, huh? Well, now everything he does is MY fault!
Your move!" ]]
The group then arrived at [[Con Facility 113]] and though Rodimus and Rung had talked down Brainstorm, Rewind killed the unborn Megatron convinced the galaxy would be a better place without him as the myriad of aliens would survive despite the Functionists remaining in power. Whirl respectfully disagreed as he felt countless aliens (they were organics anyway) dying was a price worth paying if it meant Megatron would kill the Functionists and thus inserted a [[Point One Percenter]] Spark that Brainstorm had swiped from [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]] into Megatron's body, securing the timeline. Upon returning to the ''Lost Light'', Whirl joined the crew in movie night for ''[[Back to the Future|Back to the Future Part II]]'' but found it inferior to {{w|Alphaville (film)|''Alphaville''}}. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}}

At some point, he scrawled "WHIRL WUZ HERE" on a chair in Swerve's. {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}} He was present at Rodimus's first real announcement of progress. He went to Thunderclash's pre-wake, did some crazy dancing, and returned to the ''Lost Light'' with most of the crew. {{storylink|The Sensuous Frame}}

[[File:TheLopsidedTriangle WhirlOffersAdvice.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|right|"Today on Doctor Whirl, I listen to a stupid idiot with dumb problems. Love should be tough, and I'm the toughest there is."]]
Later on, Cyclonus went to Whirl's room to ask for advice on Tailgate and Getaway. Whirl was astonished and amused that Cyclonus would ever ask him for advice on such a personal matter, and pointed out that saving Tailgate's life and caring about him did not make him Cyclonus' property. He also pointed out that Cyclonus hadn't really shown Tailgate he cared, while Getaway did so. Just as Cyclonus was about to leave, Whirl asked why he came to him. Cyclonus replied that he believed Whirl would tell him the truth, because Whirl didn't care about what he (or anybody) thought. Troubled, Whirl summoned Getaway and [[Atomizer]], with whom he was working to bring belated justice to Megatron. Whirl was having second thoughts about their plan to bring about Megatron's downfall if it resulted in Tailgate's murder. Getaway shot him in the head with a nudge gun, wiping Whirl's memories of the plan. Just before he passed out, Whirl projected his avatar outside Cyclonus' staring-window. Cyclonus rushed to Whirl's room to find out what was going on, only to find Whirl possessed no memory of their earlier conversation, and all of his digital clocks had been set to 1:13 - Megatron's room number. {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}}

[[File:SilentLight WhirlandScraplets.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6]]
Later, Brainstorm's contrivance engine was due to be activated, and despite only having 15 minutes to get to their B.E.D.s, Whirl, Swerve, and Nautica loitered to get drunk off sub-space filtered engex. They then heard a knock at the bar door. Whirl answered and found a new [[protoform]] in an engex box. Since they couldn't afford to risk the extra spark being detected by Maulers, the group decided to send it back to Luna 1. After various escapades, Whirl was left 'holding the baby'. Worse, when he decided the only remaining option to protect the crew was to flush it out the airlock, he discovered it had imprinted on him, adopting claws and a singular optic. Whirl gave in to his remaining threads of compassion and soft-terminated his own spark to hide the protoform with him in his B.E.D. He later woke up in the med-bay, with Velocity telling him he was lucky to be alive. Oh, and that it wasn't a protoform he was incubating—it was an infestation of [[Scraplet]]s, manipulating him so that they could survive to kill again. But Whirl wasn't upset... he was ''proud'' of the little pests. {{storylink|Silent Light}}

Whirl invited Megatron to the regular Movie Night. Don't worry, he hadn't mellowed out, he was being a dick: the film was a war documentary and watching it would make Megatron unhappy. When Megatron was late, they passed the time by starting without him. {{storylink|The Last Autobot}} Soon after, Whirl was part of a group that observed the second launch of the ''Lost Light'' via a magic window unaware that he and the others were being observed by a repentant [[Getaway]] from further in the future. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}}

As revenge for turning his back on the mutiny, Whirl was tricked into boarding the [[Rodpod]] to be turned over to the [[Galactic Council]] on [[Necroworld]]. When the group arrived they were attacked by the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] and barricaded themselves in the [[Mortilus|Necrobot's]] "fortress" with Whirl glaring at Getaway when they made contact with him. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}}

[[File:HowBrightTheirFrailDeeds WhirlNoFuneral.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]

No sooner had Whirl voiced his protest at simply sitting inside and dying did the attackers back off, promising to return at sunset. When the group split to explore the fortress, Nightbeat had come through by discovering a teleport chamber. Nautica, Velocity and Swerve however had discovered a chamber full of stasis pods containing organic lifeforms, lifeforms Whirl was eager to abandon. But after Megatron had made a rousing speech about understanding and companionship, Whirl decided to stay behind. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight|The Sun in Flight}} Thinking death was imminent, Rewind recorded final messages from each of the group to be broadcast into space, although they weren't received by anyone until three weeks later. For his part, Whirl wanted no funeral. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}}

As sunset approached and a forcefield had been set up, Whirl and Cyclonus finished the turrets and discussed relationships. But when Whirl tried to fire on the baddies however, it turned out the forcefield worked in both directions preventing the turrets from being used. When nightfall arrived, Whirl joined everyone for a group hug. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day|At Close of Day}} The single most important group hug ever as Tailgate's strong grip had given Velocity the idea to temporarily boost everyone to [[Outlier (group)|outlier]] levels via traumatizing someone. That someone was Skids and after his Spark unleashed a burst of energy, {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage|Rage, Rage}} the new superpowered Autobots charged out to meet their fates. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day|At Close of Day}}

But when Skids died, the upgrade went with him and the group was surrounded to be saved by Megatron now having donned a [[fusion cannon]] and irritably told the crew to fall back while he confronted [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]]. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage|Rage, Rage}} Whirl went off to explore the fortress and found his severed arm that had been lost to Megatron's internal space bridge portal months ago, which Ravage recognized as an indicator that Megatron had figured out how to safely mine [[antimatter]]. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}}

After Megatron defeated the Decepticon Justice Division, Brainstorm rebuilt the teleport chamber and Rodimus took a group to go back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Rodimus placed Cyclonus in charge of those left behind on Necroworld, and when Whirl asked why he wasn't chosen, Rodimus responded that he wouldn't trust Whirl to be "in charge of his own feet." Whirl took this jab in stride, admitting that he respected people who mouthed off to him. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|Some Other Cybertron}}

[[File:AWorldMisplaced WhirlVKillmaster.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.0]]
Called down to find a closed, ''massive'', stasis pod and utterly bored, Whirl released the 'bot inside and found it was Killmaster, his old nemesis. The Decepticon immediately went on a rampage ("what a pro") and the two rivals once again engaged in combat... combat that Whirl admitted he needed help with, telling Swerve he'd never won before and screaming for him to get Tailgate. Help arrived in the form of a badly wounded Cyclonus, much to Whirl's dismay. Ten and Swerve got zapped by Killmaster's teleporting wand {{storylink|Dissolution Part 3: A World Misplaced|A World Misplaced}} before Cyclonus was able to lop his arm off and Whirl used the wand on ''Killmaster''. Before they went to Brainstorm to get Swerve and Ten teleported back, Whirl probed Cyclonus's cover story about his wounds and learned Tailgate had been fitting in his sleep. Cyclonus refused Whirl's advice about telling Tailgate the truth before it killed him, so Whirl—refusing Cyclonus' advice to drop it—crept into Tailgate's room to tell him "a story". {{storylink|Dissolution_Part_4: Bad Moon Rising|Bad Moon Rising}} After telling Tailgate the truth behind Cyclonus' wounds, he accompanied the minibot back to the main room and discussed Killmaster's inventions, with Whirl commenting that the only thing Killmaster loved more than teleportation weaponry was being a master of killing. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 5: Modes of Production|Modes of Production}} He was present to greet the returning crew when [[Necroworld]] returned to its own universe. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 6: This Machine Kills Fascists|This Machine Kills Fascists}} At some point, Whirl and Ultra Magnus watched Springer's final message before the Wreckers' leader entered the [[Timemaze]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers|Requiem of the Wreckers}} When Rodimus revealed his [[Skip|back-up plan to return to Cybertron]], Whirl asked if they could leave Swerve behind. Once the team was ready to take off, Whirl stopped Cyclonus from mutilating himself, following his and Tailgate's "breakup", and sat next to him for support. {{storylink|After Megatron (A Dissolution Epilogue)|After Megatron}}

[[File:Sardines WhirlcomfortsCyclonus.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]
Aboard Skip, Whirl kept to himself, lying down while taking up as much space as possible. When an outraged howl of despair sounded from the captain's quarters, Whirl recognized it as Cyclonus and deduced the cause. After Cyclonus had accidentally raked Rewind with his sword, Chromedome socked Cyclonus in the jaw before Whirl broke up the fighting. When Whirl asked Cyclonus about Tailgate, Cyclonus promptly broke down in the ex-Wrecker's arms. Soon enough, the mass displacement began wearing off only for [[Ten]] to speak up and tell everyone to listen to him.{{storylink|Sardines}} What no one knew was that Ten had been possessed by the [[Omega Guardian]]s and who guided the group to the original [[Mederi]] in the year [[2018]] via the [[Warren]]. When the group arrived, they were forced to bail out, supercompressed space ravaging their bodies. Crash landing on Mederi, the moon fixed them up and presented itself as the [[Transformer afterlife|Afterspark]] based on Cyclonus' desire to reunite with Tailgate. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|Metastasis}} {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}}

[[File:YouAreHere WhirlhasDoubts.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
Ever the grump, Whirl found little to love about heaven, only socking Ratchet for bringing them here due to his condition. With Rodimus moping about, Whirl rallied him into action by asking "What Would Megatron Do?", which rallied their leader enough for him to demand an audience with "[[Primus]]" giving Whirl the joy of watching Rodimus be struck by a bolt of divine lightning. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|Metastasis}} As more and more "ghosts" began to appear, Whirl was approached by [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] who claimed to have solved the mystery of Rung's alternate mode. Before Nightbeat could utter this revelation, he "ascended", the method of the act rousing Whirl's suspicions. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War|The God War}} With everyone else lined up to "ascend", Whirl called Ultra Magnus to inform him of his trepidations. Magnus's group soon discovered where they were causing the Afterspark to glitch and fade away leaving Whirl with the task of telling Cyclonus that Tailgate was but a facsimile. As the two lovers said they goodbyes however, it turned out Tailgate really was himself. The happy moment was then ruined by Team Rodimus reuniting with the mutineers, now mutated into ravenous [[Sparkeater (creature)|sparkeaters]]. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}}

[[File:Lustrare WhirlRedScraplets.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|Daddy's little monsters.]]
Once reinforcements had arrived, Whirl was part of the group that boarded the ''Lost Light'', being quickly caught in a red [[scraplet]] trap. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|A Dance Before Dying}} Though [[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]] managed to initially deter the predators, they soon regrouped and lunged at Whirl... for his Luna 1 scraplets had been thrown into the mix. With his tamed beasts, Whirl went to back up Rodimus, having his boys devour [[Getaway]]. The moment was again ruined when a massive tear in the [[Warren]] appeared above the moon. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}}

While Whirl quarantined the scarplets in the medbay, everyone else boarded the ''Lost Light'' as they prepared to escape. When the ship launched however, it proved unable to match the rift's gravity being dragged through to the [[Benzene Cluster]], now populated by five multi-coloured copies of ancient Cybertron. As they touched down on one, the group came under attack from the [[Black Block Consortia]], now reduced to a puppet state controlled by the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]]. The being invited them all aboard his [[Worldsweeper]] where the group bore witness to the five Cybertrons being used to drill a hole between universes. From the other universe came a fleet, with a duplicate of the ''Lost Light'' flying point, who's captain called and revealed himself to be [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness|Farsickness}} Following Megatron through was the [[Functionist Universe]]'s version of Cybertron, now transformed into a robot mode cast in the likeness of Primus. Though Megatron tried to free the group, the Architect sealed the hull breach before everyone could escape. Part of the group left behind, Whirl confronted the Architect, who was dressed like [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] and claimed to be Adaptus. Though everyone doubted this claim, the Architect verified it by revealing the other members of the [[Guiding Hand]] namely that the Necrobot had been [[Mortilus]], Tyrest was [[Solomus]], and that the Magnificence was [[Epistemus]]. Though Whirl presumed Functionist Cybertron to be Primus, Adaptus laughed off the notion... because Rung was Primus! {{storylink|Crucible (Part 4): The Return of the King|The Return of the King}}

[[File:LL 24 Even Team Whirl.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.60|"This is the bravest soldier I've seen since my mirror got grease on it. I hereby order that in Whirl's honour, he be melted down and made into a statue of himself."]]

Despite Whirl's open disbelief of such a claim, Rung soon proved it to be the truth, demonstrating his self-healing abilities and revealing the truth of the [[God War]]. As the group conversed however, they failed to notice that Solomus had also regained his ancient memories which drove him to attack Adaptus. Though Adaptus proved a better fighter, Solomus was able to fell his brother, causing both to explode into inert sentio metallico (which Whirl decided was ''exactly'' how he wanted to go out). With no resistance, Rodimus teleported to the ''Lost Light'' and freed everyone, bringing them all aboard for a brainstorming session. Though Whirl was eager for Rung to unleash his divine might on the false Primus, Rung had no divine might to unleash. Soon enough however, the group came to the conclusion of having Rung create twelve duplicates of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and use their power to overload [[Vector Sigma]] via the [[hot spot]]s, thereby erasing the [[Functionist Council]]. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 5): The Unremembering|The Unremembering}} Sent to [[Mesmerica]] with Ultra Magnus, Whirl functioned as his bodyguard until Magnus was caught unawares by a [[Functionary]] and knocked out his armor and into stasis. When Whirl landed to seize the Matrix, he was struck by an RPG blast and grievously wounded but, thanks to Rodimus's inspirational speech, found enough strength to open the Matrix. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 6): A Spark Among Embers|A Spark Among Embers}}

[[File:LL25 WhirlhugsCyclonus.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.7]]

New Cybertron, as it came to be known, was soon visited by Prowl who decided to decommission the ''Lost Light'' so its quantum engines could be used to double the planet's energon reserves but allowed the crew the luxury of a victory lap, which Whirl found boring. Before jumping back home, however, the crew decided to recreate the quantum explosion that marked the beginning of their voyage in the hopes that they could once again duplicate themselves, so that their adventures would never end. Although the crew of the ''Lost Light'' would never truly know if their experiment worked, the ''Lost Light'' crew ''did'' successfully pull the stunt off; their duplicates ''did'' materialize in an alternate universe, eager to continue their adventures.

In the primary universe, Whirl proved unable to adapt to peacetime life, and served eighty-four sentences at a dozen prisons, including [[Garrus-10]]. When Ratchet passed away, Whirl was serving another prison sentence at G-10 but, on account of being low-risk, received permission to attend the funeral and left a vial of [[innermost energon]] for his old friend. As part of Ratchet's will, Whirl was gifted the late medic's hands. As he was leaving, Cyclonus approached Whirl and offered him the opporutnity to live with him and Tailgate in [[Tetrahex]] once he'd been released. Whirl responded to this act of kindness with a great big hug and had Ratchet's hands returned to Drift. Though touched by the gesture, Whirl had finally come to understand that he wasn't broken and didn't need fixing. {{storylink|How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2}}

{{-}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
[[File:KreO-webcomic-3-Whirl.jpg|100px|thumb|left]]
After being asked to by [[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]], the [[Autobot]]s attacked the Decepticon Base and chased away [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]], who wasn't letting ''anyone'' in the base, not even Megatron. In thanks, Megatron hosted a party in the base, which Whirl attended. {{Storylink|A Reliable Warrior!? Vortex the Lookout from Hell}}
{{-}}

===''Cloud''===
[[File:Cloud Whirl.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|right|"Daddy needs to express some rage"]]

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Metamorphosis (Cloud)|Metamorphosis}} {{storylink|Overwhelm}} {{storylink|TFC-A04}}}}

===''Legends'' comic===
[[File:LG04 comic Roadbuster.jpg|thumb|]]
Whirl and [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] were built in the [[Legends World]] by [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]], inspired by designs from a {{w|Special Armored Battalion Dorvack|certain '80s giant robot anime}}, to aid him in his plans to return the world to how it was in the '80s. In spite of Tankor's design intentions, however, [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] recognized them as Autobots from a [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|British ''Transformers'' comic]], an origin story that confused the pair. Setting out to take humans hostage to further their cause, Whirl then encountered an [[Whirl's friend|innocent little girl]] and had a change of heart about his role in life. Placing the girl in his chest canopy, he decided to fight for her sake as a hero of justice and turned on Roadbuster, only to later get admonished by the girl for being too violent. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 4|Bonus Edition Vol. 4}} [[File:LG05 comic Whirl.jpg|thumb|left]] Entrusted with Tankor's '80s Transformation Beam, Roadbuster then started turning everyone present into various '80s forms, though the weapon didn't affect Whirl since he was already from the '80s. When Tankor's resolve was broken by a speech from [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]], Whirl took the chance to air-drop the rat onto the villains like a bomb, defeating Roadbuster. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 5|Bonus Edition Vol. 5}}

Waspinator later taught [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] about Whirl and Roadbuster during his ''Transformers'' lesson, again explaining that they first appeared in a British comic. The concept of British Transformers had Megatron thinking of the pair as English stereotypes, imagining Whirl as a gentleman in a top hat and monocle, and he confused himself thinking about how Whirl could enjoy a cup of tea without a mouth. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 15#Whirl and Roadbuster Now on Sale, Buzz|Whirl and Roadbuster Now on Sale, Buzz}} On [[Christmas]], Whirl and his little girl friend watched charitable Roadbuster and Tankor give away '80s toys. {{storylink|Merry X'mas!!}}

Running into Roadbuster again while spending time with the girl, Whirl took his new friend hostage to prevent Roadbuster from attacking, shocking his former partner with the decidedly un-heroic act. The girl was upset and took control of Whirl from the inside, forcing him to heroically pick up garbage instead. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 17#Whirl Versus Roadbuster!|Whirl Versus Roadbuster!}} For some undisclosed reason, Whirl eventually returned to Tankor and Roadbuster's side and the three went back to terrorizing the population, but it all came to an end when a dimensionally-displaced [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] defeated Tankor for good. Whirl and Roadbuster were left lost and confused about what to without their leader, so Jetfire invited them back to his [[G1 World|home dimension]], reasoning they would fit in better there. The pair accepted his offer and traveled through a [[solitarium]] portal to the year [[2004]] of his universe, where they joined the Autobots. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 7|Bonus Edition Vol. 7}}

Upon meeting the [[Jumpstarter]]s, Whirl and Roadbuster introduced themselves as "Wreckers", something Waspinator had identified them as. Overhearing this, [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] thought it was a great team name and founded the Wreckers as a new Autobot unit, recruiting the duo into it. {{storylink|Jumpstarter Chapter#LG-07 Jetfire Sequel|LG-07 Jetfire Sequel}} [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] then charged the team with cleaning up around [[Mount St. Hilary]], something Whirl took well to since he had previous experience. {{storylink|Jumpstarter Chapter#G1 Wreckers Birth Story|G1 Wreckers Birth Story}} At one point he and Roadbuster explained their origins to the Jumpstarters, who would later create Legends World to begin with in order to ensure their comrades would be born. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 66|Bonus Edition Vol. 66}} In the year [[2021]], [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] recalled Whirl and Roadbuster's origins when he and his soldiers were reduced to heads and needed new bodies built. Using residual radiation acquired from the two Wreckers, Fortress located the Legends World and traveled there in search of the expertise used to build them. {{storylink|Headmaster Chapter Prologue}}

As Wreckers, Whirl and Roadbuster fought under Springer for many years. In the late [[2030]]s, they noticed their leader was starting to get fat, and Whirl accidentally hurt him by bluntly commenting that his neglect for his appearance was the reason his relationship with [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]] had failed. Springer then sought to become his old macho self again, so Whirl and Roadbuster suggested he go to the Legends Universe and have their creator, Tankor (now [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]), build him a cool new body. They two came with him for a chance to revisit their old home, where Whirl was reunited with his friend and let her sit inside him again. {{storylink|LG19 Sprung Prologue}} They then returned to the G1 World where they pushed Springer into asking Arcee out. {{storylink|Jumpstarter Chapter#LG19 Springer Sequel|LG19 Springer Sequel}} Upon learning that the Legends World was under attack by [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]], Whirl and Roadbuster volunteered to return and defend their homeworld. {{storylink|Jumpstarter Chapter#LG65 Twin Twist Prologue|LG65 Twin Twist Prologue}} On arrival, they were pinned down by Windblade's [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]], leaving [[Twin Twist]] to take her on. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 65|Bonus Edition Vol. 65}}

After the Legends World was destroyed, Whirl ended up back in the G1 World. In [[2038]], he and Roadbuster were on [[Micro|Zone]], where he watched the [[Powered Master]]s duke it out with [[Violen Jiger]] in their old bodies. {{Storylink|The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 2}}

===''Transformers: The Ultimate Pop-Up Universe''===
Pursuing the AllSpark after it had been launched into space, Whirl was one of the many Autobots that found their way to Earth. There, he participated in a great battle within a human settlement against the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers: The Ultimate Pop-Up Universe|The Ultimate Pop-Up Universe}}

==Games==
===3D Battle-Card Game===
Whirl was one of [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]]'s many Autobot allies in a fight against [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s Decepticon forces, in what might possibly have been an inter-universe battle. {{storylink|3D Battle-Card Game#Energon Wars expansion|Energon Wars Expansion Set}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
Whirl was involved in a chaotic kerfuffle. What outcome the battle yielded is unclear. {{storylink|By Land, Sea, or Air}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:BattleTacticsWhirl.jpg|thumb|right|400px| Adorably crazy.]]
Whirl 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 recruited by collecting 100 units of Cybermetal, 50 units of Transmetal, and 30 exclusive cores.
{{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
{{anchor|Generation 1}}[[File:G1Whirl toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Shockwave's younger brother? Only in the wild world of [[Fan fiction|fanfic]]s.]]
*'''Whirl''' (Deluxe Vehicle, [[1985]])
**''Accessories'': "Null-Ray Module", "[[Paralyzo box]]", "Photon Beam Rifle", "Shell Cannon"

:''[[The Transformers (toyline)|The Transformers]]'' Whirl transforms into a light blue Cybertronian attack helicopter, similar to a Bell {{w|AH-1 Cobra}}. In this mode, he has two wing-mounted weapons installed: a Gatling-like "Shell Cannon" and a four-tube "Photon Beam Rifle". Both [[Deluxe Vehicle]]s were licensed from [[Takatoku Toys]] by [[Hasbro]] for inclusion in the 1985 line, and hence were not included in the Japanese line. Whirl was originally the "Oberon Gazette" (オベロンガゼット) from the ''{{w|Special Armored Battalion Dorvack}}'' toyline, although the toy's dark and light blues were inverted for the ''Transformers'' release.

:In [[robot mode]], Whirl is unusual in that he appears quite different from the other Transformers in the line at the time. He has no humanoid hands; instead, his arms end in a pair of mechanical pincers. A "[[Null-ray|Null-Ray]] Module" cannon can be fitted over either pincer, while his "Paralyzo-Box" weapon slides onto the fin on his right leg. Though not strictly an accessory, his head features a swiveling antenna that is very easily detached and lost.

:There is a variation in the construction of his canopy; while most are smooth and featureless, some have raised "cage" outlines on the edges.

::*''[http://www.transformerland.com/wiki/toy-info/transformers-g1-deluxe-vehicles-whirl/602/ Patent info, price guide, and further reading on Whirl at Transformerland.com]''
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1985/Autobot/Whirl/whirl.htm More information on Whirl at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Classics''===
[[File:ClassicsWhirl toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Am I blue? Am I blue? Ain't these tears in my eye tellin' you?]]
*'''Autobot Whirl''' (Legends Class, [[2007]])
**''Accessories'': Rotor blade

:A [[redeco]] of ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Legends Class (2005)|Legends of Cybertron]] [[Evac (Cybertron)#Cybertron|Evac]], ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' Whirl transforms into a blue Eurocopter Dauphin rescue helicopter. A ''heavily'' simplified version of the [[Evac (Cybertron)#Voyager|Voyager Class Evac toy]], his [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] has a back mounted (non-firing) twin missile launcher which is carried onto his robot mode, and he is also armed with a rotor blade on his left arm which can rotate, but does not spin freely.

:In terms of articulation, he has ball-jointed hips and knees and can rotate his arms, although the arms can otherwise barely move beyond pointing straight down due to his ball-jointed shoulders being blocked by plastic.

:This mold was also used to make ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' Legends Class [[Blades (G1)#LOC|Blades]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Autobot/ClassicsWhirl/whirl.htm More information on ''Classics'' Whirl at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Generations''===
[[File:Whirl generations voyager.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Not as super-unvincible as people were hoping.]]
*'''Autobot Whirl''' (Voyager Class, [[2014]])
**''Series / Number:'' '''02 / 006'''
**''Accessories'': Null-Ray Module, Paralyzo box, Shell Cannon, Photon Beam Rifle

: ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)#T30|Generations: Thrilling 30]]'' Whirl is heavily styled after his Generation 1 toy, but sports a more curved head and reverse knee "chicken legs" which evoke (but do not match) his appearance in [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]''. He also has a third, Gerwalk-esque mode known as a "Heloped". Just as with his original toy, he has a pair of mechanical pincers which a weapon similar to his "Null-Ray Module" cannon can be fitted over. All four of his weapons can attach via c-clips to various sculpted rods.

:Unmentioned in the instruction sheet is that his shoulder-struts can collapse into his torso for a more pleasing robot mode. Also, in robot mode, you can rotate the shoulder-struts so that the thin tabs on top face down to allow for greater shoulder poseability. When his antenna is angled 90 degrees, his monocular light piping gimmick is activated. It's also likely that the knee transformations are swapped between robot and heloped mode in the instructions, so that the robot mode has the digitigrade legs and the heloped mode has the "gerwalk"-style backwards knees, and this hypothesis is supported by the [[:File:RID26 subcvr.jpg|packaging art]]. A smaller detail of note is that Whirl's neck is on an extra hinged panel that allows the head to be raised up a few millimeters from where it normally sits.

:Some copies have been known to come with bent rotor blades, as well as to suffer from extremely tight upper knee joints, in extreme cases causing the whole knee to snap in half rather than move.

:Whirl comes with a sticker sheet, with one sticker referencing [[Wild Bill|CW-4 William S. Hardy]].

:This mold was [[redeco]]ed into ''[[Transformers Cloud|Cloud]]'' [[Shockwave (G1)/toys#Cloud|Shockwave]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2014/Autobot/GenWhirl/whirl.htm More information on ''Generations'' Whirl at TFU.info]''
::*''[http://www.yojoe.com/archive/actfig/whirl/ Additional information at YoJoe.com]''

===''Legends''===
[[File:Legends-toy Whirl.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Whirl''' ([[November 29]], 2014)
**''ID number:'' '''LG05'''
**''Accessories'': Null-Ray Module, Paralyzo box, Shell Cannon, Photon Beam Rifle

:''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' Whirl is a redeco of ''Generations'' Voyager Class Whirl featuring a lighter blue closer to his original toy and additional paint detail on his canopy and shoulders but dropping the black off his nape and the red stripe pattern on his rotor blades. Some of his black plastic (on his toes and head) is replaced with blue. The antenna mounted on his head when angled 45 degrees lower towards the front deactivates his monocular light piping feature. He does not have a sticker sheet, though two of his Autobot symbols and a single canopy detailing are now tampographed. He now comes with a leaflet featuring a character profile, tech specs, and the [[Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 5|''Legends'' Bonus Edition Vol. 5]] mini-comic.
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
{{anchor|3DBattleCardGameMerch}}
===3D Battle-Card Game===
[[File:3DBattleCard Whirl.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Soi soi soi soi]]
*'''Whirl''' (2007)

:A 30-point "rare" character in the [[3D Battle-Card Game]]'s "Energon Wars" expansion, Whirl "transforms" into a blue helicopter. He uses the same parts layout as [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]], [[Evac (Movie)|Evac]], and [[Stormcloud (Energon)|Vortex]].
{{-}}
===Transformers Trading Card Game===
[[File:W5AutobotWhirl.jpg|thumb]]
*'''Autobot Whirl//Aerial Assault''' (2020)
**'''Wave 5: Titan Masters Attack'''
**''Rarity: '''''SRT'''
**''Card Number: '''''T07/T46'''
**''Stars: ''12

:This card's set was originally set for an April 2020 release, however due to the global COVID-19 pandemic the release was pushed back to May 29, 2020.
{{-}}

==Notes==
*Poor Whirl never got a printed ''[[The Transformers Universe|Transformers Universe]]'' bio. One was written though, and finally revealed to the fans on [http://boltax.blogspot.com/2011/01/extended-bio-whirl.html ''Disciples of Boltax''] in 2011.
*Like all non-toy robot [[Kreon]]s in the ''Kre-O'' comics, Whirl is made from existing ''Kre-O'' parts. He uses [[Knock Out (Prime)#Kre-O|Knock Out]]'s helmet (in order to better emulate his appearance in the [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] [[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|''More Than Meets the Eye'' comics]]) and the Vortex rotor/harness assembly... and a yellow brick on the front of the harness, likely a sloped 1x1 brick to be the "cockpit".
*Inexplicably, the ''Cloud'' [[#Cloud|incarnation of Whirl]] is a minor "virtual redeco" of [[Whirl (FOC)#Toys|''Fall of Cybertron'' Whirl]] despite the ''Cloud'' comics directly repurposing other ''Fall of Cybertron'' designs with no color changes.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Whirl''' (ホワール ''Howāru'')
*''French:'' '''Tourbillon''' (Canada, "Whirlwind")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Xuàn Rèn''' (China, 旋刃, "Turning Blades")

[[Category:3D Battle-Cards]]
[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Cloud Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Autobots]]
[[Category:Kre-O Autobots]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Legends Autobots]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:Wreckers]]

Swelter

2021-02-02T17:26:05Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Robots in Disguise (2015) */

{{factions|decepticon|minicon}}
:''Swelter is a [[Decepticon]] [[Mini-Con]] from the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 franchise)|Robots in Disguise]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''
[[File:Swelter RID 2015 model sheet.jpg|right|thumb|300px|''I'm Mr. Green Christmas, I'm Mr. Sun'' ''I'm Mr. Heat Blister, I'm Mr. 101!'']]

Cranky and pessimistic, '''Swelter''' isn't exactly pleasant company, unless you happen to be his best friend [[Glacius]]. Swelter's bad attitude and penchant for violence means that he's right at home in the Decepticon ranks, and his flame-throwing weaponry- capable of melting even solid metal- allows him to torch any Autobots who get in his way. In the past, this rowdy duo hired themselves out to various Decepticons, but these days the only thing that keeps them in line is their mutual fear of their new master [[Razorpaw]].

==Fiction==
===2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Robbie Rist]] (English), [[Kenjiro Kobayashi]] (Japanese)|[[Jacopo Calatroni]] (Italian), [[Tony Beck]] (French), [[Sven Plate]] (German)}}
[[File:TRID_E_31_Swelter_Robot_Mode.jpg|left|thumb|250px|''They call me Heat Miser; whatever I touch'' ''starts to melt in my clutch!'' ''I'm too much!'']]
Swelter and Glacius regularly teamed up with Decepticons. They were imprisoned on the ''[[Alchemor (RID)|Alchemor]]'' only to be freed when the ship crashed on [[Earth]]. There they teamed up with [[Razorpaw]], despite the fact he treated them poorly. When [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]'s team appeared on the hunt for Razorpaw, they attacked the former Autobot leader and even defeated [[Drift (RID)|Drift]]'s Mini-Cons [[Jetstorm (RID)|Jetstorm]] and [[Slipstream (RID)|Slipstream]], but retreated when faced by the other Autobots. They brought the team of trackers to Razorpaw's attention, and accompanied him as he followed them to a military base where the pair succeeded in trapping Drift and [[Sideswipe (RID)|Sideswipe]] in a metal cocoon. They followed that up by taking out Optimus himself, but it turned out Optimus had been feigning, and while the pair argued with Razorpaw, Optimus demolished the trio. {{storylink|Cover Me}}

Swelter's stasis pod was later taken back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] by [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]], [[Windblade (RID)|Windblade]] and [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]. {{storylink|Decepticon Island (Part 2)}}

{{-}}

==Games==
===''Robots in Disguise'' mobile game===
{{charstubgames|{{storylink|Transformers: Robots in Disguise (mobile game)|Robots in Disguise}}}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Robots in Disguise (2015)===
{{anchor|4pack}}
[[File:RID15-toy SwelterBlizzard.jpg|right|thumb|300px|"WHAAATT?!! SNOW IN THE SOUTH?!! NEVER!!!"]]
*'''Mini-Con 4-Pack''' (2016)

: This version of Swelter, dubbed "Blizzard Strike Swelter", is an ice-themed redeco of the fire-themed Mini-Con. Okiedokie. He transforms into a Cybertronian torpedo with a mostly-one-step [[autotransformation]]. As a torpedo-style Mini-Con, he can attach to and launch from the [[Fracture (RID)#Deployer|Deployer Fracture toy]].

: This four-pack also comes with [[Backtrack (RID)#4pack|Blizzard Strike Backtrack]], [[Beastbox (RID)#4pack|Scorch Strike Beastbox]], and [[Undertone#4pack|Scorch Strike Undertone]]. It was also the first Mini-Con release for ''Robots in Disguise''<nowiki>'</nowiki> 2016 product, so three of its "mission redeco" figures hit shelves before the characters' "normal" versions were available.

:While he shares engineering with fellow Decepticon Mini-Con [[Divebomb (RID)#Toys|Divebomb]], he is a completely new mold.

:This mold was also [[redeco]]ed into [[Glacius]].

{{-}}{{anchor|SinglePack}}
[[File:RIDtoy-Swelter.jpg|thumb|right|350px|''I never wanna know a day that's under 60 degrees'' ''I'd rather have it 80, 90, 100 degrees!'']]
*'''Swelter''' (Mini-Con, 2016)
**''Accessories'': Armor sprue (chest armor, battle mask, left & right flamethrowers, 2 nozzles, 2 flame-effects)

: Part of the third wave of single-packed Mini-Cons, Swelter's individual release puts him in his original fire-themed coloration. This time around he comes with a Decepticon-sigil-shaped sprue that he can attach to, which has a number of clear plastic armor pieces that can be attached to him in both robot and torpedo modes (and of course work with his prior "Blizzard Strike" version).

: This wave was largely skipped by larger brick-and-mortar stores in the US, but began to filter out through discount chains like Marshalls and Five Below by the 2016 holiday season.

{{-}}{{anchor|MegaPack}}
[[File:RID15_Mini-Con_Mega-Pack_Swelter.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Oh, some like it hot. But I like it ''really'' hot!]]
*'''Mini-Con Mega Pack''' (2016)

: This version of Swelter, available in a massive fifteen-pack of Mini-Cons released exclusively in some Asian and European markets, has the front surfaces of his arms painted yellow (a rare non-silver paint addition for this set).

: All of the Mini-Cons in this set have similar minor deco differences from their individual releases, and all lack armor parts. This set also includes [[Anvil (RID)#MegaPack|Anvil]], [[Back#MegaPack|Back]], [[Bashbreaker#MegaPack|Bashbreaker]], [[Beastbox (RID)#MegaPack|Beastbox]], [[Divebomb (RID)#MegaPack|Divebomb]], [[Hammer (RID)#MegaPack|Hammer]], [[Lord Doomitron#MegaPack|Lord Doomitron]], [[Ratbat (WFC)#MegaPack|Ratbat]], [[Sandsting#MegaPack|Sandsting]], [[Sawback#MegaPack|Sawback]], [[Tricerashot#MegaPack|Tricerashot]], [[Undertone#MegaPack|Undertone]], [[Velocirazor#MegaPack|Velocirazor]], and [[Windstrike#MegaPack|Windstrike]].
{{--}}

==Notes==
===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Swelter''' (スウェルター ''Suwerutā'')

[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2015) Decepticons]]
[[Category:Torpedo Mini-Cons]]

Jhiaxus (G2)

2020-10-21T08:27:52Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Regeneration One */

{{factions|cybEmpireG2|decepticon|unicron|ascenticon}}
{{featured}}
{{disambig3|Jhiaxus}}
:''Jhiaxus is a [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian]], [[Decepticon]], or an unaligned [[Transformer]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:Jhiaxusg2.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Seeker on steroids.]]
'''Jhiaxus''' is no ordinary Transformer. He possesses unusual origins compared to most of his race and has a drive to forge a united Cybertronian civilization across the known universe.

Jhiaxus is not one for improvisation. He has been denying his impulses for so long, it has weakened his ability to think on his feet in many situations. Once Jhiaxus has set a course of action, it is tough for him to diverge from his strategy.<ref name="UniProf">[[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 1|''Universe'' Jhiaxus profile]]</ref>

{{note|Jhiaxus is a character with differing origins and personalities for each of his incarnations. See his fiction subsections for further details.}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic====
{{bigquote|We had ''order''. Structure. A perfect, faultless mechanism that was destined to re-shape the galaxy. Then ''you'' came! Old, ''flawed''... an evolutionary stage we had risen far beyond. A reminder of every ''primal'' instinct we had ''buried''.|Jhiaxus doesn't like [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] very much|"[[A Rage in Heaven!]]"}}

[[File:G2issue5-PowerandtheGlory-BuddingSteps.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Whozh a baby? Whozh a baby? Ish it you? Yesh you is! Yesh you is!]]
Millions of years ago, some time after [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] left Cybertron and crashed on [[Earth]], Jhiaxus was born through the long-forgotten "budding" means of [[reproduction]]. {{storylink|The Power and the Glory}} At first a cruel and petty tyrant ruled by his irrational desires, Jhiaxus learned slowly to bury this part of himself beneath layers of icy control. {{storylink|Primal Fear!}} Tired of the [[Autobot]]/[[Decepticon]] conflict, Jhiaxus left with his budded brethren into space, determined to begin a new [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]] free of the war waged by those he deemed "evolutionary throwbacks". {{storylink|War Without End!}} He was anointed the rank [[Liege Centuro]] of this new Cybertronian faction by the [[Liege Maximo]], {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}} and Jhiaxus began to wipe out what he considered to be inferior life and terraform their conquered worlds.

[[File:Jhiaxuswarwithoutend.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Wonder where he keeps the remote.]]
A decade after Optimus Prime and Megatron's war had restarted on Earth, Prime and his Autobots found out about this empire while pursuing the remnants of [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s Decepticons across the universe. Quickly thereafter, Jhiaxus's ship, the ''[[Twilight (G2)|Twilight]]'', abducted them and delighted in telling Prime and [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] that for his side of the universe, the war had been over for millions of years and that Prime and his adversaries were embarrassments to him. Jhiaxus hoped that Prime would see the error of his ways, but he escaped in a stolen ship with his fellow Autobots. However, Jhiaxus had launched a ship of his own to follow them. {{storylink|War Without End!}}

Jhiaxus traced the Autobots to the [[K'tord Nebula]], and his Cybertronians battled Prime's bitterly on the surface of one of its planets. [[Shadow parasite|Parasitic creatures]] on the planet began to feed on the hate and fury buried in the minds of both sides, which caused Jhiaxus to revert to the barbaric version of himself he thought he'd long buried. Despite Prime's own problems with the parasites' induced rage, he was able to convince Jhiaxus and their respective warriors to stop fighting and go their separate ways. Still, Jhiaxus refused to acknowledge that Prime had a point in saying that the Cybertronians' mission of conquest bore any similarity to Decepticon savagery, and ordered the parasites' extermination once he was out of their psychic range. {{storylink|Primal Fear!}} Upon retreating to his flagship, Jhiaxus thanked the [[Primus|maker]] that, as far as he knew, there were no Decepticons left of the original generation to cause him further conflict. Sadly, he was misinformed. {{storylink|Primal Fear!#"Old Evils"|Old Evils}}

[[File:Jhiaxusaltmodetotalwar.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Basically, Jhiaxus's limbs detach and his torso flies around.]]
When Grimlock and a bloodthirsty group of Autobots tried to sneak a [[Chaosmaster Bomb]] on board the ''Twilight'', Jhiaxus easily saw through their ruse and captured the lot of them. He shipped the survivors in a prison ship to be examined by the Liege Maximo, but the ship was intercepted by Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Devices and Desires! (Marvel)|Devices and Desires!}} Later, Jhiaxus made a visit to [[Outpost D-109]], a recently conquered planet the Cybertronians were busy [[eco-structuring]] into a Cybertron-like world. Though the process was ahead of schedule, Jhiaxus was still disappointed. The Autobots had mysteriously halted their attacks on his troops, and their absence worried him. {{storylink|The Power and the Glory}}

One of his teams crossed paths with the original-generation Decepticons, and the incident ended badly. Jhiaxus decided to make his move, and ordered a full-scale attack on [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s [[Warworld]] near [[Tykos]]. This altercation resulted in casualties in Megatron's forces while Jhiaxus battled Megatron himself in orbit. Jhiaxus relished condescending to his opponent, an act reinforced by his superior might. He shot Megatron out of orbit, leaving him for dead on the moon's surface. {{storylink|New Dawn}} However, Megatron miraculously survived, and his Decepticons and the Autobots forged an uneasy alliance against the Cybertronians. Increasingly frustrated, he vowed to escalate his galactic efforts, ordering that every planet be stripped of life. He hoped to force the hand of the original generation Transformers and overwhelm them, a plan that nearly worked on [[Ethos]] against the Autobots until Decepticon reinforcements arrived. {{storylink|Escalation!}} Indeed, the battle there decimated [[Ethos raiding party|the best of Jhiaxus's forces]]. But Jhiaxus soon gained an unexpected advantage—[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] sold out the location of the original generation's base of operations in exchange for a high-ranking position. {{storylink|Swarm (issue)|Swarm}}

[[File:Jhiaxusyouhavedestroyedme.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|What good is a phone call... if you're unable to speak?]]
Jhiaxus attacked the base on Earth. {{storylink|Swarm (issue)|Tales of Earth Part Six}} The headquarters itself was quickly destroyed, but Optimus and Megatron's troops fought back strongly and met the challenge equally. Jhiaxus wanted to end the conflict here and then, so he called for reinforcements from every corner of his empire. {{storylink|Total War!}} Adding insult to injury, Jhiaxus was informed that his troops had lost the Warworld to the backstabbing Starscream. Jhiaxus lost his composure, and when he tossed his subordinate, [[Rook (G2)|Rook]], in anger, Rook arranged a trip to the Liege Maximo. Jhiaxus returned to the ''Twilight'', and upon receiving a transmission from Optimus Prime on board the Warworld, he acted upon his anger by targeting a [[San Francisco|random spot on the Earth]] with nuclear weapons. {{storylink|Dark Shadows!}} Before Jhiaxus could order another shot, the ''Twilight'' was knocked away by a blast from the Warworld and the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]] arrived. {{storylink|Dark Shadows!|Tales of Earth Part Eight}}

Despite [[Crushable Cybertronian soldier|his officers]]' pleas to withdraw, Jhiaxus's troops were ordered to stay their ground even as the Swarm ate its way through them effortlessly. Optimus Prime, ever trying to reach a solution, arrived on the ''Twilight'' to talk, but Jhiaxus would not have it. He threw Prime around, powered by his increasing rage, and blamed him for how his life, his empire, had disintegrated. Before he could strike the final blow, however, the Swarm broke through the bridge of the ''Twilight'', and Jhiaxus challenged it. Jhiaxus was consumed. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}
{{-}}

====Fleetway ''Generation 2'' comic====
Grimlock reported that his team had run into Jhiaxus and his splinter Decepticons, and barely escaped with their lives. He wanted to retaliate with an immediate, massive strike but Optimus deferred. {{storylink|War Zone}}

=====Ask Vector Prime=====
In [[Primax 994.0 Gamma]], Jhiaxus would go on to lead the Cybertronian Empire in mechaforming a peaceful organic world, rechristening it [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]]. Ultimately, however, the Cybertronian Empire fell and the Liege Maximo's ascension to godhood was thwarted. [[Liege Centuro]] [[Firecrest]] was forced to order the remnants of the empire to retreat to Planet X, which later fled its home reality entirely to evade the never-ending search of [[Swoop (G1)|The Veteran]]. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/06/05}}

====''Timelines''====
In an unspecified reality, Topspin left Cybertron to serve under Jhiaxus and follow his army to other worlds. Topspin was less interested in Jhiaxus's specific plans of conquest, however, and more simply convinced that the Liege Centuro's sense of purpose and strong personality would lead him on the path to [[Nexus Prime|the great destiny]] he sensed was out there. Eventually, during a great space battle over an alien planet, Topspin was separated from Jhiaxus's army and flung at near-light speeds into space, helpless to stop [[Axiom Nexus|his trajectory]]. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 25|Topspin's profile in Club magazine #25}}

====''Regeneration One''====
[[File:Jhiaxus hot rod less than zero.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8|It'd probably be safer to have a flashback while you're NOT standing in the middle of the road during an F-Zero race.]]
Before the Great War, Senator Jhiaxus met with High Circuitmaster [[Boltax (G1)|Boltax]], [[Tallus]], [[Decanus]], and [[Rokan]], all members of a "Brain Trust", in [[Nova Cronum]]. As the "five greatest minds" on Cybertron, they had agreed to upload their combined knowledge together into a database they called the [[Underbase]]. However, Jhiaxus was tired of the isolationist policies that dominated Cybertron in that day, and so he took control of the uploading process, "slaying" the virtual avatars of Boltax and the others, rendering them unconscious. Jhiaxus proceeded to download the knowledge he needed to create his own galactic empire, and proceeded to delete his records from the memories of the others, as well as throughout all records on Cybertron. {{storylink|Less Than Zero}} {{storylink|Destiny, Part Five}}

[[File:Jhiaxus high chamber destiny.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8]]
Millennia later, Jhiaxus, situated at the [[Hub (G2)|Hub Network]], spoke with [[Rook (G2)|Rook]] after the latter personally investigated the aftermath of [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s attack on [[Cresta Superior]]. Jhiaxus ruminated on his inevitable conflict with the Autobots and the Decepticons. {{storylink|Destiny, Part One}}

After witnessing Jhiaxus's betrayal in his trip through [[Zero Space]], {{storylink|Less Than Zero}} [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] established a team to investigate the meaning of the various incidents he witnessed in Zero Space, and this "[[Zero Unit]]", headed by [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]], chose to focus on Jhiaxus first. As a former Senator, they reasoned that he would have had off-world contacts, and while he may have deleted memory of his existence from Cybertron's records, those other worlds still might have their records. They never received a response to their inquiries, however, as Jhiaxus chose to return to Cybertron himself, announcing to Rodimus that he had come in peace! {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 1}}

[[File:Jhiaxus the war to end all wars.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6]]
Rodimus conferred with his men at the [[Presidium (facility)|Presidium]]'s [[Ops-Command HQ]], and decided to proceed with Bumblebee's idea of inviting Jhiaxus to the surface to meet with the Autobot leader. Jhiaxus arrived at [[Eugenesis Plaza]] via an advanced form of [[space bridge]], along with his top warriors, his [[Primum Fugae]]. Rodimus asked Jhiaxus, who was aware enough to point out the Autobot snipers that were standing by, to take their discussion to a private location. Jhiaxus agreed, and proceeded with the new Prime to [[Nova Point]].

Upon their arrival, Rodimus asked Jhiaxus about his activities since his departure from Cybertron, and why Primus would consider him a threat to his grand plan. Jhiaxus scoffed at the mention of their progenitor and explained to Rodimus that he ceased to believe in any such "plan" long ago, and set out to remake the universe in the image of his own idea of order. Jhiaxus displayed a holographic image of the Hub Network, a cosmos-wide structure of interconnected metallic planets, and invited the Autobot leader to add Cybertron to its ever-growing web. Rodimus realized, however, that these worlds were not newly-built, but mecha-formed from existing worlds, and asked Jhiaxus how many of those worlds supported life. Jhiaxus sneered at the insinuation, retorting that it depends on how one ''classifies'' life. Rodimus violently rejected the offer, slamming Jhiaxus against a wall, only to be tossed aside. Jhiaxus chose to take his leave, interrupting the Primus Fugae's attack on the [[Demon|Primordials]] to have them return with him to the Hub. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 2}}

Rodimus chose to lead a pre-emptive assault on the Hub Network by launching surgical strikes on key areas on the fringes of the network, hoping that the resulting chain reaction would bring down the entire Hub. However, the early successes of the raids led the Autobots to suspect that Jhiaxus anticipated their move; their fears were validated when their plan failed and Jhiaxus ordered his fleet to attack the invaders. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 3}}

[[File:Rook jhiaxus rodimus war to end all wars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.95]]
On the Hub's [[Throneworld]], Jhiaxus had Rodimus brought before him, and once again petitioned the young Prime to join his empire. He even offered to incorporate Autobots of Rodimus's choice—presently held in the Hub's "[[Corral]]"—into his forces, recreating them with new bodies... except for those who have been modified with "external species innovations". His negotiations were interrupted by a panicked Rook, who reported that the [[Wrecker]]s were continuing their attack, severing worlds from the network and destabilizing it as they moved between worlds through the "[[slam rail]]" transit system. Jhiaxus ordered Rodimus to stop them, executing [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]], [[Sky High (Pretender)|Sky High]], [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]], and [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] to demonstrate his intent, but Rodimus replied that he had no means to communicate with the Wreckers, and thus nothing short of death would stop them. Jhiaxus ordered his fleet to search for them.

In the face of greater numbers, however, the Wreckers would not yield, and continued on their campaign, taking out chunks of Jhiaxus's forces in the process. [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] got in on the act as well, severing even more worlds from the Hub and using the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] to defend himself. Finding the situation untenable, Jhiaxus ordered Rodimus escorted from the throneroom, and prepared to enter the fray himself. However, before he could take off, he was confronted by [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]], who was now fully possessed by the power of the re-emergent Underbase. Jhiaxus recognized the force controlling Starscream as the essences of Boltax and the others whom he betrayed so many eons ago, and they now sought to complete themselves by absorbing Jhiaxus back into their communal mindscape. As the Underbase consumed him, Jhiaxus screamed for help, but Rook fled in terror, leaving his leader to his fate. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 4}}

====Ask Vector Prime====
In [[Primax 490.0 Gamma]], Unicron's destruction of Cybertron caused Primus's essence to be spread among his children, now mostly composed by the Cybertronian Empire, which experienced a moral reformation. When Unicron stumbled upon the Hub and tried to destroy it, the Cybertronians fought back. Jhiaxus was dispatched as an emissary to Earth to enlist the aid of the last three Autobots and to [[Styx]] to enlist the aid of the last Decepticons. Together, Autobot, Decepticon, and Cybertronian fought as one and vanquished Unicron. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/06/24}}

===''Universe'' comic===
[[File:Jhiaxustfu.jpg|upright=1|thumb|"Nothing to fear but me myself."]]
In [[Primax 094.0 Gamma]], {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/30}} Jhiaxus was a strategic commander in the [[Liege Maximo]]'s [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]]. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 1|Jhiaxus's profile in Club magazine #1}} It was he who was most responsible for the death of the Decepticon [[Rumble (G1)#Minion of Unicron|Rumble]]'s brother [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] during the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]] War. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/30}} [[Unicron]] abducted Jhiaxus's [[spark]] and stripped him of his rank and power. Though he once again wore the brand of an ordinary Decepticon, he still nursed a hatred towards Autobot and Decepticon alike. They were all, of course, unevolved, inferior throw-backs. This bias forced him to work alone. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 1|Jhiaxus's profile in Club magazine #1}}

While still abducted by Unicron, Jhiaxus was kept locked inside one of the chambers within the [[Cauldron]] and periodically forced to combat other Transformers so that Unicron could feed on the loser's Spark. He was freed along with countless others (including [[Jhiaxus (RID)|another Jhiaxus]]) when [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] orchestrated a prison break. {{storylink|Escape (Universe)|Escape}} {{storylink|Homecoming (Universe)|Homecoming}}

{{note|In ''Universe'' #2, Jhiaxus is portrayed in his original ''Generation 2'' body, but he is seen in his ''Robots in Disguise'' body during a flashback in the [[Escape (Universe)|following issue]]. It's possible that this was either a misunderstanding between two different artists, Jhiaxus morphed into a new body as he left the Cauldron (which is not impossible), or there were two Jhiaxuses (which is also not impossible). In 2015, the Facebook version of [[Ask Vector Prime]] chose the latter option, establishing that there was also a ''Robots in Disguise''/[[Viron]] Jhiaxus alongside the ''Generation 2''/[[Primax]] Jhiaxus in the Cauldron.}}
{{--}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|''[[Spotlight: Nightbeat]]'' (obscured); ''[[Spotlight: Arcee]]'' (fully seen)}}

[[File:PrimusAllGoodThings-introdump.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|How often do you get to see a G2 guy in a G1-styled comic?]]

'''Jhiaxus of [[Tesarus Minor]]''' {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Post Hoc}} made a name for himself in the years that followed the [[First Cybertronian Civil War]], becoming [[Nova Prime]]'s chief theoretical strategist—a pioneering scientist whose experiments revolved around the development of the Cybertronian species {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}} and a mentor to an idealistic young [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]. {{storylink|Shockwaves}} Few knew that he was also completely without morals, and not at all averse to performing horrible experiments on his fellow Cybertronians in the name of science. {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}}

As part of Nova's inner circle, Jhiaxus was present when the Prime located [[Crystal City]] and ushered Cybertron into an age of prosperity. {{storylink|Primus: All Good Things}} On Nova's orders, Jhiaxus spent the [[Golden Age]] developing a viable [[combiner]], seeking to rediscover the secrets behind [[Nexus Prime]]'s [[Enigma of Combination]]. {{storylink|The Crucible}}

Eventually, Jhiaxus turned his talents to recreating other "lost aspects" of Cybertronian society that had vanished with the [[Thirteen]]; seeking to reintroduce the concept of "gender" to his species, {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part Three: ONoffON|ONoffON}} he found a volunteer in [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]]. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 3|Sins of the Wreckers #3}} By rewriting Arcee's [[CNA]], Jhiaxus was able to rebuild his test subject to his specifications, but the procedure somehow went wrong and left her traumatized and desiring nothing more than to tear her "creator" limb from limb. Jhiaxus wrote her off as a failure and abandoned her. {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}} During his tenure as Nova Prime's top scientist, he also developed the [[vamparc ribbon]], a weapon that drained the lifeforce from its victims to use it as ammunition. {{storylink|Parasites}}

By the end of Cybertron's Golden Age, Jhiaxus had successfully recruited [[Pretender Monster|six Transformers]] and bonded them together into a single combiner: intended to be the ultimate Cybertronian in both body and mind. When he unveiled his creation, however, his combiner was revealed as a violently insane creature that dubbed itself "[[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]]" and necessitated the intervention of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. {{storylink|Primus: All Good Things}} Jhiaxus left Cybertron as part of the crew aboard the original [[Ark (G1)|''Ark'' spacecraft]] before the failure that was Monstructor had a chance to disgrace him. His student, Shockwave, remained behind to continue his master's work and clear his name, later naming the [[Jhiaxian Academy of Advanced Technology]] after him. {{storylink|Shockwaves}}

[[File:DarkCybertron1 JhiaxusradiosShockwave.jpg|left|upright=1.5|thumb|Jhiaxus is of course referring to Homer Simpson's ten foot sandwich.]]
When the ''Ark'' encountered a spatial anomaly within the [[Benzuli Expanse]], its never-before-seen energies left even Jhiaxus at a loss. He rejected [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]]'s theory that it was a portal to some mythical "[[Dead Universe]]", but Nova Prime was intrigued and had the ship enter the anomaly. Jhiaxus transmitted a final message to Shockwave, urging him to continue his work. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}} The crew was subsequently trapped within the Dead Universe, only able to leave for brief periods before dying. Jhiaxus became a confidant for the rechristened ''Nemesis'' Prime and plotted on a plan to merge the Dead Universe with the regular one, allowing them to go home ''and'' gain power over the combined reality. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}}

[[File:Jhiaxusnemesisprimedevastation.jpg|right|upright=1.4|thumb|Yeeesss, maaaasssster!]]
Jhiaxus began prepping [[Nega-Core]]s on three worlds, which would enable this universal "[[Expansion]]". {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}} He also set up an underground base on [[Gorlam Prime]], where a large portal to/from the Dead Universe resided; he then began poking Gorlam Prime's evolution with a stick, accelerating the development to an advanced technological race with the end result of turning them into [[Micromaster|tiny Transformers]]. These were the template for what all life would be turned into to survive the Expansion, and the first few batches served as guards and general minions. (Shockingly, while murderous and with monstrous origins, they ''weren't'' insane.) {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}}

On the eve of the Expansion, Jhiaxus told Nemesis Prime that he suspected [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] of having his own agenda. The point would become moot, however, once their plans unfurled. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}} After [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] secured the Nega-Core and activated [[Thunderwing (G1)|its guardian]], Jhiaxus initiated the Expansion with Nemesis Prime and the rest of the [[Dead Universe]] crew. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}

Jhiaxus was in mental control of [[Thunderwing (G1)|the]] [[Monstructor (G1)|three]] [[Sixshot|guardians]] of the Nega-Cores, {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}} and also took mental control over Nightbeat and sent in hordes of Micromasters when the Autobot, alongside [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], began investigating on Gorlam Prime. Unfortunately, his intricate and long-plotted strategy was undermined by Hardhead's "shoot people in the head" plan. The Autobot then leapt into the Dead Universe portal. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}}

He also monitored the Autobots' efforts to withstand their attacks. When he noticed [[Jetfire (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jetfire]] preparing to disrupt his mental control over the guardians, he took mental control of [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] to defend the project. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}}

[[File:SpotlightSideswipe Jhiaxus deathbecomeshim.jpg|upright=1.67|left|thumb|What did I do to deserve this?? ...Oh right.]]
Unfortunately, as Jetfire pointed out, the Autobots were quickly destroying all his hard work, and his attention was divided. So much so that he not only was frozen and distracted from offing Jetfire, he didn't realize someone was in his control room until they sliced off his arm. Turning round, he was faced with a gleeful Arcee.

Making a run for it, and using his Micromasters to keep Arcee busy, he made his escape through the portal... or he would have if an undead Hardhead hadn't popped up, slowing Jhiaxus down enough for Arcee to stab him and cut off his head. But, in the realm between the living and dead universes, Jhiaxus was practically immortal. Which meant Arcee could keep killing him for as long as she liked. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

Helpless, Jhiaxus spent several years being repeatedly killed by Arcee over and over again, until one day when the portal to the Dead Universe suddenly began to act strangely and lure people into mindlessly wandering into it. The entire population of Gorlam Prime disappeared into the Dead Universe, and though Jhiaxus was also tempted, he was seemingly too damaged to follow them. Arcee and Hardhead subsequently left him to investigate the matter. {{storylink|Heart of Darkness issue 2|Heart of Darkness #2}} Eventually, his broken body was discovered by Galvatron, who had earlier betrayed Nemesis Prime and stolen the [[Darkness (G1)|Heart of Darkness]] from him. Jhiaxus was restored by the power of the Darkness, though he was disoriented and couldn't explain where everyone on the planet had gone to. He led Galvatron and his men to the Dead Universe portal, which had now turned from a pool into a large sphere. {{storylink|Heart of Darkness issue 1|Heart of Darkness #1}}

[[File:Jhiaxus Arcee HeartofDarkness2.jpg|right|upright=1.55|thumb|I'm sure I had my dignity with me when I came in here.]]
At the portal's location, Arcee and Hardhead returned and attacked them. Filled with terror upon seeing his tormentor again, Jhiaxus tried to fight back against her, with little success. Galvatron managed to chase Arcee off and read Hardhead's memories to learn what happened on Gorlam Prime, eventually learning of the "[[D-Void]]", a major threat to all Transformers. He subsequently took Jhiaxus with him to raise an army capable of opposing this entity. {{storylink|Heart of Darkness issue 2|Heart of Darkness #2}}

Jhiaxus quickly got to work rebuilding the [[space bridge]] network, based out of Gorlam Prime, allowing Galvatron to travel the galaxy and recruit soldiers for his army. {{storylink|Heart of Darkness issue 3|Heart of Darkness #3}} Later, after Galvatron's ship was infested by [[zombie]]s and crashed on [[Earth]], Jhiaxus put up a space bridge portal that allowed the crew to leave. {{storylink|The Transformers: Infestation issue 2|The Transformers: Infestation #2}} Jhiaxus found the zombie virus very intriguing, especially its ability to infect both organic and robotic lifeforms, but Galvatron dismissed it as irrelevant and inefficient. {{storylink|Heart of Darkness issue 4|Heart of Darkness #4}}

After using the [[Kimia Facility]] to blow a large hole in Cybertron's surface, Galvatron took Jhiaxus with him to the blast crater. {{storylink|Chaos Part Two: Numbers|Numbers}} Their goal was to reach and destroy the planet's core, though they were briefly hindered by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] on the way. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings|Kings}} When they located [[Vector Sigma]], Galvatron inserted the Heart of Darkness into it in the hopes that this would stop D-Void. Then Optimus Prime caught up and fired on them, and Jhiaxus wasn't seen again during the events that followed. {{storylink|Chaos Part Four: Genesis|Genesis}}

[[File:Jhiaxus Syndromica1.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|'''''"INSANITY IS NOT A WEAKNESS!!"''''']]
Rendered catatonic by the reformatting of Cybertron, Jhiaxus was taken captive by Hardhead, [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], and [[Garnak]] and imprisoned in their ship, to be kept floating in space forever to protect Cybertron from his evil. Some time into his imprisonment, Jhiaxus was reawakened by a signal from [[Arduria]], which seemed to drive him into a frenzy, screaming the words "Pax" and "Prime". Believing him to be referring to Orion Pax—the once and former Optimus Prime—Hardhead's team joined up with Orion to investigate Arduria, but they soon discovered they had walked into a Decepticon trap when they were attacked by Jhiaxus's old creation, Monstructor. While they were occupied, Bludgeon liberated Jhiaxus, and the villains set off together to track down the worlds which had been the subjects of the [[Regenesis]] program created by Jhiaxus's old student, Shockwave. {{storylink|Syndromica (1)}}

At [[LV-117]], Jhiaxus and Bludgeon tried to take control of [[Ore-1]], a Regenesis ore capable of traveling through time. He met Orion Pax again in an era close to the planet's destruction, and explained that his screams had had nothing to do with him, but were referring to a vision he had during the reformatting: a vision of a future where [[Pax Cybertronia|''Pax'' Cybertronia]] happened on Gorlam ''Prime''. Before Orion could stop him, he took the Regenesis control device and left on a time-traveling starship sent to the planet by Shockwave, claiming to have plans to use the Ore-1 to bring back Gorlam Prime's past, prosperous self. {{storylink|Syndromica (2)}} In fact, Jhiaxus was merely goading Orion Pax towards Gorlam Prime so that the former Prime could awaken an [[Ore-2]]-infused [[Titan (group)|Titan]] lying dormant on the planet. Contacting [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]], the only one capable of controlling the Titan, Jhiaxus brought him to Gorlam Prime to trick Pax into raising the Titan for them. {{storylink|Homecoming (IDW)|Homecoming}} As he awaited Pax's arrival he reported his progress to Shockwave and reflected on his return to the planet where he'd spent so many years in between life and death. {{storylink|Shockpoint}} After his plan had succeeded, Jhiaxus again contacted his student to report that the awakened Titan was on its way to Cybertron and Orion Pax had been left alive as per his orders. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}}

[[File:DarkCybertronFinale-StarscreamVsJhiaxus.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66|Reactive armor was kept out of the loop on the specifics of pretooling.]]
Jhiaxus used the time-ship to return to Cybertron and provide Shockwave with the Ores he and Bludgeon had collected during his journey. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} He then reported that Nova Prime was no longer in control of the Dead Universe, paving the way for Shockwave to use the ship's chronal drive to harness the dimension's energy for himself. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}} By hooking the time machine up to Shockwave and using Galvatron as a portal, the two scientists siphoned the ''potential'' life force of the Dead Universe, causing it to be dead to begin with and granting Shockwave the power to control his Ores—and with them, time and space. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}}

As he activated the chronal drive, Jhiaxus admitted that Shockwave's intellect had now surpassed his, then donned [[reactive armor]] in preparation for those who would try to stop their plan. Sure enough, [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] and [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] soon tried to infiltrate the time-ship, but the scientist defended it by using his armor to replicate Metalhawk's arm-blades and Starscream's new body. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} Being in better control of the body than Starscream himself, Jhiaxus attacked him relentlessly, mocking him for his role in the Dark Cybertron prophecy. Unfortunately, his use of the body's energy swords tipped Starscream in on the fact that he even had swords to begin with, allowing the ex-Decepticon to strike back and impale the mad scientist, finally killing him. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}}
{{-}}

====''Timelines''====
After the seeming death of [[Viewfinder]], [[Spectro]] and [[Spyglass]] sought out Jhiaxus to stabilize them for individualized life. {{storylink|Reflector (G1)#CombinerWars|BotCon 2016 Reflector profile card}}

===Theft of the Golden Disk===
A statue of Jhiaxus was kept in the [[Cybertropolis Maximal Data Archive]]. {{storylink|Theft of the Golden Disk}}

===''Wings Universe''===
[[File:FlashForward1-Jhiaxus.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67|He needs a little Earth globe to crush.]]
With the Decepticon conquest and occupation of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] sought a solution of his own. Using the remains of a Decepticon deep-space shuttle, Alpha Trion built a Transformer and used [[Vector Sigma]] to grant his creation life. Not only did the supercomputer give the Decepticon life, but also a conscience and a need to bring all Cybertronians under the same banner and protect them. To this end, Jhiaxus amassed a cadre of Decepticon followers willing to seek peace with Autobots who wished to return home. The then-current caretaker of Cybertron, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], opposed the visionary and his attacks led Jhiaxus to realize that the Decepticon Empire would never be a force of reunification. So Jhiaxus attacked Shockwave and his Decepticons, only to fail and his followers killed off. Jhiaxus was thought to have died in the crossfire, but he secretly went into hiding, plotting his comeback. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 44|''Wings Universe'' Jhiaxus bio}}

After having been absent from Cybertron for a very long time, Jhiaxus made a secret return. He enlisted the [[Battlecharger]]s to fill him in on what he had missed, culminating in the events of the [[Battle of Autobot City]] and [[The Rebirth]]. With [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] out of the picture, and everyone else unawares, it was the perfect time to rebuild the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]], with himself in control! {{storylink|A Flash Forward}}

[[File:FlashForward3-Nightracer.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Jhiaxus is so evil he made us hafta split up a bunch of pages.]]
He teamed up with [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]], who provided him with [[forestonite]], and [[Clench (G1)|Clench]], who supplied him with the [[Firecon]]s and blueprints stolen from [[Quantum Laboratories]]. He also sent the Battlechargers to find some [[personality component]]s. {{storylink|A Flash Forward, Part 2}} They returned with a bonus surprise—an amnesiac [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]]. They next headed for [[Nebulos]], where Jhiaxus had the Battlechargers kidnap [[Hi-Q]]. With the aid of the [[Nebulan|Nebulon]] scientist, Jhiaxus was able to create a "second generation" of Cybertronians. {{storylink|A Flash Forward, Part 3}} These newly created Cybertronians were trained at a secret facility on the formerly barren planet [[Qre]].

Jhiaxus left a deliberate trail to lure the Autobots to his training grounds so he could capture them, incapacitate them and force them to listen as he waxed philosophical. {{storylink|A Flash Forward, Part 4}} He introduced [[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]] and the other Autobots to his clones. When the [[Sideswipe (G2)|Sideswipe clone]] apparently woke early, Jhiaxus showed him off as well, however it was actually the original [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] who then freed Pyro. {{storylink|A Flash Forward, Part 5}} Jhiaxus squared off against Pyro, who was reluctant to attack due to the fact Jhiaxus had Hi-Q concealed in his chest cavity. Unfortunately [[Fizzle|Blaze]] was an expert marksman and shot Jhiaxus in the face, allowing the Autobots to make off with the captive and blow up the base. Jhiaxus and Sky-Byte later watched from a rocky outcrop as the Autobots prepared to leave, and Jhiaxus reflected that for his second generation to succeed, the first generation would have to be wiped out. {{storylink|A Flash Forward, Part 6}}

[[File:MegaplexkillsJhiaxus-ACommonFoe.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|left]]
To that end, Jhiaxus created an army consisting of clones of various Decepticons. The commander of this army was a clone of Megatron himself: [[Megaplex]]. As a trump card, he created [[Sandstorm (MW)|a clone]] of [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] and sent him to impersonate his progenitor on Cybertron. The clone army first struck at [[Sigma Seven]] to take out [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], leaving the Autobots without his guidance, and soon invaded Cybertron itself. At the end of a decisive battle between the natives and the clones, Jhiaxus personally arrived with more clones and informed Megaplex that he had fallen short of his expectations, becoming far too similar to Megatron. He offered him the same choices as the defeated resistance: leave Cybertron or be destroyed. {{Storylink|Termination}}

As Strika and Obsidian swore they would combat Jhiaxus's invasion of Cybertron until the bitter end, Jhiaxus commented that their bravado was meaningless, as the history records would only note that they led their soldiers to the death. The battle progressed for a time, until Jhiaxus found himself ambushed by Serpentor, who had found a way to sneak behind enemy lines. Jhiaxus easily overpowered the human-built ‘bot, commenting on how Earthlings continued to impress him, unlike the “dull” Nebulans. Before he got a chance to dismantle Serpentor to inspect the humans’ craftsmanship, Serpentor managed to impale him with his [[Serpent Scepter]]. Now too weak to fight back, he ordered his troops to stand down, commenting that he had already won; Autobots and Decepticons were now fighting side by side for a united Cybertron, as had been his goal all along. He then surrendered to Serpentor, only to be murdered by Megaplex immediately afterwards. {{storylink|A Common Foe}}
{{-}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
[[File:KreO-webcomic-5-Jhiaxus.jpg|75px|thumb]]
Jhiaxus was part of a massive Decepticon invasion force intended to ruin the Autobots' picnic. However, [[Optimus Prime (Kre-O)|Optimus Prime]] plowed through them with his truck and left them scattered... and then left. Returning to the scene after.. ''ahem'', taking care of some pressing business, Optimus gathered up the still-wiped-out Kreons, bound them up on a flatbed trailer, and took them to the picnic. {{storylink|Emergency! Hurry to the Base, Optimus!}}
{{-}}

===''Cloud''===
The menace of Jhiaxus was observed passing through flames for an unknown purpose. {{storylink|Transformers Cloud (issue)|Coda}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
[[Preditron]] remembered Jhiaxus as a philosopher-king as he compiled his manifesto. {{storylink|The Predacon Manifesto}}
===2019 IDW continuity===
:*''First appearance:'' [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five|''Transformers'' issue #11]]

[[File:TheChangeInYourNaturePartOne-Jhiaxus.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"Today the tattoo industry, tomorrow, THE WORLD!!"]]

A senator, {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: All Fall Down}} Jhiaxus was a member of the [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]]s, and appeared in one of Megatron's many political broadcasts to Cybertron in the aftermath of an attack on [[Ascenticon headquarters]]. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five}} Following Megatron's rebranding of the Ascenticon faction into a more aggressive group, Jhiaxus helped to rebrand members of the organization with their new logo by stamping it on their body. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part One}} Not long afterwards, Jhiaxus and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] were with Megatron when the three witnessed an explosion in the [[Cybertronian Mountains]]. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Two}} Over his better judgement, Jhiaxus then pumped an appreciable percentage of their reserve energon directly into Megatron's systems. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Three}}

After the [[Tether]] had fallen, Megatron ordered Jhiaxus to rally their followers in [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]] and protect the [[energon storage field]]s. Though chafing under the orders, Jhiaxus agreed to follow Megatron's commands. For now. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: All Fall Down}}

{{-}}

==Games==
===Transformers Legends===
Jhiaxus was part of a group of Decepticons who teamed up with the Autobots [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] and [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] to battle the Ammonites on a distant planet. Together, they were able to drive off several Ammonite attacks, but the two factions soon started fighting one another over differing opinions. Eventually, the Autobots defeated the Ammonites and sent the Decepticons packing. Though angered by this turn of events, Jhiaxus and the other Decepticons found consolation that the Ammonites also tasted defeat at the Autobots' hands, and returned to their starship. {{storylink|Into the Abyss}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:BattleTacticsJhiaxus.jpg|thumb|300px|right]]
Jhiaxus participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was an Uncommon character who could be recruited after collecting 75 units of Cybermetal and 36 units of Transmetal. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Devastation''===
Jhiaxus was part of the Mission of Cybertronian Expansion, serving as a scientist aboard the ''[[Proudstar]]'' under [[Nova Prime]]'s command. While excited for the potential scientific discoveries, Jhiaxus admired Nova Prime and his belief in the nobility of their mission, even admitting that he himself might one day choose to call himself an Autobot. However, after briefly touching down on a [[Unicron|certain planet]], the entire crew began experiencing much darker urges. Jhiaxus became paranoid and began using unwilling crewmembers in his experiments, believing an outside force to be influencing their sparks. He became determined to reverse the force's effects and save Cybertron, no matter who or what had to be sacrificed to accomplish it. Despite that he could detect nothing, he firmly believed a consciousness was watching and influencing them. He believed it had come from the mysterious mechanical planet and knew it to be phenomenally powerful. [[Kranix (G1)|Kranix]] believed Jhiaxus to be the only one on the ship smart enough to find his hidden sabotage commands he installed on the ''Proudstar'', hoping that he would only do so after Kranix had made his escape. Jhiaxus was presumably still aboard the ''Proudstar'' when it crashed into Earth's surface. {{storylink|Transformers: Devastation}}

==Toys==
===''Robots in Disguise'' (2001)===
*'''Jhiaxus''' (Deluxe, [[2003]])
[[File:RIDtoy-Jhiaxus.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Surprise, I'm me!]]
{{note|''Robots in Disguise'' [[Jhiaxus (RID)|Jhiaxus]] was [[repurposing|repurposed]] as Generation 2 Jhiaxus in the [[Transformers: Universe (comic)|''Universe'' comic]] and in ''[[Transformers: Wings Universe|Wings Universe]]''.}}

:Jhiaxus is a [[redeco]] of the deluxe-sized [[Jetstorm (BM)#Beast Machines|Jetstorm]] toy in orange and gray. His jet mode cockpit has a spring-loaded extension, giving him a bird-like head in this form that is articulated at the neck to "search" for targets. Both jet and [[robot mode]]s feature spring-loaded "energy blast" missiles. He also has an alternate robot mode, which folds his legs into a "flight cone" and reveals jet thrusters. Jhiaxus was available [[exclusive]]ly at [[KB Toys]] stores.

:Although most previous versions of the mold have the wingtips swept forward in [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]], Jhiaxus was packaged and depicted in his instructions with the wingtips swept back. His toy art and instructions also show the robot mode wingtips swept forward, as shown here; this contrasts with the ''Universe'' art above.

:This mold was also used for [[Aero Drone|Sonic Attack Jet]], [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|2001 ''Robots in Disguise'']] [[Storm Jet (RID)|Storm Jet]], and the ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' version of [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#Universe (2003)|Generation 1 Skywarp]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/2003/Decepticon/Jhiaxus/jhiaxus.htm More information on Jhiaxus at TFU.info.]''
{{-}}

===''Generations''===
[[File:TFGenerations Deluxe Jhiaxus.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Orange is the new Jhiax.]]
*'''Jhiaxus''' (Deluxe, [[2014]])
**''Series / Number:'' '''02 / #018'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 guns

:Part of the tenth wave of [[2012]]-onwards ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class toys, ''[[Thrilling 30]]'' Jhiaxus is a [[redeco]]/[[retool]] of [[Starscream (Armada)/toys#Generations|Armada Starscream]], transforming into a futuristic jet fighter. He features a new head and nosecone-canopy assembly/robot upper torso, sculpted after [[E. J. Su]]'s design for the character first seen in ''[[The Transformers: Devastation|Devastation]]'', along with remolded wings and new dual guns in place of the original's swords. His turbines can each fire a missile in either mode via pressure-launch, and can be positioned in robot mode to either face forward or lay flat on his back. His guns peg into his hands via [[5 mm post|5mm post]], and can also mount underneath his wings using different, smaller pegs.

: On many copies, the figure's left elbow can't bend the full 90 degrees.

:He comes packaged with a copy of "[[The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10]]".

::*''[http://tfu.info/2014/Decepticon/GenJhiaxus/jhiaxus.htm More information on Generations Jhiaxus at TFU.info]''
{{GenerationsArmadaStarscreamMold}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
*Jhiaxus's name is a play on "gee, axe us", a phrase which expressed writer [[Simon Furman]]'s dread of the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|''Generation 2'' comic]]'s cancellation by [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]].
*''Generation 2'' Jhiaxus's [[robot mode]] design seems to be based loosely on the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. He keeps the air-duct boobs, the cockpit torso, the ear-vents, the wing placement, one shoulder-mounted jet engine (including [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Generation 1|Starscream]]'s stickers), and a nosecone on the back of the head.
*Among the many, many toy ideas [[Glen Hallit]] suggested was a [[redeco]] of ''[[Transformers: Go-Bots (franchise)|Go-Bots]]'' [[Aero-Bot]] as Jhiaxus. It was to be distributed as the Dinner Exclusive at [[OTFCC 2003]], but as with most of Hallit's toy proposals, it was not produced.<ref>[http://www.alteredstatesmag.com/hce_2003/3h_tidbits.php 3H Collector's Event: Productions/BotCon Tidbits at ASM]</ref>
*Jhiaxus's name is apparently very difficult for IDW's writers to spell. Known variations to date include "[[Spotlight: Metroplex|Jiaxus]]", "[[The Transformers: Infestation issue 2|Jihaxus]]", and "[[Parasites|Jihauxus]]".
*''Kre-O'' Jhiaxus is a bit of a hard one to suss out in the comic. He's wedged into a corner behind [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]], whose scythe obscures his chest details. But the cockpit is just visible, so mixed with the yellow chest, red [[Starscream (Kre-O)|Starscream]]-style helmet, and he's in a panel that otherwise holds nothing but Decepticon leader-types... yeah.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Jhiaxus''' (ジアクサス ''Jiakusasu'')

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.seibertron.com/database/character.php?version_id=2962 ''Universe'' Jhiaxus's profile transcribed on Seibertron.com]

[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Decepticons]]
[[Category:Cloud characters]]
[[Category:Dead Universe]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Transformers]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Decepticons]]
[[Category:KB Toys exclusives]]
[[Category:Kre-O Decepticons]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Machine Wars Decepticons]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 2 Cybertronians]]
[[Category:Minions of Unicron]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Cybertronians]]
[[Category:Repurposed toys]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Senators]]
[[Category:Universe Decepticons]]
[[Category:Wings Universe Cybertronians]]
[[Category:Wings Universe Decepticons]]

February 17

2020-05-27T21:32:00Z

Spark Mandrill:

<noinclude>{{cal-date|2|17}}</noinclude>
* '''[[1938]] —''' [[Dario Penne]] (Italian voice of ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'' [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]]) is born.
* '''[[1952]] —''' A butt instantly recognized as [[Garry Chalk|Garry Chalk's]] (voice of [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] and [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]) is born. DUN DUUUUNNNNN!
* '''[[1965]] —''' [[Michael Bay]] is born. His birth is greeted with explosions and lens flares.
* '''[[1968]] —''' Actor [[David Krüger]] (European French voice of [[Jack Burns|Agent Jack Burns]]) is born.
* '''[[1972]] —''' Voice actor [[Rafael Pacheco]] is born.
* '''[[1991]] —''' The ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' episode "[[BlackZarak - Destroyer from Space|Destroyers from Deep Space]]" premieres in Malaysia.
* '''[[1997]] —''' The ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[Law of the Jungle]]" premieres in the US.
* '''[[1999]] —''' The ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (cartoon)|Beast Wars Neo]]'' episode "[[Burning Heart Below Freezing]]" premieres in Japan.
* '''[[2009]] —''' [http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1605172/20090217/story.jhtml MTV.com] links to '''TFWIKI.NET''''s [[The Fallen]] page as part of their coverage of the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' teaser trailer. ''Big time, baby.''
* '''[[2010]] —''' ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2|#2]] and ''[[The Transformers: Bumblebee|Bumblebee]]'' [[The Gift Horse|#3]] are released by [[IDW Publishing]].
* '''[[2011]] —''' [[Fun Publications]] reveals the fourth toy in the [[BotCon 2011]] ''[[Transformers Animated (toyline)|Animated]]'' box set: [[Wildrider (Animated)|Wildrider]].
* '''[[2018]] —''' The first day of [[Toy Fair 2018]].
* '''[[2020]] —''' The ''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (cartoon)|Transformers: Cyberverse]]'' episodes "[[Battle For Cybertron I]]" through "[[Battle For Cybertron IV]]" premiere on Pop TV in the UK.

Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity

2020-05-04T04:51:06Z

Spark Mandrill:

{{faction|autobot}}
{{suite}}
[[File:SpotlightGalvatron Hound.jpg|thumb|Guido Guidi draws Cybertronian Hound and makes me cry.]]

'''Hound''' is a veteran soldier with more field experience than most Autobots alive today. As a former member of the [[Primal Vanguard]], his expertise dates back before the war began. Hound served as field commander of the Autobots on many occasions when dealing with smaller squads. His dedication to orders and duty has caused friction in the past with more impulsive or contrary 'bots under his command, though.

:*''First Appearance:'' [[Spotlight: Galvatron]]

==Fiction==
===Joining the Autobots===
[[File:MegsOrigin4 Hound.jpg|left|upright=1.6|thumb|It's rainin' Hounds!]]
Hound was [[Reproduction|forged]] {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} in [[Lower Monoplex]]. {{storylink|The Not Knowing}} Before the war on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Hound was a veteran member of the Autobots, having served in the [[Primal Vanguard]] and also under [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] with the Security Services force in [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]]. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} During the mass prison break of [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'s gladiators and Kaon's most dangerous criminals, Hound and the Autobot security forces struggled to hold the line against the rioting malcontents. After Sentinel Prime returned to the battlefield in his Apex armor, Hound served as optic lead for Sentinel's heads-up scanners in targeting Megatron. However, Megatron destroyed Sentinel Prime's display helmet by throwing Hound's heavily damaged form at the Autobot commander. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}}

[[File:Hunt for Soundwave Hound down kitty.jpg|thumb|upright=2.5]]
Hound survived and became a tracker for [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]]'s unit once the Autobots abandoned Kaon and fell under [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]]'s rule. At one time they arrested the Decepticon [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] as he was selling [[phase-charge]]s to dissidents in [[Nyon]]. {{storylink|Law and Disorder}} He later participated in a hunt for [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]], but just as he and [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] caught up with him, the spy released [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] to attack them. Hound managed to take the cat down before passing out from his injuries. {{storylink|The Hunt for Soundwave}} Together with the rest of the unit, he then rescued Orion Pax after the Decepticons took him to Kaon. {{storylink|Cause and Effect}}

[[File:Purge Ironhide Hound.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|left]]
A search for the insurgent [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]] brought Orion's team to the [[Acropolex]] in Nyon. Hound was very impressed by the building, being reminded of the legendary [[Knights of Cybertron]] who had supposedly led their species with wisdom and justice before the [[Prime (rank)|Primes]]. He then found some strangely unarmed [[plasma mine]]s and began to suspect Hot Rod wasn't trying to kill them as they thought. Indeed, once they found him, he just wanted to show them proof of Zeta Prime's atrocities. {{storylink|Ruins}} When Prime then attacked Nyon to destroy all who opposed him, Orion Pax and his unit turned on him. They tried to take out one of his [[Guardian robot|Omega Destructors]] by luring it onto Hound's [[graviton-mine]]s and pouring all their firepower on it, but the plan failed and they were defeated by Zeta Prime himself. {{storylink|Purge}} Their lives were saved by none other than Megatron, who brought them to Kaon, had them repaired and convinced Orion to join forces with him against Zeta. {{storylink|Choices}}

As soon as Zeta Prime was dead, Megatron dropped any pretense of niceness and had the Autobots imprisoned in the [[Citadel]]. After he and some others managed to escape their cell, Hound sniffed out an escape route through the building's substructure and made his way to Nyon, where he and the others were surprised to find that Orion Pax had now become Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Rise}} Under Prime's command, they returned to the Citadel with an army in tow and fought the Decepticons for control of Cybertron. {{storylink|Broadcast}} Once the Autobots had come out on top and retaken [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], Hound was glad to see that the ancient [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] had become the city's new capital. {{storylink|Endgame}}

[[File:TheIronAge Autobots vs Decepticons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5]]
As the war went on, Hound was part of the Autobot security of [[Starsreach Spaceport]] during the [[Exodus (G1)|Exodus]] {{storylink|Massacre}} and fought [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s minions during the giant monster's rampage across the planet. {{storylink|Annihilation}} He was among those who defended [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] against the Decepticon army when Megatron arranged a full-scale assault on the city. {{storylink|Primacy issue 4|Primacy #4}} At one point he was working with Prime, [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]], [[Groove (G1)|Groove]], [[Blurr (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Blurr]], and [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] in defending one of Cybertron's cities as Megatron's forces began expanding his empire. {{storylink|The Iron Age}}

Much, much later, Hound was the current leader of a combat unit consisting of [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]], [[Leadfoot (G2)|Leadfoot]], [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]], [[Road Rocket (G2)|Road Rocket]], and [[Skram (G2)|Skram]], manning a permanent guard post around [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s hidden base in [[Thunderhead Pass]]. Hound was a by-the-book guy who followed his mission parameters. Sideswipe was an authority-challenging, loud-talking belligerent who constantly insulted this dull posting and demanded they head for Earth to search for his missing brother [[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]]. Working with him makes Hound cry.

[[File:Devastation 1 Sideswipe Hound.jpg|thumb|left|"I'm honest. It's the world that's awful."]]
To add insult to injury [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|a mysterious and powerful being]] barged into the base, killed Leadfoot, seriously damaged everyone else, and then stole the inactive form of [[Thunderwing (G1)|the planet-murdering Thunderwing]] himself. {{storylink|Spotlight: Galvatron}} In the middle of briefing Optimus Prime on this event, {{storylink|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}} Hound was interrupted by Sideswipe going on about Sunstreaker again. To Hound's surprise, Optimus agreed and called the team to Earth, {{storylink|Devastation issue 1|Devastation #1}} only for him to then order them to [[Garrus-9]] instead when the "[[Pretender Monster|Monstructor Six]]" were broken out of the prison there. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}}

[[File:Spotlight Cyclonus Hound FOSSH.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|"Any of these flaming frakking arrows comes near me, I'll strangle you with your own guts!']]
As they headed off in ''[[Ark-12]]'', Hound had to listen to, yep, Sideswipe moaning they weren't looking for Sunstreaker. His angry retort to Sideswipe to take it up with Prime was interrupted by an attack from [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]]; Hound followed protocol in fighting him off and prepared to carry on instead of investigating the incident (necessity before need), only for the dead Cyclonus to ''get up again'' and keep shooting. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] received Hound's distress call from and drove off the threat, but poor Hound got berated by Sideswipe into diverting from their mission to investigate. That divergence led them to [[Corata-Vaz]] where Sideswipe goaded Cyclonus into attacking instead of surrendering and then insulted Hound when criticised over this, Cyclonus deadened Hound's arm, and then Thunderwing was awakened to swat the Autobots all aside. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}

Prowl regarded the battle with Hound's unit and the [[Wrecker]]s versus Thunderwing as suicidal. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}} Observing that the battle was not going well, [[Jetfire (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jetfire]] decided to try and take control of Thunderwing using Bludgeon's [[axis cradle]], telling [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] to take their forces into the [[Nega-Core]] chamber as quickly as possible should he be successful. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}}

[[File:Spotlight Sideswipe Hound For Max.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3|"No. It gives me joy to kill people."]]
Hound's unit was pulled out of Corata-Vaz and, along with [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Fortress Maximus]], dispatched to Earth to mess up the enemy's space bridge set-up there. Hound sent his men through the Bridge portals to nab all the [[Nega-Core]]s, except for Skram who was sent to get [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]], and Sideswipe who volunteered to keep the enemy forces off their backs. Hound didn't understand Sideswipe's reasons but admitted he'd been wrong about the mech, and announced it was an honour to have served with him. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

===On Earth===
[[File:AHM8 Hound Cliffjumper.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Some time later, Hound joined Optimus Prime's Autobots on Earth, only to be defeated when they were all lured into a Decepticon trap. The Decepticons subsequently dumped them all on Cybertron in hopes that the [[Insecticon swarm]] would finish them off, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} and Hound and the others were left stuck on the ruined planet while their enemies rampaged across Earth. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}} Frustrated at being stranded, Hound listened to [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]'s story about how awesome and cool [[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] is to pass the time. {{storylink|Spotlight: Jazz}}

During one battle with the swarm, he let [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] ride him in vehicle mode, although his Earth mode had traction problems on the planet's metallic surface. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}} Hound later watched in silence as the leaderless Autobots broke into one argument after another. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} When the Insecticon swarm came skittering towards the Autobots, Hound helped fend them off until Omega Supreme turned up and drove them away. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}}

Following the Autobots' return to Earth, Hound located [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Spike Witwicky]], who had helped them defeat the Decepticons by sniping Megatron, and brought him to Optimus Prime. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}} He was later part of an Autobot squad sent to retrieve Bumblebee after he went missing in the ruins of [[New York City|New York]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|Everything in Its Right Place}} {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 16|Hidden}}

[[File:Ride Along Hound.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1]]
Three years later, Hound was still stationed on Earth with Optimus Prime. He helped set up the Autobots' communications network on Earth. {{storylink|Ride-Along}} He was present when Hot Rod demanded to go on a rescue mission for Prowl, and again after the mission went bad and Prime abdicated his leadership role. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}} He watched as Hot Rod led a group of Autobots in seceding from the main army {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}} and as [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] arrived to perform his internal affairs report on [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]]'s murder. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 2: "A Rude Awakening"|A Rude Awakening}}

[[File:RatchetHoundBlasterbadges-Hanging Sword.jpg|thumb|upright=0.02]]
Hound was among those who cheered when Bumblebee was nominated as the new leader of the Autobots. He went with [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] and Bumblebee to investigate [[Gordon Horiuchi]]'s proposed alliance between the Autobots and his loyalists in [[Skywatch]]. Hound's scans didn't turn up anything improper, though, and so the Autobots became Skywatch's newest robot hunters. They captured [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]], [[Axer (G1)|Axer]], and several others in the hopes of building up enough goodwill for Skywatch's governing body to recognize that they weren't a threat. Their hopes were dashed, however, when Horiuchi demanded they capture one of their own deserters, Blurr. He also demonstrated a hidden failsafe measure in the badges Skywatch had provided them, letting him remotely mode-lock any Autobot who disobeyed orders. {{storylink|The Hanging Sword}}

Not having any other choice, Hound and the others reluctantly captured Blurr, but refused to turn him over in the end. Bumblebee's badge was damaged in combat, and so the Autobots worked out a ruse so that he could roam free and find a means of freeing them from Skywatch. {{storylink|The Impossible Knot}} Hound and the others continued to play along with Horiuchi while Bumblebee ran his solo mission. {{storylink|The Gift Horse}} Eventually, Bumblebee successfully disabled the badges and, to accommodate his new role as leader, he had Hound and [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] upgrade his body with additional strength and armor. {{storylink|Wings of Wax}}

Several months later, Hound and most other Autobots left Earth to return to Cybertron. He was among those who were curious about how Optimus Prime would interrogate a captive Megatron. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} Once they arrived, they fought against Galvatron's [[Sweep (G1)|Sweep]] hordes. {{storylink|Chaos Part Two: Numbers|Numbers}} Then Megatron escaped and summoned his own troops to the scene, causing more trouble for the Autobots. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings|Kings}}

===Joining the ''Light''===
When the ''[[Lost Light]]'' departed for unknown space to search for the [[Knights of Cybertron]], Hound was part of the bridge crew. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}} He was present among the assembled Autobots after their tumble through quantum space as [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] addressed the troops. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}} He then attended the secret grand opening of the ship's bar, [[Swerve's]]. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}}

[[File:Interiors Hound guessing game.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|left]]
To demonstrate [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome's]] ability to identify an Autobot based on their [[Transformation#The noise|transformation sounds]], Trailbreaker got Hound to transform and Chromedome managed to identify him without looking. {{storylink|Interiors}} While [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] was recovering from getting his head shot off, he and Hound had a brief interaction where Hound showed a tendency to still use Earth-based terminology; Rung found it curious he referred to his sedentary circuit slab as a "wheelchair." {{storylink|Signal to Noise}} Hound volunteered for the mission to [[Temptoria]] to see if a Decepticon force there was holding the [[Circle of Light]] prisoner. On the way he discussed [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]'s recent decapitation with [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] and realized that [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]]'s new title was the longest ever. {{storylink|Before & After}} Hound joined the rest of the crew in fighting [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]. When Chromedome arrived at the battle, Hound was seen sitting on the ground, holding a wounded [[Gears (G1)|Gears]]. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} He presumably attended the memorial service for his fallen crewmembers along with the rest of the crew. {{storylink|The Gloaming}}

[[File:TheDeadAreNotEnough FieldCommanderHound.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|right]]
Together with Gears and [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]], Hound defended the ''Lost Light'' when [[Solomus|Chief Justice Tyrest]]'s [[Legislator]]s attacked. {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}} After the battle was over, he and some other regulars helped [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] rebuild his wrecked bar. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}} Later while serving on the bridge, he received a transmission from [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] on Cybertron. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}} This led to a series of events that caused the ''Lost Light'' to go searching for Metroplex and end up underwater on an unknown world where they were attacked by [[Ammonite]]s. With the higher ranked crew members absent, Hound was made acting field commander and led his fellow Autobots into combat. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Once Metroplex was found, he [[space bridge]]d himself and the ''Lost Light'' back to Cybertron, where Hound was reunited with Bumblebee's Autobots (and Megatron) and got them up to speed on Metroplex's condition. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}} He coordinated with the factions led by Bumblebee and Soundwave while the rest of the crew caught their breath after the fall of the [[Quintessa (IDW)|Necrotitan]]. Hours later, Hound was amazed at how easily the Autobots and Decepticons got along in the aftermath—all it took was some strong engex and a bar to sing in. Badly. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} When the Ammonites invaded soon after, Hound got the ''Lost Light'' back in the air to counter the billions of invaders. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} Working with [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] and [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] on the bridge, they rammed Monstructor in his fight with Prowl-Devastator, busting the first combiner into pieces. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}} Hound later attended the trial of Megatron on Luna 2. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}}

[[File:TwentyPlusOne HoundFindsRavage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left|Cat cannot hide from Dog. Dog will always find Cat. Dog will give Cat no rest.]]
Hound continued to be a crew member of the ''Lost Light'' when the ship itself started disappearing. Hound evacuated the vessel along with the rest of the crew and was one of the twenty to escape in the [[Rodpod]]. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} When a growing standoff was brewing between Megatron and a few of the Autobots, Hound seemingly aimed his weapon at Nautica, but was really aiming for Ravage, who was lurking in the shadows. Ravage proceeded to pounce from his position towards Hound when the lights went out. When the lights flicked back on, Megatron had Ravage apprehended, leaving Hound to question how Ravage got on the ship to begin with. Hound didn't have much time to ponder his question before he suddenly vanished without a trace. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} The few Autobots that didn't disappear soon came across a wrecked duplicate of the ''Lost Light'', created when the ship's [[quantum generator|quantum engines]] malfunctioned upon its original launch. On board the vessel, Megatron and Ravage found the body of Hound with a sword impaled in his chest and his brain module shoved in his mouth, leaving the former Decepticon leader to conclude he was killed by [[Helex (DJD)|Helex]] of the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}} This Hound was thus on the [[Mortilus|Necrobot]]'s list of deceased Transformers. {{storylink|Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|Who's Afraid of the DJD?}} When the duplicate quantum engines were shut down, Hound reappeared back on the Rodpod, along with the rest of the crew. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}

Hound remained on the ''Lost Light'' when certain members of the crew went back in time after [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]]. When they had brought back the latter, Hound was among the Autobots at Swerve's attending movie night. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}} He later visited [[Mirage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Mirage]]'s bar, [["Visages"]]. {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}} Hound was present when the crew gathered to listen to an announcement by Rodimus that they'd located [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] and were set to attend his "pre-wake". {{storylink|The Sensuous Frame}} After they'd done so, Hound went to the "EarthDance" party at Swerve's. {{storylink|The Frail Gaze}} He was among the crew members who visited the [[Necroworld]], surprising the Necrobot who thought him and the others dead after having recorded the deaths of their duplicates. {{storylink|The Not Knowing}}

In his spare time, Hound was also one of the attendees of Megatron's lectures. This didn't stop him being part of the mutiny against Megatron and anyone deemed too close to him. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}} As they watched Getaway milk his big moment, Hound admitted to Thunderclash his lack of awareness of Getaway subjecting those who had refused to join the mutiny to having their memories erased with his nudge gun. After the mutiny was finished and communication with Rodimus's group cut off, Hound believed that with Rodimus, Megatron, and Ultra Magnus off-ship, he was next-in-line to take command of the mission. However, Getaway stated that Hound would be third-in-command after himself and [[Atomizer]], claiming that the mutiny was his to own, and the only way the crew could hold him accountable for that decision would be if he was in charge.

[[File:FillingInTheBlanks GetawayFakeNews.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|right]]
At a team meeting, regarding the [[Warren]], Hound and his teammates were horrified when a transmission from Rodimus revealed that Getaway had not only abandoned Rodimus's men to the mercies of the [[Galactic Council]], but to the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. With the command structure threatening to breakdown, Getaway had the mnemosurgeon [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]] reprogram the memories of Hound and the rest of the crew. They were coerced into believing that Rodimus and the others left of their own free will, abandoning the rest of the crew to find Cyberutopia faster on their own. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|Filling in the Blanks}}

Despite no longer remembering the mutiny and Getaway's role in it, the mnemosurgery still left Hound and the others convinced that they agreed to put Getaway in charge. When the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobot]]s returned to the ''Lost Light'' and [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] questioned Hound about this, he had trouble justifying the idea in hindsight, despite the shadowplay. The security team seemed to prefer Getaway and they ''were'' making progress, so... the ends seemed to justify the means. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 1): Full Circle|Full Circle}}

Everything collapsed, however, when they reached Cyberutopia. The promised land turned out to be a sham, and the ''Lost Light'' came under attack by the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]] and his [[Phantom Fleet]] of [[Worldsweeper]]s. Desperate to save his own skin, Getaway made a deal with the Architect to spare him in exchange for his help against Rodimus, who Getaway swore would try to stop the Grand Architect's plans. To that end, the Architect's ally [[Scorponok (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Scorponok]] was allowed to subject Hound and the other Autobots to a [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]] virus, changing them into zombie-like minions with acid vomit, a thirst for sparks, and no will of their own. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}}

[[File:YouAreHere AutobotSparkeaters.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|...andthenHoundwasazombie.]]
When Rodimus and the others ''did'' arrive on Cyberutopia, Hound was dispatched with the first wave of Sparkeaters along with [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]], [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] to "greet" their friends. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}} Hound and the Sparkeaters threatened Rodimus and his growing collection of allies as they opposed the Grand Architect's forces. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|A Dance Before Dying}} Eventually, First Aid discovered a form of concussive medicine that would transmit a kinetic program code to eliminate the Sparkeater virus. Hound and the others were incapacitated, but seemingly cured of their infection. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}} After Rodimus reclaimed the ''Lost Light'', he had Hound and his ailing crew brought aboard for Ratchet and First Aid to continue treating as they confronted the Grand Architect. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness|Farsickness}}

After the crisis was over, Hound joined the rest of the crew for one last "victory lap" aboard the ''Lost Light''. As the crew prepared to quantum jump home, the science team proposed the risky gamble of recreating the malfunctioning launch, thereby quantum duplicating themselves before then shunting the duplicates into a parallel universe to ensure that the Lost Light's adventures would never truly end. When the time to jump came, the crew simply wound up back on Cybertron, unaware that, in some distant corner of the multiverse, the duplicate ''Lost Light'' with its version of Hound materialized, ready to set sail for an infinity of new adventures.

Years later, Hound was one of the attendees at Ratchet's funeral. He seemed particularly distraught at one of his oldest comrades' passing and had to be led away by Blaster. {{storylink|How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2}}

==''Spotlight: Mirage''==
[[File:SpotlightMirage Hound dies.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Second death, but it still doesn't count.]]
On Earth, Hound's friend Mirage was seriously injured, and as he recuperated, he was haunted repeatedly by dreams of being a Decepticon. In this dream, Hound was among the last of the Autobots holding out in a losing battle with the Decepticons. He was working on a way to convert the cross-dimensional [[Zodiac]] energy for consumption in lieu of energon when Mirage tricked the Autobots into letting him enter their hideout. During the subsequent scuffle, Hound killed Soundwave, but the Autobots were forced to surrender when Mirage held Jetfire hostage, yet promised to spare their lives. Unfortunately for Hound, Mirage was ordered by Megatron to execute the Autobots. Hound was killed by Mirage as defiance to Optimus Prime's pleas for him to see reason.

But it was just Mirage's dream (or some alternate dimension mumbo-jumbo), so it didn't matter. Right? {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}
{{-}}

[[Category:IDW (2005) Autobots]]
[[Category:Law enforcement]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]

Barricade (Movie)

2020-03-06T12:15:57Z

Spark Mandrill: /* "Flight of the Bumblebee" online game */

{{factions|decepticonfilm|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Barricade}}{{suite}}
:''Barricade is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:MovieBarricadeHeatScrambleCard60.jpg|right|upright=1.67|thumb|"I'm always the Bad Cop. And don't bother asking for the Good Cop. I killed him."]]

'''Barricade''' is apparently a complicated robot. He's considered "fractious" even by Decepticon standards, yet is willing to give [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] the benefit of the doubt and follow where he leads, at least for the time being. Though not totally dedicated to the service of the Decepticons' current leader, he is much more cautious and reserved about expressing mutinous dissent than say [[Blackout (Movie)|''most'']]. He believes that Starscream is vital in their search for [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] and the [[AllSpark]]. In many ways this makes him Starscream's closest ally in the naturally combative Decepticon ranks. Then again, it's been said that he likes to trick people into trusting him, just so he can see their reactions when they find out just how much of a bad idea it was. As such, he has disguised himself as an [[Earth]] police car in an attempt to fool the humans around him.

If his attitude toward his fellow Decepticons is inconsistent, his attitude toward the [[Autobot]]s is not: kill them all. Barricade might not be as large as most of his peers, but he is every bit as deadly. He thoroughly relishes every chance in fighting the Autobots. He's smart enough to let one live if he thinks he or the Decepticons can use it to their advantage, but most of the time, they're dead before someone's even thought of a plan.

He is also known as '''N.B.E. 04'''.{{fact}} The most frustrating part about him is that he always manages to come back no matter how many times he has been brought down.

{{quote|Autobots, foul Autobots, here we come. Let our long war resume—and let it end here.|Barricade|''[[Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday|Ghosts of Yesterday]]''}}

==Fiction==
===Movies===
{{note|The six movies are the primary component of the live-action movie continuity family. Their events should be taken as canon for all other pieces of fiction listed below, unless otherwise specified.}}

====''Transformers'' film====
{{voiceactor|[[Jess Harnell]] (English)|[[Katsuhiro Kitagawa]] (Japanese), [[Zhang Wei]] (Chinese), [[Oliver Siebeck]] (German), [[Júlio César]] (Brazil), [[Salvador Reyes]] (Latin American-Spanish), [[Achille D'Aniello]] (Italian), [[Pascal Massix]] (European French)}}
[[File:BarricadeVsSam.jpg|upright=1.8|thumb|Barricade negotiates an alternative to PayPal.]]
After being active on [[Earth]] for some time, Barricade arrived to pick up [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] after the smaller Decepticon's attempt to hack into and sabotage the United States military network on [[Air Force One]]. From data Frenzy had acquired, the two learned of [[Sector Seven]], "Project Iceman", and the "[[Archibald Witwicky|Witwicky man]]", the discoverer of the entombed [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. Using the internet, the duo learned that Megatron had accidentally marked Witwicky's [[Archibald Witwicky's glasses|glasses]] with the location of the long-lost [[AllSpark]]—glasses which were now being auctioned on [[eBay]] by his descendant, [[Sam Witwicky|ladiesman217]].

[[File:Movie Barricade defeat.jpg|left|upright=1.8|thumb|He got better.]]

Tracking the human to the town of [[Tranquility]], Barricade appeared in the path of ladiesman217 as he was attempting to flee [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]], whom he mistakenly believed was out to harm him. Believing Barricade to be a legitimate police vehicle, ladiesman217 requested the "officer's" help, only for Barricade to transform right in front of him. As ladiesman217 fled, Barricade knocked him onto the hood of an abandoned car, then violently demanded information on "eBay item 21153". Ladiesman217 and his [[Mikaela Banes|female friend]], who had been drawn into the encounter, managed to escape him when Bumblebee convinced the boy to trust him, and Barricade pursued both the Autobot and two humans to a junkyard. After temporarily losing and then regaining their position, he charged into battle, activating his mace/rotating blade, and dispatched Frenzy to chase down the humans. The battle started off pretty well and worked in Barricade's favor until Bumblebee slammed him into an office. Barricade then rolled over and took back control by bashing his fists against Bumblebee's head. However, their battle ended with Barricade heavily damaged.

[[File:TF2007 barricade vehiclemode.jpg|upright=1.8|thumb|I'm going to need a dozen robots disguised as cookies.]]

Barricade had repaired himself by the time Frenzy (who infiltrated Sector Seven) transmitted both Megatron and the AllSpark's location to his fellow Decepticons. Knowing that the Decepticons were coming, the humans and Autobots tried to transport the AllSpark to [[Mission City]] for extraction, but Barricade and [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]] caught up to them on the highway into the city. Barricade attempted to clear a path through the traffic by activating his sirens; Bonecrusher simply rammed everything in his way. Ladiesman217—riding inside Bumblebee—recognized Barricade, and in response to his call for action, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] realigned to block the Decepticon from getting to the human and the AllSpark. Barricade was last seen as Bonecrusher pulled ahead to attack Optimus; he was absent from the subsequent battle in Mission City for unknown reasons. {{storylink|Transformers (film)|Transformers}}

{{note|Barricade's involvement in the preceding events, or events mostly similar, were also chronicled in the novels ''[[Transformers (novel)|Transformers]],'' ''[[Transformers: The Junior Novel]]'' and "[[The Quest for the AllSpark]]"; the ''[[Transformers: Movie Adaptation]]'' and "[[Movie Trilogy]]" comics; the activity book "[[Look and Find Transformers]]"; and the storybooks "[[Bumblebee Rumble]]", "[[Optimus Prime Versus Megatron]]", "[[Sam's New Car]]", "[[Transformers (interactive Play-a-Sound Storybook)|Transformers Play-a-Sound]]", "[[Meet the Autobots]]", "[[Meet the Decepticons]]", "[[Transformers Mix & Match]]" and "[[Transformers: The Movie Storybook]]". Many of these adaptations were based on earlier drafts of the movie's script; in several, most prominently the novelization and comic adaptations, Barricade engages Optimus Prime on the highway after he takes out Bonecrusher and is destroyed as a result, explaining his disappearance from the film's final act.}}

====''Dark of the Moon'' film====
{{voiceactor|[[Frank Welker]] (English, see [[#Notes|notes]])|[[Bernard Métraux]] (European French)}}
[[File:DOTM-Barricadecaptures.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.8|It's so obvious that we're going to win.]]
Barricade was one of the Decepticons present in [[Chicago]] when [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] and [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] unleashed their plan to use a [[space bridge]] to bring [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to Earth, and assisted in the takeover of the city. Under the command of [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], he aided in rounding up several Autobots that had infiltrated the city, including his old foe Bumblebee, to whom he delivered a hard kick to the back for fun. At the behest of the human traitor [[Dylan Gould]], Soundwave ordered Barricade to execute the Autobot prisoners, starting with [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Que]]; Barricade laughed as he slew the Autobot with a shot in the back. Fortunately, [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] and [[Brains]] intervened to prevent any further executions, causing a distraction that allowed the other Autobots to escape.

[[File:DOTM-Barricadesnipershot.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|Better hope one shot is enough to disable both his left optics at once, eh?]]
Following the Autobots' getaway, Barricade joined up with [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]], and was in the process of chewing out the Decepticon ground troops when he suddenly found himself blinded by sniper shots to his eyes courtesy of the Autobots' [[NEST]] allies. As he stumbled around in pain, the humans got in close and jammed a bomb into his leg, which brought him tumbling to the ground when it went off. He was last seen trying to crawl to safety as the human troops fired on him. {{Storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}

{{note|Barricade's involvement in the preceding events, or events mostly similar, were also chronicled in the comic mini-series ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon Movie Adaptation]]''.}}
{{--}}

====''Age of Extinction'' film====
Footage of Barricade at the Battle of Chicago was shown by [[Harold Attinger]] to demonstrate how Transformers were dangerous.
{{storylink|Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction}}

====''The Last Knight'' film====
{{Voiceactor|[[Jess Harnell]] (English)|[[Zhang Yaohan]] (Chinese), [[Katsuhiro Kitagawa]] (Japanese)}}
[[File:TF-TLK-Barricade-first-appearance.jpg|upright=1.6|thumb|He's decided to show up every other film from now on.]]
Having survived the injuries he sustained in the Chicago war and avoided being hunted down by the humans in the years since, Barricade had been rebuilt into a sleeker new form. In the seven years since the Chicago conflict, he had acted as Megatron's spy and scout in his search for the [[Guardian Knight]]s' [[Talisman (TLK)|talisman]]. Perhaps unknown to Barricade, he had long been under surveillance by the U.S. government. In the ruins of Chicago, he witnessed the talisman being bestowed to [[Cade Yeager]] by [[Talisman Knight|one of the Knights]]. He was however unable to claim it due to arrival of the heavily armed [[Transformers Reaction Force|TRF]], and he watched from a distance as they entered a stand off with Yeager and the Autobots.

[[File:TLK-BarricadeReportsToMegatron.jpg|left|upright=1.6|thumb|Okay people, move along, nothing to see here.]]
Barricade reported back to Megatron, accidentally angering his leader by flashing his light in his face. He reported the events of his mission, and Megatron was further angered by his failure to retrieve the Talisman, which was needed to find the [[Staff of Merlin|Staff]] they required. Barricade managed to salvage the situation, indicating he knew who could lead them to the Staff: the TRF themselves. Unknown to either Decepticon, their conversation was being monitored by [[William Lennox]] and [[Morshower|General Morshower]]. Based on Barricade's plan, Megatron used human hostages as leverage to broker a deal with TRF and secured the release of fellow Decepticons [[Mohawk]], [[Dreadbot]], [[Nitro Zeus]], and [[Onslaught (ROTF)|Onslaught]].

Barricade later joined his leader and cohorts in their hunt for Yeager. They arrived at Yeager's [[Junkyard (TLK)|scrap yard]] but Yeager had already fled to a nearby town and they followed. They were met with some not-quite-unexpected resistance in the form of the Autobots Bumblebee, [[Drift (AOE)|Drift]], and [[Crosshairs (AOE)|Crosshairs]] and blasted by a trap set by Yeager. Barricade took point in pursuing Yeager through the town. Barricade ordered Yeager and [[Izabella]] to freeze, but was surprised and swiped through a wall by the newly-arrived [[Grimlock (AOE)|Grimlock]]'s tail. Luckily for Barricade, Grimlock was then focused on attacking Megatron and crunching on Dreadbot. After Dreadbot and Onslaught perished in battle, Barricade fled when Megatron gave the order to retreat.

[[File:TLKMegsAndBarricade.jpg|right|upright=1.6|thumb|Hey Barricade, ready for a [[Frank Welker|flashback]] to ''Dark of the Moon''?]]
He and his comrades then followed Yeager to England, knowing he was the key to finding the Staff. In [[London]], he chased down the fleeing Bumblebee, who had Yeager and [[Viviane Wembly]] with him. He attempted to ram them but was blasted away by his Autobot nemesis. He transformed to catch himself but fell into oncoming traffic and was rammed by a large truck. Commenting on how much it hurt, he had been hit hard enough that he was too weak to continue the pursuit.

He later rendezvoused with Megatron and Nitro at [[Stonehenge]], the site which would drain [[Unicron]], who lay deep within the Earth, of his energy and revive the recently arrived Cybertron. He happily gloated that he had lived to kill a planet and commented on the ease with which they could kill Unicron. They soon came under attack from the [[British Armed Forces]] and Barricade returned fire. {{storylink|Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight}}
{{-}}

===Novels===
====''Ghosts of Yesterday''====
Barricade acted as pilot and chief science officer for the ''[[Nemesis (Movie)|Nemesis]]'' during the quest to find the [[AllSpark]]. When they encountered an [[Ghost 1|alien ship]], he analysed it and discovered that it seemed to be of Cybertronian design, leading to a disagreement between himself and [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] regarding whether to study it or destroy it. He claimed to have chafed under Starscream's leadership, but was willing to tolerate him for the moment.

During Starscream's later absence, Barricade was against [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]]'s plan to attack the Autobots, and remained on the ''Nemesis'' while the others got their tailpipes kicked. Following the defeat, he contacted Starscream to warn their leader that Optimus Prime was on his way to the planet below where Starscream had been misleading the occupants of the alien ship. Starscream ordered an attack on the Autobots while their numbers were diminished, so Barricade placed [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]] in charge of the assault, while he himself elected to stay on the ship and use it as a distraction. And sang. He supplied support fire as the others fought the Autobots. On Starscream's return, the Decepticons leader was challenged by Blackout, and Barricade decided they should see things resolved once and for all. After Blackout's defeat, Barricade asserted that he'd known what the outcome would be even before the fight began.

When Optimus and Bumblebee entered the fray, Starscream ordered Barricade to leave the ''Nemesis'' to reinforce their numbers. He proved most effective in battle against Bumblebee and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]. The fight ended when Starscream was badly damaged by the alien ship and, to Barricade's disbelief, called a retreat. The Decepticons returned to their ship and departed. {{storylink|Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday|Ghosts of Yesterday}}

====''The Veiled Threat''====
After the traitorous businessman [[Bruno Carrera]] and Starscream had trapped Optimus Prime in the [[Colosseum]] in [[Rome]], [[Italy]], Starscream turned the situation over to Barricade, who was more than delighted to see his old enemy in such a prone state. However, before he could strike the final blow, a bunch of [[human]]s began attacking, which wouldn't have been a problem if they weren't equipped with the scientific genius of [[Kaminari Ishihara]] and [[Petr Andronov]], in addition to [[William Lennox]] and [[Robert Epps]] firing sabot rounds into him. He was about to stomp on the insects when Prime broke free of the trap and engaged him. Once the humans were clear, Optimus pulled a surprise move by jumping out of the pit and dumping rock on top of him.

Once he was buried, Optimus melted the top layer of rock, trapping Barricade long enough for the NEST team to defeat Starscream and take him in. Unfortunately, Barricade was nowhere to be found; Instead, a passing crew working on the subway found a strange new tunnel, leading from the Colosseum to the center of a park. Whatever had dug the new passage overnight was nowhere to be seen. {{storylink|Transformers: The Veiled Threat|The Veiled Threat}}

===IDW movie comics===
[[File:Foundation2 cybertronian barricade.jpg|thumb|upright=1.75|Any special message for all the kids reading this wiki out home? "Stay out of trouble. Because this trouble will find you."]]
Many years in the past, when [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] had just come under the rule of the [[Defense Force]] and the [[Science Division]], Barricade was a member of the Defense Force under the command of High Protector [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. He participated in missions to rid the planet of "malcontents" who protested against the new order, and like many of his peers, he did so ruthlessly. {{Storylink|Foundation issue 2|Foundation #2}}

When [[Ejoornian|unknown alien hostiles]] attacked Cybertron after the discovery of a [[The Fallen|mysterious relic]], Barricade and Scorponok were sent to perform recon. {{Storylink|Defiance issue 1|Defiance #1}} Following battle with the aliens Megatron changed significantly, altering the military's mission from one of protection to making war upon the hostile aliens and anybody who would stand in their way. As Megatron's ambition grew, he determined to eliminate Science Division leader [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]], sending Barricade and a team of other Decepticons to slay Optimus's allies and bring him in. [[File:Defiance3 BrawlCrankcaseBarricade.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.75|Are you trying to out-complain the complainer?]] Barricade and [[Crankcase (Movie)|Crankcase]] stood by as [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]] nailed the "traitors" with an explosive round; Barricade was eager to get into the fight, but was ordered back by the glory-hound [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] so his aerial forces could swoop in to finish the job. This turned out to be lucky for Barricade, as Optimus managed to bury Starscream's team under a mountain of rubble. Though defeated, they all soon returned to [[Trypticon (Movie)|Trypticon]], where Megatron rechristened them and the rest of his Defense Force the "Decepticons." {{Storylink|Defiance issue 3|Defiance #3}}

During the subsequent civil war between the Decepticons and Optimus's Autobots, Barricade was one of the Decepticons under the command of Starscream who took part in a battle outside of [[Tyger Pax]]. As they were mopping up the last remnants of Autobot resistance, Barricade amused himself by playing with the decapitated head of a fallen Autobot, but mood turned somber when he saw the AllSpark jettisoned into space. Barricade realized that Cybertron would soon die without the AllSpark, but Bonecrusher had little time for his remarks, suggesting he should die along with the planet. {{storylink|Planetfall (Movie)|Planetfall}} Megatron immediately took off to pursue the AllSpark, leaving Starscream with orders to eliminate the Autobots in advance of his return. When the Autobots departed the planet to hunt down the AllSpark themselves, Barricade was part of the crew of the ''[[Nemesis (Movie)|Nemesis]]'' assembled by Starscream to give chase. Confident in Megatron's abilities to deal with any pursuing Autobots, Barricade questioned both the need to hurry, and Starscream's motives for doing so, but was quickly reprimanded by Starscream for speaking out of turn. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 1|The Reign of Starscream #1}}

[[File:Planetfall barricade and wreckage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Waste your out-of-character sympathy for people who will actually be IN the movie.]]

After thousands of years of searching, the ''Nemesis'' crew tracked the AllSpark's energy to [[Earth]]'s [[Star system|solar system]]. After setting their ship down on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], {{storylink|Movie Prequel issue 3|Movie Prequel #3}} {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 1|The Reign of Starscream #1}} Barricade, Starscream, Blackout, Brawl, Bonecrusher and [[Wreckage (Movie)|Wreckage]] continued on to Earth itself, where they touched down in [[Afghanistan]] in 2003. They immediately attacked a nearby [[United States military]] installation, where Barricade used a facade of friendliness to trick nearby human soldiers into lowering their guard, whereupon he slaughtered them at point-blank range. As the fight continued, he was almost hit by a localized EMP weapon from a human, but it instead hit his comrade [[Wreckage (Movie)|Wreckage]]. Barricade objected to leaving Wreckage behind when Starscream ordered them to pull out, but was forced to abandon him. {{storylink|Planetfall (Movie)|Planetfall}} The Decepticons subsequently scattered across the planet to search for Megatron and the AllSpark; Barricade scanned a Saleen S281 police car, then destroyed the original human vehicle to cover his tracks. {{storylink|Movie Prequel issue 4|Movie Prequel #4}}

{{note|"Planetfall" and ''Movie Prequel'' #4 offer contradictory accounts of Barricade and the Decepticons' arrival on Earth, with the former showing them arriving in Afghanisation shortly before the events of the film, and the latter placing them in North America in 2003. The ''[[Transformers: The Reign of Starscream|Reign of Starscream]]'' movie sequel comic would corroborate the "Planetfall" account, but the timing involved means it must take place in 2003 as in ''Prequel'' #4.}}

[[File:Interlude barricade vs bee.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.75|Prime directives: 1. Serve the public. 2. Protect the innocent. 3. Obey the law. 4. Do the exact opposite of 1-3.]]

Learning that the Autobot Bumblebee was also on Earth, Barricade tracked him to just outside of [[Denver]], [[Colorado]], arriving just as the Autobot was eluding [[Sector Seven]] while working on a new lead on the [[Witwicky]]s. {{storylink|Interlude}} Bumblebee managed to escape, but Barricade pursued him to [[New Mexico]], where he had a new idea: ''allow'' the Autobot to get away, so that they could track him from afar to see what leads and information he had already turned up in his search. Starscream agreed to the plan, but ordered Barricade to superficially rough the little Autobot up a bit before letting him go, just to make it look convincing. {{storylink|Movie Prequel issue 4|Movie Prequel #4}} Bumblebee subsequently found his way to [[Tranquility]] and [[Sam Witwicky]], and the battle over the glasses to learn the location of the AllSpark ensued. {{storylink|Transformers: Movie Adaptation}} During the subsequent highway chase to Mission City, Barricade attempted to close in on Bumblebee to "settle the score" with him, but found his way obstructed by Ironhide, causing him to crash into a pillar. Knocked offline by the crash, he missed out on the Mission City battle; he was conscious again by the time the battle's sole survivor, Starscream, came looking for him. Informed that Sam had destroyed the AllSpark and Megatron, Barricade suggested recovering the lost Frenzy so they could access his data files on the boy. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 1|The Reign of Starscream #1}}

While Starscream returned to Cybertron to enact a plan of his own, Barricade remained on Earth, watching over a Sector Seven research base. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 3|The Reign of Starscream #3}} He spied upon the Autobots as they made plans with [[William Lennox|Captain Lennox]] and [[Robert Epps|Sergeant Epps]] to dispose of the Decepticons' bodies, then broadcast the information he had learned into space on a Decepticon frequency, hoping someone would hear and take interest. As it turned out, Starscream, having returned from Cybertron to Mars, was ready and willing to answer. {{storylink|Alliance issue 1|Alliance #1}} Soon after Starscream made it back to Earth, however, Decepticons under the command of the long-absent [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] also began arriving, and Barricade provided them with intelligence on which Autobots they were facing. He continued to plague the Autobots and the new [[NEST]] team, escaping each time. {{storylink|Alliance issue 4|Alliance #4}} Soundwave sought the final remaining shard of the AllSpark in order to revive Megatron, so Barricade was sent to Tranquility to capture Sam and force its location from him—or failing that, ransom him for it. [[File:TotF1 barricade and sam.jpg|right|thumb|upright=2|"Dead or alive, you're coming with me. Only you won't be alive."]] Barricade took the boy to a junkyard to interrogate him, but Bumblebee soon arrived to rescue him. A protracted battled followed, concluding when 'Bee knocked Barricade into a pool of gasoline and ignited it, setting off a massive explosion. Barricade survived the blast, though, and drove off in car mode after Bumblebee and Sam had left. {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 1|Tales of the Fallen #1}}

Following the resurrection of Megatron and [[The Fallen]]'s failed plan for revenge, Barricade was among the Decepticon troops that [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] sent to attack Sam's college in order to recapture a rogue Decepticon brain unit [[Brains]]. Barricade initiated the assault, smashing his way into Sam's dorm and renewing his rivalry with Bumblebee, who stood ready to protect his human friend. {{Storylink|Rising Storm issue 2|Rising Storm #2}} The pair grappled and traded blows for the duration of the attack {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 3|Rising Storm #3}} until Bumblebee ended the battle by slamming Barricade to the ground with a sickening crunch. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 4|Rising Storm #4}}
{{-}}

====''Transformers: Beginnings''====
{{voiceactor|? (English)}}
[[File:Movie Barricade IDWprequel nowitnesses.jpg|left|upright=1.8|thumb|Christine... is that you?]]
The Decepticon infiltration unit under the command of Starscream arrived on Earth in the year 2003. Barricade scanned a Saleen S281 police car, then destroyed the original human vehicle to cover his tracks, as did his fellow Decepticons when choosing their new forms. His proceeded to tail Bumblebee while the Autobot was on his way to [[New Mexico]], but unfortunately, Bumblebee identified him before Barricade could eliminate him. Barricade was inspired to come up with a new plan: ''allow'' the Autobot to get away, so that they could track him from afar to see what leads and information he had already turned up in his search. Starscream agreed to the plan, but ordered Barricade to superficially rough the little Autobot up a bit before letting him go, just to make it look convincing. {{storylink|Transformers: Beginnings (Movie)|Transformers: Beginnings}}

{{note|"Transformers: Beginnings" is a condensed, Flash-animated retelling of the [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] [[Transformers: Movie Prequel|Movie Prequel]] that is detailed above this section.}}

====''Schick Hydrobot and the Transformers''====
Barricade was among the Decepticons who attacked Doctor [[Hiroshi Benson]]'s laboratory. Holding his own for much of the battle, he was later incapacitated when [[Hydrobot (TLK)|Hydrobot]] and Bumblebee unleashed a powerful shock attack with the latter's stinger, forcing them into a retreat. {{storylink|A New Friend|A New Friend}}

===Titan movie comics===
[[File:StarscreamMilitia zombie barricade.jpg|thumb|upright=1|Guess Barricade's a ''Trigun'' fan.]]
Barricade was killed in the <s>[[Mission City]]</s> [[Los Angeles]] battle. Immediately after the battle's conclusion, Starscream resurrected him, Blackout, and Devastator using AllSpark energy plucked from the [[AllSpark Mutation|mutations]] created during the chaos, turning all three into mindless, relentless zombies. Holding his own decapitated head in his hand, the zombie Barricade took on Optimus Prime; his noggin chewed on the Autobot leader's arm while the rest of his body kept him busy. The battle lasted only mere minutes, as Ratchet soon realized what was animating the Decepticons' bodies and instructed his fellow Autobots to target the AllSpark energy signatures, putting Barricade and his fellow zombies down permanently. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 7|Starscream's Militia}}

{{note|"Starscream's Milita" was written using IDW's comic book adaptation of the movie as a springboard, and so incorporated Barricade's death as seen in it. Just as IDW themselves would ignore the scene in their future comics thanks to its deletion from the film, all subsequent Titan stories ignored Barricade's death and presented him as being alive.}}

Several years later, Barricade joined Starscream in a hit and run on the [[Tech Museum of Innovation]] in [[San Jose]] during an anti-[[Transformer]] rally. Barricade's contribution mainly consisted of being beaten up by Ironhide. Even grabbing Ironhide from behind didn't work, as Ironhide's weapons worked as rocket boosters to throw the pair backwards, and Barricade was body-slammed into a nearby building. Things were looking up after Ironhide was caught in an explosion, but the two Decepticons were mobbed by humans and when Optimus Prime turned up as well, the pair fled. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 3.4|Automatic for the People}}
{{-}}

====Alternate timeline====
[[File:Barricadeblackoutandfriends-DarkSpark.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
In an alternate timeline in which Megatron triumphed in the battle of Mission City and the victorious Decepticons set about conquering North America, Barricade was part of two punitive Decepticon attacks: a raid on a supply convoy at Shreveport, [[Louisiana]] {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 16|Dark Spark}} and after aiding Starscream taking over the Decepticon headquarters {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 19|Return to Cybertron: Part 3}}, a solo strike on Cincinnati, [[Ohio]] as part of a "Stop supporting Autobots OR ELSE!" campaign. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 23|Revolution Part 1}}

When Starscream started open warfare, he made Barricade one of his generals. However, Barricade soon found himself bogged down in fighting [[Stockade (Movie)|Stockade's]] "New Decepticons". {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 24|Revolution Part 2}}

====Letters page====
[[File:Lawanddisorder barricade.jpg|right|upright=2|thumb|One: I am the prettiest unicorn! Two: my mane is lustrous and fragrant, and it catches the wind perfectly! Dismissed!]]

Starscream considered Barricade a good candidate for second-in-command once he vacated the position to take over the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 16|#16's Star Screams}} As irony would have it, Barricade ''did'' soon take over Starscream's job when the air commander had a nervous breakdown... his job as respondent for the comic's [[letters page]]! Unwilling to let the Decepticons turn the page into a propaganda machine, the Autobots dispatched [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] to co-run it with him, much to Barricade's irritation. He shared Starscream's contempt for ''[[you]]'', the reader (#1), and continued the tradition of threatening violence against ''anyone'' who cosplays as an Autobot (#7). This, however, didn't stop him bragging to Ironhide when letters would be pro-Decepticon, and at one point he held a popularity contest to see who the kiddies wanted to be "subjugated by this issue!" (#6).

By the time of Barricade's stewardship of the letters, relations had broken down between the Decepticons and [[DreamWorks]], and they had returned to targeting Michael Bay and company for the pro-Autobot bent of their films. Though Barricade personally enjoyed the scene in the first film when [[Mojo|a dog]] peed on Ironhide, (#1) he refused to appear in the second, and would not even allow his likeness to be used in the video games. (#4) (He claimed he never wanted to be in ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)|War for Cybertron]]'' but his tears disproved that (#12)) He later decided fame was more important than principles though, submitting a script and auditioning for a part in the third film by threatening the director with death (#8). He was absolutely ''disgusted'' by [[fandom|our]] enjoyment of the films: he lost ''friends'' during filming, man. (#10)

In the early days, he appeared to be separated from the rest of the Decepticons, as his knowledge on their current status was spotty; while he knew [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] had turned traitor, he seemed unaware that [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] had been terminated. (#4) He later re-established contact, being aware of [[Grindor (ROTF)|Grindor's]] status and [[The Fallen]]. (#7) He also had a ''shockingly'' bad knowledge of Transformers [[units of time]]. (#8)

Barricade stated how he doesn't think much of Starscream's intelligence or ability to lead (a bit of a pisser when Starscream considered ''him'' to be 2IC material!), but ''much'' prefers him over Megatron. (#1) He once explained some of Megatron's flaws, only to get scared and state how he totally respects him ''really''. (#3) He also dislikes [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], claiming the guy ''never'' pulls his weight and is just Megatron's fave. (#7) On top of that, while he followed the party line and claimed the Decepticons have "policies" (#7), he began showning signs of discontent with being a Decepticon—the long hours, the lousy food, the admin work (#5)—leading Ironhide to start offering him the chance to defect to the Autobots. Barricade outright rejected this offer the first time, saying he couldn't bear the thought of listening to Optimus moralise (#9); the second time, however, he merely stated the horrific penalties for defecting Decepticons (#10) and the third, he desperately said he just ''couldn't'' do it, even if it would be nice to hang with other cars for once... BUT HE CAN'T! Ironhide's friendliness began starting to disturb him. (#11) He did, however, become fed up of Ironhide bringing up how Bumblebee kicked his arse, and became determined to get revenge on "that little yellow cretin"...

Barricade would reveal other assorted factoids about his history and personal tastes during his time as host. Like Starscream, he was active on Earth during the 1980s, at which time he was a [[Barricade (G1)|Micromaster]]. (#12) He watched the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''Transformers'' cartoon]] broadcast at the time (#3) and approved of humanity's fascination with giant robots. In contrast, he is ''completely'' bewildered by pop music. (#7) He's terrified of [[Unicron]]. (#6) He's apparently got an optic for [[Female Transformer|the ladies]], or at least the heavily armed ones, making sure to flirt right back when a neutral femme wrote into the letter's column looking to play "bad cop/bad cop pretending to be good cop" with him. (#5)

===Transformers Mix & Match books===
{{Note|Due to the malleable storytelling format of the Mix & Match books, listed here is Barricade's story role if all the segments visually featuring him are lined-up. For all the possible iterations of his role in the story, see the [[Transformers Mix & Match]] page.}}
Barricade hung out with [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] and [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] and spied on [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Mix & Match}}

===Cyber Missions===
{{voiceactor|[[Bronco D. Jackson]] (English)|[[Óscar Flores]] (Latin American-Spanish)}}
[[File:Cyber Missions Barricade.JPG‎|thumb|upright=1.5|You must agree that his head is somewhat deformed.]]
After a high speed pursuit through [[Scramble City (city)|Scramble City]], Barricade managed to ditch [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]] and used
his [[Moustache Man|holo avatar]] to break into a secure facility. Standing guard while [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] raided the computers, he somehow failed to hear Sideswipe bushwhack his partner and was only alerted when Frenzy's crumpled-up form rolled into his foot. After throwing Frenzy at Sideswipe, Barricade engaged the Autobot in combat, managing to defeat him by freezing him to a wall. He then made off with Frenzy and the [[NEST]] access codes. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 6}}

Later, Barricade and [[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]] confronted [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]. Looking to steal one of Ironhide's weapons, Lockdown took a missile instead, which blew up in his face. While Lockdown was dazed, Ironhide punched Barricade out and dumped a truckload of rocks on top of him. Barricade pleaded with Lockdown for help, but the explosion damaged Lockdown's optics, and he fled. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 11}}

Later, Barricade was among the Decepticons Megatron led on a mission to free the captured Soundwave. He arrived after Megatron derailed the train Soundwave was believed to be on, but true to his history, disappeared from sight soon after. {{storylink|Decepticons Attack}}
{{-}}

===Transformers Annual 2011===
Barricade and [[Grindor (ROTF)|Grindor]] were sent to [[Tokyo]] to cause a diversion. The Autobots soon turned up, and Barricade clashed briefly with Sideswipe before being hoisted into the air by Optimus. A short time later, Grindor crashed on top of him. Defeated, Barricade was picked up by Grindor and they departed, but not before letting Optimus know he'd been had. {{storylink|Sam in Danger}}

===''BeCool'' shorts===
[[File:BeCool patrolcar and americanpatrolcar.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.75|"Kaon cops are on the take! But what do you expect, for the money we make?"]]
'''American Patrol Car''' (アメリカンパトカー ''Amerikan Patokā'') spoke English, but was still capable of communication with his Japanese-speaking fellow BeCool Transformers, albeit with a heavy English-speaking accent. He was part of the audience of ''Quiz! BeCool'' {{storylink|The Story of Quiz! BeCool}} and later joined his police force partner [[Prowl (G1)|Patrol Car]] to welcome audiences to [[Surprise World|the world in which the BeCool robots lived]]. The pair failed to notice when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Garbage Truck]] accidentally dropped a [[banana]] peel in the course of his job, so when [[Bumblebee (G1)|Yellow Sports Car]] hit the peel and went spinning through the city streets, they thought he was just driving recklessly and sped after him. Unfortunately, they failed to stop him before he crashed into a bunch of other 'bots, necessitating the medical aid of [[Ratchet (G1)|Ambulance]], who American Patrol Car explained to the audience was the town doctor. {{storylink|The Story of Protecting the Signal!}}
{{--}}

===''Mission to Cybertron'' comic===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Mission to Cybertron}}
{{-}}

==Games==
==="Flight of the Bumblebee" online game===
[[File:FlightoftheBumblebee bee vs barricade.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|"Whether you're a truck, or you're a Porsche, we don't mind using excessive force! Bad cops, bad cops!!"]]
Barricade was one of a group of Decepticons who trapped Bumblebee in a canyon. He stood around on a rocky butte, walking back and forth and waiting for Bumblebee to drive up to him. When the Autobot dropped in, Barricade immediately opened fire, blasting Bumblebee continuously. Unfortunately, Bumblebee had the idea to shoot back, blasting him right out of the picture with just one shot. {{storylink|Flight of the Bumblebee}}
{{-}}

===Transformers The Game (console)===
{{voiceactor|[[Keith David]] (English)}}
====Autobot campaign====
[[File:TFtheGame barricade vs bee.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|"Out of the shadows... the spies announce themselves now?"]]
Barricade was sent to Tranquility to hunt down Sam Witwicky and the glasses that held the location of the AllSpark. He attempted to capture Sam and Mikaela outside their high school, but Bumblebee stepped in. The humans fled for the nearby baseball field with Barricade in pursuit, but Bumblebee beat him to them, protecting them while they ran away again. He followed them to the power plant, but was once again foiled by Bumblebee and sent packing.

Later, in [[Mission City]], Barricade made one last grab for the AllSpark after [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] and [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]] had each fallen to the Autobots. However, he was once again intercepted by Bumblebee, and finally defeated for good. {{storylink|Transformers The Game (console)|Transformers The Game}}

====Decepticon campaign====
[[File:TFtheGame barricade threatens sam.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|"Were it so easy..."]]
Upon reaching Tranquility and choosing his [[alternate mode]], Barricade attempted some recon, but encountered a squad of Autobot drones, a battle which spilled out to the local baseball field. Shortly afterwards, he was informed by Starscream that [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] had information they needed, but the diminutive Decepticon had been captured by [[Sector Seven]] agents. Barricade tracked them to the power plant, then hounded the agents across town in their highly resistant van, wrecking every building in his path until Frenzy was recovered.

Finally on the trail of Sam, he was stopped cold by Sam's protector Bumblebee. Barricade got the upper hand, but the Autobot led him on a chase that ended in [[Bay Demolition|Bay's Demolition]] lot, and an ambush courtesy of a lot of Autobot drones. Barricade overcame the odds and hunted down Bumblebee once more, finally besting the Autobot and taking the glasses from Sam. Decoding Megatron and the AllSpark's location from them, Barricade relayed his findings to Starscream, who, together with Blackout, soon struck [[Hoover Dam]] and liberated their leader.

When the Decepticons converged on Mission City, Barricade was tasked with taking out the Autobot [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]]. He later stood in Megatron's presence after the AllSpark had been recovered and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] ordered the Earth to be destroyed before they left it on their way to conquering all of known space. {{storylink|Transformers The Game (console)|Transformers The Game}}

===''Transformers: The Game'' (PSP)===
{{voiceactor|[[Keith David]]}}
[[File:TFtheGamePSP barricade hooverdam.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.5|"Even on my knees I do not belong in his presence."]]
Barricade and a platoon of Decepticon drones pursued Sam Witwicky in an attempt to obtain his grandfather's glasses, but were defeated in a battle at a steel processing plant by the human's protector, Bumblebee. A short time later, learning from Frenzy that Megatron's frozen body was being held at Hoover Dam by Sector Seven, Barricade and Starscream attacked the facility. Barricade penetrated the dam and located Megatron's body, deactivating the machines that were keeping him frozen. When Megatron did not immediately reactivate, Barricade assumed his leader was dead after all, but Megatron soon shook off the deep freeze treatment to prove his subordinate wrong. Megatron jetted off to acquire some fresh energy for himself, while Barricade reported on Megatron's awakening to Starscream, who was not best pleased with the news. {{storylink|Transformers The Game (PSP)}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Autobots/Decepticons'' (Nintendo DS)===
{{voiceactor|[[Keith David]] (English)}}
====''Transformers: Autobots''====
[[File:TFtheGameDS Barricade and friend vs Optimus.jpg|thumb|left|'''Optimus''': Gasp! Is that Shockwa- '''Barricade''': No, no, no, he’s off doing stuff on Cybertron or something or other and-look, can we just fight?]]
When Bumblebee went to investigate the source of an image found on the internet, he found Barricade waiting for him. Barricade blew up a nearby car and took off, sending out messages on the police radio that Bumblebee was responsible. After failing to lose Bumblebee in spite of all of [[Tranquility]]'s police force being after him, he engaged him in combat. Unable to defeat Bumblebee, he hastily retreated. Later on, he encountered Bumblebee and Optimus Prime as the two were leaving [[Hoover Dam]]. With a large helicopter Decepticon at his side, he tried to persuade Optimus to let him have the [[Allspark]]. After Prime predictably refused, Barricade started to demand the AllSpark from Prime, not even caring about the consequences. He was killed, but revealed to Prime he was merely a distraction while other Decepticons freed Megatron from his icy prison. {{storylink|Transformers Autobots/Decepticons|Transformers: Autobots}}

====''Transformers: Decepticons''====
[[File:TFtheGameDS barricade dies.jpg|thumb||''Guess I got what I deserved... Kept you waiting there too long, my love...'' |upright=1.2]]
When the [[Create-A-Bot (Decepticon)|Decepticon Create-A-Bot]] arrived on Earth, his mentor, Starscream, directed him to rendezvous with Barricade, already active on the planet and commanding some of the Decepticon forces there. Barricade was not enamored with the idea of a partner, feeling that the Create-A-Bot would only slow him down, but after putting the rookie through his paces, he permitted him to join him on his mission in the town of [[Tranquility]]. Barricade revealed to the Create-A-Bot what Starscream had not—that the signal which had brought the Decepticons to Earth had come from Megatron himself. The rookie dismissed Megatron as a relic, and was struck by Barricade for the insult. With some help from the rookie, Barricade discovered that the Autobot Bumblebee was already on Megatron's trail; Barricade pursued Bumblebee, defeated him in battle on the outskirts of Tranquility, and acquired the data he had gathered.

Now aware that the human military organization [[Sector Seven]] was holding Megatron, Barricade arranged for [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] to transport the Create-A-Bot to a [[Qatar]] military base, where they and [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]] hacked Sector Seven's databanks. The file they obtained was brought back to Barricade in Tranquility for deciphering, and revealed that Megatron was being held by Sector Seven in the [[Hoover Dam]]. The Create-A-Bot suggesting relaying this to Starscream, but Barricade loudly refuted the idea, happy that the impending resurrection of Megatron would mean that he would no longer have to serve under a cowardly, back-stabbing bureaucrat like Starscream. Swayed by Barricade's words, the rookie revealed a fact that Starscream had told only him—that the AllSpark was also present on Earth. Shocked by the revelation, Barricade realized that Starscream had been scheming to acquire the AllSpark for himself, to ensure that not even Megatron could remove him from power. With the rookie now turned from Starscream and on his side, Barricade was able to liberate Megatron from Sector Seven, and the Decepticons pursued the Autobots, now in possession of the AllSpark, back to Tranquility.

During the ensuing battle, Starscream finally claimed the AllSpark from Bumblebee, and Barricade stood against him, intent on bringing him in for treason. Alas, the AllSpark-powered Starscream destroyed Barricade, but in death, Barricade proved to the Create-A-Bot what it truly meant to be a Decepticon. {{storylink|Transformers Autobots/Decepticons|Transformers: Decepticons}}
{{-}}

===Allspark Highway===
Barricade and the Decepticons tried to keep the Autobots from delivering the Allspark to safety. There were lots of him. {{storylink|Allspark Highway}}

===''Transformers Video Mash-Up''===
{{note|Various short clips featuring Barricade were available for users to custom-create their own short film about the Transformers.}} {{storylink|Transformers Video Mash-Up}}

===''Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Decepticons'' (Nintendo DS)===
{{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Autobots/Decepticons|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Decepticons}}
{{stub}}

===''MechTech Weapons Challenge''===
Bumblebee could use Barricade's robot wrecking claw to aid him in his missions to retrieve MechTech weapons technology stolen by the Decepticons. {{storylink|MechTech Weapons Challenge}}

===''Cyberverse Battle Builder''===
Barricade joined the rest of the Decepticons in combating the Autobots on battlefields on Earth, the Earth's Moon and on Cybertron. Sometimes there were many of him! {{storylink|Cyberverse Battle Builder}}

===''Bot Shots Battle Game!''===
[[File:Bsbg-barricade.jpg|thumb|left|What's the matter, don't you trust cops?]]
Barricade participated in numerous one-on-one matches against other Autobots and Decepticons, using his fists, his sword, or his gun to defeat his opponents. Sometimes, he even faced off against himself! {{storylink|Bot Shots Battle Game!}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Forged to Fight''===
[[File:Barricade-Forged-to-Fight.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
Barricade was one of the Decepticons pulled from [[Live-action film series|his universe]] by the [[Quintesson]]s and forced to fight. He eventually joins the [[You|Commander]]. There are at least a few of him running around! {{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}

[[Optimus Prime (G1)#Transformers: Forged to Fight|Optimus Prime]] encountered Barricade on one of their missions, and Barricade demanded to know if he was [[Sam Witwicky|Ladiesmans217]]. [[Prowl (G1)#Transformers: Forged to Fight|Prowl]] got a read-out on the Decepticon, and they eventually had a Good Cop vs. Bad Cop showdown. {{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight#Chapter 1:Realities Collide|Good Cop Bad Cop}}2nd Encounter
{{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight#|It's in our DNA}}
{{chargamestub}}

==Toys==
{{Main|Barricade (Movie)/toys}}

==Merchandise==
{{Main|Barricade (Movie)/toys#Merchandise}}

==Second Life avatars==
In the online game ''Second Life'', there was a full replica of the Sector Seven base which contained a giant discussion room where Michael Bay held a question board. This room contained a giant frozen Megatron replica and offered free avatars of both Bumblebee and Barricade. Both freebies were non-transforming.

==Notes==
===''Transformers'' (2007)===
*In an early version of the movie's script, Barricade and Frenzy's roles were shared by a single character named "[[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]]". He would have infiltrated the CIA headquarters (rather than Air Force One) in the form of a "portable stereo" and then transformed (and size-shifted) into a Humvee for his escape.<ref name="early">Details from an early script draft [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2213120&postcount=297 summed up here], [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2214148&postcount=303 confirmed as authentic by Roberto Orci here].</ref>
[[File:EarlyMovieBarricadeHead.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|150px|Different name, different head, same guy. As far as we know, anyway!]]
*[[Prowl (Movie)|Prowl]] was originally part of the Autobot line up for the movie, but was removed, as the writers loved the perverse idea of making the police car a Decepticon.
*An early working name for Barricade was '''Brawl''',<ref name="barribrawl">[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-images/events/Botcon-2007/Hasbro-Tour/PICT5108.JPG.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1 Early design for Barricade with working name "Brawl" shown during the BotCon 2007 Hasbro Tour]</ref> which was later given to [[Brawl (Movie)|another movie character]]. Early concept art the character created when he was going by this name<ref name="barribrawl"/> (pictured at right) suggests that he was originally going to transform into a white and black Crown Victoria (somewhat akin to Prowl's original G1 color scheme). The head design from this early concept artwork managed to show up on a few pieces of merchandise for the first film (such as a set of temporary tattoos), was used as inspiration for Barricade's Cybertronian-mode head in IDW's "[[Planetfall (Movie)|Planetfall]]," and would later inexplicably show up as a profile link for Barricade's [[Bio#Online bios|Battle Bio]] on Hasbro's website.
*In the first movie, Barricade sports the [[license plate]] "1-4027E", registered in Oklahoma. It can be briefly glimpsed when he slows down after having seemingly cornered Bumblebee, but is more clearly seen in set photos. Oddly enough, that plate ''also'' shows up on ''[[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz's]]'' [[robot mode]] chest in the same movie. The Deluxe Class Recon Barricade [[redeco]] toy, meanwhile, sports the plate "SAGE2764", a reference pertaining to deco designer [[Joe Kyde]], the [[Premium Series]] redeco of the Deluxe toy sports the plate "DCPTCN" for "Decepticon", and the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Human Alliance]] toy sports the plate "2PN-SLV", referring to Barricade's infamous "To punish and enslave..." markings.
*The [http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/27/ebay-find-of-the-day-saleen-barricade-replica/ promotional Saleen S281E cars] that appeared at events and premieres featured the slogan "Power in the hands of a few" rather than the "To punish and enslave" motto, as well as Saleen decals rather than the Decepticon decals seen in the movie.
*By placing Barricade's arrival on Earth in 2003, [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''[[Transformers: Movie Prequel|Movie Prequel]]'' seems to contradict the very existence of his [[alternate mode]], since it is a 2006 model car. Not so— the Mustang design that would eventually be the 2006 model debuted sometime in 2003, with police car modifications showing up in car shows not long after. It could very well be that, similar to when/how Jazz scanned a Solstice in a dealership late at night, Barricade scanned a Police Mustang in one such car show display after-hours, explaining why there were "no witnesses" after he assumed this form ''and'' why his police deco has no state or city markings/I.D.
[[File:Movie2007 Barricade carweapon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|150px|This looks familiar!]]
*In a deleted scene set during Barricade's pursuit of Bumblebee, the Decepticon was to deploy serrated drill-like missiles from his hood and fire them at the fleeing Autobot. The scene was filmed, as evidenced by artist [[Sean Haworth]]'s photograph of the constructed and fitted weapon prop (right), and its removal at least partially helps to explain the abrupt shift from day to night that occurs during the chase. The scene remains in IDW's comic book adaptation of the film, and the weapons are optional extras for RadioShack's ''XMODS® Evolution'' Barricade model kit.
*If one were to only accept the film itself as [[canon]], there is no real evidence of his supposed "rivalry" with Bumblebee which Hasbro and IDW kept pushing as a defining trait of his character since 2007. He just happens to be the Decepticon to first make contact with Sam Witwicky, Bumblebee intervenes and then fights and defeats Barricade. There is nothing in the film itself that would suggest that the two have a history, or even actually ''know'' each other personally beforehand. However, Hasbro gave the pairing of the two as enemies a lot of prominence in their toyline that accompanied the film, and IDW's prequel and sequel comics established previous and subsequent encounters of the two on Earth. Barricade's two subsequent film appearances eventually ''do'' establish a recurring history/rivalry with Bumblebee of sorts, though: In ''Dark of the Moon'', he delivers a captured Bumblebee a kick to the back, and the two briefly face off again during ''The Last Knight''.

===Other films===
*When asked about Barricade's disappearance from the first film, writer [[Roberto Orci]] stated in a message board Q&A session that it was a "thread for Movie 2".<ref>[http://boards.transformersmovie.com/showpost.php?p=384946&postcount=33 Roberto Orci on Barricade's fate in the movie, at the official movie boards]</ref> As it happened, Barricade didn't turn up in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''; two years later, Orci stated that he honestly couldn't remember why.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-movie-discussion/180451-welcome-mr-roberto-orci-you-may-ask-him-questions-283.html#post3785383 Orci's Q&A at TFW2005]</ref>
*A common misconception among fans is that Barricade's Saleen Mustang alternate mode was spotted on the set of ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''. This is not true. In fact, a truck transporting three "Barricade" prop vehicles was spotted in Culver City, California, in March 2008, more than two months before principal shooting for ''Revenge of the Fallen'' started.<ref name="vehspotted">[http://www.superherohype.com/news/transformersnews.php?id=6980 Superhero Hype reporting on the spotting of Barricade vehicles in March 2008]</ref>
*An early idea writer [[Chris Mowry]] had for the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comic book prequel ''[[Transformers: Alliance]]'' was to depict Barricade's transformation into new movie character [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]], but Hasbro rejected the idea.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/members/mowry-73165-page2.html#vmessage170099]</ref> Another of Mowry's ideas for ''Alliance'' involved having Barricade reformat into a police boat to retrieve Megatron's at-sea remains. Mowry notes he would have been confronted by [[Storm Surge (Movie)|Storm Surge]]; whether this means Storm Surge was an Autobot at this point in development, or if there was dissension in the Decepticon ranks, is unclear.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/members/mowry-73165.html#vmessage281346]</ref>
*Barricade doesn't ''technically'' speak in ''Dark of the Moon'', but an editing gaffe as he kicks Que around before executing him sees Soundwave's voice (provided by [[Frank Welker]]) coming out of his mouth for the scene.
*Barricade is one of the few Movieverse characters who have a distinct transformation sound effect.
*Despite all the marketing and promotional material leading up to the release of ''The Last Knight'' portraying him with a mask/helmet, he never uses it in the film itself and has a fully exposed face all throughout. One piece of concept art even depicts him with police shades. [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/attachments/22580549_156168284980549_4064834079172853760_n-jpg.27831803/ Seriously.]
*Barricade's vehicle mode color in ''The Last Knight'' varies from scene to scene: He possesses a glossy midnight blue color on his vehicle prop shells. During his transformation sequence, his midnight blue is painted in a brighter metallic shade.
*Barricade's appearance in ''The Last Knight'' serves as the basis for the [[Evergreen]] design used to create the ''[[Transformers: Earth Wars]]'' [[Barricade (IDW)|version of the character]].

===Disappearances and reappearances===
[[File:Barricade-comicsadaptation-death.jpg|upright=1.25|thumb|right|F*** tha poh-leece!]]
*Barricade abruptly disappears from the first live-action film during the highway battle, last appearing as Bonecrusher moves forward to engage Optimus Prime. As evidenced by scenes in the novelization and comic book adaptations of the film (right), he was supposed to join Bonecrusher in attacking the Autobot leader, and would have been destroyed by Optimus after Bonecrusher.
*Alternatively, the children's chapter book adaptation of the film, ''[[The Quest for the AllSpark]]'', describes Barricade as being destroyed by the US military.
*At the time, Barricade's fate caused a great deal of speculation, and [[IDW Publishing]] capitalized on the character's ambiguous fate to "overwrite" his death from their comic adaptation, revealing instead in ''[[Transformers: The Reign of Starscream|The Reign of Starscream]]'' that he had been forced off the road by Ironhide and drove into a roadway bridge pillar, knocking himself out.
*Barricade subsequently reappeared in several further IDW comics before returning to the screen in ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'', where he appears to have been killed off by NEST soldiers.
*However, Barricade appears alive and well in ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]'', [[retcon]]ing his previous death. Oddly enough, it is mentioned in that film that he has been under government surveillance. Last seen coming under attack by the British military, Barricade apparently continuing his tradition of having an ambiguous fate near the end of every odd-numbered film. Consequently, he is the only Decepticon that never officially dies in the main series but unless a follow-up to ''The Last Knight'' says otherwise, for now we'll consider Barricade to be have been killed during the ambush at Stonehenge.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Barricade''' (バリケード ''Barikēdo'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Pàn Gūan''' (Taiwan, 叛官, "Treacherous Official"), '''Lùzhàng''' (China, 路障, "Barricade")
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Barycada''' (Барикада, "Barricade")

==See also==
{{OtherVersions
|charname=Barricade
|disambig=Barricade (disambiguation)
|body=
*[[Barricade (Animated)|Barricade]], the [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's]] menu headshot from ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]].''
*[[Barricade (WFC)|Barricade]], the [[Decepticon]] dirty cop from the [[Aligned continuity family]].
*[[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]], the Decepticon dirty cop from the [[2005 IDW continuity]].}}

==Footnotes==
<references />

[[Category:3D Battle-Cards]]
[[Category:Age of Extinction Decepticons]]
[[Category:Cyber Missions characters]]
[[Category:Dark of the Moon Decepticons]]
[[Category:Interrogators]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Movie Decepticons]]
[[Category:Pilots]]
[[Category:The Last Knight Decepticons]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Decepticons]]
[[Category:Zombies]]

Barricade (Movie)

2020-03-06T12:13:58Z

Spark Mandrill: /* BeCool shorts */

{{factions|decepticonfilm|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Barricade}}{{suite}}
:''Barricade is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:MovieBarricadeHeatScrambleCard60.jpg|right|upright=1.67|thumb|"I'm always the Bad Cop. And don't bother asking for the Good Cop. I killed him."]]

'''Barricade''' is apparently a complicated robot. He's considered "fractious" even by Decepticon standards, yet is willing to give [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] the benefit of the doubt and follow where he leads, at least for the time being. Though not totally dedicated to the service of the Decepticons' current leader, he is much more cautious and reserved about expressing mutinous dissent than say [[Blackout (Movie)|''most'']]. He believes that Starscream is vital in their search for [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] and the [[AllSpark]]. In many ways this makes him Starscream's closest ally in the naturally combative Decepticon ranks. Then again, it's been said that he likes to trick people into trusting him, just so he can see their reactions when they find out just how much of a bad idea it was. As such, he has disguised himself as an [[Earth]] police car in an attempt to fool the humans around him.

If his attitude toward his fellow Decepticons is inconsistent, his attitude toward the [[Autobot]]s is not: kill them all. Barricade might not be as large as most of his peers, but he is every bit as deadly. He thoroughly relishes every chance in fighting the Autobots. He's smart enough to let one live if he thinks he or the Decepticons can use it to their advantage, but most of the time, they're dead before someone's even thought of a plan.

He is also known as '''N.B.E. 04'''.{{fact}} The most frustrating part about him is that he always manages to come back no matter how many times he has been brought down.

{{quote|Autobots, foul Autobots, here we come. Let our long war resume—and let it end here.|Barricade|''[[Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday|Ghosts of Yesterday]]''}}

==Fiction==
===Movies===
{{note|The six movies are the primary component of the live-action movie continuity family. Their events should be taken as canon for all other pieces of fiction listed below, unless otherwise specified.}}

====''Transformers'' film====
{{voiceactor|[[Jess Harnell]] (English)|[[Katsuhiro Kitagawa]] (Japanese), [[Zhang Wei]] (Chinese), [[Oliver Siebeck]] (German), [[Júlio César]] (Brazil), [[Salvador Reyes]] (Latin American-Spanish), [[Achille D'Aniello]] (Italian), [[Pascal Massix]] (European French)}}
[[File:BarricadeVsSam.jpg|upright=1.8|thumb|Barricade negotiates an alternative to PayPal.]]
After being active on [[Earth]] for some time, Barricade arrived to pick up [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] after the smaller Decepticon's attempt to hack into and sabotage the United States military network on [[Air Force One]]. From data Frenzy had acquired, the two learned of [[Sector Seven]], "Project Iceman", and the "[[Archibald Witwicky|Witwicky man]]", the discoverer of the entombed [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. Using the internet, the duo learned that Megatron had accidentally marked Witwicky's [[Archibald Witwicky's glasses|glasses]] with the location of the long-lost [[AllSpark]]—glasses which were now being auctioned on [[eBay]] by his descendant, [[Sam Witwicky|ladiesman217]].

[[File:Movie Barricade defeat.jpg|left|upright=1.8|thumb|He got better.]]

Tracking the human to the town of [[Tranquility]], Barricade appeared in the path of ladiesman217 as he was attempting to flee [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]], whom he mistakenly believed was out to harm him. Believing Barricade to be a legitimate police vehicle, ladiesman217 requested the "officer's" help, only for Barricade to transform right in front of him. As ladiesman217 fled, Barricade knocked him onto the hood of an abandoned car, then violently demanded information on "eBay item 21153". Ladiesman217 and his [[Mikaela Banes|female friend]], who had been drawn into the encounter, managed to escape him when Bumblebee convinced the boy to trust him, and Barricade pursued both the Autobot and two humans to a junkyard. After temporarily losing and then regaining their position, he charged into battle, activating his mace/rotating blade, and dispatched Frenzy to chase down the humans. The battle started off pretty well and worked in Barricade's favor until Bumblebee slammed him into an office. Barricade then rolled over and took back control by bashing his fists against Bumblebee's head. However, their battle ended with Barricade heavily damaged.

[[File:TF2007 barricade vehiclemode.jpg|upright=1.8|thumb|I'm going to need a dozen robots disguised as cookies.]]

Barricade had repaired himself by the time Frenzy (who infiltrated Sector Seven) transmitted both Megatron and the AllSpark's location to his fellow Decepticons. Knowing that the Decepticons were coming, the humans and Autobots tried to transport the AllSpark to [[Mission City]] for extraction, but Barricade and [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]] caught up to them on the highway into the city. Barricade attempted to clear a path through the traffic by activating his sirens; Bonecrusher simply rammed everything in his way. Ladiesman217—riding inside Bumblebee—recognized Barricade, and in response to his call for action, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] realigned to block the Decepticon from getting to the human and the AllSpark. Barricade was last seen as Bonecrusher pulled ahead to attack Optimus; he was absent from the subsequent battle in Mission City for unknown reasons. {{storylink|Transformers (film)|Transformers}}

{{note|Barricade's involvement in the preceding events, or events mostly similar, were also chronicled in the novels ''[[Transformers (novel)|Transformers]],'' ''[[Transformers: The Junior Novel]]'' and "[[The Quest for the AllSpark]]"; the ''[[Transformers: Movie Adaptation]]'' and "[[Movie Trilogy]]" comics; the activity book "[[Look and Find Transformers]]"; and the storybooks "[[Bumblebee Rumble]]", "[[Optimus Prime Versus Megatron]]", "[[Sam's New Car]]", "[[Transformers (interactive Play-a-Sound Storybook)|Transformers Play-a-Sound]]", "[[Meet the Autobots]]", "[[Meet the Decepticons]]", "[[Transformers Mix & Match]]" and "[[Transformers: The Movie Storybook]]". Many of these adaptations were based on earlier drafts of the movie's script; in several, most prominently the novelization and comic adaptations, Barricade engages Optimus Prime on the highway after he takes out Bonecrusher and is destroyed as a result, explaining his disappearance from the film's final act.}}

====''Dark of the Moon'' film====
{{voiceactor|[[Frank Welker]] (English, see [[#Notes|notes]])|[[Bernard Métraux]] (European French)}}
[[File:DOTM-Barricadecaptures.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.8|It's so obvious that we're going to win.]]
Barricade was one of the Decepticons present in [[Chicago]] when [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] and [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] unleashed their plan to use a [[space bridge]] to bring [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to Earth, and assisted in the takeover of the city. Under the command of [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], he aided in rounding up several Autobots that had infiltrated the city, including his old foe Bumblebee, to whom he delivered a hard kick to the back for fun. At the behest of the human traitor [[Dylan Gould]], Soundwave ordered Barricade to execute the Autobot prisoners, starting with [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Que]]; Barricade laughed as he slew the Autobot with a shot in the back. Fortunately, [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] and [[Brains]] intervened to prevent any further executions, causing a distraction that allowed the other Autobots to escape.

[[File:DOTM-Barricadesnipershot.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|Better hope one shot is enough to disable both his left optics at once, eh?]]
Following the Autobots' getaway, Barricade joined up with [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]], and was in the process of chewing out the Decepticon ground troops when he suddenly found himself blinded by sniper shots to his eyes courtesy of the Autobots' [[NEST]] allies. As he stumbled around in pain, the humans got in close and jammed a bomb into his leg, which brought him tumbling to the ground when it went off. He was last seen trying to crawl to safety as the human troops fired on him. {{Storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}

{{note|Barricade's involvement in the preceding events, or events mostly similar, were also chronicled in the comic mini-series ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon Movie Adaptation]]''.}}
{{--}}

====''Age of Extinction'' film====
Footage of Barricade at the Battle of Chicago was shown by [[Harold Attinger]] to demonstrate how Transformers were dangerous.
{{storylink|Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction}}

====''The Last Knight'' film====
{{Voiceactor|[[Jess Harnell]] (English)|[[Zhang Yaohan]] (Chinese), [[Katsuhiro Kitagawa]] (Japanese)}}
[[File:TF-TLK-Barricade-first-appearance.jpg|upright=1.6|thumb|He's decided to show up every other film from now on.]]
Having survived the injuries he sustained in the Chicago war and avoided being hunted down by the humans in the years since, Barricade had been rebuilt into a sleeker new form. In the seven years since the Chicago conflict, he had acted as Megatron's spy and scout in his search for the [[Guardian Knight]]s' [[Talisman (TLK)|talisman]]. Perhaps unknown to Barricade, he had long been under surveillance by the U.S. government. In the ruins of Chicago, he witnessed the talisman being bestowed to [[Cade Yeager]] by [[Talisman Knight|one of the Knights]]. He was however unable to claim it due to arrival of the heavily armed [[Transformers Reaction Force|TRF]], and he watched from a distance as they entered a stand off with Yeager and the Autobots.

[[File:TLK-BarricadeReportsToMegatron.jpg|left|upright=1.6|thumb|Okay people, move along, nothing to see here.]]
Barricade reported back to Megatron, accidentally angering his leader by flashing his light in his face. He reported the events of his mission, and Megatron was further angered by his failure to retrieve the Talisman, which was needed to find the [[Staff of Merlin|Staff]] they required. Barricade managed to salvage the situation, indicating he knew who could lead them to the Staff: the TRF themselves. Unknown to either Decepticon, their conversation was being monitored by [[William Lennox]] and [[Morshower|General Morshower]]. Based on Barricade's plan, Megatron used human hostages as leverage to broker a deal with TRF and secured the release of fellow Decepticons [[Mohawk]], [[Dreadbot]], [[Nitro Zeus]], and [[Onslaught (ROTF)|Onslaught]].

Barricade later joined his leader and cohorts in their hunt for Yeager. They arrived at Yeager's [[Junkyard (TLK)|scrap yard]] but Yeager had already fled to a nearby town and they followed. They were met with some not-quite-unexpected resistance in the form of the Autobots Bumblebee, [[Drift (AOE)|Drift]], and [[Crosshairs (AOE)|Crosshairs]] and blasted by a trap set by Yeager. Barricade took point in pursuing Yeager through the town. Barricade ordered Yeager and [[Izabella]] to freeze, but was surprised and swiped through a wall by the newly-arrived [[Grimlock (AOE)|Grimlock]]'s tail. Luckily for Barricade, Grimlock was then focused on attacking Megatron and crunching on Dreadbot. After Dreadbot and Onslaught perished in battle, Barricade fled when Megatron gave the order to retreat.

[[File:TLKMegsAndBarricade.jpg|right|upright=1.6|thumb|Hey Barricade, ready for a [[Frank Welker|flashback]] to ''Dark of the Moon''?]]
He and his comrades then followed Yeager to England, knowing he was the key to finding the Staff. In [[London]], he chased down the fleeing Bumblebee, who had Yeager and [[Viviane Wembly]] with him. He attempted to ram them but was blasted away by his Autobot nemesis. He transformed to catch himself but fell into oncoming traffic and was rammed by a large truck. Commenting on how much it hurt, he had been hit hard enough that he was too weak to continue the pursuit.

He later rendezvoused with Megatron and Nitro at [[Stonehenge]], the site which would drain [[Unicron]], who lay deep within the Earth, of his energy and revive the recently arrived Cybertron. He happily gloated that he had lived to kill a planet and commented on the ease with which they could kill Unicron. They soon came under attack from the [[British Armed Forces]] and Barricade returned fire. {{storylink|Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight}}
{{-}}

===Novels===
====''Ghosts of Yesterday''====
Barricade acted as pilot and chief science officer for the ''[[Nemesis (Movie)|Nemesis]]'' during the quest to find the [[AllSpark]]. When they encountered an [[Ghost 1|alien ship]], he analysed it and discovered that it seemed to be of Cybertronian design, leading to a disagreement between himself and [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] regarding whether to study it or destroy it. He claimed to have chafed under Starscream's leadership, but was willing to tolerate him for the moment.

During Starscream's later absence, Barricade was against [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]]'s plan to attack the Autobots, and remained on the ''Nemesis'' while the others got their tailpipes kicked. Following the defeat, he contacted Starscream to warn their leader that Optimus Prime was on his way to the planet below where Starscream had been misleading the occupants of the alien ship. Starscream ordered an attack on the Autobots while their numbers were diminished, so Barricade placed [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]] in charge of the assault, while he himself elected to stay on the ship and use it as a distraction. And sang. He supplied support fire as the others fought the Autobots. On Starscream's return, the Decepticons leader was challenged by Blackout, and Barricade decided they should see things resolved once and for all. After Blackout's defeat, Barricade asserted that he'd known what the outcome would be even before the fight began.

When Optimus and Bumblebee entered the fray, Starscream ordered Barricade to leave the ''Nemesis'' to reinforce their numbers. He proved most effective in battle against Bumblebee and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]. The fight ended when Starscream was badly damaged by the alien ship and, to Barricade's disbelief, called a retreat. The Decepticons returned to their ship and departed. {{storylink|Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday|Ghosts of Yesterday}}

====''The Veiled Threat''====
After the traitorous businessman [[Bruno Carrera]] and Starscream had trapped Optimus Prime in the [[Colosseum]] in [[Rome]], [[Italy]], Starscream turned the situation over to Barricade, who was more than delighted to see his old enemy in such a prone state. However, before he could strike the final blow, a bunch of [[human]]s began attacking, which wouldn't have been a problem if they weren't equipped with the scientific genius of [[Kaminari Ishihara]] and [[Petr Andronov]], in addition to [[William Lennox]] and [[Robert Epps]] firing sabot rounds into him. He was about to stomp on the insects when Prime broke free of the trap and engaged him. Once the humans were clear, Optimus pulled a surprise move by jumping out of the pit and dumping rock on top of him.

Once he was buried, Optimus melted the top layer of rock, trapping Barricade long enough for the NEST team to defeat Starscream and take him in. Unfortunately, Barricade was nowhere to be found; Instead, a passing crew working on the subway found a strange new tunnel, leading from the Colosseum to the center of a park. Whatever had dug the new passage overnight was nowhere to be seen. {{storylink|Transformers: The Veiled Threat|The Veiled Threat}}

===IDW movie comics===
[[File:Foundation2 cybertronian barricade.jpg|thumb|upright=1.75|Any special message for all the kids reading this wiki out home? "Stay out of trouble. Because this trouble will find you."]]
Many years in the past, when [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] had just come under the rule of the [[Defense Force]] and the [[Science Division]], Barricade was a member of the Defense Force under the command of High Protector [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. He participated in missions to rid the planet of "malcontents" who protested against the new order, and like many of his peers, he did so ruthlessly. {{Storylink|Foundation issue 2|Foundation #2}}

When [[Ejoornian|unknown alien hostiles]] attacked Cybertron after the discovery of a [[The Fallen|mysterious relic]], Barricade and Scorponok were sent to perform recon. {{Storylink|Defiance issue 1|Defiance #1}} Following battle with the aliens Megatron changed significantly, altering the military's mission from one of protection to making war upon the hostile aliens and anybody who would stand in their way. As Megatron's ambition grew, he determined to eliminate Science Division leader [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]], sending Barricade and a team of other Decepticons to slay Optimus's allies and bring him in. [[File:Defiance3 BrawlCrankcaseBarricade.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.75|Are you trying to out-complain the complainer?]] Barricade and [[Crankcase (Movie)|Crankcase]] stood by as [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]] nailed the "traitors" with an explosive round; Barricade was eager to get into the fight, but was ordered back by the glory-hound [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] so his aerial forces could swoop in to finish the job. This turned out to be lucky for Barricade, as Optimus managed to bury Starscream's team under a mountain of rubble. Though defeated, they all soon returned to [[Trypticon (Movie)|Trypticon]], where Megatron rechristened them and the rest of his Defense Force the "Decepticons." {{Storylink|Defiance issue 3|Defiance #3}}

During the subsequent civil war between the Decepticons and Optimus's Autobots, Barricade was one of the Decepticons under the command of Starscream who took part in a battle outside of [[Tyger Pax]]. As they were mopping up the last remnants of Autobot resistance, Barricade amused himself by playing with the decapitated head of a fallen Autobot, but mood turned somber when he saw the AllSpark jettisoned into space. Barricade realized that Cybertron would soon die without the AllSpark, but Bonecrusher had little time for his remarks, suggesting he should die along with the planet. {{storylink|Planetfall (Movie)|Planetfall}} Megatron immediately took off to pursue the AllSpark, leaving Starscream with orders to eliminate the Autobots in advance of his return. When the Autobots departed the planet to hunt down the AllSpark themselves, Barricade was part of the crew of the ''[[Nemesis (Movie)|Nemesis]]'' assembled by Starscream to give chase. Confident in Megatron's abilities to deal with any pursuing Autobots, Barricade questioned both the need to hurry, and Starscream's motives for doing so, but was quickly reprimanded by Starscream for speaking out of turn. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 1|The Reign of Starscream #1}}

[[File:Planetfall barricade and wreckage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Waste your out-of-character sympathy for people who will actually be IN the movie.]]

After thousands of years of searching, the ''Nemesis'' crew tracked the AllSpark's energy to [[Earth]]'s [[Star system|solar system]]. After setting their ship down on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], {{storylink|Movie Prequel issue 3|Movie Prequel #3}} {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 1|The Reign of Starscream #1}} Barricade, Starscream, Blackout, Brawl, Bonecrusher and [[Wreckage (Movie)|Wreckage]] continued on to Earth itself, where they touched down in [[Afghanistan]] in 2003. They immediately attacked a nearby [[United States military]] installation, where Barricade used a facade of friendliness to trick nearby human soldiers into lowering their guard, whereupon he slaughtered them at point-blank range. As the fight continued, he was almost hit by a localized EMP weapon from a human, but it instead hit his comrade [[Wreckage (Movie)|Wreckage]]. Barricade objected to leaving Wreckage behind when Starscream ordered them to pull out, but was forced to abandon him. {{storylink|Planetfall (Movie)|Planetfall}} The Decepticons subsequently scattered across the planet to search for Megatron and the AllSpark; Barricade scanned a Saleen S281 police car, then destroyed the original human vehicle to cover his tracks. {{storylink|Movie Prequel issue 4|Movie Prequel #4}}

{{note|"Planetfall" and ''Movie Prequel'' #4 offer contradictory accounts of Barricade and the Decepticons' arrival on Earth, with the former showing them arriving in Afghanisation shortly before the events of the film, and the latter placing them in North America in 2003. The ''[[Transformers: The Reign of Starscream|Reign of Starscream]]'' movie sequel comic would corroborate the "Planetfall" account, but the timing involved means it must take place in 2003 as in ''Prequel'' #4.}}

[[File:Interlude barricade vs bee.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.75|Prime directives: 1. Serve the public. 2. Protect the innocent. 3. Obey the law. 4. Do the exact opposite of 1-3.]]

Learning that the Autobot Bumblebee was also on Earth, Barricade tracked him to just outside of [[Denver]], [[Colorado]], arriving just as the Autobot was eluding [[Sector Seven]] while working on a new lead on the [[Witwicky]]s. {{storylink|Interlude}} Bumblebee managed to escape, but Barricade pursued him to [[New Mexico]], where he had a new idea: ''allow'' the Autobot to get away, so that they could track him from afar to see what leads and information he had already turned up in his search. Starscream agreed to the plan, but ordered Barricade to superficially rough the little Autobot up a bit before letting him go, just to make it look convincing. {{storylink|Movie Prequel issue 4|Movie Prequel #4}} Bumblebee subsequently found his way to [[Tranquility]] and [[Sam Witwicky]], and the battle over the glasses to learn the location of the AllSpark ensued. {{storylink|Transformers: Movie Adaptation}} During the subsequent highway chase to Mission City, Barricade attempted to close in on Bumblebee to "settle the score" with him, but found his way obstructed by Ironhide, causing him to crash into a pillar. Knocked offline by the crash, he missed out on the Mission City battle; he was conscious again by the time the battle's sole survivor, Starscream, came looking for him. Informed that Sam had destroyed the AllSpark and Megatron, Barricade suggested recovering the lost Frenzy so they could access his data files on the boy. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 1|The Reign of Starscream #1}}

While Starscream returned to Cybertron to enact a plan of his own, Barricade remained on Earth, watching over a Sector Seven research base. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 3|The Reign of Starscream #3}} He spied upon the Autobots as they made plans with [[William Lennox|Captain Lennox]] and [[Robert Epps|Sergeant Epps]] to dispose of the Decepticons' bodies, then broadcast the information he had learned into space on a Decepticon frequency, hoping someone would hear and take interest. As it turned out, Starscream, having returned from Cybertron to Mars, was ready and willing to answer. {{storylink|Alliance issue 1|Alliance #1}} Soon after Starscream made it back to Earth, however, Decepticons under the command of the long-absent [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] also began arriving, and Barricade provided them with intelligence on which Autobots they were facing. He continued to plague the Autobots and the new [[NEST]] team, escaping each time. {{storylink|Alliance issue 4|Alliance #4}} Soundwave sought the final remaining shard of the AllSpark in order to revive Megatron, so Barricade was sent to Tranquility to capture Sam and force its location from him—or failing that, ransom him for it. [[File:TotF1 barricade and sam.jpg|right|thumb|upright=2|"Dead or alive, you're coming with me. Only you won't be alive."]] Barricade took the boy to a junkyard to interrogate him, but Bumblebee soon arrived to rescue him. A protracted battled followed, concluding when 'Bee knocked Barricade into a pool of gasoline and ignited it, setting off a massive explosion. Barricade survived the blast, though, and drove off in car mode after Bumblebee and Sam had left. {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 1|Tales of the Fallen #1}}

Following the resurrection of Megatron and [[The Fallen]]'s failed plan for revenge, Barricade was among the Decepticon troops that [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] sent to attack Sam's college in order to recapture a rogue Decepticon brain unit [[Brains]]. Barricade initiated the assault, smashing his way into Sam's dorm and renewing his rivalry with Bumblebee, who stood ready to protect his human friend. {{Storylink|Rising Storm issue 2|Rising Storm #2}} The pair grappled and traded blows for the duration of the attack {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 3|Rising Storm #3}} until Bumblebee ended the battle by slamming Barricade to the ground with a sickening crunch. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 4|Rising Storm #4}}
{{-}}

====''Transformers: Beginnings''====
{{voiceactor|? (English)}}
[[File:Movie Barricade IDWprequel nowitnesses.jpg|left|upright=1.8|thumb|Christine... is that you?]]
The Decepticon infiltration unit under the command of Starscream arrived on Earth in the year 2003. Barricade scanned a Saleen S281 police car, then destroyed the original human vehicle to cover his tracks, as did his fellow Decepticons when choosing their new forms. His proceeded to tail Bumblebee while the Autobot was on his way to [[New Mexico]], but unfortunately, Bumblebee identified him before Barricade could eliminate him. Barricade was inspired to come up with a new plan: ''allow'' the Autobot to get away, so that they could track him from afar to see what leads and information he had already turned up in his search. Starscream agreed to the plan, but ordered Barricade to superficially rough the little Autobot up a bit before letting him go, just to make it look convincing. {{storylink|Transformers: Beginnings (Movie)|Transformers: Beginnings}}

{{note|"Transformers: Beginnings" is a condensed, Flash-animated retelling of the [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] [[Transformers: Movie Prequel|Movie Prequel]] that is detailed above this section.}}

====''Schick Hydrobot and the Transformers''====
Barricade was among the Decepticons who attacked Doctor [[Hiroshi Benson]]'s laboratory. Holding his own for much of the battle, he was later incapacitated when [[Hydrobot (TLK)|Hydrobot]] and Bumblebee unleashed a powerful shock attack with the latter's stinger, forcing them into a retreat. {{storylink|A New Friend|A New Friend}}

===Titan movie comics===
[[File:StarscreamMilitia zombie barricade.jpg|thumb|upright=1|Guess Barricade's a ''Trigun'' fan.]]
Barricade was killed in the <s>[[Mission City]]</s> [[Los Angeles]] battle. Immediately after the battle's conclusion, Starscream resurrected him, Blackout, and Devastator using AllSpark energy plucked from the [[AllSpark Mutation|mutations]] created during the chaos, turning all three into mindless, relentless zombies. Holding his own decapitated head in his hand, the zombie Barricade took on Optimus Prime; his noggin chewed on the Autobot leader's arm while the rest of his body kept him busy. The battle lasted only mere minutes, as Ratchet soon realized what was animating the Decepticons' bodies and instructed his fellow Autobots to target the AllSpark energy signatures, putting Barricade and his fellow zombies down permanently. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 7|Starscream's Militia}}

{{note|"Starscream's Milita" was written using IDW's comic book adaptation of the movie as a springboard, and so incorporated Barricade's death as seen in it. Just as IDW themselves would ignore the scene in their future comics thanks to its deletion from the film, all subsequent Titan stories ignored Barricade's death and presented him as being alive.}}

Several years later, Barricade joined Starscream in a hit and run on the [[Tech Museum of Innovation]] in [[San Jose]] during an anti-[[Transformer]] rally. Barricade's contribution mainly consisted of being beaten up by Ironhide. Even grabbing Ironhide from behind didn't work, as Ironhide's weapons worked as rocket boosters to throw the pair backwards, and Barricade was body-slammed into a nearby building. Things were looking up after Ironhide was caught in an explosion, but the two Decepticons were mobbed by humans and when Optimus Prime turned up as well, the pair fled. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 3.4|Automatic for the People}}
{{-}}

====Alternate timeline====
[[File:Barricadeblackoutandfriends-DarkSpark.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
In an alternate timeline in which Megatron triumphed in the battle of Mission City and the victorious Decepticons set about conquering North America, Barricade was part of two punitive Decepticon attacks: a raid on a supply convoy at Shreveport, [[Louisiana]] {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 16|Dark Spark}} and after aiding Starscream taking over the Decepticon headquarters {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 19|Return to Cybertron: Part 3}}, a solo strike on Cincinnati, [[Ohio]] as part of a "Stop supporting Autobots OR ELSE!" campaign. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 23|Revolution Part 1}}

When Starscream started open warfare, he made Barricade one of his generals. However, Barricade soon found himself bogged down in fighting [[Stockade (Movie)|Stockade's]] "New Decepticons". {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 24|Revolution Part 2}}

====Letters page====
[[File:Lawanddisorder barricade.jpg|right|upright=2|thumb|One: I am the prettiest unicorn! Two: my mane is lustrous and fragrant, and it catches the wind perfectly! Dismissed!]]

Starscream considered Barricade a good candidate for second-in-command once he vacated the position to take over the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 16|#16's Star Screams}} As irony would have it, Barricade ''did'' soon take over Starscream's job when the air commander had a nervous breakdown... his job as respondent for the comic's [[letters page]]! Unwilling to let the Decepticons turn the page into a propaganda machine, the Autobots dispatched [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] to co-run it with him, much to Barricade's irritation. He shared Starscream's contempt for ''[[you]]'', the reader (#1), and continued the tradition of threatening violence against ''anyone'' who cosplays as an Autobot (#7). This, however, didn't stop him bragging to Ironhide when letters would be pro-Decepticon, and at one point he held a popularity contest to see who the kiddies wanted to be "subjugated by this issue!" (#6).

By the time of Barricade's stewardship of the letters, relations had broken down between the Decepticons and [[DreamWorks]], and they had returned to targeting Michael Bay and company for the pro-Autobot bent of their films. Though Barricade personally enjoyed the scene in the first film when [[Mojo|a dog]] peed on Ironhide, (#1) he refused to appear in the second, and would not even allow his likeness to be used in the video games. (#4) (He claimed he never wanted to be in ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)|War for Cybertron]]'' but his tears disproved that (#12)) He later decided fame was more important than principles though, submitting a script and auditioning for a part in the third film by threatening the director with death (#8). He was absolutely ''disgusted'' by [[fandom|our]] enjoyment of the films: he lost ''friends'' during filming, man. (#10)

In the early days, he appeared to be separated from the rest of the Decepticons, as his knowledge on their current status was spotty; while he knew [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] had turned traitor, he seemed unaware that [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] had been terminated. (#4) He later re-established contact, being aware of [[Grindor (ROTF)|Grindor's]] status and [[The Fallen]]. (#7) He also had a ''shockingly'' bad knowledge of Transformers [[units of time]]. (#8)

Barricade stated how he doesn't think much of Starscream's intelligence or ability to lead (a bit of a pisser when Starscream considered ''him'' to be 2IC material!), but ''much'' prefers him over Megatron. (#1) He once explained some of Megatron's flaws, only to get scared and state how he totally respects him ''really''. (#3) He also dislikes [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], claiming the guy ''never'' pulls his weight and is just Megatron's fave. (#7) On top of that, while he followed the party line and claimed the Decepticons have "policies" (#7), he began showning signs of discontent with being a Decepticon—the long hours, the lousy food, the admin work (#5)—leading Ironhide to start offering him the chance to defect to the Autobots. Barricade outright rejected this offer the first time, saying he couldn't bear the thought of listening to Optimus moralise (#9); the second time, however, he merely stated the horrific penalties for defecting Decepticons (#10) and the third, he desperately said he just ''couldn't'' do it, even if it would be nice to hang with other cars for once... BUT HE CAN'T! Ironhide's friendliness began starting to disturb him. (#11) He did, however, become fed up of Ironhide bringing up how Bumblebee kicked his arse, and became determined to get revenge on "that little yellow cretin"...

Barricade would reveal other assorted factoids about his history and personal tastes during his time as host. Like Starscream, he was active on Earth during the 1980s, at which time he was a [[Barricade (G1)|Micromaster]]. (#12) He watched the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''Transformers'' cartoon]] broadcast at the time (#3) and approved of humanity's fascination with giant robots. In contrast, he is ''completely'' bewildered by pop music. (#7) He's terrified of [[Unicron]]. (#6) He's apparently got an optic for [[Female Transformer|the ladies]], or at least the heavily armed ones, making sure to flirt right back when a neutral femme wrote into the letter's column looking to play "bad cop/bad cop pretending to be good cop" with him. (#5)

===Transformers Mix & Match books===
{{Note|Due to the malleable storytelling format of the Mix & Match books, listed here is Barricade's story role if all the segments visually featuring him are lined-up. For all the possible iterations of his role in the story, see the [[Transformers Mix & Match]] page.}}
Barricade hung out with [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] and [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] and spied on [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Mix & Match}}

===Cyber Missions===
{{voiceactor|[[Bronco D. Jackson]] (English)|[[Óscar Flores]] (Latin American-Spanish)}}
[[File:Cyber Missions Barricade.JPG‎|thumb|upright=1.5|You must agree that his head is somewhat deformed.]]
After a high speed pursuit through [[Scramble City (city)|Scramble City]], Barricade managed to ditch [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]] and used
his [[Moustache Man|holo avatar]] to break into a secure facility. Standing guard while [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] raided the computers, he somehow failed to hear Sideswipe bushwhack his partner and was only alerted when Frenzy's crumpled-up form rolled into his foot. After throwing Frenzy at Sideswipe, Barricade engaged the Autobot in combat, managing to defeat him by freezing him to a wall. He then made off with Frenzy and the [[NEST]] access codes. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 6}}

Later, Barricade and [[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]] confronted [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]. Looking to steal one of Ironhide's weapons, Lockdown took a missile instead, which blew up in his face. While Lockdown was dazed, Ironhide punched Barricade out and dumped a truckload of rocks on top of him. Barricade pleaded with Lockdown for help, but the explosion damaged Lockdown's optics, and he fled. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 11}}

Later, Barricade was among the Decepticons Megatron led on a mission to free the captured Soundwave. He arrived after Megatron derailed the train Soundwave was believed to be on, but true to his history, disappeared from sight soon after. {{storylink|Decepticons Attack}}
{{-}}

===Transformers Annual 2011===
Barricade and [[Grindor (ROTF)|Grindor]] were sent to [[Tokyo]] to cause a diversion. The Autobots soon turned up, and Barricade clashed briefly with Sideswipe before being hoisted into the air by Optimus. A short time later, Grindor crashed on top of him. Defeated, Barricade was picked up by Grindor and they departed, but not before letting Optimus know he'd been had. {{storylink|Sam in Danger}}

===''BeCool'' shorts===
[[File:BeCool patrolcar and americanpatrolcar.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.75|"Kaon cops are on the take! But what do you expect, for the money we make?"]]
'''American Patrol Car''' (アメリカンパトカー ''Amerikan Patokā'') spoke English, but was still capable of communication with his Japanese-speaking fellow BeCool Transformers, albeit with a heavy English-speaking accent. He was part of the audience of ''Quiz! BeCool'' {{storylink|The Story of Quiz! BeCool}} and later joined his police force partner [[Prowl (G1)|Patrol Car]] to welcome audiences to [[Surprise World|the world in which the BeCool robots lived]]. The pair failed to notice when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Garbage Truck]] accidentally dropped a [[banana]] peel in the course of his job, so when [[Bumblebee (G1)|Yellow Sports Car]] hit the peel and went spinning through the city streets, they thought he was just driving recklessly and sped after him. Unfortunately, they failed to stop him before he crashed into a bunch of other 'bots, necessitating the medical aid of [[Ratchet (G1)|Ambulance]], who American Patrol Car explained to the audience was the town doctor. {{storylink|The Story of Protecting the Signal!}}
{{--}}

===''Mission to Cybertron'' comic===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Mission to Cybertron}}
{{-}}

==Games==
==="Flight of the Bumblebee" online game===
[[File:FlightoftheBumblebee bee vs barricade.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5]]
Barricade was one of a group of Decepticons who trapped Bumblebee in a canyon. He stood around on a rocky butte, walking back and forth and waiting for Bumblebee to drive up to him. When the Autobot dropped in, Barricade immediately opened fire, blasting Bumblebee continuously. Unfortunately, Bumblebee had the idea to shoot back, blasting him right out of the picture with just one shot. {{storylink|Flight of the Bumblebee}}
{{-}}

===Transformers The Game (console)===
{{voiceactor|[[Keith David]] (English)}}
====Autobot campaign====
[[File:TFtheGame barricade vs bee.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|"Out of the shadows... the spies announce themselves now?"]]
Barricade was sent to Tranquility to hunt down Sam Witwicky and the glasses that held the location of the AllSpark. He attempted to capture Sam and Mikaela outside their high school, but Bumblebee stepped in. The humans fled for the nearby baseball field with Barricade in pursuit, but Bumblebee beat him to them, protecting them while they ran away again. He followed them to the power plant, but was once again foiled by Bumblebee and sent packing.

Later, in [[Mission City]], Barricade made one last grab for the AllSpark after [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] and [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]] had each fallen to the Autobots. However, he was once again intercepted by Bumblebee, and finally defeated for good. {{storylink|Transformers The Game (console)|Transformers The Game}}

====Decepticon campaign====
[[File:TFtheGame barricade threatens sam.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|"Were it so easy..."]]
Upon reaching Tranquility and choosing his [[alternate mode]], Barricade attempted some recon, but encountered a squad of Autobot drones, a battle which spilled out to the local baseball field. Shortly afterwards, he was informed by Starscream that [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] had information they needed, but the diminutive Decepticon had been captured by [[Sector Seven]] agents. Barricade tracked them to the power plant, then hounded the agents across town in their highly resistant van, wrecking every building in his path until Frenzy was recovered.

Finally on the trail of Sam, he was stopped cold by Sam's protector Bumblebee. Barricade got the upper hand, but the Autobot led him on a chase that ended in [[Bay Demolition|Bay's Demolition]] lot, and an ambush courtesy of a lot of Autobot drones. Barricade overcame the odds and hunted down Bumblebee once more, finally besting the Autobot and taking the glasses from Sam. Decoding Megatron and the AllSpark's location from them, Barricade relayed his findings to Starscream, who, together with Blackout, soon struck [[Hoover Dam]] and liberated their leader.

When the Decepticons converged on Mission City, Barricade was tasked with taking out the Autobot [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]]. He later stood in Megatron's presence after the AllSpark had been recovered and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] ordered the Earth to be destroyed before they left it on their way to conquering all of known space. {{storylink|Transformers The Game (console)|Transformers The Game}}

===''Transformers: The Game'' (PSP)===
{{voiceactor|[[Keith David]]}}
[[File:TFtheGamePSP barricade hooverdam.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.5|"Even on my knees I do not belong in his presence."]]
Barricade and a platoon of Decepticon drones pursued Sam Witwicky in an attempt to obtain his grandfather's glasses, but were defeated in a battle at a steel processing plant by the human's protector, Bumblebee. A short time later, learning from Frenzy that Megatron's frozen body was being held at Hoover Dam by Sector Seven, Barricade and Starscream attacked the facility. Barricade penetrated the dam and located Megatron's body, deactivating the machines that were keeping him frozen. When Megatron did not immediately reactivate, Barricade assumed his leader was dead after all, but Megatron soon shook off the deep freeze treatment to prove his subordinate wrong. Megatron jetted off to acquire some fresh energy for himself, while Barricade reported on Megatron's awakening to Starscream, who was not best pleased with the news. {{storylink|Transformers The Game (PSP)}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Autobots/Decepticons'' (Nintendo DS)===
{{voiceactor|[[Keith David]] (English)}}
====''Transformers: Autobots''====
[[File:TFtheGameDS Barricade and friend vs Optimus.jpg|thumb|left|'''Optimus''': Gasp! Is that Shockwa- '''Barricade''': No, no, no, he’s off doing stuff on Cybertron or something or other and-look, can we just fight?]]
When Bumblebee went to investigate the source of an image found on the internet, he found Barricade waiting for him. Barricade blew up a nearby car and took off, sending out messages on the police radio that Bumblebee was responsible. After failing to lose Bumblebee in spite of all of [[Tranquility]]'s police force being after him, he engaged him in combat. Unable to defeat Bumblebee, he hastily retreated. Later on, he encountered Bumblebee and Optimus Prime as the two were leaving [[Hoover Dam]]. With a large helicopter Decepticon at his side, he tried to persuade Optimus to let him have the [[Allspark]]. After Prime predictably refused, Barricade started to demand the AllSpark from Prime, not even caring about the consequences. He was killed, but revealed to Prime he was merely a distraction while other Decepticons freed Megatron from his icy prison. {{storylink|Transformers Autobots/Decepticons|Transformers: Autobots}}

====''Transformers: Decepticons''====
[[File:TFtheGameDS barricade dies.jpg|thumb||''Guess I got what I deserved... Kept you waiting there too long, my love...'' |upright=1.2]]
When the [[Create-A-Bot (Decepticon)|Decepticon Create-A-Bot]] arrived on Earth, his mentor, Starscream, directed him to rendezvous with Barricade, already active on the planet and commanding some of the Decepticon forces there. Barricade was not enamored with the idea of a partner, feeling that the Create-A-Bot would only slow him down, but after putting the rookie through his paces, he permitted him to join him on his mission in the town of [[Tranquility]]. Barricade revealed to the Create-A-Bot what Starscream had not—that the signal which had brought the Decepticons to Earth had come from Megatron himself. The rookie dismissed Megatron as a relic, and was struck by Barricade for the insult. With some help from the rookie, Barricade discovered that the Autobot Bumblebee was already on Megatron's trail; Barricade pursued Bumblebee, defeated him in battle on the outskirts of Tranquility, and acquired the data he had gathered.

Now aware that the human military organization [[Sector Seven]] was holding Megatron, Barricade arranged for [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] to transport the Create-A-Bot to a [[Qatar]] military base, where they and [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]] hacked Sector Seven's databanks. The file they obtained was brought back to Barricade in Tranquility for deciphering, and revealed that Megatron was being held by Sector Seven in the [[Hoover Dam]]. The Create-A-Bot suggesting relaying this to Starscream, but Barricade loudly refuted the idea, happy that the impending resurrection of Megatron would mean that he would no longer have to serve under a cowardly, back-stabbing bureaucrat like Starscream. Swayed by Barricade's words, the rookie revealed a fact that Starscream had told only him—that the AllSpark was also present on Earth. Shocked by the revelation, Barricade realized that Starscream had been scheming to acquire the AllSpark for himself, to ensure that not even Megatron could remove him from power. With the rookie now turned from Starscream and on his side, Barricade was able to liberate Megatron from Sector Seven, and the Decepticons pursued the Autobots, now in possession of the AllSpark, back to Tranquility.

During the ensuing battle, Starscream finally claimed the AllSpark from Bumblebee, and Barricade stood against him, intent on bringing him in for treason. Alas, the AllSpark-powered Starscream destroyed Barricade, but in death, Barricade proved to the Create-A-Bot what it truly meant to be a Decepticon. {{storylink|Transformers Autobots/Decepticons|Transformers: Decepticons}}
{{-}}

===Allspark Highway===
Barricade and the Decepticons tried to keep the Autobots from delivering the Allspark to safety. There were lots of him. {{storylink|Allspark Highway}}

===''Transformers Video Mash-Up''===
{{note|Various short clips featuring Barricade were available for users to custom-create their own short film about the Transformers.}} {{storylink|Transformers Video Mash-Up}}

===''Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Decepticons'' (Nintendo DS)===
{{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Autobots/Decepticons|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Decepticons}}
{{stub}}

===''MechTech Weapons Challenge''===
Bumblebee could use Barricade's robot wrecking claw to aid him in his missions to retrieve MechTech weapons technology stolen by the Decepticons. {{storylink|MechTech Weapons Challenge}}

===''Cyberverse Battle Builder''===
Barricade joined the rest of the Decepticons in combating the Autobots on battlefields on Earth, the Earth's Moon and on Cybertron. Sometimes there were many of him! {{storylink|Cyberverse Battle Builder}}

===''Bot Shots Battle Game!''===
[[File:Bsbg-barricade.jpg|thumb|left|What's the matter, don't you trust cops?]]
Barricade participated in numerous one-on-one matches against other Autobots and Decepticons, using his fists, his sword, or his gun to defeat his opponents. Sometimes, he even faced off against himself! {{storylink|Bot Shots Battle Game!}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Forged to Fight''===
[[File:Barricade-Forged-to-Fight.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
Barricade was one of the Decepticons pulled from [[Live-action film series|his universe]] by the [[Quintesson]]s and forced to fight. He eventually joins the [[You|Commander]]. There are at least a few of him running around! {{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}

[[Optimus Prime (G1)#Transformers: Forged to Fight|Optimus Prime]] encountered Barricade on one of their missions, and Barricade demanded to know if he was [[Sam Witwicky|Ladiesmans217]]. [[Prowl (G1)#Transformers: Forged to Fight|Prowl]] got a read-out on the Decepticon, and they eventually had a Good Cop vs. Bad Cop showdown. {{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight#Chapter 1:Realities Collide|Good Cop Bad Cop}}2nd Encounter
{{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight#|It's in our DNA}}
{{chargamestub}}

==Toys==
{{Main|Barricade (Movie)/toys}}

==Merchandise==
{{Main|Barricade (Movie)/toys#Merchandise}}

==Second Life avatars==
In the online game ''Second Life'', there was a full replica of the Sector Seven base which contained a giant discussion room where Michael Bay held a question board. This room contained a giant frozen Megatron replica and offered free avatars of both Bumblebee and Barricade. Both freebies were non-transforming.

==Notes==
===''Transformers'' (2007)===
*In an early version of the movie's script, Barricade and Frenzy's roles were shared by a single character named "[[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]]". He would have infiltrated the CIA headquarters (rather than Air Force One) in the form of a "portable stereo" and then transformed (and size-shifted) into a Humvee for his escape.<ref name="early">Details from an early script draft [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2213120&postcount=297 summed up here], [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2214148&postcount=303 confirmed as authentic by Roberto Orci here].</ref>
[[File:EarlyMovieBarricadeHead.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|150px|Different name, different head, same guy. As far as we know, anyway!]]
*[[Prowl (Movie)|Prowl]] was originally part of the Autobot line up for the movie, but was removed, as the writers loved the perverse idea of making the police car a Decepticon.
*An early working name for Barricade was '''Brawl''',<ref name="barribrawl">[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-images/events/Botcon-2007/Hasbro-Tour/PICT5108.JPG.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1 Early design for Barricade with working name "Brawl" shown during the BotCon 2007 Hasbro Tour]</ref> which was later given to [[Brawl (Movie)|another movie character]]. Early concept art the character created when he was going by this name<ref name="barribrawl"/> (pictured at right) suggests that he was originally going to transform into a white and black Crown Victoria (somewhat akin to Prowl's original G1 color scheme). The head design from this early concept artwork managed to show up on a few pieces of merchandise for the first film (such as a set of temporary tattoos), was used as inspiration for Barricade's Cybertronian-mode head in IDW's "[[Planetfall (Movie)|Planetfall]]," and would later inexplicably show up as a profile link for Barricade's [[Bio#Online bios|Battle Bio]] on Hasbro's website.
*In the first movie, Barricade sports the [[license plate]] "1-4027E", registered in Oklahoma. It can be briefly glimpsed when he slows down after having seemingly cornered Bumblebee, but is more clearly seen in set photos. Oddly enough, that plate ''also'' shows up on ''[[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz's]]'' [[robot mode]] chest in the same movie. The Deluxe Class Recon Barricade [[redeco]] toy, meanwhile, sports the plate "SAGE2764", a reference pertaining to deco designer [[Joe Kyde]], the [[Premium Series]] redeco of the Deluxe toy sports the plate "DCPTCN" for "Decepticon", and the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Human Alliance]] toy sports the plate "2PN-SLV", referring to Barricade's infamous "To punish and enslave..." markings.
*The [http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/27/ebay-find-of-the-day-saleen-barricade-replica/ promotional Saleen S281E cars] that appeared at events and premieres featured the slogan "Power in the hands of a few" rather than the "To punish and enslave" motto, as well as Saleen decals rather than the Decepticon decals seen in the movie.
*By placing Barricade's arrival on Earth in 2003, [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''[[Transformers: Movie Prequel|Movie Prequel]]'' seems to contradict the very existence of his [[alternate mode]], since it is a 2006 model car. Not so— the Mustang design that would eventually be the 2006 model debuted sometime in 2003, with police car modifications showing up in car shows not long after. It could very well be that, similar to when/how Jazz scanned a Solstice in a dealership late at night, Barricade scanned a Police Mustang in one such car show display after-hours, explaining why there were "no witnesses" after he assumed this form ''and'' why his police deco has no state or city markings/I.D.
[[File:Movie2007 Barricade carweapon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|150px|This looks familiar!]]
*In a deleted scene set during Barricade's pursuit of Bumblebee, the Decepticon was to deploy serrated drill-like missiles from his hood and fire them at the fleeing Autobot. The scene was filmed, as evidenced by artist [[Sean Haworth]]'s photograph of the constructed and fitted weapon prop (right), and its removal at least partially helps to explain the abrupt shift from day to night that occurs during the chase. The scene remains in IDW's comic book adaptation of the film, and the weapons are optional extras for RadioShack's ''XMODS® Evolution'' Barricade model kit.
*If one were to only accept the film itself as [[canon]], there is no real evidence of his supposed "rivalry" with Bumblebee which Hasbro and IDW kept pushing as a defining trait of his character since 2007. He just happens to be the Decepticon to first make contact with Sam Witwicky, Bumblebee intervenes and then fights and defeats Barricade. There is nothing in the film itself that would suggest that the two have a history, or even actually ''know'' each other personally beforehand. However, Hasbro gave the pairing of the two as enemies a lot of prominence in their toyline that accompanied the film, and IDW's prequel and sequel comics established previous and subsequent encounters of the two on Earth. Barricade's two subsequent film appearances eventually ''do'' establish a recurring history/rivalry with Bumblebee of sorts, though: In ''Dark of the Moon'', he delivers a captured Bumblebee a kick to the back, and the two briefly face off again during ''The Last Knight''.

===Other films===
*When asked about Barricade's disappearance from the first film, writer [[Roberto Orci]] stated in a message board Q&A session that it was a "thread for Movie 2".<ref>[http://boards.transformersmovie.com/showpost.php?p=384946&postcount=33 Roberto Orci on Barricade's fate in the movie, at the official movie boards]</ref> As it happened, Barricade didn't turn up in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''; two years later, Orci stated that he honestly couldn't remember why.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-movie-discussion/180451-welcome-mr-roberto-orci-you-may-ask-him-questions-283.html#post3785383 Orci's Q&A at TFW2005]</ref>
*A common misconception among fans is that Barricade's Saleen Mustang alternate mode was spotted on the set of ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''. This is not true. In fact, a truck transporting three "Barricade" prop vehicles was spotted in Culver City, California, in March 2008, more than two months before principal shooting for ''Revenge of the Fallen'' started.<ref name="vehspotted">[http://www.superherohype.com/news/transformersnews.php?id=6980 Superhero Hype reporting on the spotting of Barricade vehicles in March 2008]</ref>
*An early idea writer [[Chris Mowry]] had for the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comic book prequel ''[[Transformers: Alliance]]'' was to depict Barricade's transformation into new movie character [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]], but Hasbro rejected the idea.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/members/mowry-73165-page2.html#vmessage170099]</ref> Another of Mowry's ideas for ''Alliance'' involved having Barricade reformat into a police boat to retrieve Megatron's at-sea remains. Mowry notes he would have been confronted by [[Storm Surge (Movie)|Storm Surge]]; whether this means Storm Surge was an Autobot at this point in development, or if there was dissension in the Decepticon ranks, is unclear.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/members/mowry-73165.html#vmessage281346]</ref>
*Barricade doesn't ''technically'' speak in ''Dark of the Moon'', but an editing gaffe as he kicks Que around before executing him sees Soundwave's voice (provided by [[Frank Welker]]) coming out of his mouth for the scene.
*Barricade is one of the few Movieverse characters who have a distinct transformation sound effect.
*Despite all the marketing and promotional material leading up to the release of ''The Last Knight'' portraying him with a mask/helmet, he never uses it in the film itself and has a fully exposed face all throughout. One piece of concept art even depicts him with police shades. [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/attachments/22580549_156168284980549_4064834079172853760_n-jpg.27831803/ Seriously.]
*Barricade's vehicle mode color in ''The Last Knight'' varies from scene to scene: He possesses a glossy midnight blue color on his vehicle prop shells. During his transformation sequence, his midnight blue is painted in a brighter metallic shade.
*Barricade's appearance in ''The Last Knight'' serves as the basis for the [[Evergreen]] design used to create the ''[[Transformers: Earth Wars]]'' [[Barricade (IDW)|version of the character]].

===Disappearances and reappearances===
[[File:Barricade-comicsadaptation-death.jpg|upright=1.25|thumb|right|F*** tha poh-leece!]]
*Barricade abruptly disappears from the first live-action film during the highway battle, last appearing as Bonecrusher moves forward to engage Optimus Prime. As evidenced by scenes in the novelization and comic book adaptations of the film (right), he was supposed to join Bonecrusher in attacking the Autobot leader, and would have been destroyed by Optimus after Bonecrusher.
*Alternatively, the children's chapter book adaptation of the film, ''[[The Quest for the AllSpark]]'', describes Barricade as being destroyed by the US military.
*At the time, Barricade's fate caused a great deal of speculation, and [[IDW Publishing]] capitalized on the character's ambiguous fate to "overwrite" his death from their comic adaptation, revealing instead in ''[[Transformers: The Reign of Starscream|The Reign of Starscream]]'' that he had been forced off the road by Ironhide and drove into a roadway bridge pillar, knocking himself out.
*Barricade subsequently reappeared in several further IDW comics before returning to the screen in ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'', where he appears to have been killed off by NEST soldiers.
*However, Barricade appears alive and well in ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]'', [[retcon]]ing his previous death. Oddly enough, it is mentioned in that film that he has been under government surveillance. Last seen coming under attack by the British military, Barricade apparently continuing his tradition of having an ambiguous fate near the end of every odd-numbered film. Consequently, he is the only Decepticon that never officially dies in the main series but unless a follow-up to ''The Last Knight'' says otherwise, for now we'll consider Barricade to be have been killed during the ambush at Stonehenge.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Barricade''' (バリケード ''Barikēdo'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Pàn Gūan''' (Taiwan, 叛官, "Treacherous Official"), '''Lùzhàng''' (China, 路障, "Barricade")
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Barycada''' (Барикада, "Barricade")

==See also==
{{OtherVersions
|charname=Barricade
|disambig=Barricade (disambiguation)
|body=
*[[Barricade (Animated)|Barricade]], the [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's]] menu headshot from ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]].''
*[[Barricade (WFC)|Barricade]], the [[Decepticon]] dirty cop from the [[Aligned continuity family]].
*[[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]], the Decepticon dirty cop from the [[2005 IDW continuity]].}}

==Footnotes==
<references />

[[Category:3D Battle-Cards]]
[[Category:Age of Extinction Decepticons]]
[[Category:Cyber Missions characters]]
[[Category:Dark of the Moon Decepticons]]
[[Category:Interrogators]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Movie Decepticons]]
[[Category:Pilots]]
[[Category:The Last Knight Decepticons]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Decepticons]]
[[Category:Zombies]]

Fortress Maximus (G1)

2020-02-03T13:28:37Z

Spark Mandrill: /* The Headmasters cartoon */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|Starfleet}}
{{featured}}
{{disambig3|Fortress Maximus}}
{{suite}}
:''Fortress Maximus is an [[Autobot]] [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] and occasional [[Titan (group)|Titan]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:FortMax1.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|[[Nobuyuki Hiyama|Link]] called. He wants the [[Master Sword]] back.]]

Despite his great power, size, and rank, '''Fortress Maximus''' is a weary and reluctant warrior. Fighting is against his pacifist nature, even for the most noble of causes. Over time, the endless conflict on Cybertron has worn him down, to the point that he's willing to walk away from the war entirely to preserve himself and his ideals.

Fortress Maximus is big. ''How'' big generally depends on the universe, but often as not he's binary-bonded to a smaller robot named [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] who forms his head; Cerebros's own head is formed by [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], or in some universes, [[Emissary (Generations)|Emissary]].

{{note|Fortress Maximus is one of those fun characters whose incarnations are very different. See individual fiction entries below for continuity specific profiles.}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
[[File:Fortmaxgiveshead.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
{{main|Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity}}
{{-}}

===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Stephen Keener]] (English), [[Kunihiko Yasui]] (Japanese)}}

[[File:Fortressmaximusg1rebirth.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
When a battle for possession of the [[Key to the Plasma Energy Chamber]] led a group of Autobots and Decepticons to be stranded on the planet [[Nebulos]], partnership between the Transformers and the native Nebulans led to the development of Headmaster and Targetmaster technology. The planet's evil ruling council, the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]], took the technology to its most powerful extreme when its leader [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]] created the massive city-sized Scorponok to serve as his Headmaster partner and used his power to steal back the chamber key. The Decepticons departed for Cybertron, and the Autobots were poised to give chase when Spike Witwicky announced that he and the pacifistic Cerebros would be staying behind. While the other Autobots left in pursuit, Spike had Cerebros lead him to the ruins of the Hive's original city, which they had lived in before moving underground. Taking control of the various abandoned machines there, Spike rebuilt the city, Cerebros and even himself into a Headmaster robot that could stand up to Scorponok's power: Fortress Maximus!

[[File:Rebirth3 fortmax battlestation.jpg|right|upright=1.4|thumb]]
The completed Fortress Maximus quickly flew to Cybertron and made a dramatic entrance, setting down in city mode and then transforming to battle station mode to bombard Scorponok and the Decepticons with a hail of weaponsfire. When Zarak transformed Scorponok to [[robot mode]], Spike did likewise with Fortress Maximus, and the two titans battled, with Maximus on the losing end until Zarak threatened the life of Spike's son, Daniel. With a burst of strength, Fortress Maximus took Scorponok down, causing him to collapse with such force that he transformed back to city mode. Spike and Cerebros then disconnected from Maximus and headed inside Scorponok to recover the captive Daniel and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], leaving Maximus to keep the other Decepticons at bay with his many weapons. The Decepticons were able to get through Maximus's firestorm and got Scorponok airborne, but not before Spike succeeded in his rescue.

Subsequently, with the Plasma Energy Chamber back under Autobot control, Fortress Maximus flew the Autobot Headmasters and Targetmasters back to Nebulos. There, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] announced that after they had eradicated the Hive's evil from the planet, Cerebros would live on the planet as its guardian, presumably meaning that Fortress Maximus would be staying there too. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}

{{note|It is unclear if Fortress Maximus had any sentience of his own; he did speak once in his own voice, but for the most part, even Cerebros's will seemed to be pushed aside so Spike could run the whole thing himself.}}

===Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
{{note|In Japan, Fortress Maximus's mental functions are housed in a small robot who transforms into a head and connects to a larger, lifeless transtector body. This larger body in turn becomes the head of a ''giant'' transtector, forming the robot known as Fortress Maximus. The ''Headmasters'' toyline referred to the smallest robot as '''Cerebros''', who formed the head of the intermediate robot '''Fortress''', but this distinction was never actually made in fiction, and the character was always referred to as "Fortress" regardless of whether he was in small or intermediate form.}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Ikuya Sawaki]] (Japanese)|[[Simon Broad]] (English), [[Liu Xirui]] (Chinese)}}

[[File:Hm7 fortress small bot.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Drang nach Master!]]
Four million years ago, Fortress was a [[Cyberdroid|diminutive Cybertronian]] who had not yet mastered the art of transformation, and was a friend of [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]]'s. He was among the many Transformers that fled Cybertron in an attempt to escape the corrosion of war without end, and led a group of his fellow small Cybertronians in search of a new peaceful world they could call home. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Alas, engine trouble caused their ship to crash on the inhospitable world of planet Master, whose hazardous environmental conditions began threatening the lives of Fortress and his men almost as soon as they departed the wreckage of their ship and began trekking through a desert of shifting sands. The need for survival fostered many technological and mental advancements, however, and Fortress and his people endured.

[[File:Hm1 battleship maximus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Fortress was responsible for many of the technological quantum leaps, the most significant of which was the invention of "[[transtector]]s": larger, lifeless Transformer bodies to which the small Cybertronians could connect as heads. After a rigorous physical and mental training program that allowed them to finally master transformation and even instilled powerful telepathic and telekinetic powers in them, Fortress and nine other warriors bonded with these transtectors to become "Headmasters". {{storylink|The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery}} Fortress even took the process one step further, and with the aid of other Master scientists like [[Jack (Headmasters)|Jack]], created a ''huge'' transtector that could transform into the battleship, Maximus. Fortress's own transtector was engineered to also transform into a head, which could control the many functions of the Maximus from a special docking bay on the battleship's bridge, {{storylink|Rebellion on Planet Beast}} and which could form the head for the battleship's own colossal robot mode, known as "Fortress Maximus". Fortress also created the powerful [[Master Sword]] for himself, and tied the Maximus's transformation into it; in order to convert the battleship to robot mode, Fortress had to draw a small version of the blade from a sheath beneath his command console, but this feat could only be accomplished when his physical and mental energies were in perfect synchronization. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger}}

Unfortunately, half of the Headmasters eventually rebelled against Fortress's leadership, siding with a traitor named Scorponok against him. The traitors were defeated by Fortress and his comrades and exiled from Master, but eventually, they came to ally themselves with the Decepticons under the command of [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}}

[[File:Hm2 kup and fortress.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4]]
In the year 2011, when Galvatron launched his latest attack on Cybertron with the added power of his new Decepticon Headmasters, Fortress Maximus brought the Autobot Headmasters back to their homeworld aboard the Maximus. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} Even the mightiest of the Decepticons' [[combiner]]s could not stand against Battleship Maximus's firepower, and the evil robots were forced into retreat. This task complete, Fortress set the Maximus down at the Autobots' secondary headquarters on the planet [[Athenia]], where he introduced himself and his comrades and explained their origins, and was reunited with Kup. After being filled in by the Autobots on the current crisis—[[Vector Sigma]] had become destabilized, putting the planet at risk—Fortress deduced that the [[Matrix of Leadership]] was necessary to bring the computer back under control. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Unfortunately, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] had already ventured into the depths of Cybertron without the Matrix, willing to sacrifice his own life to stabilize Vector Sigma, so Fortress headed into the planet's catacombs after him while the other Headmasters helped [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] search for the Matrix, hidden somewhere on [[Earth]]. Though Fortress was not able to catch up to Prime before he reached Vector Sigma's chamber, he was able to use his telepathic powers to contact Prime's companion, the spirit of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], helping to guide him safely through the maze of tunnels. It turned out that [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] had made it to the chamber ahead of Prime, however, and Fortress raced through the remainder of the tunnels to aid Prime against the two Decepticons. Hot Rod soon arrived with the Matrix, which he used to become Rodimus Prime again, but before he could use it to bring Vector Sigma back under control, Optimus Prime merged with the computer to stabilize it, giving up his life in the process. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} Prime was not the only casualty of the crisis: [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] also lost his life in the search for the Matrix. Luckily, Fortress was able to use the advanced technology of Master to rebuild and resurrect him, as Twincast. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}}

[[File:Hm5 fortmax headmode.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"Sorry I'm late! Well, let's see who's here! B-b-b-Brainstorm! Highbrow? You still here? We never expected you to stick around. Nice nosejob, no one would ever suspect. Hardhead! Putting on a little weight, huh? Speaking of dads Arcee, yours isn't worried about you. He loves your choice in men. Chromedome! How's your [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|sex life]]? What's your sex life?"]]
While patrolling space for Decepticon activity aboard the Maximus, the Autobot Headmasters discovered [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] stowed away on board. After explaining the function of his Head Mode to the shocked youngsters, Fortress agreed to let the pair join them on the patrol. Soon after, the Autobots came upon two stranded [[Beastformer]]s from the planet [[Beast (planet)|Beast]], and learned that the Decepticons had invaded their planet; the infuriated Fortress made for the planet with all due speed, after sending a report to Rodimus Prime on Athenia. The Autobot Headmasters helped the native Beastformers liberate their planet from Decepticon control, but Fortress was concerned with a blueprint recovered from an underground factory that indicated the Decepticons were building something. {{storylink|Rebellion on Planet Beast}}

[[File:Hm6 fortmax funnyfaces.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|:D]]
When the Decepticons launched a [[Metamorphose|metal-warping meteor]] at Athenia, Fortress and his battleship were powerless to do anything, for fear of being destroyed by the meteor's gravity sensors. It fell to Daniel Witwicky to destroy the meteor, so Fortress transported him as close to it as he was able. Daniel lost his nerve at the last minute, so Fortress calmed him down by making some silly faces. Dignified! {{storylink|Approach of the Demon Meteorite}} Later, a phoney distress call lured Fortress and the Autobot Headmasters into a trap on the planet [[Praum]] set by their old foe, Scorponok. Despite being trapped in a subterranean chamber with the endless desert sands pouring in on top of him, Fortress kept his head and reminded his young allies of the similar hardships they had suffered on Master and the training they had undergone to overcome them. With the skills they had learned back then, they were able to escape. {{storylink|The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery}}

[[File:Hm10 fortress appointed commander.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"Take my job, New Toy! I don't want it!"]]
When Galvatron launched an attack on Cybertron in an attempt to steal a new alloy developed by Vector Sigma named [[cybertonuron]], Fortress advised Rodimus Prime against striking back in full force, preferring to find another way to stop the Decepticons than putting all their warriors in danger. Rodimus refused, and Fortress quietly acquiesced to his commander's wishes, ferrying him to Cybertron on Battleship Maximus. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} The battle ended catastrophically, however, when treachery on the part of Scorponok led to the detonation of a collection of bombs in Vector Sigma's chamber, devastating Cybertron and rendering it uninhabitable, and apparently killing Galvatron in the process. Realizing with deep regret that Fortress's caution had been warranted, Rodimus Prime decided that the era of his generation of Transformers was over, and vowed to search the universe for a new planet the Transformers could call home. He passed the title of [[Supreme Commander]] of the Autobots (though not the Matrix of Leadership) to Fortress, who was visibly uncomfortable with the appointment, but accepted it graciously, telling himself not to contest it because it was his destiny. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}}

[[File:G1FortressMaximus HMstockfootage.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|"...But it's the pelvic thruuuuuust / that really drives you in-sa-a-a-ane..."]]
Fortress's tenure as leader got off to a strong start with the successful completion of the [[Sol 1]] satellite, a joint venture between the Autobots and humanity to gather solar energy. Unfortunately, the satellite was stolen by the Decepticons, forcing the Autobot Headmasters to destroy it to keep it out of their hands. Before being destroyed, however, the satellite's energy was beamed by the villains to the planet [[Zarak (planet)|Zarak]]. {{storylink|The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok}} Fortress attempted to study Zarak from afar in hopes of deducing what the Decepticons were up to, but the planet's gaseous shroud prevented remote observation of its surface, and the Decepticons began staging concentrated attacks on Earth to keep the Autobots' attentions divided. {{storylink|The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts}} One such attack saw the Decepticons unleash a carnivorous, ambulatory plant upon [[San Francisco]], which Fortress identified as a [[buridanka]] from the planet [[Darhos]]. When the Autobot Headmasters responded, Battleship Maximus was caught in the plant-monster's vines, and Fortress's lack of focus left him unable to draw the Master Sword and transform. Galvanized by the cries of the other Headmasters, however, his energies soon came into alignment, and for what was apparently the first time (given everyone else's surprise when it happened) Fortress transformed the Maximus and combined with it to form Fortress Maximus. With the power of the Master Sword, he easily dispatched the giant plant. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}}

[[File:Hm14 fortress draws mastersword.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Weakened by the great energy demands of his transformation, Fortress sent the Autobot Headmasters to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] without him when news of Decepticon movement on the planet reached the Autobots. When the Headmasters discovered that the Decepticons were planning to blow up Mars, however, Fortress went into action, only to be struck with a [[plasma energy]] bomb by the Decepticons Headmasters just as he was in the middle of transforming into Fortress Maximus. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger}} Although Fortress survived the blast, his energies were severely drained, and the powerless Maximus was unable to depart Mars as the countdown to the Decepticons' planet-destroying explosion continued. Even worse, into the middle of this crisis stepped Scorponok, now outfitted with a gigantic transtector of his own: the end result of the mysterious construction operations on planets Beast and Zarak. Scorponok pummelled the paralyzed Maximus, then pulled out just before the chain of explosion began. Fortress told the Headmasters to leave him and the Maximus to their fate, but luckily, at the last minute, the battleship began absorbing the energy released by the early stages of the explosion. Fortress was able to use this energy to transform into Fortress Maximus, and escaped the destruction of Mars, slashing Scorponok with the Master Sword as he came bursting from the conflagration. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears}}

[[File:Hm17 maximus vs scorponok.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|That's how the scorpions breed!]]
While Fortress and the Headmasters were patrolling the edges of Decepticon space to keep an eye on their enemies' activities, Scorponok attacked the Maximus, only for the fight to be broken up by a strange UFO. Back on Athenia, Fortress met with the Autobots' deep cover spy, [[Punch (G1)|Punch]], and learned that Scorponok was holding a coronation ceremony for himself on Earth's [[moon (moon)|moon]]. The Autobots attacked the ceremony, during which Fortress again pitted his battleship against Scorponok, but the fighting was brought to an end when the UFO returned, and was revealed to belong to Galvatron, who had survived Cybertron's destruction. {{storylink|Return of the Immortal Emperor}} Fortress fought Scorponok again soon after, when the Autobots tried to provide energy relief to the other-dimensional planet [[Sandra (planet)|Sandra]]. {{storylink|SOS from Planet Sandra}}

[[File:Hm23 fortmax sword slash.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
When the Decepticons embarked on an interplanetary energy quest, the Autobots determined to follow them aboard Fortress's battleship; Fortress had to be convinced to allow Daniel to come with them. {{storylink|Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!}} Their first port of call was the planet [[Hive (planet)|Hive]], but before the Maximus could set down, they were attacked by the planet's force. Fortress was intent on a show of non-resistance and would not fire back, while [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] went down to the planet's surface and proved the Autobots' good intentions to Hive's [[Queen Bee]]. The Autobots joined forces with the natives to fend off the Decepticons; Fortress disconnected the Maximus's "Master Shot" cannon so the Headmasters could wield it, then transformed into Fortress Maximus to send Scorponok packing with the Master Sword. {{storylink|Fight to the Death on Planet Hive!!}} Fortress then used the Maximus to fly the Autobots to [[Twin Star]], where he dealt with Scorponok by hauling him into the air and dropping him, {{storylink|Battle for Defense of the False Planet}} and [[Daros]], where he used the Maximus's internal defense systems to stop [[Curl|a gang of prisoners]] from taking control of the battleship. {{storylink|Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!!}} The battleship needed some repairs before it could take the Autobots to [[Paradise]], which Fortress had Chromedome and [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] perform. {{storylink|Head Formation of Friendship}} Fortress again transformed to Fortress Maximus on the final planet of their journey, [[Pirate Planet]], taking Scorponok out with a Master Sword-slash to the chest. {{storylink|Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship}}

[[File:Hm25 fortress cradles magnus.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4]]
After returning to Athenia, Fortress and the Headmasters received news of a Decepticon attack on Earth and headed there with all due haste, but they were not in time to stop [[Sixshot]] from mortally wounding [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. Fortress held Magnus as he died, then carried his body aboard the Maximus for burial along an Earth coastline. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}} Soon after, with Decepticon attacks intensifying, Fortress had to talk [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] out of risking his own life in the pursuit of revenge against Sixshot. When word came through from Punch that Galvatron intended to use the gathered energy to fuse himself with the Earth itself, Fortress and the Headmasters immediately departed to confront the Decepticon leader in [[Alaska]]. The Headmasters were able to use Punch's information to finally end the threat of Galvatron with their [[Head Formation]], burying him in the Arctic ice. {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg}}

[[File:Hm26 weak spot.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|From USSR with "love"!]]
Galvatron's demise left a power vacuum that Scorponok immediately filled, and once appointed leader again, he immediately put into motion a plan to destroy the Earth by simultaneously erupting every volcano on the [[Pacific Ring of Fire]]. [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] deduced his plan, but a Decepticon attack on [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] left Spike fatally wounded, with a chunk of shrapnel embedded in one of his arteries. Medical science could do nothing for Spike, so Fortress used his telekinetic powers to dissolve the shrapnel, saving Spike, but draining all of Fortress's energy. Even in his weakened state, unable to transform, Fortress still attempted to stop Scorponok from initiating his plan on the Kamchatka Peninsula, but Scorponok simply hurled the Maximus into a volcano. As it turned out, this allowed Fortress to absorb the geothermal energy of the volcano's magma, restoring his power and ability to transform. Following information decoded by Chromedome, Fortress Maximus was able to puncture Scorponok's weak spot, the Decepticon symbol on his chest, forcing the villain and his followers to flee the planet. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}}

[[File:Hm28 fortress examines targetmaster.jpg|left|thumb]]
With Earth finally free of the Decepticons, the Autobots set about removing every trace of their evil from the planet. Fortress co-ordinated the effort, but just as he was meeting with three new Autobot arrivals—[[Pointblank]], [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] and [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]]—a report came through from Chromedome that one of the plasma energy bombs he had been tasked with gathering up had become active. Fortress quickly picked up the bombs in Battleship Maximus, intending to transport them into space so they could detonate harmlessly, but as the ship departed the atmosphere, it crossed paths with another vessel containing refugees from Master. While the Autobots held off the Decepticons pursuing the Master vessel, Fortress and Twincast welcomed the refugees on board, and learned from them that Scorponok's Decepticons had attacked Master. The refugees then helped get the plasma bombs off Battleship Maximus, but they proceeded to detonate before everyone could get clear, and the explosion fused the refugees to the arms of the Autobots and Decepticons. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}} Fortress used his scientific know-how to remove the refugees from the Autobots' arms, but a strange link remained between the warriors. With these "[[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]]" added to their ranks, Fortress piloted Battleship Maximus to Master to stop Scorponok's evildoings there. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 2)}}

[[File:MasterSwordDanger Floppydisk.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Insert 80s computer joke here.]]
Seeking to forge a weapon to counter Fortress's Master Sword, Scorponok arranged for the kidnap of Wheelie so that he could be ransom for information on the sword. Fortress agonized over what to do, but the decision was made for him when Chromedome and Daniel snuck away to rescue Wheelie themselves. Learning of their insubordination, Fortress played along, keeping the Decepticons' attentions on his battleship and preparing a data disk to "hand over". Unfortunately, when the Decepticons learned that Wheelie had been rescued, a fight broke out over the disk and it was snatched from Fortress's grasp. {{storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}} The Decepticons retreated underground, but Fortress was able to track them down by equipping the Master Sword with sensors that would allow the Maximus to track any surges of the energy needed to create it, which Scorponok was sure to require to forge his own weapon. Unfortunately, [[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]] was able to sneak aboard the Maximus, and although Fortress repelled him, he had secretly planted bombs on the battleship that covered the Decepticons' escape when they went off. {{storylink|The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide}}

[[File:Hm31 fortmax defeated.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4]]
As Battleship Maximus was repaired, Fortress debated strategy with the Autobots, eventually agreeing with the Targetmasters' plan to lure the Decepticons into space to avoid collateral damage to Master. Unfortunately, the hot-headed Chromedome disagreed, and staged his own attack on the Decepticons with the aid of the young warriors of Master. Chromedome's strategy went sour, forcing Fortress Maximus to go into action, but when the Master Sword clashed with Scorponok's newly forged "[[Zarak Shield]]", it was the Zarak Shield that emerged triumphant! Defeated, Fortress Maximus could only watch as Scorponok departed for Earth, intending to destroy it once and for all. {{storylink|Operation: Destroy the Decepticons}}

The Autobots gave chase in the Maximus, but during the space battle that resulted, Daniel was set adrift when the Maximus's Laser Block unit was damaged and jettisoned. Fortress was forced to divert to rescue the boy, allowing the Decepticons a substantial lead in the race back to Earth. {{storylink|My Friend Sixshot!}} Their lead was lost when they were forced to set down on the asteroid [[Pallas]] for repairs, and the Maximus set down on [[Ceres]] in order to attack. During the fight, Sixshot challenged Chromedome to a one-on-one duel, and Fortress's pleas that he not accept the challenge fell on deaf ears. Even as Scorponok took off for Earth again, Fortress concluded that he and the other Autobots would have to leave Chromedome to his duel and carry on the chase. As it happened, the duel was interrupted by an explosion courtesy of bombs Scorponok had planted on the battlefield, so Chromedome was able to rejoin Maximus not long after. {{storylink|Duel on the Asteroid}}

[[File:Hm35 master sword zappped.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|By the power of Grayskull!]]
As the Maximus entered the final stretch back to Earth, reports began coming in from the Autobots down on the planet of Decepticon attacks, accompanied by the emergence of strange towers at specific points around the globe. Once back on Earth, Fortress met with Punch, who unfortunately had to report that Scorponok had disappeared into the Mediterranean Ocean. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}} The Autobots soon realized that the "Death Towers" were composed of energy-amplifying [[crysmagnetal]], and were creating a field of energy that was surrounding the Earth. Following Punch's lead, Fortress led the Autobots to Egypt, where Scorponok was outfitting a Death Tower with an induction booster to magnify the amount of energy it was projecting. The Master Sword played the unfortunate role of lightning rod in the presence of the Death Tower, attracting bolts of the tower's energy and stunning Fortress, preventing him from stopping Scorponok. As Scorponok fled, he told Fortress to meet him at the North Pole, where even he would have a role to play in his scheme.

[[File:Hm35 final battle.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4]]
With no other choices, Fortress followed his enemy's instructions, and the entire Autobot and Decepticon armies clashed in battle in the frozen north. There, Scorponok lured Fortress Maximus onto a crysmagnetal dais, at which point, an orbiting Decepticon satellite that had been gathering the energies projected by the Death Towers activated, beaming the collected energy down to the dais. Scorponok disconnected from his transtector, and left the paralyzed Fortress Maximus trapped in the satellite's beam, part of a deadly circuit of energy that threatened to tear the Earth apart. The four Headmasters joined in Head Formation and tried to channel their energy into Fortress Maximus in hopes of giving him the strength to break free, but their own power was not enough. At Daniel's suggestion, all the other Autobots linked up as part of the chain, and together combined in "Final Formation", they infused Maximus with enough energy to deflect the satellite's beam with the Master Sword, destroying it. With one mighty slash, Fortress Maximus bisected Scorponok's transtector, finally ending the Decepticon threat.

The Decepticons subsequently fled Earth, and the Autobots gathered to pursue them. Fortress told the tearful Daniel that it was necessary in order to continue defend peace throughout the universe, but promised the boy that they would meet again. Together, the Autobots all boarded Fortress's battleship, and took off into the setting sun. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}

====''Kiss Players/15 Go! Go!''====
[[File:KPBraveMax.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7]]

Slumped miserably on the barren surface of Master in their smallest robot forms, Fortress, Chromedome and Highbrow's attention was caught when a [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|time-travelling spaceship]] materialized over their heads and crashed nearby. {{storylink|Sparkbots Volume 1}} By studying and reverse-engineering the technology found in this spaceship, Fortress and the scientists of Master invented transtectors and the Headmaster process. {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #48}} {{storylink|Sparkbots Volume 3}}

====''The Great Transformer War''====
[[File:Hmmanga battered headmasters.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66]]
In the year 2010, while significant Transformer battles were being waged throughout space and on Earth, Fortress was active on the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]]. After the younger Headmaster warriors under his command were defeated in battle by [[Sixshot]] and the Decepticon Headmasters, Fortress quickly roused his fallen comrades and ordered them to board his battleship, the Maximus, so that they could pursue the villains. Their destination: Cybertron! {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 3|The Great Transformer War #3}}
{{-}}

====''The Headmasters'' manga====
[[File:Manga fort max.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5]]
Soon after Optimus Prime died stabilizing Vector Sigma, the Decepticons staged an attack on Athenia, and Fortress and the Autobot Headmasters quickly took off in Battleship Maximus to intercept them as they approached the planet. Daniel opined that the Decepticons were "a lot like parasites", to which Fortress murmured an agreement. At that point, the Decepticons appeared in front of them, and the Autobots realized that they had played into the villains' hands: they intended to destroy Fortress's battleship with a bomb. Luckily, Chromedome moved quickly enough to snatch the bomb away and save the Maximus. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 1|The Headmasters #1}}

Responding to an SOS from their Beastformer comrades, Fortress escorted the Autobot Headmasters to planet Beast to investigate. No sooner had the young warriors left Battleship Maximus to search, Rodimus Prime radioed Fortress for an update. Fortress didn't have anything to tell him, but assured Rodimus that the Headmasters would get to the bottom of the mystery. {{storylink|Great Decisive Battle of Planet Beast!}} Later, once they were back on Earth, Fortress sent the Headmasters on their next mission, to respond to a Decepticon attack on an Alaskan energy plant. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 2|The Headmasters #2}}

When a fire tore through [[Shinjuku]], Chromedome, [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]], and [[Artfire]] responded, but their rescue effort was impeded by the Decepticon Targetmaters. Luckily, Fortress soon arrived to extinguish the fire by dumping a massive amount of water on it from above using Battleship Maximus, freeing up the others to deal with the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 7|The Headmasters #7}}
{{-}}

====''Super-God Masterforce Master File''====
Following the expulsion of the Decepticons from Earth after the battle at the North Pole, the Transformers' war shifted into a series of space-based exchanges between Athenia and Chaar known as the [[Master Wars]]. With the space bridge destroyed, interstellar transportation was severely limited, and it fell to Fortress and the Maximus to patrol space for the Decepticons. While on one such patrol, Fortress received a transmission from Sixshot alerting him to the existence of a [[Devil Z|new shadowy puppet master]] who had taken control of the Decepticons. This news came at the same time as a report from the Trainbots which indicated that Scorponok had constructed a new transtector for himself, and so Fortress had no choice but to focus on dealing with this mystery. With access to the ever-important Earth now greatly reduced and his attentions now focused elsewhere, Fortress left guardianship of the planet in the hands of [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] and his [[Pretender]]s. {{storylink|Master File No, 1}}

====Ask Vector Prime====
Fortress dispatched a team of [[Pretender]]s led by [[Marduk]] to retrieve the [[Ultra Matrix]] from [[Beast (planet)|Beast]]. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/30}}

====''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon continuity====
=====''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon=====
Archive footage of Fortress Maximus destroying the MegaZarak transtector was used to educate the future [[Headmaster Junior]]s about the [[Master Wars]]. {{storylink|Birth! Headmaster Jrs}}

Fortress's younger brother, [[Grand Maximus|Grand]], travelled to Earth to aid the Autobots there against the approaching threat of [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]]. Grand was physically identical to his big bro, save for his coloration, and even piloted a smaller Maximus-style battleship of his own. {{storylink|Life? Death? The Desperate Lightfoot}}

=====''Legends'' comic=====
The battle between Fortress and Scorponok began on Master when Fortress discovered and put an end to his kidnapping and experimenting on citizens. {{storylink|Mutant Targetmaster Birth Chapter}} Years later, [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] told a visiting [[Legends World|Legends]] [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] the story about how he and other diminutive Autobots, including Fortress, left Cybertron and settled on Master. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 9|Bonus Edition Vol. 9}} Fortress later showed up when [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] was complaining about Brainstorm's recent upgrade and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] was getting angry at Rattrap for not caring about ''The Headmasters'', and commented that everyone was getting worked up as usual. {{storylink|Transformers 2015 Brainstorm Chapter|Brainstorm Chapter}}

[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] harbored regrets over the fact that [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]] had parted ways with him and moved onto spending her time with Fortress. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 19|Bonus Edition Vol. 19}}

During development of [[Master-Brace|technology]] that would let [[Headmaster Junior]]s wield [[Masterforce]], Fortress created a Headmaster [[exosuit]] for human use and let [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] test pilot it on his own transtector. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 54|Bonus Edition Vol. 54}}

By 2021, Scorponok had returned and Fortress continued to fight him in space, culminating in a battle to stop the Decepticon from detonating a black hole. The Autobots failed and were infected with [[blackball|miniature black holes]] that shrunk their bodies, threatening to eventually make them disappear entirely. After having all non-Headmasters on his crew converted into Headmasters to save their lives, Fortress told his forces they could find new transtectors in the Legends World, then set a course there before the battleship Maximus itself could disappear. {{storylink|Headmaster Chapter Prologue}} {{storylink|Targetmaster Chapter Prologue}} On arrival, Fortress requested help from the local [[Axalon Trading Company]], but was told by [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] that they didn't work for free. In lieu of money, Fortress offered them access to Headmaster technology and negotiated a partnership between the Autobots and Axalon, leading to him and his soldiers becoming office workers. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 21|Bonus Edition Vol. 21}}

Fortress was later called up by Grand, who asked him to open a portal and receive some humans he was sending to the Legends World. He was resistant to taking them in, being busy with managerial duties, but backed down when an angry Grand told him people's lives were at stake and accused him of getting too cozy in the peaceful dimension. {{storylink|LG24 Shockwave & Cancer Prologue}} When the Autobot Axalon Trading Company finished building a new battleship Maximus, Chromedome urged Fortress to use it to crush the Decepticons, only for Fortress to collapse while trying to argue for a peaceful solution. In sickbed, he let Chromedome in on a big secret: the process of controlling Maximus had been eating away at his life force all along, weakening him every time he combined. He then broke into tears, despairing that he was nothing but a coward who avoided having to use the transtector for his own safety, but Chromedome reassured him that he was a great commander who had only kept this secret from his troops to keep morale up. Despite his condition, Fortress didn't hesitate to become Fortress Maximus once more to defend his friends from [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], who was being mind-controlled by [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] into attacking the Maximus. After defeating Tarantulas by piercing his control device with the Master Sword, he told his comrades he was happy as long as he could keep defending the world. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 31|Bonus Edition Vol. 31}}

Highbrow began researching a cure to Fortress's condition and eventually found that it could be reversed by feeding him [[Zodiac]] energy, which was related to the Headmasters' telepathic energy. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 33|Bonus Edition Vol. 33}} When the Decepticon Headmasters stole Metroplex's [[transformation cog]] to rebuild [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], Megatron contacted Fortress as he was the only other Transformer large enough to stop Trypticon. {{storylink|LG43 Trypticon Mobilization Chapter: Decepticon Civil War|Decepticon Civil War}} However, Trypticon's new ability to fly caught Fortress by surprise before he could transform the Maximus, and the battleship was damaged and crashed. Fortress removed its transformation cog and had it delivered to Metroplex, then ended up among the victims devoured by Trypticon before he could be defeated. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 43|Bonus Edition Vol. 43}} The Maximus base was subsequently integrated into the city when it was rebuilt. {{storylink|Targetmaster Chapter Prologue}} {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Metroplex)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}}

[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Goldbug]] and Spike later arrived at Axalon and informed Fortress that the Spike acting as a chairman of the [[Galactic Peace Alliance]] was an impostor. Noting that Spike had kept the exosuit, Fortress lent him his transtector so he could fight off the fake, then promised he would lend a hand when the time came to defeat him for good. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 54|Bonus Edition Vol. 54}} The Maximus was drowned when [[Tigerburn]] flooded the city {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 64|Bonus Edition Vol. 64}} and damaged when [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] attacked, but got repaired by [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] using the Zodiac. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 66|Bonus Edition Vol. 66}} When Grand came to the Legends World to battle [[Devil Z]] and BlackZarak using his own gigantic transtector, Fortress tried to stop him as didn't have the training required to control it, but Grand insisted on showing his worth and defeated Devil Z before collapsing. Fortress rushed to his fallen brother, who praised him for his ability to control such a huge body and joked that they would both be needing the Zodiac treatment now. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Grand Maximus)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}}

====''Super-God Masterforce'' manga====
[[File:Mfmanga fortress meets ginrai.jpg|left|thumb]]
When a new and powerful Autobot warrior named [[Ginrai (human)|Ginrai]] rose to prominence on Earth, he distinguished himself to the point that Fortress decided to step down as Supreme Commander and appoint Ginrai in his place. The Trainbots brought Ginrai and his [[Headmaster Junior]] allies to Athenia, where Fortress formally handed over leadership, then departed to take care of some business on Master. In his absence, the united forces of the Earth- and space-based Decepticons attacked Athenia, but Ginrai was able to repel them. Fortress arrived back just as the Decepticons were pulling out, and announced that the Autobots must pool their resources as their enemies had, uniting their forces on Earth and space to commence the [[Godbomber|Bomber Project]]. {{storylink|The Battle Begins! The United Earth-Space Troops}}

Later talking to [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]], Fortress would check on the progress of the project after Chromedome arrived at Earth to assist with it. {{storylink|Headmasters VS Masterforce}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
Fortress Maximus served as transport when Ultra Magnus lead a mission to a small asteroid in search of a new source of [[Energon]]. The Autobots discovered a [[Observer|small alien]], and [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] utilized Maximus's laboratory to determine that the creature turned its food into Energon. A later fracas with the Decepticons resulted in Fortress Maximus getting involved, leading to a fight with Scorponok. {{storylink|The Test (issue)|The Test}}

===''Transformers PD Type''===
[[File:Pdtype fortmax manga.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5]]
While casually minding his own business one day, Fortress Maximus was suddenly shocked to see a wave of Decepticons led by Galvatron bearing down on him. He immediately transformed into robot mode... but he had completely forgotten that he had been in city mode, leaving all the poor Autobots who had been inside him squished and thinking there had been an earthquake. {{storylink|Transformers PD Type##12 "Bigger than Life! Fortress Maximus!"|Bigger Than Life! Fortress Maximus!}}

Fortress Maximus later met Scorponok in battle, vowing to never surrender. All the other Transformers would probably have preferred that he ''did'' surrender, though, since the battle put them ''all'' in danger when the two towering titans toppled over, threatening to accidentally crush them all! {{storylink|Transformers PD Type##14 "Watch Out! Mega Zarak!"|Watch Out! MegaZarak!}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
A normal-sized Fortress Maximus was a co-leader of the Autobot forces on Cybertron, along with [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. As Cybertron's resources ran low, they struggled to hold the Autobot army together; several of the newly created Micromasters grew increasingly dissatisfied with their lot in life within the Autobot army, and came to question if their larger counterparts were leading them in the right direction. {{storylink|Destined for Nothing}} The war continued despite their best efforts, and after a fruitless and disastrous skirmish with the Micromaster [[Skystalker (G1)|Skystalker]] and the Decepticons, Fortress Maximus gave up on the war. He left the Autobot army in order to seek a new path. {{Storylink|Victims of the Revolution}}

A gargantuan Fortress Maximus was also seen in a [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]-induced vision of future [[Nebulos]] by Optimus Prime and Megatron. {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:Ironclaw artofwar.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb]]
While imbued with the wisdom of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], General [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] had a vision of Fortress Maximus and [[Sgt. Savage]] fighting against [[Iron Klaw]] and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

====''TransTech''====
Binary bonded to [[Emissary (RID)|Brave]] and Sgt. Savage as [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]s, Fortress Maximus was part of the alliance between the Autobots and [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] [[Screaming Eagles]] against the Decepticons and [[S.K.A.R.]] A clash between Maximus and Trypticon nearly destroyed Earth's magnetosphere, but ultimately, the Autobots and their human allies won the day. {{storylink|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 2016/05/01}}
{{-}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:SpotlightArcee FortressMaximus.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb]]
{{main|Fortress Maximus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity}}
{{-}}

===''United''===
When the [[Autobot]]s fell down with a [[nano-virus]], Fortress Maximus was in city mode as part of [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]]. {{storylink|The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos}}

===''Transformers GT: Mission GT-R''===
[[File:GT-R Maximus.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|What's worse? This pose? Or the fact that it's called the "master '''Jack''' Sword"?]]
In a world where the Transformers' war settled into a series of friendly competitive races known as the [[Transformers GT]], Fortress Maximus took on a race car form and became the [[GT Transformer]] known as '''GT-R Maximus'''. He was a fair and sportsmanlike racer who boasted the highest strength of all GT Transformers, and though normally averse to combat, he was willing to punish cheaters with his [[Master Jack Sword]]. Like other contestants, GT-R Maximus put a limit on his own strength by separating his Matrix into a [[GT Sister]], creating his partner [[Hiiro]].

====Comic====
GT-R Maximus was racing against [[Optimus Prime (G1)|GT-R Prime]] and [[Star Saber (Victory)|GT-R Saber]], cheered on by Hiiro on the sidelines, when the race was interrupted by the arrival of [[Megatron (G1)|GT-R Megatron]]. The intruder announced his intent to crush all racers inferior to him, causing a scuffle, but GT-R Prime talked him down and convinced him to join the race instead. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (comic)|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R}}

====Story pages====
Like other racers, GT-R Maximus attended photo shoots alongside Hiiro in order to promote coexistence between humans and Transformers. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (story page)|The Work of the GT Sister Race Queens?}} When a reincarnated [[Unicron]] attacked the Transformers GT finals and absorbed the huge [[energon]] pool saved up for the final prize, Maximus threw aside his usual dislike for battle and attacked the villain with his mighty sword. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (story page)|Bringing Down the Sword}} But Maximus alone wasn't enough to defeat Unicron, so he used the "Matrix In" process to recombine with Hiiro and restore his true strength. Together with the other powered up racers and their GT Sisters, he fought and defeated Unicron, saving Earth. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (story page)|The True TFGT}}

====''Story of Transformers GT''====
GT-R Maximus raced in the 19th Transformers GT in his usual pacifistic manner, refusing Hiiro's requests to prepare the Master Jack Sword and instead relying on his fists when he was forced into combat. His resolve was tested when he heard that GT-R Megatron was using unnecessarily violent methods to get ahead, however, and he ultimately relented and had Hiiro transfer the sword to him so he could teach the brute a lesson. {{storylink|A Biggest Sword! –The Last Resort–}}

===''Knights of Unicron''===
The Ft. Max Forum, located on Earth, was the third venue for the [[Knights of Unicron (band)|Knights of Unicron]] on their 2014 "Till All Are One" tour. {{storylink|Knights of Unicron}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]'s corruption of his brain reduced Fortress Maximus to a mindless, energy-starved zombie who wandered Cybertron in a daze. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}} When [[U.S.7]] and the [[Oktober Guard]] passed by on a ship, Maximus grabbed it out of the sky and swallowed the occupants whole. {{storylink|Form Follows Function}} A group of [[G.I. Joe (team)|Joes]] and Autobots infiltrated the giant on a mission to save U.S.7, leading to their discovery and defeat of Blackarachnia and the restoration of Maximus's mind. He subsequently joined the battle against the Decepticons and [[Cobra]], going up against [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] who bit his head off only to for the head to transform into Cerebros in his mouth. In spite of the surprise attack this allowed for, the Autobots were defeated and the decapitated body of Fortress Maximus was left where it lay. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}}

Through circumstances unknown, [[Snake-Eyes]] bonded with Fortress Maximus through the [[Master Sword]], replacing his original head partner, [[Galen]]. He teamed up with [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], in turn controlled by Snake-Eyes's compatriot [[Scarlett]], and together they coerced [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] to fight again before marching on the Decepticon position as part of a joint Autobot-Joe army. {{storylink|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 12|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #12}} During the battle, even Maximus and Scorponok were dwarfed by Megatron's "Mega-Megatron" form, but fortunately they didn't have to fight the giant long before he was broken apart by [[Shipwreck]]. {{storylink|The War Never Ends}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
[[File:KreO-webcomic-10-Fortress.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.5]]
Fortress was at the newly constructed Autobot base, [[Metroplex (Kre-O)|Metroplex]]. {{storylink|Two Giant Bases! Everybody Getting Along, Come On, Fight!}}

{{-}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
[[File:HeadGames-ResistanceScaleFortMaxFace.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Cerebros and Spike Witwicky were turned into Fortress Maximus when the war spread to Nebulos to counter the rise of [[Scorponok (G1)|MegaZarak]]. But the destructive power of the city-bot brought only more devastation to the planet, and the existence of Maximus and weapons like him was a major reason why the [[Human Confederacy]] confined the Transformers and their war to the [[Allowed Zone]]. {{storylink|Head Games}}

When Galvatron threatened the planet [[Master (planet)|Rebirth]], Fortress Maximus—now bonded to Daniel Witwicky—returned to duty after the Decepticons deployed the newest incarnation of MegaZarak. When the two clashed for the second time, it was Fortress Maximus who fell. {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy–Prologue}}

As energy became scarce, Fortress Maximus could no longer move and ground to a halt in robot mode in [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]], where his frozen, towering form was repurposed as a prison by the [[Builder of Cybertron|Builders of Cybertron]]. Cerebros himself died at some point, but his consciousness remained active within Maximus through three [[Cyberdroid]]s, [[Grand Maximus|Gran]], [[Galen|Kord]], and [[Cerebros (RID)|Plasma]].

When Cerebros learned of the Terran singularity, bringing back all humans who ever lived and died, he petitioned the Terrans to bring back his Witwicky partners as well. They refused, but instead gave Cerebros the [[Energon Matrix]] technology to create a new proto-race of Cybertronians. One of the earliest protoformers birthed was [[Maxima]], known as the first daughter of Fortress Maximus and ''She Who Sang''. Her principles led to the development of a proto-race faction called the Maximals, derived from Autobot teachings and named in part for Fortress Maximus. {{storylink|Head Games}} {{storylink|The Predacon Manifesto}}

[[Lio Convoy#Beast Wars: Uprising|Lio Convoy]]'s [[Resistance]] against the Builders sought to infiltrate Fortress Maximus and free the prisoners within, but their initial attempts were foiled by Cerebros's ability to get into the heads of the intruders and turn them against each other. The third strike team was able to turn the tide by willingly sacrificing [[Buzzclaw (BW)#Beast Wars: Uprising|Buzzclaw]] to Cerebros's control and using the mental link to paralyze him, allowing them to kill Kord and Plasma and kidnap Gran, effectively shutting down Maximus. {{storylink|Head Games}}
{{-}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
In [[Primax 1086.0 Kappa]], Fortress Maximus and Scorponok were killed by the Nebulans during the Transformers' battle on Nebulos, and their remains were fused together by [[Zarak (G1)|Mortilus Zarak]] into a giant robot body. After he binary bonded with the body, however, the faint traces of Maximus's and Scorponok's sparks began affecting his mind and eventually drove him mad, turning him into "[[Zarak Maximus]]". {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/06/11}}

In some other realities, Fortress Maximus survived the Great War and went on to found the [[Maximal]]s. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/08}}

===''TransTech''===
During the destructive conflict between the [[Screaming Eagles]] and [[S.K.A.R.]] in [[Primax 806.30 Gamma]], both sides found themselves binary-bonded to Cybertronian partners. Fortress Maximus formed a partnership with [[Sgt. Savage]] through [[Emissary (RID)|Brave]]. 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}}

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

===''Titans Return'' marketing material===
[[File:HasbroPulse FortressMaximus.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66|This is highly unusual.]]
One of the last [[Titan (group)|Titans]] in the universe, {{storylink|#Generations|''Titans Return'' Fortress Maximus online bio}} the legendary Fortress Maximus had slumbered underneath [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], until the battle for the [[Titan Master]]s roused him from his slumber. He awoke just in time to witness [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s attack on Cybertron, frightening the Decepticon communications officer something fierce. {{storylink|Titans Return: The Power of the Titan Masters}} With a city alt-mode, Fortress Maximus served as the ultimate Autobot weapon and base. {{storylink|#Generations|''Titans Return'' Fortress Maximus online bio}}
{{-}}

===''Prime Wars Trilogy'' cartoons===
{{voiceactor|[[Michael Dorn]] (English), [[Nolan North]] (English, screams and grunts)}}
[[File:TF-CW-Cartoon-Fort-Max-close-up.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|left|"I was woken up at 3 in the morning, told I had to put on make-up and come to this town. What the hell is going on?"]]
[[File:FortMaxPoster.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4|''The sky is blue and all the leaves are green The sun's as warm as a baked potato I think I know precisely what I mean When I say it's a shpadoinkle day'']]

Fortress Maximus was a [[Titan (group)|Titan]] constructed during the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], and was aided by his Titan Master, [[Emissary (Generations)|Emissary]]. Once the conflict ceased, he was decommissioned and left dormant. {{storylink|Our Heroes Respond}} After the conclusion of the [[Combiner Wars (event)|Combiner Wars]], [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] experienced a vision of Fortress Maximus, indicating that the Titans had indeed returned. {{storylink|Destruction's Dawn}}

When Trypticon was reawakened, [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] proposed seeking out Fortress Maximus to combat the rogue Titan. At Perceptor's suggestion, the [[Mistress of Flame]] sent [[Computron (G1)|Computron]], [[Victorion]], [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] to locate and awaken Maximus. {{storylink|Our Heroes Respond}} The inert Titan was eventually located in a frozen wasteland by the four combiners, and Menasor accidentally fired a missile from one of Maximus's cannons that launched Emissary towards [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. {{storylink|The Fight Begins}}
Computron determined that Fortress Maximus's [[transformation cog]] was damaged, rendering him unable to directly join the battle. However, Victorion saw fit to target Maximus' functioning missiles at the saurian giant–with Metroplex expected to be killed in the process as an acceptable casualty of friendly fire–thereby fulfilling her own [[Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars - Victorion|personal vision of the Combiners saving the galaxy]]. {{storylink|Overlord and Emissary}}

The barrage ultimately failed, {{storylink|At the Last Second}} and the Combiners were distracted by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s arrival, leading to a confrontation that was eventually halted by [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] and Emissary. After the others had departed, Emissary attempted to link to Fortress Maximus's mind, but was unable to access it. Instead, he initiated a procedure to link Windblade and Maximus via her [[Cityspeaker]] abilities. However, the process proved volatile and soon spiraled out of control. {{storylink|Desperate Actions}}

Windblade communed with Fortress Maximus, begging for his help, though he at first rejected her, having sworn a life of peace. She ultimately managed to convince Maximus, however, and he transformed himself back to robot mode, following Windblade back towards Metroplex City. {{storylink|Run for Our Lives}} Witnessing Trypticon's fight with Victorion from afar, Fortress Maximus admitted he was unsure he could win, but swore to try anyway for Cybertron's sake. He arrived in Metroplex City just in time to catch [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] before he could fall into some sharp rubble. {{storylink|In Good Hands}} He engaged in battle with Trypticon, refusing help from Emissary, and managed to get the upper hand until Trypticon swallowed Victorion and the [[Enigma of Combination]], powering himself up. Between attacks from the powered-up Trypticon and the now mind-controlled [[Combiner]]s, Maximus found himself at a disadvantage. When Trypticon swallowed [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and the [[Matrix of Leadership]], even he was knocked away by the sudden surge of power it triggered. {{storylink|Consumed}}

Ultimately, however, the Matrix's power couldn't be controlled by Trypticon, and he released all those he had swallowed, along with Starscream's ghost. Catching Trypticon's deactivated body, Maximus lamented the loss of another Titan, but was interrupted by the return of [[The Fallen|Megatronus]]. He and Optimus attempted a sneak attack, but Megatronus effortlessly caught Maximus's Master Sword and tossed him away before killing Optimus. No longer able to bring himself to try attacking again, Maximus could only watch as Megatronus escaped with the Enigma and Matrix in hand. {{storylink|All Things Must Pass}} He was later severely weakened by the spark-draining power of [[Megatronus]]'s doomsday weapon. {{storylink|Collision Course}} Thankfully, he survived and began working under Windblade, who became the Magistrate of [[Cityspeaker]]s and aided those who communicated with the Titans. {{storylink|Saga's End}}

===''Star Trek vs. Transformers''===
[[File:StarTrekVsTF2-fortressmaximus.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66]]

As [[World War III]] swept Earth, the Autobots abandoned [[Earth]] aboard the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] Fortress Maximus, using his starship configuration to roam the cosmos in search of [[energon]]. Decades passed, and as Maximus passed by [[Cygnus Seven]] the Autobots were ambushed by the Decepticons aboard their own Titan, Trypticon; in the ensuing battle, the badly damaged Fortress Maximus crash-landed on the planet's surface, sending everyone aboard—Autobot and Decepticon alike—into stasis. Centuries later, the [[Federation]] set up a [[dilithium]] mine on the planet, and while surveying a potential mineshaft Federation miners accidentally stumbled on the Titan's inert form, and inadvertently reactivated Fortress Maximus's repair systems in the process.

[[File:STvsTF3-FortressTiberious.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|So do Gasket and Grommet turn into ''Enterprise'' shuttles now, or...?]]

Unable to distinguish between Autobot and Decepticon, Maximus's autonomous subsystems first brought the Decepticons back online, who proceeded to attack the mining colony before the ship could reawaken Prime and the other Autobots. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Two}} When [[James Kirk|Captain Kirk]] and the crew of the ''[[USS Enterprise|Enterprise]]'' investigated the distress signal, they discovered Fortress Maximus's resting spot, only to be ambushed by the rest of the Autobots {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part One}} before Kirk could convince them of his good intentions. The Decepticons soon got the upper hand by sealing the Autobots in the mine with their new allies, and so [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] hatched a risky plan to bring Fortress Maximus back online. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Two}}

To bring the Titan back online, Ratchet rigged up a device that would access Kirk's memories through Fortress Maximus; using scans of the ''Enterprise''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s schematics, plucked from Kirk's brain, Ratchet was able to bring their living ship back to full functionality by rebuilding Fortress Maximus into a copy of the ''Enterprise''. Shortly after coming back online, Fortress Maximus burst from the ground to take on the Decepticons and their new [[Klingon]] allies; now fully under Kirk's mental control, the [[Starfleet]] captain was able to blast Trypticon with the ship's inbuilt [[Phaser (weapon)|phasers]] before beaming [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and [[Kuri]]'s Federation prisoners to safety. To take on the gigantic Decepticon, Kirk was able to transform the Titan into his new robot mode, their shared mind declaring themselves "Fortress Tiberius." {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Three}}

[[File:PrimesDirective4-CygnusVIIBattle.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml4wAnvfM4M Dah-dah-dah-dah-dah-dah-DAAAAAAAH-dah-dah-dah]...]]

As the two Titans battled it out, Kirk was forced to keep Fortress Maximus's own desire for vengeance under control, using his powerful suite of onboard weapons to great effect against his foe. Despite the temptation, however, Kirk was able to keep himself under control, and by reigning in his partner's bloodlust Kirk was able to momentarily down Trypticon with a powerful punch.

When the Decepticons abruptly announced a retreat, however, Kirk used Tiberius's onboard sensors to realize that the treacherous Decepticon [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] had already absconded with a load of [[dilithium]], and sought to conquer the [[Klingon Empire]]. Optimus and the other Autobots boarded Fortress Tiberius and reunited with the real ''Enterprise'' over Cygnus Seven to help repair the damaged vessel. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Four}}

When the ''Enterprise'' was once more spaceworthy, the two vessels pursued Starscream to the Klingon homeworld of [[Kronos]], using their onboard [[replicator]]s to construct [[Crewbot|a series of armored battlesuits]] so that the other members of the ''Enterprise'' could take on their foes. Kirk and the others had arrived too late, however: Starscream had already arrived and been summarily defeated by Megatron and the other Decepticons, with the Decepticon leader seeking to seize the planet as the capital of his Decepticon empire.

[[File:PrimesDirective5-warpspeed.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]

Fortress Tiberius and Trypticon battled it out once more as the Autobots, Klingons, and Starfleet members joined the fight, though the Titan and his human partner weren't able to overcome Trypticon before they were incapacitated by a paralyzing sonic blast from Soundwave. The Klingons, however, weren't affected by this frequency, and thanks to Kirk forewarning their leader [[Kuri]] about Cybertronian vulnerabilities, they were able to unleash an armada of [[Warbird (Star Trek)|warbird]]s on the Decepticons and defeat them.

In the aftermath, Optimus Prime and the other Autobots chose to go their own way aboard Fortress Tiberius once more, bidding farewell to Kirk and the other members of Starfleet but pledging to remain on call if the Federation ever needed their assistance again. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Five}}

{{-}}

==Commercial appearances==
*Fortress Maximus grappled with [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] on [[Nebulos|Nebulon]] while other [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] scuffled at their feet. With a show of prodigious strength, Fortress Maximus picked up Scorponok by his tail and tossed his opponent about like a ragdoll. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Headmaster comic book|Headmaster comic book commercial}}
*When the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] threatened to attack Fortress Maximus, the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] sprung up to oppose them. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Technobots and Terrorcons|Technobots and Terrorcons commercial}}
*The Terrorcons attacked Fortress Maximus once more; this time, the massive Autobot warded off their attack on his own by blasting them with his battle station mode. The Terrorcons regrouped and combined into [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] to tare away at Fortress Maximus's armament. Little did they know that Fortress Maximus could still transform into a robot that dwarfed even the mighty combiner! {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Fortress Maximus|Fortress Maximus commercial}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: The Headmasters''===
When the Decepticons struck out at four planets, including Cybertron and Earth, Fortress Maximus was joined by [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and the Headmasters of Justice to save the final planet from [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. {{storylink|Transformers: The Headmasters (video game)|Transformers: The Headmasters}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
{{Note|Although Fortress Maximus was not included in a storyline for the ''Transformers Legends'' game, he was featured as a playable character.}} {{storylink|Signature Series featuring Marcelo Matere|Signature Series}}

==Toys==
{{Main|Fortress Maximus (G1)/toys}}

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

==Notes==
[[File:Fortmaxsize1.jpg|thumb|upright=1|DAAAAAAAAAAAANG, that boy must eat his veggies.]]
*"Fortress Maximus" was an early name for the characters that eventually became [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. The [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] [[Transformers: The Movie (Marvel comic)|comic adaptation]] of the [[The Transformers: The Movie|1986 movie]] even refers to [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] as "Fortress Maximus" in a caption.
*Fortress Maximus was the first toy to be released with a bona-fide Earthling figure. All of the other Headmasters' companions were from Nebulos. (Although Maximus's on-package [[bio]] refers to "the Nebulan leader, Spike", the general consensus is that it was supposed to be the popular figure from TV and other media, who is almost certainly an Earthling.)
*Both Scorponok and Fortress Maximus suffer from the writers struggling to reconcile the characters' high rank with their size. In their comic appearances, they are portrayed as commanders in some capacity but are shrunk down to interact with other Transformers, and their city modes pretty much don't exist. Conversely, the cartoons have opted to portray them as giant city Transformers, though they seem to be merely extensions of the smaller beings that bond with them, with no real life or will of their own.
[[File:FortMaxsize2.jpg|thumb|200px|]]
*According to Japanese media, Fortress Maximus is much larger than Metroplex. According to the Headmaster scale infographic to the right and assuming the standard 16 meter (~53') height of combiners in the animated continuities, Metroplex would stand about 50 meters (~164') compared to Fortress Maximus standing roughly '''150 meters''' ('''~492'''') tall. According to the 1997 issue of "''The Super Robots Chronicles''" Fortress Maximus is a ''gigantic'' '''3 kilometers''' or '''3,000 meters''' ('''~9,843'''') tall, compared with the 800 meter (~2,625') height of Metroplex according to Comic Bom Bom and Hobby Japan.
*The Battleship ''Maximus'' bears a slight resemblance to the {{w|White Base}}, a battleship from the ''{{w|Gundam}}'' franchise.
*Like most comic-only Kreons, Fortress is made up of existing Kre-O parts, namely the [[Hound (Kre-O)|Hound]] helmet and the sword first used by [[Headstrong (G1)|Torox]] and [[Tantrum (G1)|Headlock]] (in reference to the [[Master Sword]] used by the original Fortress).
*An [http://news.tfw2005.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2011/09/Fortress-Maximus-Prototypes-1_1315944004.jpg early prototype] for Fortress Maximus's toy featured, among other things, waist-guns that pushed straight out on levers instead of swinging out on an axis. This appears to have formed the basis for his character model's waist-guns, which feature red circles rather than hinges.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Cerebros''' (セレブロス ''Sereburosu''), '''Fortress''' (フォートレス ''Fōtoresu''), '''Fortress Maximus''' (フォートレスマキシマス ''Fōtoresu Makishimasu'')
*''English:'' '''Spaceship Bruce''' (spaceship mode, [[Omni Productions]] dub), '''Cerebros''' (Fortress, [[Shout! Factory]] sub)
*''French:'' '''Forteresse Maximus''' (Canada)
*''Mandarin:'' '''Fúthè Chǜ-jén''' (Taiwan, 福特巨人, "Fort Giant"), '''Jùwúbà Fútè''' (China, 巨无霸福特, "Extremely Gigantic Fort"), '''Furmon''' (Taiwan, 福蒙 ''Fú Móng''), '''Fortry''' (Taiwan [[Omni Productions]] dub, 福崔 ''Fú Tsuēi'')
*''Russian:'' '''Krepysh Maximus''' (Крепыш Максимус ''Krepysh Maksimus'', "Sturdy Fellow Maximus")
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Fortetsya Maxima''' (Фортеця Максима ''Fortetsya Maksyma'', "Fortress Maxima")

[[Category:Autobot bases]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Autobot starships]]
[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Autobots]]
[[Category:City Transformers]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cities]]
[[Category:Generation 1 starships]]
[[Category:GT characters]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:Kre-O Autobots]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Legends Autobots]]
[[Category:Multi-component Transformers]]
[[Category:Super-God Masterforce Autobots]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Titans]]
[[Category:Titans Return Autobots]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:United Autobots]]

Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity

2019-12-08T04:04:39Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Disaster artist */

{{faction|decepticon|edc}}
{{suite}}
[[File:TheObliterati thundercracker and buster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|The one where he's interesting and fun.]]
A chance to be part of the exciting world of [[Gladiatorial combat|underground gladiator games]] turned into a life '''Thundercracker''' never wanted, but a belief in the rhetoric that founded his faction, and the sense of brotherhood and belonging he gained from being a [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] saw him remain a loyal [[Decepticon]] for millions of years. Eventually, however, the Decepticons strayed too far from their original goals for Thundercracker to tolerate, and he threw his lot in with [[Earth]], embracing the planet as a new home and celebrating the ability of its people to grow and change in ways that Transformers struggle to. Today, his love of [[human]]ity and their arts has evolved into a desire to become a screenwriter, but love for his dog [[Buster (IDW)|Buster]] always comes first.

{{first|[[Infiltration issue 0|''Infiltration'' #0]]}}

{{bigquote|The are few things currently on Earth that have lasted as long as we have. I used to find that transience laughably fragile. But I see now that it's actually a strength I'm just beginning to grasp. I believe I'm finally understanding the meaning of the word... "beautiful". I can't think of the last time we created anything. We have so much to learn here.|Thundercracker|[[Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"|''The Transformers'' #4]]}}

{{TOCclear}}

==Fiction==
===Becoming a Seeker===
[[File:MegatronOrigin4 Thundercracker Skywarp.jpg|left|upright=2.5|thumb|"When I joined this murderous terrorist group, I wasn't ever intending to shoot at anyone!"]]

Marked as an [[Outlier (group)|outlier]] by the power to create incredibly loud sonic booms, Thundercracker first met [[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]] at the [[Jhiaxian Academy of Advanced Technology]]. Skywarp came to resent the Academy, convinced that the two were treated as second-class citizens because of their [[flight class|airborne alternate modes]]. When they were approached by Senator [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]], Skywarp pushed Thundercracker into joining, and the two were rebuilt into bodyframes identical to Starscream's own. Skywarp would later realize that Starscream had done this to confuse the taxpayers he'd conned. {{storylink|Starscream: The Movie (comic)|Starscream: The Movie}}

The three were approached by Soundwave with an offer from the underground pit-fighter and revolutionary rhetorician [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], who sought flight-capable Transformers to join his forces. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} To hide from his former constituents, Starscream and his new lackeys joined up; {{storylink|Starscream: The Movie (comic)|Starscream: The Movie}} while the trio believed that they would be joining his gladiatorial team, Megatron intended them to be fully-fledged warriors as he transitioned his Decepticons from underground activists to fully-blown insurgents. After being given [[System|weapons systems]] by [[Hook (G1)|Hook]], the Seekers kidnapped [[Decimus|Senator Decimus]], who was to be executed at Megatron's recruitment rally. However, [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] and the Autobots arrived and arrested everyone. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} After Starscream killed the [[Kaon Council]] and liberated them, Megatron launched an "Everything burns" offensive on [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]], during which Thundercracker and Skywarp were sent to target a ship carrying the wealthy and elite. Thundercracker expressed reservations about attacking the ship, but Skywarp gave him some simple advice: "Don't think. Just do it." {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}}

[[File:SLOrionPax thundercracker I presume.jpg|thumb|upright=1.75]]
As the Decepticon uprising spread across the planet, Thundercracker came under the command of [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and participated in his plan to capture [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]. He protested against Bludgeon's idea to strap a captive [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] to a shuttle and launch it at the nearest settlement, disturbed by the needless civilian casualties it would cause. {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}}

When Orion Pax turned against the demented Autobot leader [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]], Thundercracker was among the Decepticons that Megatron led to Orion's rescue. Megatron and Orion joined forces against Zeta, but Thundercracker didn't enjoy having to spend time with Orion's Autobots, and almost came to blows with [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]]. {{storylink|Choices}} He participated in their combined attack on Zeta Prime's [[Citadel]], working with [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] to take out the building's defensive [[vamparc ribbon|vamparc cannons]]. {{storylink|Overthrown}} After Zeta was dead, Megatron betrayed Orion, declared himself ruler of Cybertron and began capturing Autobots. During this time, Thundercracker brought [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]] to the Decepticon-controlled Citadel before going on to guard an Autobot detention cell, only to be punched out by Ironhide when Hot Rod broke the prisoners out. {{storylink|Rise}} Megatron ordered Thundercracker and other seekers to defend the Citadel from the assaulting Autobots—led by Orion, now [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]]—but they were intercepted by the newly recruited Aerialbots. {{storylink|Broadcast}}

[[File:Primacy2 thundercracker what is this.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.3|left|thumb|*In a dark, grumbling voice* "I'm Batman."]]
After Megatron's short-lived rule of Cybertron was ended, Thundercracker watched [[Scorponok (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Scorponok]] take control of the Decepticons. {{storylink|Wreckage (issue)|Wreckage}} Scorponok's first move was to lead the Seekers in an attack on the [[Toraxxis mega-refinery]], {{storylink|Faces of Darkness}} which ended disastrously when the refinery exploded. {{storylink|Rage (IDW)|Rage}} Scorponok did not mourn those who lost their lives in the blast, however; Thundercracker silently watched as he praised the strong for surviving, and put a Decepticon who spoke out against him in his place. {{storylink|Fallout (issue)|Fallout}} Fortunately, Megatron soon returned to retake command of the Decepticons, and began putting his splintered faction back together. Thundercracker was sent to the planet [[Magmara Nine]] to bring the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] back into the fold, {{storylink|Primacy issue 2|Primacy #2}} so that the reunified Decepticon forces could launch a major attack on the Autobots. Unfortunately, a miscalculation during that great battled saw Thundercracker and his fellow fliers taken out of the fight early on, as the lingering fumes of acid rain unleashed against the Autobots corroded the Seekers' systems and caused them to drop out of the sky. {{storylink|Primacy issue 4|Primacy #4}}

[[File:SLThundercracker TC vs BB.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|right|thumb|Thunda- Thunda- Thunda-]]
Alongside Starscream and [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], Thundercracker participated in an attack on the [[Institute|New Institute]], {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} and in another battle, blew away [[Hot Shot (Henkei!)|a yellow Autobot]]. {{storylink|Drift issue 2|Drift #2}} Eventually, he fell under Bludgeon's command again, and became one of his [[Titan Hunter]]s, searching through space for the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], who had vanished from Cybertron some years prior. Thundercracker did not enjoy the work; the chase seemed futile, each stop proving fruitless, and his fellow hunters held no respect for him or his attempts to apply any kind of scientific deduction to their mission. As such, when Thundercracker discovered a chunk of Cybertronian metal during the Hunters' investigation of an asteroid, he kept it to himself. Examining the metal, Thundercracker deduced it was a piece of Metroplex, and used the quantum radiation it was saturated with to pinpoint the Titans' current location—but still, for reasons he could not even explain to himself, he kept the specifics of his findings to himself, providing the co-ordinates to Bludgeon with the justification that he had a "hunch". Unfortunately, it turned out there was an inhabited colony on the asteroid the co-ordinates led to; Thundercracker failed to talk Bludgeon out of attacking the [[Urtuskian|alien residents]], so instead, he took up position at the head of the attack unit and tried to scare the colonists away with a sonic boom, hoping they would get clear before his teammates opened fire. He failed miserably, but pushed it from his mind, focusing intently on his greater mission. Headed into the asteroid's depths, Thundercracker discovered Metroplex soaking up the pseudo-energon reservoir within, whereupon he was attacked by [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]], part of an Autobot unit that had followed the Hunters to the asteroid. The pair battled until one of the aliens intervened, hurling himself at Thundercracker in an attempt to save Bumblebee's life. Thundercracker simply tossed the alien aside, but the creature's grand gesture allowed Thundercracker to come to a realization... just as the alien had acted selflessly, Thundercracker realized the lie he had told Bludgeon was not a self-serving one, but rather, a lie told out of a genuine desire not to see Metroplex fall into Decepticon hands. Thundercracker radioed his fellow Decepticons and lied once more, claiming Metroplex was nowhere to be found, and they all withdrew from the asteroid, believing that the whole affair had been an Autobot trick. Angry at Thundercracker for leading them into it, Bludgeon had him removed from his unit and sent back to Cybertron. {{storylink|The Hunting Party (IDW)|The Hunting Party}}

===Infiltration===
[[File:Infiltration0 Thundercracker.jpg|upright=1.75|left|thumb|Tha-Boom, I want you in my room...]]
In the present day, long after Cybertron had been rendered uninhabitable, Thundercracker served as part of Starscream's [[Infiltration protocol|insurgent unit]], operating covertly on Earth to destabilize governing organizations and create global anarchy. After four years of secrecy, the unit went off-mission with the discovery of [[Ore-13]], a super-powerful variant of energon, which Starscream planned to use to stage a coup. When their activities in [[Nebraska]] were discovered by the human [[Stoker]], an agent of the secret organization known as the [[Machination]], Thundercracker, [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]], and [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] were sent to deal with the human and recover his [[SM-40]] palmtop PC, containing data on their operation. The team caught up with and killed Stoker outside Phoenix, AZ, but the SM-40 was missing, stolen by young runaway [[Verity Carlo]]. Thundercracker tracked her down, but before he could terminate her and her friend [[Hunter O'Nion]], he was driven off by [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 0|Infiltration #0}} Ratchet managed to temporarily shake Thundercracker and the two [[Battlecharger]]s, {{storylink|Infiltration issue 1|Infiltration #1}} but they picked up his trail again before long. This time, however, Thundercracker was shot down by [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]], [[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]] and Ironhide. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 2|Infiltration #2}}

[[File:AvengersTF2 thundercracker mirror response mode.jpg|thumb|We call it "Farting Lightning Mode".]]
Soon, Megatron arrived on Earth to put down Starscream's attempted rebellion. Thundercracker, along with the other Decepticons, were unwilling to stand against him when the Decepticon leader ordered them to stand down. Megatron proceeded to take Starscream offline, {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}} and Thundercracker and the others promptly submitted themselves to his command once again. {{storylink|Escalation issue 1|Escalation #1}} To get the infiltration protocol back on track, Megatron sent Thundercracker and Skywarp to destroy the El Jira power plant in the middle east to inflame global tensions and spark a global energy shortage, {{storylink|Escalation issue 2|Escalation #2}} then focused his efforts on the Eastern European country of [[Latveria]]. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part One}} There, Megatron activated the [[Psycho-Prism]] he had stolen from [[Doctor Doom]], which emitted an aggression wave that acted on humans, increasing international tensions in the area. Megatron sent Thundercracker and Skywarp to bomb the neighboring country of [[Symkaria]] so they would blame Latveria and start a war, but their actions drew the attention of both the Autobots and the human superhero team the [[Avengers]]. After capturing [[Spider-Man]], Thundercracker and the Decepticons powered themselves up using his super-powers as part of [[mirror response mode]], then took the fight to the Autobots and Avengers. Thundercracker shot and injured Optimus Prime {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Two}} and [[Ms. Marvel]], and engaged in a dogfight with [[Captain America]] in the [[Quinjet]], but was then taken down by a blast from [[Iron Man]]'s Transformer-sized armor {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Three}} and retreated with the other Decepticons via [[emergency warp-out]]. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Four}}

[[File:Devastation1 Ruining Everything.jpg|left|upright=1.75|thumb|Megatron's lost it! It must be a Tuesday.]]
During battle in [[Brasnya]], the sorely-pressed Skywarp teleported Thundercracker in to try and stop [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]] from escaping with [[Georgi Koska|one of their facsimile constructs]]. Hot Rod was able to [[orbital jump]] to safety, and Thundercracker then joined Skywarp in recovering the defeated Megatron and retreating. {{storylink|Escalation issue 6|Escalation #6}} Furious over his defeat, Megatron called in the destructive [[Sixshot]]—a breach of protocol that alarmed Thundercracker and several other Decepticons. Together, they conspired to bring Starscream back online in hopes he could to talk some sense into their leader. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1|Devastation #1}} They managed to get Starscream active again just in time for the Decepticon base to be attacked by the alien [[Reaper]]s, {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation #5}} and with a little help from [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|a mysterious ally]], Thundercracker and his comrades claimed victory over the extraterrestrial invaders. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}}
{{-}}

===Dishonor to the Decepticons===
During the Decepticons' battle with the Reapers, the Autobots had left Earth to deal with the threat of an incursion by the [[Dead Universe]], and Megatron exploited their absence by taking his men to ground. The Decepticons returned to Cybertron, where a series of experiments were carried out to create [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. [[File:AHM7 thundercracker our own kind.jpg|thumb|upright=1.75]] The misshapen [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]] of creatures that were created one after another in pursuit of a perfect specimen outraged Thundercracker, who demanded Megatron euthanize them rather than allow fellow Decepticons to endure such a torturous existence. Megatron, unsurprisingly, paid little heed to the Seeker's words. After a trio of satisfactory Insecticons were created, the Decepticons returned to Earth and lured the Autobots into a trap, which saw Thundercracker and the other Decepticons successfully overpower their enemies and strand them on Cybertron via a [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}}

With Earth now unprotected, a year on from the Reaper battle, the Decepticons launched a huge attack on [[New York City]] in which Thundercracker participated. Though he followed orders obediently, engaging human jet fighters in the skies over the city, he shared little of his comrades' enthusiasm for mindless destruction, and was the only one among them to cast a backward glance at the devastation Megatron left in his wake. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}} Thundercracker and his fellow Seekers helped cut off the city by blowing up the [[Brooklyn Bridge]], {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2|All Hail Megatron #2}} then listened in silence as Megatron gave a victory speech. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}}

[[File:AHM12 thundercracker nuke.jpg|left|upright=1.75|thumb]]
When Skywarp got into an argument with [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] that ended with weapons drawn, Thundercracker came to the aid of his brother Seeker and sent the Insecticons scuttling off. While Skywarp expressed his enjoyment at working with Thundercracker again, describing it as "like old times", Thundercracker immediately became sullen and withdrawn again, leaving Skywarp frustrated, unable to have any real ''fun'' in the destruction if he was doing it on his own. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} Some time later, back in New York, when Starscream betrayed Megatron and sent the Insecticons and [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] to attack him, Thundercracker merely stood back and watched. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} This battle was interrupted by the arrival of human jets sent from [[Europe]], which Thundercracker helped engage. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} The Autobots themselves then returned, but were abandoned in the city by the Decepticons to die in a nuclear bomb strike Megatron had arranged. After the other Decepticons had pulled out, however, Thundercracker returned, and offered to help the Autobots redirect the plummeting bomb. When questioned, he opined the Decepticons had lost their way, and the mass slaughter of unworthy foes was dishonorable. He succeeded in snatching the bomb out the air, flying it up to the fringes of the atmosphere, and detonating it safely, but was then confronted by a furious Skywarp, who was outraged at the idea of a Seeker "betrayer". Despite Thundercracker's attempts to explain his position, Skywarp blasted him point-blank in the head. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}
{{-}}

===Evolution on Earth===
[[File:SeasonsInFlight thundercracker discovers tv.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5]]
Thundercracker survived, but was left heavily injured and only partially functional. Painfully dragging himself inside a ruined New York skyscraper, which human cleanup crews likely wouldn't reach for months, he reflected on how life on Earth was always changing and always finding a way to survive. After weeks of scrounging, he eventually managed to construct a distress beacon, and as he waited for his fellow Decepticons to find him, he also got a [[television]] working. For the next one and a half years, Thundercracker spent his time watching human programs and growing increasingly fascinated with their ever-changing world and society. Eventually, he was found by a ragtag team of 'cons left behind on the planet, who repaired him and hoped that he, as an elite Seeker, would lead them. Thundercracker refused, as he saw no point in a warrior leading the team, since the war was over for them. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"|Seasons in Flight}}

[[File:Earthworks thundercracker saves bbee.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.5]]
Instead, [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] took command, and led Thundercracker and the others in a revenge attack on [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. After some quick battlefield thinking by Swindle, the Decepticons changed their tunes and instead offered to help Hot Rod and his group leave Earth. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}} As Thundercracker helped them construct a ship, he thought about how Swindle had to be planning something, and how he felt remorse for the Autobots and how lost they were. His thoughts strayed back to the humans and their ever-changing world, comparing them to his own so-called "transforming" race that had remained the same for millions of years. While Thundercracker used to laugh at it, he now saw the beauty of Earth, where every act of destruction was also an act of creation. He knew that they had a lot to learn from the humans, but all his fellow Transformers wanted to do was to run away. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"|Seasons in Flight}} When [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] confronted Hot Rod's group, Thundercracker stood back and watched from the sidelines as Swindle unveiled his new creation, [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 4: "Enemies of the System"|Enemies of the System}} While the other Decepticons turned on their Autobot "comrades", Thundercracker remained true to his honor. He saved [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] during a scrap with [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]], and proceeded to help Rodimus as well. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 5: "Earthworks"|Earthworks}}

[[File:HawkAmongTheSparrows-Thundercracker.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|"Get out of here, Bumblebee -- the Hallmark Channel is showing back-to-back episodes of ''The Waltons''."]]
Months later, Bumblebee contacted Thundercracker, asking him for help in getting the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] out of [[North Korea]]. {{storylink|International Incident Part 2: "Ranks of Bronze"|Ranks of Bronze}} While he had left the Decepticons, Thundercracker was uninterested in rejoining the war, having found a new hobby in studying humanity from a hideout filled with televisions. After Bumblebee's attempts to befriend him were rebuffed, the Autobot confronted him with the fact that despite his admirable attempts at changing, Thundercracker was a warrior at heart, and would get back in the action sooner or later. Realizing that he was right, Thundercracker agreed to aid Bumblebee's Autobots, and traveled to North Korea where he knocked [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] out of the sky. {{storylink|International Incident Part 3: "Hawk Among the Sparrows"|Hawk Among the Sparrows}} The Combaticons were defeated, only for the Autobots to get attacked by the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] instead. Thundercracker faced off against [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] before personally blowing up the [[energon]] plants in North Korea and [[China]], thus ending the Combaticons' and Predacons' alliances with those nations. {{storylink|International Incident Part 4: "All My Sins Remembered"|All My Sins Remembered}}

Returning home from Asia, Thundercracker found his hideout trashed—the humans had discovered it while he was away. And if that wasn't bad enough, ''Starscream'' was there, asking for his help. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} He had recently been ousted from his position of Decepticon leader by Megatron, and tried to convince Thundercracker to return to the Decepticons and help him overthrow Megatron again. Thundercracker reacted with the same disinterest as he had shown Bumblebee's proposition, reminding Starscream that the Decepticons had left him to rot and that he couldn't care less about galactic conquest. His attitude only served to anger Starscream, who shot him in the back repeatedly. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 3: Woken Furies|Woken Furies}} [[File:WokenFuries thundercracker shot.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.75|[[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|True friends]] shoot you in the ''face''.]] Thundercracker's life was saved by [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]], sent by the Autobots to again request his help against the returning Decepticon army, who defeated Starscream and carried the injured Seeker to safety. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome|Burning Chrome}}

At the Autobot base, Thundercracker got medical attention from [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] (and complained that he wasn't Ratchet). In exchange for his repairs, Optimus Prime wanted him to tell the Autobots where Megatron could have brought the recently injured Soundwave, but having had no contact with the main Decepticon force for years, Thundercracker couldn't tell him anything. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine|Enemy Mine}} With his repairs done, Thundercracker left the Autobots' base, calling them "sentimental" for wanting to return to Cybertron and electing not to come with them. Prowl tried to stop him, but he only warned the Autobot against provoking him before flying off. {{storylink|Police Action: Prologue}}

He returned to his hideout to pack up his televisions and find a new place to live, only to be approached once again by Bumblebee, who was now looking for help with finding Decepticons currently on Earth. Thundercracker reminded the Autobot he had no contact with the other Decepticons anymore, wishing only to live in peace on Earth, and questioned his ability to lead the Autobots. When the subject of returning to Cybertron with a space bridge came up, he remembered that earlier Megatron had been grilling him about the time he and Bumblebee met Metroplex, suggesting that he was looking for a way to generate space bridges using his own body much like the titan. Thundercracker let Bumblebee have his records of Metroplex's space bridge radiation signature to follow up on this theory, but refused to get involved with the fight himself. {{storylink|The Question}}

[[File:HelloCruelWorld thundercracker screenwriter.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|So now he's Tommy Wiseau?]]
In time, Cybertron was restored and its scattered populace began returning home, but Thundercracker elected to continue living on Earth. His absence from Cybertron was pointed out by Wheeljack when Starscream expressed interest in getting the Seekers back together; mentioning Thundercracker's name gave Wheeljack a flash of inspiration, and helped him realize that a series of recent explosions on Cybertron were reminiscent of ball lightning. {{storylink|Stick Together}}

===A 'bot and his dog===
As the years rolled by, Thundercracker's interest in TV shows evolved into a desire to become a scriptwriter himself. He got to work writing a screenplay about a human female named "Susan Journeyer" and her love interest "Josh Boyfriend" which was heavily inspired by his favourite show ''[[Nurse Whitney]]'', but his attempts to write from a human perspective were... interesting. He came into contact with [[Earth Defense Command]], who recognized his neutrality and provided him with a new hideout, a source of energon and a friendly dog named [[Buster (IDW)|Buster]], but eventually, they required something from him in return: when a group of Autobots returned to Earth for the first time in years, Thundercracker was to serve as bait to lure them into an ambush. Noting that Bumblebee wasn't among them, Thundercracker was a bit bummed to learn the Autobot had died, but this was overridden by the shock of hearing the war was had ended with Megatron joining the Autobots. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|Hello Cruel World}} As the EDC and their new Decepticon allies ambushed the Autobots, Thundercracker stayed out of the line of fire, worrying over Buster. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|Detonation Boulevard}} He then accompanied—and annoyed—his EDC liaison [[Marissa Faireborn]] as she cleaned up the mess after the battle. {{storylink|Earthfall Chapter 4: Full Fathom Five|Full Fathom Five}}

[[File:ExRID36 ThundercrackerthreatensSoundwave.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.6|"What do you want from me, huh? HUH?"]]
The EDC base on [[Marshall Islands|Bikini Atoll]] was next to be attacked by Autobots, so Thundercracker took Marissa there, though he refused to get too close to the battle out of worry for Buster. While escaping the destruction, he slipped and fell into a cavern where, to his horror, he discovered an EDC facility full of drone duplicates of his old comrades, Ramjet and [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]. {{storylink|Earthfall Chapter 5: I Dream of Wires|I Dream of Wires}} Alarmed, Thundercracker contacted Soundwave to learn more about the Decepticons' alliance with the EDC, but the meeting did not go very well; Soundwave inadvertently threatened Buster, getting things off on the wrong foot, and Thundercracker soon learned that he had no knowledge of the drones. Thundercracker agreed to think about Soundwave's offer to live on the new Decepticon commune the EDC was constructing for them around [[Jupiter]], and gave his old comrade a copy of his screenplay as a parting gift. {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part Two: Vs.|Vs.}}

[[File:TheObliterati thundercracker and clones.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.3|"Thank you, honey, this is a beautiful party! You invited all my friends. Good thinking!"]]
Now aware that the EDC was secretly working towards their own ends, Thundercracker kept a vigil over their Bikini Atoll base, and did not have to wait long before the drone army was activated. {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part Three: ONoffON|ONoffON}} Unable to stop the drones' flight, Thundercracker entrusted Buster's safety to EDC scientist [[Sanjay Bharwaney]] and took off after them, radioing Soundwave for assistance. Angry to learn of the EDC's deception, Soundwave weighed his options; Thundercracker was able to convince him that if the drones made it across the ocean and reached land, the re-ignition of war between humanity and Cybertronians was inevitable, and that they needed to act to save Earth not ''for'' the humans, but in ''spite'' of them, so that it could be a world for the Decepticons as well. Soundwave reluctantly agreed, and easily cracked the control signal for the drones, deactivating them and letting them fall out of the sky... but warned Thundercracker not to contact him again. Not that that bothered Thundercracker much, as he happily reunited with Buster on the beaches of Bikini Atoll. {{storylink|The Onyx Interface Conclusion: The Obliterati|The Obliterati}}

At some point, Thundercracker discovered Christmas and decided to write children's story about it. And he did. And despite the very best of Bogart and Se7en references, it remained on par with his other writing. {{storylink|The Thirteenth Day of Christmas}}

Thundercracker was still hanging around Bikini Atoll when the captive [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Spike Witwicky]] was brought in. Thundercracker felt he should be allowed to talk to the human, believing he could get him to open up since they had both acted heroically during Megatron's occupation of Earth years earlier, but Faireborn refused to allow it. Instead, Thundercracker passed the time by reading her, Bharwaney, and [[Ayana Jones|Jones]] his screenplay. {{storylink|The Nothing Man}}

[[File:EXRID50 ThundercrackerPrimehandshake.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.9|"Okay folks, everything is fine. Fight is over, folks, I'm sorry Mark."]]
Still looking for a chance to talk to Spike, Thundercracker grumbled that Blackrock got to see Spike and he didn't. TC complained to Buster that Blackrock seemed a little nuts. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 2: Lagrange|Lagrange}} When Buster and [[D.0.C.]] uncovered a secret room with captive Autobots under the Bikini Atoll base, Thundercracker "translated" for Buster that the Autobots weren't attacking the EDC, but had been prisoners. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 3: Helden|Helden}} As Galvatron betrayed, well, ''everyone'', Thundercracker offered to stand beside the Autobots and EDC against the Decepticons. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 4: Perihelion|Perihelion}} He offered to fly straight to [[Shanghai]] to take part in the battle against Galvatron's forces, but was urged not to go by Marissa, who said she was afraid he would die and that she liked his stupid stories. Once the battle was over Optimus and his forces arrived at EDC Headquarters to rescue the Autobots there. Thundercracker and Marissa explained that it was the traitorous Blackrock, not the EDC who harmed Optimus's friends. Wanting to leave the EDC and its subterfuge behind, Thundercracker asked Optimus to put the past aside, and he was allowed to join with the Autobots in leaving Bikini Atoll. He took the Autobots to his old homestead, where they set up a new base of operations on Earth. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 1: Once Upon a Time on Earth|Once Upon a Time on Earth}}

During the Autobots' global relief efforts, Thundercracker, Buster, and [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]] provided tablets and internet access to poverty stricken Balkan villages. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 2: Edge of the Earth|Edge of the Earth}}

[[File:AllHailOptimus4-SkyReignforms.jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.8|"Denny, two is great, but three's a crowd."]]
Optimus took Thundercracker and Buster with him to [[Sanctuary Station]] to try and convince Soundwave and his group of Decepticons to join with the Autobots, where he was not received warmly by his former comrades. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 3: The Medium and the Message|The Medium and the Message}} They arrived back at [[Monument Valley]] with Soundwave and his Decepticons in tow. After splitting up a fight between Buster and [[Bob (IDW)|Bob]], Thundercracker got into an argument with [[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]], which had to be split up by Optimus. Thundercracker was among the combined Autobot and Decepticon force that rode in [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] to engage with Galvatron's group of Decepticons in the [[Indian Ocean]]. When Galvatron turned the Earth into a giant [[Enigma of Combination]], Thundercracker was forcibly fused with [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], Sunstreaker, [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]], and [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] into [[Sky Reign]] (Thundercracker formed the left arm). {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 4: It's Beginning To And Back Again|It's Beginning To And Back Again}} Sky Reign, [[Galvatronus (Generations)|Galvatronus]], and two [[Seeker clone|Seeker combiners]] ganged up on Superion, until Superion was able to write the combination code into his brain and separate all the combiners. The now separated Thundercracker knocked Sunstreaker out of the way of a blast from the fleeing Galvatron's fusion cannon, getting his arm blown off in the process, and fired upon Astrotrain to try and prevent the Decepticons from escaping. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 5: As Above...So Below|As Above...So Below}} He regrouped with the Autobots while Cosmos and Arcee gave chase to Astrotrain and Galvatron. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 6: No Fair Fights|No Fair Fights}} He was later seen sitting on a raft with Sunstreaker and Slugslinger while the remaining Decepticons were being rounded up at the bottom of the ocean. {{storylink|White Light}} Once that was cleared up, he stood in a group shot while Soundwave gave an inspirational speech about the importance of Cybertronians being united. {{storylink|White Heat}}

Some time later, [[Joe Colton]] and [[Miles Mayhem]] discussed the initial infiltration of Earth by the Autobots and Decepticons (including Thundercracker), the search for Ore-13, and how Optimus Prime and the Autobots abandoned the planet to Megatron and the Decepticons (still including Thundercracker). {{storylink|Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Secret Raiders}}

[[File:TransformersRevolution-ThundercrackervsDireWraith.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7|"You are tearing me apart, Lisa!"]]
Months later, he'd been given a new arm by [[Jetfire (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jetfire]] that incorporated a powerful cannon. He was in [[Philadelphia]] with Buster, [[Bob (IDW)|Bob]] and [[D.0.C.]] helping people evacuate from a burning building before he got a distress call from [[Marissa Faireborn]] at the [[White House]] which had been infiltrated by [[Dire Wraith|aliens]]. When he arrived, the aliens had taken control of the [[Seeker clone]]s. He managed to best one before the second forced him into the White House (crushing an alien in the process) before he and D.0.C. defeated it. When Marissa briefed him on the powers of the Wraiths he briefly geeked out about organics with abilities comparable to Cybertronians before he atomized one that was threatening Buster. Thundercracker led the charge into the situation room cutting through more Wraiths before the leader combined her magics with a sample of [[Ore-13]] growing to Cybertronian size. Thundercracker forced her into the sky with the promise to throw her into the sun before she managed to tear his new arm off. As she fell boasting of her superiority Thundercracker warned her to be careful with her burning hands around the cannon's ammunition. She wasn't careful and wound up impaling herself on the [[Washington Monument]]. Thundercracker then attempted a quip before he reunited with his friends. He then realized his disconnect from Susan Journeyer was caused by his still being a Seeker regardless of his affiliations. Together with Buster, Thundercracker decided it was time to seek himself. ROAD TRIP! {{storylink|Thundercracker & Buster Save the World}}

===Disaster artist===
[[File:BehindMyBleedingBack ThundercrackerHawaiianShirt.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|right|"Ha, ha, ha, what a story, Mark."]]
Thundercracker's world tour eventually took him, Marissa, and Buster to [[Egypt]]. While lounging against the Sphinx, Thundercracker received a call from Spike, asking if he would help [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] understand the cloaking field around the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions']] ship. When Marissa asked who he was talking to, he told her that it was a wrong number, but after she'd gone away, Thundercracker agreed to help on one condition. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 2: A Lonely Pillar on the Plain|A Lonely Pillar on the Plain}} As it turned out, this one condition was giving Marissa an invitation to join G.I. Joe. While she talked with [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] inside a cafe, Thundercracker sat outside with [[Chameleon (G.I. Joe)|Chameleon]] and discussed his past with Marissa with her. As she brought up her past with Flint, Thundercracker commented on how "trope-y" it seemed and was later captivated by her own history- "[[Chuckles|the guy in a Hawaiian shirt]]" she mentioned being of particular interest to him. As Flint exited the cafe, Thundercracker excitedly started to tell him about his new screenplay based on Chameleon's story about Chuckles, but the irritated Joe wasn't interested and only wanted to know if he'd now provide the calculations on the Junkions' ship. Though Thundercracker was surprised to learn Flint was Marissa's father (and showed a lack of understanding of the human reproductive process), a stern look from Flint was enough to get him to agree. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 3: Behind My Bleeding Back|Behind My Bleeding Back}}

[[File:DanceAmongTheShadows ThundercrackerMarissaCairo.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|left|"Well, the interesting part is that on our first date, she paid for dinner."]]
After Marissa declined the offer to join G.I.Joe, Thundercracker tried to get her to open up about her relationship with her father, to little avail. He tactfully suggested that Flint just wanted to spend time with her by asking her to join the team, and Marissa had second thoughts. The two caught up with Flint and Chameleon's aircraft, landing in [[Sicily]] for another try at conversation. As Flint and Marissa talked, Thundercracker shot the breeze with Chameleon again. Thundercracker seemed a bit taken aback when he overheard Marissa say that she accompanied him on their sightseeing tour only because she was afraid the Cybertronians would eventually destroy the world. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 4: Dance Among the Shadows|Dance Among the Shadows}} After [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]] hordes were unleashed across the world by the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]], Thundercracker had to fend some off in Sicily. As the survivors departed, Marissa expressed her frustration at the constant battles she'd been involved in since the Cybertronians came to Earth, and hurt Thundercracker's feelings when she claimed all his kind knew how to do was destroy. Deciding they couldn't stay on the sidelines any longer, Marissa had Thundercracker fly them to the [[Matterhorn]], where she presented a proposal to the [[President of the United States]] about the Junkion matter. A week later, Thundercracker was on-site at Earth Defense Command's old Bikini Atoll HQ where a [[Little Cybertron|refugee camp]] was being built for the Junkions, overseen by Marissa. {{storylink|New Cybertron End: Feel Safe Without Regrets|Feel Safe Without Regrets}} [[Pyra Magna]] soon got on Thundercracker's case for spending his time playing with Buster instead of helping build the Junkion settlement, forcing Marissa to cover for her friend. {{storylink|The Next Day, and the Next}}

On the day that Earth was to officially join the [[Council of Worlds]], Thundercracker complimented Marissa's outfit as she prepared to travel to Cybertron for the ceremony. He wished her well as she stepped through the [[space bridge]] portal, but panicked when the portal died and all communication from Cybertron ceased. [[Aileron]] calmed things down and asked Thundercracker to check in on Sanctuary Station to make sure the Decepticons aboard were all accounted for. Thundercracker wasn't exactly pleased with the implication that they, and therefore HE- couldn't be trusted. {{storylink|Primeless, Part 1}} Nevertheless, he took Buster on a trip to the space station, admiring the view on the way there. Once aboard, he was warmly greeted by Cosmos and asked [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] if he had composed any new poems. Thundercracker then tried to find a place for Buster to relieve herself as Cosmos got him a headcount of those currently aboard Sanctuary. {{storylink|Primeless, Part 2}}

[[File:StarscreamTheMovie ThundercrackerProximaLighting.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|right|"Denny, don't plan too much. It may not come out right."]]
In his spare time, Thundercracker began working on his screenplay about Chuckles, envisioning a heroic story about the G.I.Joe undercover agent saving the world from [[Cobra]]. He was approached by Starscream, who was interested in employing Thundercracker's creative "talents" to make a biographical film about his life. Thundercracker eagerly accepted the job and was soon listening to Starscream recount his own history, albeit with an obvious bias. Deciding he needed some close outside sources to get a more accurate picture of Starscream's life, Thundercracker interviewed his fellow Seekers [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] and Skywarp, each of whom painted a pointedly-negative picture of Starscream. Realizing that this was imcompatible with Starscream's self-congratulatory accounts, Thundercracker consulted [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] for help on marrying the truth with myths and storytelling in general.

[[File:OPAnnual2018 AcidStormNewLines.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|left|"Acid Storm, you always play psychologist with us!"]]
As production on the movie commenced, it quickly became apparent to those hired as actors and crew that Thundercracker had little practical idea of how to make a film. [[Proxima (G1)|Proxima]] had to explain how cinematography and lighting worked to him, and [[Acid Storm (G1)| Acid Storm]] complained about having to have his entire body painted every day to play the title role as Starscream. Thundercracker's rigid directing style and his constant rewrites of the script just before takes didn't help matters either. Production stalled and Thundercracker confided in Marissa that he was uncertain about how to reconcile the truth with Starscream's preferred narrative. He needed to keep Starscream happy so that the film would continue to be funded, but felt like he was selling out his creative vision by presenting an inaccurate picture of Cybertron's ruler to the public. Fearing he could never break into [[Hollywood]] by compromising himself, Thundercracker asked for Marissa's advice. Marissa put Thundercracker in contact with movie producer [[Bulletman|Richard Ruby]], to whom he showed a rough cut of some of the more "talking heads" scenes that had been filmed. Ruby bluntly told Thundercracker that this kind of film would never make it in Hollywood, as the general human audience just wanted to see giant robots shooting each other- not historical drama. Thundercracker didn't care for the advice, but reasoned that as long as people were inspired by what they watched, the film could still work.

[[File:StarscreamTheMovie ThundercrackerActing.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|right|"Do you want to play football?" "In tuxes? Are you kidding?"]]
The latest round of spontaneous script rewrites were the last straw for Acid Storm, who dropped out of the production. Thundercracker decided to step into the role of Starscream himself for the remainder of the shoot (as well as playing Skywarp and himself), but the news just then broke that Starscream had confessed to a number of crimes and been imprisoned. Inspired by this turn of events, Thundercracker now had his ending for the film. After completing it, he visited Starscream in prison and showed him the final product. Starscream accepted it in seeming good humor, but pointed out it was irrelevant now that he was in jail. Thundercracker disagreed, standing behind his work, claiming the film would withstand the test of time. After giving the movie's crew some gift baskets for their hard work (Thundercracker ignored the question of ''actual'' payment now that their funding had been cut), he headed to Earth with Buster to deliver the [[Starscream: The Movie (film)|finished film]] to Richard Ruby for distribution. However, the [[space bridge]] portal redirected him to the barren world of [[Prion (planet)|Prion]], where some of Starscream's goons tried to kill him and prevent the film from seeing release. Thundercracker defeated them easily and eventually got to Earth, finding out that Richard Ruby had left a message for him upon his arrival.

Thundercracker discovered that [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] had already made a [[Dark Invasion|Cybertronian action movie]] for human audiences and it had bombed hard in theaters. Ruby told Thundercracker that Cybertronian movies were probably D.O.A. on Earth now, and the best he could do was release the Starscream bio-pic on an [[Coma|obscure direct-to-digital platform]]. Accepting this, Thundercracker glumly decided he had been kidding himself about being a successful filmmaker and returned to Cybertron. Marissa attempted to console him, but was interrupted when Thundercracker received another phone call, this one from famed human director [[J.J. Hackensack]]. Having watched Thundercracker's movie, Hackensack saw more potential in Cybertronian cinema, and asked Thundercracker if he'd like to colloborate on something. His confidence restored, a giddy Thundercracker immediately responded in the affirmative. {{storylink|Starscream: The Movie (comic)|Starscream: The Movie}}

===Breaking in===
[[File:Assembly ThreeSeekerAmigos.jpg|thumb|upright=2.7|left|]]
Now possessing the connections and clout to make his Chuckles movie into a reality, Thundercracker moved to Hollywood and got it properly written and filmed. He was in the middle of producing a final edit of it to send to J.J. Hackensack when [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] appeared over the Earth. Thundercracker sprang into action, protecting those in his neighborhood from the destruction that Unicron's mere presence above the planet caused. {{storylink|A Sunrise Dark}} As he helped people evacuate a burning building, Thundercracker tried to call Marissa, but she was unable to talk at the moment. A plan was formed to destroy Unicron by using the [[Talisman (G1)|Talisman]] and Thundercracker was contacted by Starscream to aid them in getting the alien artifact to the planet-eater's surface. Thundercracker first flew to [[Mount Rushmore]] to see Marissa one more time, leaving Buster with her in case he didn't return. He then flew into Earth's orbit with the Talisman to rendezvous with Starscream and Skywarp, being somewhat elated that the three of them were flying together again. Starscream and Skywarp were less thrilled to have him along, and the gravity of the situation didn't stop Thundercracker from being amused at the initials of the [[Decepticon Vengeance Division]] (D.V.D.) that barred their path to Unicron. {{storylink|Assembly}}

[[File:Ceremony ThundercrackerSkywarpSurvivors.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|"Here you go, keep the change, hi doggie!"{{-}}"You're my favorite customer."]]
Unicron's [[Maximal]] minions began firing upon the approaching Seekers as Thundercracker unleashed sonic booms, heedless of whether they were effective in space or not. The oncoming fire directed at them grew too intense and Thundercracker was shot down, with Skywarp being forced to go to his aid to recover the Talisman. Surrounded by Maximals, Thundercracker was surprised to see Skywarp teleport in and take a strike meant for him. He threw the Talisman to Starscream, unwilling to abandon Skywarp and the two of them were soon completely overwhelmed by the Maximals. However, in the end, Thundercracker's sonic booms were able to keep their enemies at bay in close quarters, and he and Skywarp managed to survive the onslaught. With Unicron having been defeated, the pair returned to Earth and Thundercracker happily reunited with Buster and Marissa. Skywarp watched Thundercracker be embraced by his friends and incredulously admitted that his old comrade was still a true Seeker. In the aftermath, Thundercracker sat with the survivors and admired a bald eagle that perched on his finger. {{storylink|Ceremony}}

After "''[[Last Laugh: The Life and Death of Chuckles]]''" was released, it was nominated for an award for "Best Original Screenplay." Thundercracker and Buster attended the awards ceremony, with Thundercracker being nervous not just to hear if he had won, but also because his favorite actress [[Karen Fishook]] was the presenter. Having realized his dream at last, Thundercracker was overcome with emotion as Karen prepared to announce the winner. {{storylink|Post}}

[[File:Post ThundercrackerAward.jpg|center|thumb|upright=1.0|"That's life!"]]
{{-}}

==Notes==
*Thundercracker's profile in ''[[Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook]]'' [[Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook issue 3|#3]] notes that his Outlier sonic powers are so mild that they may not qualify as a true Outlier ability.
*Despite joining the Autobots after Galvatron's insurgency, Thundercracker never dons the Autobot insignia nor does he formally identify as one. He does however remove the Decepticon insignias from his wings, choosing to identify as a neutral Cybertronian.
*In ''Infiltration'', [[E. J. Su]] debuted Thundercracker in an original design as an F-22. For ''All Hail Megatron'', [[Guido Guidi]] drew Thundercracker in his [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|''Masterpiece'' toy body]] as an F-15. This initially remained the case in [[The Transformers (IDW)|''The Transformers'' vol. 1]] until [[Don Figueroa]] reverted Thundercracker to a stylized version of Su's F-22 body in [[Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"|issue #4]].

[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Seekers]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Decepticons]]

Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity

2019-05-22T01:21:47Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Necroworld */

{{factions|autobot|decepticon}}
{{suite}}
[[File:Brainstorm swerves the road not taken.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|"I'm Brainstorm. I own the place."]]
'''Brainstorm''' is smarter than you. Yeah, ''you''. He doesn't utterly require you to know this and acknowledge him! It's just important for ''your'' sake that you acknowledge his vast intellect and big words! Also, look at this stuff he just built, phwoar, aren't [[Unmentionable|those weapons he made]] so ''shocking'' and ''edgy''?

Also, he's better than [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]], honest.

Underneath this braggado, Brainstorm is... still boastful and a truly dodgy geezer, and a bit of a coward. His weapons have indeed killed an untold number in horrifying ways and he used to work at [[Zeta Prime]]'s brainwashing [[Institute]] with few qualms. Despite that, he does hold his (very few) friends dear to him and tries his hardest to hold onto them, and despite his job, somehow he's gone four million years without ever actually taking a life himself.

And deep down, he really just wishes someone who barely knew him had loved him.

{{TOCclear}}

==Fiction==
{{first|[[All Hail Megatron issue 1|''All Hail Megatron'' #1]] (cameo); [[All Hail Megatron issue 15|#15]] (full)}}
[[File:RemembranceDay-Brainstorm.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67|"We fire the ''whole'' laser beam. That's 65% more laser per laser!"]]
There is conflicting information about the origins of the 'bot who would become Brainstorm, who was a [[Reproduction#IDW 2005 continuity|Constructed cold]] Cybertronian originally known as '''Genitus'''. One report placed him among the earliest troops assembled by [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]] to serve under [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] when the Autobots were first formed, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13#"Old Ways"|Old Ways}} but by his own account he was an [[M.T.O.]] created for [[Operation: Solar Storm]]. {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}} Whatever his precise origins, he kept the fact he was a cold-constructed "knockoff" a secret from most, and instead pretended to be forged, even going so far as to claim that he participated in the anti-apartheid marches that called for "equal rights for knockoffs!" which took place before he was even created. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}}

Genitus was among the young scientists recruited for the [[Institute|New Institute]], and was soon nicknamed "Brainstorm" by his peers. Two of his co-workers received similar nicknames as "[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]]" and "[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]]". {{storylink|The Reluctant Specialist}} Overly eager and far more likely to ask "Can it be done?" rather than "''Should'' it be done?", Brainstorm fit in well with the vaguely (and sometimes, not so vaguely) amoral experiments and research performed by Zeta's staff. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} Despite the destructive scope of his work, Brainstorm had reservations about directly killing others, and never slew anyone by his own hand. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}}

On one occasion, Brainstorm and Chromedome survived a raid on the New Institute by [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] and [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] to rescue [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]]. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} Although Chromedome left the New Institute after that near-death experience, he and Brainstorm remained close friends. In fact, Chromedome once remarked that he was Brainstorm's only friend, and Brainstorm didn't correct him. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement (issue)|Rules of Disengagement}} For all his flaws, Brainstorm stood by the quick-to-love Chromedome as the war went on and he lost three [[Conjunx Endura]]e, even though he felt disappointed in Chromedome for using his mnemosurgery skills to wipe his own painful memories after each loss rather than remember his fallen partners. {{storylink|The Gloaming}}

Brainstorm briefly appeared among the Autobot troops fighting [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] and the Decepticons on Cybertron in the distant past. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}}

Brainstorm himself was no stranger to loss. He was deeply infatuated with his fellow scientist and co-worker [[Quark]], to the point that he would later describe him as a "one-way" Conjunx Endura; to what extent Quark may have reciprocated Brainstorm's feelings is unknown, and indeed, would go tragically ''forever'' unknown, as he was captured during the fall of [[K'th Kinsere]] and imprisoned at [[Grindcore (prison)|Grindcore]], where he later died. Brainstorm was devastated but not broken, and eventually decided to put his vast intellect to work secretly beginning construction of a paradox trap-exempt time machine with which he planned to save his love. This project took centuries {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}} and would mean that, if he succeeded, Operation: Solar Storm would never happen and he would erase himself from the timeline. {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}}

Once he'd sorted the theory out, he realised the Decepticons would have more of the materials he'd need to build the thing and he became a double-agent in order to get access to them. He kept the Decepticons sweet by spinning old, already known information in different ways to make it seem as if it was new advances (though many didn't quite fall for it and he was a self-proclaimed "worst double agent ''ever''"). {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}} {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}} Over time, however, his time machine took shape. The components of the machine were hidden in his network of [[Time case|briefcases]], the control case of which almost never left his arm. {{storylink|The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|The Custom-Made Now}}

During his time as a double agent, Brainstorm would occasionally exchange spare parts with the [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]]. {{storylink|Animals}}
===Working at Kimia===
[[File:AHM15 Brainstorm.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"They say great science is built on the shoulders of giants. Not here. At Kimia, we do all our science from scratch. No hand holding."]]
He was later stationed at the [[Kimia Facility]], working on lots of experimental technology and weaponry for the Autobot cause, where his designs were often considered the insane standard that all other weapon designers in Kimia held themselves to. More than any other Autobot, he had beaten a path to [[Room 113]] where his creations were time and time again rejected by the [[Ethics Committee]] as violations of the [[Non-Conventional Weapons Act]]. Undaunted by the rejections, Brainstorm continued to dream up more outlandish and dangerous weapons in his time at Kimia. His most daring inventions were referred to as the "[[Unmentionable]]s". {{storylink|Bullets}}

On [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'s orders, he (alongside [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]]) used [[Pretender]] technology to rebuild Kup into a sane, rejuvenated 'bot. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15#"Everything in Its Right Place"|Everything in Its Right Place}}

At [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]]'s request, Brainstorm agreed to go over the gun that misfired the [[cerebro-sensitive bullet]] into Ironfist's skull, looking for what went wrong with the firing mechanism. Brainstorm let the review fall into his backlog for several months, probably because Ironfist neglected to mention the accident had left a bullet in his skull, slowly killing him. Brainstorm finally reported back just as Ironfist was leaving for the [[Wrecker]]s, revealing his findings that showed the gun had been rigged to go off at a certain angle. The saboteur, [[Skyfall (G1)|Skyfall]], wasn't apprehended until nine months later, so Brainstorm apparently did nothing to follow up on his findings after alerting Ironfist. {{storylink|Bullets}}

At some point, Brainstorm worked with [[Kaput]]. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 3: A World Misplaced|A World Misplaced}}

[[File:Brainstorm Chromedome infodump.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|"We reject your literary device and substitute our own!"]]
Brainstorm and the other scientists were caught by surprise when [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] and the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] invaded Kimia. {{storylink|Chaos Part One: Lamentations|Lamentations}} He survived and managed to escape before the facility's destruction, leaving in an escape pod together with Chromedome and a number of other Autobots. They were soon rescued by [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|"a psychopath in pink armor"]]. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings|Kings}} From her, they learned that they had to save the universe by stopping [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] from letting the [[Dead Universe]] into it. Brainstorm had a hard time grasping all this, and together with Chromedome wondered if any species other than Cybertronians ever had to deal with this kind of problem. {{storylink|Chaos Part Four: Genesis|Genesis}}

[[File:Brainstorm Hangers On.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|right|"It's come to my attention that over half of our test subjects have only recently awoken from extended relaxation and were unaware that we're testing in space. So there it is: No conspiracy. No twist. We're in a test satellite orbiting the Earth. Commonly available information that absolutely anyone would have told you if you'd bothered to ask. Please stop forming groups of adventuring parties to uncover the big secret, because it's that we're in space."]]
As part of his interest in the Dead Universe, Brainstorm examined [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], and during the procedure was struck by an energy discharge from [[Nova Prime]]'s corpse, which he'd been keeping in his lab. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}}

===Joining the ''Lost Light''===
Brainstorm was one of the Autobots who chose to accompany [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] on his quest to find the [[Knights of Cybertron]]. After some convincing, [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] allowed Brainstorm to board the ''[[Lost Light]]'' without checking his briefcase. But as soon as the ship lifted off, an explosion had sent it into [[Quantum generator|quantum jump]] and had to land on a far, desolate planet. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}}{{storylink|Last Light (issue)|Last Light}} Brainstorm and Perceptor investigated what had caused the accident. Although they didn't find the exact cause, they did find something interesting. After Rodimus had insulted his intelligence, Brainstorm informed him that they found a [[Duobot]] had stood right next to the [[quantum generator]] when it failed, and was "totally mashed into the generator itself". He then made a joke about their deceased comrade, leaving Rodimus a bit taken aback at Brainstorm's callousness. In turn, this left Brainstorm panicking over the idea [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] might have heard the joke, but Rodimus just ordered him into the air to join the search for survivors. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On‎|Hangers On}}

[[File:MTMTE7 inverted Brainstorm.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|left|"Science isn't about WHY! It's about WHY NOT! Why is so much of my science dangerous? Why not invent a special safety door that won't hit [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|you]] on the butt on the way out, because you are FIRED!"]]
When a [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]] was loose aboard the ''Lost Light'', Brainstorm found himself trapped in an elevator with the creature, which had been hunting [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]. Brainstorm cried out that he was too ''smart'' to die and held up his briefcase in an attempt to ward the Sparkeater off. Fortunately for him, the Sparkeater decided to continue chasing Rung, leaving Brainstorm flustered, but unharmed. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}}

[[File:BrainstormDJDComeGetHim.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|right|"Hello, test subjects. As you are no doubt aware, the Overlord is being held hostage inside the giant super-prison on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. Every science facility on Cybertron has been tasked with producing a Tough Guy capable of breaking into SuperMaxLantis. That's where YOU come in. I'm nominating myself and I'm gonna need some references. A test associate should be around soon to get a quote off you, so be as glowing as possible."]]

What nobody knew was that the damaged quantum engines had created a ''second'' ship: an exact duplicate (or was ''ours'' the duplicate???), unaware of the other. That ship carried on for quite some time before [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] came clean that [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] was locked up in the basement. When Brainstorm's Decepticon handler got in contact with 'Brainstorm 2', demanding he prove he was still properly loyal to the cause, he panicked and contacted the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] to come kill Overlord as long as they promised not to kill anyone else, half-lying that he was ''soooo close'' to "[[time travel|the jackpot]]". To his horror, the Division decided on a whim to start killing anyway and this Brainstorm was left dead in his lab, a look of misery on his face. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}} {{storylink|The Permanent Revolution}}{{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}}

Soon after receiving a [[Rodimus Star]] (along with his ex-colleagues Highbrow and Chromedome) for helping to save the ''Lost Light'' after it was hit by a piece of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] debris, an experiment of Brainstorm's went wrong and froze everyone on the ship, except for the forcefield-enclosed [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]]. Despite the near-disaster this caused when the ship was invaded during this time by a group of [[Titan (group)|Titan]]-hunting Decepticons led by [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]] (not to mention the near-death of an away team who had crashed on a planet protected by a [[phobia shield]] and were unable to raise help from the disabled crew {{storylink|The Waiting Game}}), he still received a huge plaque engraved with a stylised Rodimus figure "for exceptional endurance in the face of adversity" along with the rest of the frozen crew, which P.O.ed Trailguy - who had driven the Decepticons off singlehandedly and only received a "normal" Rodimus Star for his effort - no end. {{storylink|The Reluctant Specialist}}

Later, new arrival [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Fortress Maximus]] went loopy and shot down [[Dogfight (G1)|Dogfight]] near Brainstorm, who... protected his briefcase. Of course, he later claimed he had tried to stop Maximus. {{storylink|Interiors}} Following this incident, Rodimus tasked Brainstorm with developing an evasive bullet that would avoid hitting innocent bystanders. Chromedome had Brainstorm to look into the handgun that [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] had been constantly (and unknowingly) carrying with him, but when Brainstorm tried to examine it, the gun exploded in his face. He determined that it only held two cartridges and thus dubbed it a "binary gun", much to Chromedome's annoyance. Brainstorm also offered the opinion that the gun was possibly from the Institute. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement (issue)|Rules of Disengagement}}

[[File:Brainstorm bets Primus You Me and Other Revelations.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5| "I look this darn good because of science."]]
When a bunch of [[Nanocon]]s mysteriously reactivated inside Ultra Magnus, Brainstorm used his [[Size changing|mass-displacement gun]] to shrink Rodimus and some of the crew members to eliminate them. After the situation was handled, Brainstorm attended Tailgate's Autobot Initiation Ceremony where [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] placed bets on how long it was going to take for Rodimus to say his famous line, [['Til all are one]]. Brainstorm bet on eight seconds to the gambling bot's surprise. Despite being three seconds ahead, he still won the bet. Upon reaching [[Theophany]], an encounter with the [[Galactic Council]] led to Rodimus and others being teleported to the planet's surface, Brainstorm among them. When they arrived, they found the [[Circle of Light]] missing and [[Crystal City]] in ruins. As they explored the ruins underground, they came across a [[Titan (group)|Titan]]. The group discovered the Titan had found Cybertron's "come home" signal but was too low on energy to free himself and return, causing it to scream and try to kill itself by willing its spark to leave its body, which caused the revival of the Nanocons and various deactivated crew members of the Lost Light. With the Galactic Council's troops coming downwards to get them and the ''Lost Light'' under attack, Rodimus decided to set the Titan free to help them out of their situation. Brainstorm used his mass displacement cannon to shrink the Titan and gave the large robot more energy. Now able to move, the Titan was able to teleport the Autobots back to their ship, quantum-jump the ''Lost Light'' to safety and teleport itself to Cybertron. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}}

After previously wondering why the <s>forcef-</s> [[Trailbreaker (G1)|magnawheels guy]] would feel the need for a handheld gun {{storylink|The Reluctant Specialist}}, Brainstorm would ultimately build guns into Trailbreaker's legs, presumably relating to the latter's envy at Fortress Maximus's leg-guns. Soon afterward, he gave a new gun to [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] to field test, which the mad helicopter dubbed the "[[Shoomer]]" after the noise it made. As soon as [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] got his hands on it, he proceeded to accidentally shoot himself in the face. {{storylink|Before & After}} Surprisingly, he survived. As did the luckless [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] when shot by Brainstorm's [[existential gun]], despite a near-fatal dose of ennui. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}}

[[File:MTMTE22 tailgate altmode.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67|"Brainstorm again, just a heads up, you are currently in a tiny test chamber floating around in my Energon. Remember, if you see a giant T-cog, that's mine. Lab boys shrunk it part way down before I could stop 'em. No idea if it was for science or if they're just having one on at ol' Brain, but either way if you don't find that thing pretty soon, I'm gonna have to call Ratchet."]]
Throughout the early months of the voyage of the ''Lost Light'', Brainstorm and several others were interviewed by [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] for his documentary. Also caught on film was Brainstorm participating in Tailgate's "[[alternate mode|alt-mode]] party," which was just a ruse to figure out what Rung transforms into. {{storylink|Little Victories}} He later collaborated with the psychiatrist to update the Autobots' [[holomatter]] avatars to be more energy-efficient and psychologically intuitive. {{storylink|Signal to Noise}}

When Rewind suffered a near-death experience in battle, Brainstorm and Drift brought Chromedome in on Project: Total Insanity, Brainstorm's helpful nickname for the fact that [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] was secretly on board the ''Lost Light''. He provided Chromedome with the security codes necessary to access the [[slow cell]] attached to the underside of the ship (nicknamed Project: End In Tears). {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} Perhaps because of the prophetic project name, Overlord soon escaped from the slow cell during one of Chromedome's visits to pilfer his memories. Brainstorm was in the middle of chiding Swerve for fooling around with his [[metafictional bomb]] when the alarms sounded, indicating a scene change. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}}

[[File:Brainstorm brings briefcase to funeral.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Science is about doing things others would never be able to ''think'' of! Like bringing your briefcase full of pirated video games to a funeral!"]]
After Overlord's rampage cost the lives of Rewind and many other crew members, Brainstorm was sincerely worried about Chromedome. When the funeral was over, Brainstorm confronted him in his habitation suite about the [[shadowplay]] Chromedome performed on himself after the deaths of his last three [[Conjunx Endura]]e. Brainstorm begged him not to extract his memories of Rewind too, because that would mean Rewind was truly gone. Drawing on his experience with Quark, Brainstorm promised his friend that the pain would one day evolve into something bearable. {{storylink|The Gloaming}} {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}}

At some point, Brainstorm fitted [[Swerve's|Swerve's bar]] with an elaborate defense system and built [[My First Blaster]]™ for the bartender himself, as he was a notoriously poor shot. {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}}

When the ''Lost Light'' travelled through a portal and rediscovered the lost [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]], Rodimus selected Brainstorm to be part of the landing party. On the surface they discovered a reignited "hot spot" of [[spark]]s, including a [[Point One Percenter]] which Brainstorm immediately set about harvesting before they were attacked by [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]]'s [[Titan Hunter]]s. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} Though they fled into a field of deactivated Titans, Brainstorm and the ''Lost Light''ers were captured and imprisoned by the insane [[Solomus|Tyrest]] where they found themselves sharing a cell with the mysterious [[Minimus Ambus]], later revealed to be none other than Ultra Magnus. {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}} After Ambus departed to get answers from Tyrest, they were joined in the cell by Skids, Swerve, and [[Getaway]] {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} who used the spring-loaded clasps from Brainstorm's briefcase to help them escape. Confronting Tyrest, Brainstorm was shot by the traitorous medic [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] which separated him from his briefcase. To compound matters, Tyrest activated a "weapon of mass suggestion" based on Getaway's [[thought bullet]] that incapacitated the rest of the ''Lost Light'' crew, leaving them unable to prevent him from activating a [[universal killswitch]] that would kill every Transformer that was [[Reproduction#IDW 2005 continuity|constructed cold]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}} That included Brainstorm, who fell victim to its effects but recovered after Rodimus and Perceptor used half the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] to reverse the killswitch. {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}} Upon returning to the ''Lost Light'' he visited Swerve's to try and find out if anyone had opened his briefcase while he was incapacitated {{storylink|The Sound of Breaking Glass}} before secreting himself away in his workshop with the Point One Percenter he had recovered from the Seething Moon. {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}} He took to carrying the Superspark around in his chest compartment. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}}

[[File:MTMTE23 Brainstorm this and this.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.67|"So, anyway, we're between banks right now, just make those checks out to cash."]]
Brainstorm was on hand to greet Orion Pax and his crew after the ''Lost Light'' snatched their ship from certain doom. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}} Intending to venture into the Dead Universe, Pax consulted Brainstorm, who was able to use a [[cyberwraith]] to manufacture personal force fields to protect Pax and his party from the hostile nature of that reality. {{storylink|Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|Black Metal}} When the ''Lost Light'' was later pulled off course, Brainstorm found the source of the problem—Metroplex's thumb pushing against the roof of shuttle bay 3. He talked Ultra Magnus into investigating where it was pointing them to. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}} That took them to a water world, where they soon discovered they were surrounded by [[Ammonite]]s. Brainstorm joined Magnus and the others in commandeering the [[Rodpod]] to take the fight to the enemy, and they stumbled on the dormant Metroplex. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}}

Acting on a hunch, Brainstorm took a sample of the water and found it was full of [[admium]]. They left the Rodpod in a drydock, but swiftly got lost in the city-bot's interior and ended back at the dry dock, where they were ambushed by an Ammonite who destroyed the Rodpod. {{storylink|No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6|No Exit}} They survived the explosion when Metroplex's interior rearranged itself on them, and a short time later encountered [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] and [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]]. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} As the Ammonites subsequently flooded in, Brainstorm was among those who opted to retreat to Metroplex's brain, where they met [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]]. Brainstorm helped hook Metroplex up to the ''Lost Light'' remotely, allowing the titan to quantum jump both himself and the ship to Cybertron. {{storylink|Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|Burning Bright}} When Metroplex appeared to be losing the fight with the [[Quintessa (IDW)|Necrotitan]], Ultra Magnus suggested Brainstorm open the briefcase. It turned to be unnecessary as an eleventh hour save by Megatron resulted in a victory, and Brainstorm high-fived Nautica as he cracked a situationally relevant joke. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}}

Brainstorm later relaxed in Swerve's bar, though he was exceedingly cranky, which he put down to sparkache. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} As billions of Ammonites descended on Cybertron as the finale to [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]'s plan, Brainstorm was recruited by [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] as part of a team to attack the scientist's lab. After they were teleported there by [[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]], Brainstorm suddenly found he didn't feel well and had to watch as the other tackled [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]. Just as they were losing the fight, the team who had ventured into the Dead Universe popped out of a portal in Brainstorm's chest and lent a hand. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} With several members of said team unable to survive outside the Dead Universe, Brainstorm invited them back to his lab for treatment and [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] suggested he might need to treat himself, as the portal was likely due to his exposure to the Dead Universe. With some encouragement from Rodimus, Brainstorm succeeded in making up a treatment for the injured parties. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}}

[[File:WorldShutYourMouth1-BrainstormNautica.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"Yeah, I'm a black belt. Pretty much in everything. Karate, Larate, Jujistu, kickpunching, beltmaking, Tae Kwon Do... bedroom..."]]
Brainstorm opted to rejoin the quest for the Knights after Shockwave's defeat and on the first day, listened in as Perceptor talked to Highbrow about this Quark guy he kinda sorta remembered. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}}

On the voyage he spent a large amount of time with Nautica, even loading her [[Nautica's wrench|wrench]] with extra features. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}} Less enjoyable for the scientist was watching Chromedome's complete emotional collapse and eventual isolation as the impact of Rewind's death set in. From his friend's misery came an epiphany: Why save ''only'' Quark when steering Megatron away from his supposed destiny as a mass-murdering tyrant could prevent the war altogether and save ''billions''? {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}}

When Nautica returned from investigating the disappearance of several fuel rods, Brainstorm saw fit to punctuate her belated return by leaning gently on the fourth wall. The topic of conversation soon shifted to [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'s therapy session with the new <s>co-</s>captain, Megatron. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Unbeknownst to anyone else, Brainstorm had a vested interest in the meeting, having slipped a sparkprint capture into one the psychiatrist's model ships with which he hoped to track the Decepticon leader through time and space. As luck would have it, the capture latched onto ''Rung's'' energy instead. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}}

When Rodimus found what appeared to be his own corpse in a mysterious coffin, Brainstorm was called in, along with Chromedome, [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], Nautica, Nightbeat, and Skids, to help find out what was going on. Brainstorm's biggest contribution involved using his preemptively preemptive [[Early Early Warning System]] to determine that they were all in trouble, though not quite at the "Run for your life!" threshold yet. Then the ''Lost Light'', destabilized by proximity to an accidental quantum duplicate created during its [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|failed first launch]], started winking out of existence and they were. Though Brainstorm managed to evacuate, {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} he disappeared along with the rest of the original crew as the second ''Lost Light'' forced them into a sort of cosmic abeyance. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}}

[[File:Slaughterhouse2-BeneathBrainstormsFaceplate.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|"Alright, this next test may involve trace amounts of time travel. So, word of advice: If you meet yourself on the testing track, don't make eye contact. Lab boys tell me that'll wipe out time."]]
The remaining crew eventually discovered the remains of this ''Lost Light'', which had been savagely attacked by the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. Its Brainstorm's briefcase was found in a lift by Nautica and Nightbeat, {{storylink|slaughterhouse}} and Brainstorm's body was later found in his workshop during a search for his mass-displacement gun. As Nautica mourned, she revealed Brainstorm's face. In a surprise to everyone, Brainstorm had a mouth...and a Decepticon emblem painted on the interior of his detached faceplate. As Nautica attempted to deny it and Megatron stated Brainstorm was unlike the usual double agents the Decepticons recruited, Riptide assumed that this alternate evil Brainstorm drew the D.J.D. to the ship by deactivating Overlord's slow cell, making him detectable. It took [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] to point out that if this Brainstorm was a traitor, so was the one on their ''Lost Light''. After Megatron and the quantum duplicated Rewind deactivated the second ship's engines and returned the vanished Autobots to normal, Brainstorm chose that time to begin his centuries-long plan in earnest, and began by calmly walking into the crowded Swerve's. Joining Atomizer, he placed his briefcase on the table, only to be reminded of Swerve's "No Briefcases" rule. Brainstorm calmly stated that he could do anything he liked as he opened the briefcase, activating an electro-sensitive poison he had spiked the bar's Engex supply with, causing almost everyone on board to collapse. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}} {{storylink|The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|The Custom-Made Now}}

===On the Run===
After disabling teetotaler Ultra Magnus with a disaggregator gun, Brainstorm enacted his master plan, using his briefcase network and a link to the ship's [[quantum generator]] to travel back through time and space and prevent Megatron from ever forming the Decepticons... {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|Stet}} with Megatron believing that Brainstorm was going back to kill Optimus so the Decepticons wouldn't lose the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. The ''Lost Light''ers took action under this false assumption. Though both his and the crew's actions were in fact essential to the timeline, a future misstep by Perceptor as he attempted to shut down the time machine inadvertently caused the birth of a [[Functionist Universe|new timeline]] in which the [[Functionist Council]] had never been overthrown slowly began erasing the old one. The result was a blood-soaked nightmarish present-day version of Cybertron dominated by the totalitarian Council. {{storylink|The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|The Custom-Made Now}}

[[File:MTMTE37 megatron under construction.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|"Ever wonder what a parallel universe you might be like? Well, stop wondering, because you're just Megatron. Every parallel universe ever. You. Megatron. We can't figure it out. Anyway, if you meet him in the next test, don't kill him. I know, I know, but trust me, it'd be [[Functionist Universe|bad]]."]]
As the briefcase was most accurate when aiming for socio-temporal hotspots, his first stop was prewar [[Messatine]], home to Megatron in his dissident miner days. Though he hoped to prevent Megatron's reassignment to [[Mining Outpost C-12]] and thus the taking of his first life, his high-energy arrival instead prompted the evacuation of the outpost. {{storylink|Births, Deaths, and Interventions}} With that a bust, he tried to intervene [[Megatron Origin issue 1|before Megatron took his first life]], but, due to being fixed on Rung's spark signature, ended up thousands of miles off course at a psychopathology conference. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|All Our Parlous Yesterdays}} {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}} Following that, he detoured to the day of Senator [[Sherma]]'s murder, hoping to catch a glimpse of Quark outside [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's New Oil House]]. This wistful episode was interrupted when Brainstorm saw Rung fiddling with a model of the ''Lost Light'' and realized he had been followed. Though Cyclonus and Tailgate gave chase, Brainstorm traveled back a year, hoping to stop the fateful bar brawl that resulted in a certain miner's arrest. Knowing that Rung played some role, he ambushed and incapacitaed past Rung, but was unaware that time-traveling Rung, part of the team after him, had ''always been'' the Rung that accidentally got Megatron arrested.

Finally, desperate and exhausted of all other options, he went back to Megatron's creation with intent to kill. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|Stet}} However, Brainstorm still could not bring himself to directly end a life, and the newly arrived Rodimus and co. took advantage of his indecision and lobbed a [[Grenado]] at him. Though damaged, he was able to regain a bead on his target, but he paused yet again in response to Rodimus' pleas. As Brainstorm attempted to explain his motivations, Rung took note of his apparent dilemma and the millennia of work which must have gone into his plan. Appealing to his better nature, Rung ultimately convinced the scientist to stand down. Brainstorm filled them in on his progress up to that point as Whirl cuffed him, but his injuries and Rewind's murder of Megatron's nascent spark brought an end to the session. Knowing Megatron's death meant eventual victory for the Functionist Council, Whirl nicked Brainstorm's Point One Percenter and placed it in Megatron's spark chamber, restoring the original timeline. While Rodimus and Cyclonus headed out to recharge the Briefcase, Brainstorm explained his motivations to Rewind and admitted that his goals were perhaps a ''little'' lofty. Though he admitted wrongdoing, he professed his desire to stay in the past, a plea which was ignored by the rest of the crew. Brainstorm was then incarcerated upon their return to the present-day ''Lost Light''. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}}

===Retribution===
[[File:Brainstorm's final word Will Always Rhyme.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|"Chariots chariots. Whoever this alternate Brainstorm is, he's a jerk. Instead of sending an apology fruit assortment, he just sent a whole bunch of [[Decepticon Justice Division|angry wasps.]] We'll find a way to get back at him, don't you worry. We'll just see who wins this deadly game of cat and other cat."‎]]
Brainstorm was put on trial by the closed-room [[Lost Light Internal Legal Affairs Committee]], with Chromedome as an advocate and moral support. Though he started the proceedings by joking and deflecting, he adamantly pointed out that ''he'' was not the Brainstorm who had betrayed the ship to the DJD, and that in fact, he had never supplied his handler with ''any'' useful information, to the point that his dedication was in doubt. The Committee ruled in his favour in this regard, concluding that his Decepticon days were no longer relevant as the war was over, but that for the poisoning and the attempt to alter time, his time machine would be destroyed and he would placed under strict supervision. Brainstorm was surprised to hear that he would not be kicked off the ship; when asked if he ''wanted'' to be, he replied in the negative, dubbing the ship his home.

[[File:BRAINSTORM IS AN ASS.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|"If you're allergic to peanuts, you might want to tell me now, because this may turn your blood into peanut water for a few astroseconds. On the bright side, if I can make this happen, [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|they're]] gonna have to invent a new type of [[Rodimus Star|Nobel Prize]] to give me, so hang in there."]]

At the end of his trial, he realized Nautica had left and abandoned the wrench he'd made her. Behind his back, Ratchet talked to her and had her realise that Brainstorm's actions, while they could not be condoned, were selfless and would have erased him from the timeline. As an attempted apology, Brainstorm programmed the wrench to say "BRAINSTORM IS AN ASS!". {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}} Their relationship repaired, Brainstorm went on to hang out in her quarters with Getaway and Skids, where he upgraded her wrench with a light that could penetrated [[attention deflector]]s. He subsequently visited the''[[Vis Vitalis]]'' to strut his funky stuff on the dancefloor at Thunderclash's "pre-wake," {{storylink|The Sensuous Frame}} then did the same at a disco in Swerve's bar. {{storylink|The Frail Gaze}}

Brainstorm was the head of logistics in the ''Lost Light''ers' mission to find Swerve's [[holomatter]] avatar on [[Swearth|Swerve's life-sized holomatter Earth]]. He assured everyone that projecting their own avatars that distance would hurt and that there was a slight chance of everyone dying. Fun! {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}} He participated in the ''Lost Light''ers' brief trip to various points in the past {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}} and a movie night about the fall of [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], which Brainstorm converted the ship exhibition hall to host. {{storylink|The Last Autobot}}

[[File:MTMTE 54 Brainstorm Punch.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8|"Lab boys say the symptoms of spark spasm show a median latency of forty-four point six million years, so if you're thirty million or older, you're laughing. Worst case scenario, you miss out on a few issues of MTMTE, plus you forwarded the cause of science by three centuries. I punch those numbers into my calculator, it makes a happy face."]]
Brainstorm attended Megatron's classes on the Knights of Cybertron, during which Megatron and several others were attacked by a psychic weapon. Brainstorm joined "Team Rodimus" as they followed the weapon's signal back to the [[Mortilus|Necrobot]]'s "[[Necroworld]]," where they immediately came under attack by the Decepticon Justice Division and took shelter inside the Necrobot's fortress. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}} The discovery of a quantum teleport chamber within the fortress offered an easy means of escape, but a room full of stasis pods containing living lifeforms that would be left defenseless against the DJD if they fled gave everyone pause. Brainstorm advocated leaving the pods' occupants to be destroyed, believing their heroic actions in the past and possible future to be justification enough, but Megatron passionate speech in favour of staying changed his mind. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight|The Sun in Flight}}

Thinking they were doomed, Nautica held a ceremony that form an [[Amica Endura]] bond with Brainstorm, Nightbeat, Skids, Rung, and Velocity, singling Brainstorm out for his intellect. Afterward, Brainstorm set to work constructing weapons that would enable them to make the best last stand possible, building gargantuan "Maximus Ambus" armor for Ultra Magnus, and re-building the teleport chamber into a new [[fusion cannon]] for Megatron. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day|At Close of Day}} Skids gave up his life to super-charge the sparks of his comrades with the energies release by his death, and Brainstorm gleefully put his new super-strength to use in the battle that followed. Unfortunately, their powers all gave out mid-fight, but Megatron used his new cannon to come to their rescue. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage|Rage, Rage}} He provided scientific observations for the duration of Megatron's final bout with the DJD, analyzing his use of Trailbreaker's forcefield generator and his own [[antimatter]] powers. During this, he got a sick burn from a dying Ravage, who claimed he wasn't even the smartest person in their ''conversation''. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}}

===Necroworld===
[[File:AWorldMisplaced BrainstormNightbeatSquees.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|"According to Nightbeat, theoretically, there's an Cybertron out there made entirely of money. Plus, since there's a infinite number of Cybertrons, that means there's an infinite number of money planets. So I've done the math, and I figure the odds of finding this thing are one hundred percent!"]]
After the battle with the DJD, Brainstorm converted Megatron's cannon back into a teleporter, though now it was more of a "den" than a chamber. After testing it by bringing Nightbeat and Rung back to the planet's surface from their mission into its depths, Brainstorm programmed in the co-ordinates for Cybertron, triple-checked them, and sent Rodimus and his team on their way home. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|Some Other Cybertron}} He grew concerned when he was unable to make contact with Rodimus, but when his captain finally radioed in, the revelation he shared sent Brainstorm into fits of squealing excitement: the team had wound up on the Cybertron of an ''[[Functionist Universe|alternate timeline]]''. Though giddy at the prospect, Brainstorm was quick to deduce that this was not the work of his teleporter, but rather that a [[geobomb]] the [[Galactic Council]] had used on the Necroworld had sent the planet itself into the parallel universe. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 3: A World Misplaced|A World Misplaced}}

Later on, he was fiddling around with [[Killmaster]]'s death wand and managed to rescue [[Ten]] and Swerve from their pocket prison. After announcing his success in the most annoying way possible, Brainstorm revealed that he'd been keeping tabs on Killmaster for years. He found the Decepticon's innovations in the field of bi-locational weaponry fascinating. When informational readings from the wand finally came in, Brainstorm became clearly excited with what he saw. He contacted Rodimus in the Functionist Universe to let him know that he could take them home - because Killmaster's pocket dimension was located in the mainstream universe, he could supercharge the wand with temporal energy and teleport all of Necroworld back. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 5: Modes of Production|Modes of Production}} He told Minimus that they only had twenty minutes to teleport back to Necroworld if they wanted to go home. Unfortunately, doing so seemed impossible, until [[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] suggested teleporting all of [[Moonbase Two#IDW 2005 continuity|Luna 2]] into the hollow interior of Necroworld - an idea that Brainstorm commended. Once the others teleported back, Brainstorm asked Rodimus where Megatron went, but got no response. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 6: This Machine Kills Fascists|This Machine Kills Fascists}}

Back in the main universe, Nightbeat questioned Brainstorm about how exactly he managed to teleport an entire planet into another universe. Brainstorm shrugged him off, saying that it wasn't even the third most farfetched thing he'd done that day. Nightbeat asked if maybe he had somehow broken science itself, but he wasn't interested. {{storylink|After Megatron (A Dissolution Epilogue)}}

Brainstorm, along with the rest of "Team Rodimus", boarded Skip's corpse on the chase after Getaway. During the ride, he re-designed the Early Early Warning System to include famous personages, such as Optimus Prime and Megatron. As the journey progress, things got increasingly heated. Then Ten spoke up, telling everyone to listen to him. {{storylink|Sardines}} According to Ten Ratchet was dying, and they needed to do what he said. At Ten's suggestion, the ship was flown through compressed space, until Skip's corpse started shrinking further. Brainstorm bailed out along with everyone else, exposing him to the ravages of compressed space, where he died.

===Arrival in Cyberutopia===
Then he woke up in what was apparently the Afterspark, Early Early Warning System still in hand and refusing to shut up, forcing Brainstorm to reset it to factory settings. As everyone else tried to figure out what had happened and what was going on, Brainstorm talked with Drift, in particular about why Drift could recall everything while he couldn't. When Drift wondered what Ratchet's reaction to being in the afterlife would be, Brainstorm posited he'd probably be skeptical (which proved hard to express with a faceplate). Then he witnessed Roller show up with the incredibly dead [[Springarm]], before disappearing again. As Nautica called after Roller, Brainstorm's EEWS overheated, which Brainstorm cautiously decided was a good sign. Yeah... {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|Metastasis}} Led into a temple by the Early Warning System, Nautica and Brainstorm encountered Quark, who claimed to always have loved him. Brainstorm, overcome with emotion, instantly forgot about what he was supposed to be doing. He told Nautica to be careful and headed off to the Matrix with Quark. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War|The God War}}

When Nautica continued down the corridor, she came face-to-face with the [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]], and bluffed her way out of the situation by saying that Brainstorm had built a gun into her arm. Unsurprisingly, it worked. Brainstorm was next seen saying farewell to the visage of Quark as it faded away after the secret of [[Cyberutopia]] was revealed. He was with the rest of Team Rodimus when the skies above [[Mederi]] clouded and an army of Sparkeaters descended from the sky: the mutinous crew of the Lost Light, led by Perceptor! {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}} Despite the danger, Brainstorm attempted to reason with his friend, only to be scalded by acid. He was taken to safety by Nautica, and was later among the team barricaded inside the primary medical facility. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|A Dance Before Dying}} He was fascinated when First Aid proposed using a kinetic generator to cure the afflicted Lost Lighters. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}}

===The Final Battle===
[[File:LL 24 Brainstorm and Nautica Vauvaire.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|"Sorry fellas, she's married. To science!"]]

Brainstorm escaped Mederi with the rest of the survivors, and accompanied them to the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect's]] ship, {{storylink|Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness|Farsickness}} but was launched into open space when a Functionist ship destroyed the airlock hatch. He was safely retrieved by the Megatron-piloted alternate "Last Light". {{storylink|Crucible (Part 4): The Return of the King|The Return of the King}} Now back in the original Lost Light, Brainstorm - together with the rest of the crew - was briefed by Megatron and Rodimus on the current situation. He commented on Megatron's ability to make even the word "innocents" sound sinister, and helped come up with a plan on how to defeat the planet-sized effigy of [[Primus]]. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 5): The Unremembering|The Unremembering}}

Brainstorm was dispatched to Vauvaire with Nautica, holding hands with her in the face of the Functionist onslaught. He did his best to protect her as she attempted to open up her Matrix copy, but was hit in the back by a barrage of rockets from the attackers. Injured but still alive, Brainstorm watched as his partner finally succeeded - the Matrix opened, and the false Primus was finally shut down. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 6): A Spark Among Embers|A Spark Among Embers}}

==''Recordicons''==
After [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity#INSIRT continuity|Rewind]] died, Brainstorm set Chromedome up on a blind date with [[Eject (G1)#Recordicons|Eject]]. {{storylink|Recordicons#Recordicons #27|Recordicons #27}}

[[Category:Engineers]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Decepticons]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Scientists]]

Thundercracker (Cyberverse)

2019-05-22T01:07:55Z

Spark Mandrill: /* Cyberverse cartoon */

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Thundercracker}}
:''Thundercracker is a [[Decepticon]] [[Seeker (Cyberverse)|Seeker]] from the [[Transformers: Cyberverse (franchise)|Cyberverse]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:Thundercracker Cyberverse model.jpg|thumb|300px|He could really use [[Buster (IDW)|a dog]].]]
'''Thundercracker''' is a Seeker who thinks he is the best of the best due to his skill in the air, something which irritates [[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)|Bumblebee]].<ref>[https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/cyberverse Character bios] at the official ''Cyberverse'' website</ref>
{{--}}
==Fiction==
===''Cyberverse'' cartoon===
{{Voiceactor|[[Ben Bott]] (English), [[Satoshi Tsuruoka]] (Japanese)|[[Christoph Banken]] (German), [[Pino Pirovano]] (Italian), [[Silvio Pandolfi]] (Italian, "Whiteout")}}
After the [[AllSpark]] had been launched away, Thundercracker and [[Nova Storm (Cyberverse)|Nova Storm]], under the command of [[Starscream (Cyberverse)|Starscream]], chased [[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)|Bumblebee]] to the [[Grand Imperium]] only for the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] to send the [[Seeker (Cyberverse)|Seekers]] running. {{storylink|Matrix of Leadership (episode)|Matrix of Leadership}}

[[File:Cyberverse-s1e1-Fractured-Thundercracker-punched-Windblade.jpg|thumb|left|300px|"I did not hit her! It's not true! It's bullslag! I did not hit her! I did naaawwt!"]]

Some 66 million years later, the AllSpark had been traced to [[Earth]] with Starscream dispatching [[Slipstream (Cyberverse)|Slipstream]]'s squadron to scout the alien world. As Thundercracker scouted, he chanced upon [[Windblade (Cyberverse)|Windblade]] and an amnesiac Bumblebee. While Thundercracker initially held the upper hand in his fight with Windblade, Bumblebee had enough memories left to access his [[Stinger (weapon)|stinger]], allowing him to paralyze the blue Seeker. While he'd recovered, Windblade sent Thundercracker down a cliff. {{storylink|Fractured}} Once the energy signature of a [[cortical psychic patch]] had been detected, Thundercracker and Nova Storm traced it to the Autobots only for Windblade to bury the two beneath a pile of rubble. {{storylink|Memory (Cyberverse)|Memory}}

When Windblade travelled to the [[Himalayas]] for any clues relating to the [[Ark (Cyberverse)|''Ark'']]'s location, the Seekers ambushed her but Windblade's superior fighting skills sent Thundercracker tumbling down another cliff. {{storylink|Whiteout}}

The squad's consistent lack of progress eventually necessitated [[Shockwave (Cyberverse)|Shockwave]]'s personal intervention. From [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the scientist hacked into the cortical psychic patch, trapping the scout in a false memory, and took remote control of the [[Decepticon scout ship]]. The Seekers waited for the ship at an airfield where Thundercracker suffered yet another humiliating defeat to Windblade before the ship crashed into the base, exploding into a ball of fire. {{storylink|Sabotage}}

Undeterred, the Seekers found the [[Autobot]] [[drone]] [[Teletraan-X (Cyberverse)|Teletraan-X]] and used it to draw Bumblebee to them and access the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s location from the drone's databanks. The drone's security protocols activated, however, and compelled it to attack the Decepticons. As the Autobots fled, Thundercracker found himself paralyzed by Bumblebee's stingers once again. It wasn't all bad news, however, for Windblade remained trapped in the silo. {{storylink|Teletraan-X (episode)|Teletraan-X}} The Seekers hooked Windblade up to a cortical psychic patch to try and gleam useful information out of her before Slipstream ordered that Thundercracker and [[Acid Storm (Cyberverse)|Acid Storm]] perform a [[mind rip]]. The two pumped up the power to increase the procedure's speed only to wind up unleashing an energy burst that knocked them all into [[stasis lock]]. {{storylink|Siloed}}

At Shockwave's orders, the Seekers repaired the [[space bridge]] orbiting Earth, allowing him to come through with two [[magnetic disruptor]]s he planned to use to eradicate Earth's biosphere. Put under [[Shadow Striker (Cyberverse)|Shadow Striker]]'s command, Thundercracker was sent to the [[Arctic|North Pole]], remaining in the ship even as the Autobots struck. As he loitered, Thundercracker was contacted by Shockwave for a status report and things only became worse when [[Grimlock (Cyberverse)|Grimlock]] arrived, using his strength to rip the ship apart, saving Earth. {{storylink|The Extinction Event}}

Thanks to one of [[Shockwave's drones]], the Decepticons followed the Autobots to [[Mount St. Hilary]], the resting place of the ''Ark''. After the Seekers had shot down the Autobots' plane, Thundercracker had Teletraan-X thrown at him, as part of a [[Fastball Special]] courtesy of Grimlock, knocking him out. {{storylink|Awaken Sleeping Giants}} Though the Decepticons soon recovered and followed the Autobots into the mountain, they failed to stop their foes from breaching the ship. Shockwave ordered a retreat and used the remaining disruptor to trigger the volcano only for the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s shields to be raised in time. With the Autobot crew awake, the Decepticons fell back to regroup with Starscream's recently arrived [[Decepticon fleet]]. {{storylink|Eruption}}

==Toys==
===Cyberverse===
[[File:Cyberverse-Warrior-Thundercracker.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Thundercracker''' (Warrior Class, [[2018]])
**''Action Attack'': "Lightning Slash"
:''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (toyline)|Cyberverse]]'' Warrior Class Thundercracker is a redeco of Warrior Class [[Starscream (Cyberverse)#Warrior Class|Starscream]] and converts from robot to jet and back. His "Lightning Slash" Action Attack gimmick is activated by winding up a spring in his waist and releasing the upper part of the figure, allowing it to spin and flip out its spring-loaded wing blades with centrifugal force. The waist can be locked in place by pegging his landing gear onto a peg on his backside. Additionally, he has non-firing Null Ray blasters molded into his forearms with [[5 mm post]] hole hands.

:While his arms have articulation comparable to other ''Cyberverse'' Warrior Class toys, Thundercracker has the unusual distinction of having his hip swivels molded together, meaning the front-to-back movement is in tandem. He also lacks knees, likely due to his whole legs being cast from the same blue plastic. Despite this otherwise restricted movement, he can splay his legs out to the sides due to hinges on his hips, allowing splits and high kicks.

:This toy was intended as a [[Toys"R"Us]] exclusive for the United States market, but due to the bankruptcy of Toys"R"Us in the United States, this didn't work out. The figure was first revealed to the public via a listing on the Hong Kong [[Toys"R"Us]] website and, subsequently released as a Toys"R"Us exclusive in Singapore and Malaysia without any prior announcement from Hasbro. It was also available from the Canadian Toys"R"Us online store. In 2019, it ''finally'' appeared at US retail, specifically at a chain named "Go! Calendars", who charged an insane price of $20 per figure.

:This mold was also redecoed into [[Acid Storm (Cyberverse)#Cyberverse|Acid Storm]].
{{--}}

==Notes==
*As with the rest of the ''Cyberverse'' cast, Thundercracker uses the [[evergreen]] design also used for [[Starscream (G1)|Generation 1 Starscream]], but in the colors of [[Thundercracker (G1)|his own Generation 1 namesake]].

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Thundercracker''' (サンダークラッカー ''Sandākurakkā'')

==See also==
{{OtherVersions
|charname=Thundercracker
|disambig=Thundercracker (disambiguation)
|body=
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], the conflicted Decepticon [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] from [[The Transformers (franchise)|Generation 1]].
*[[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]], the loyal Decepticon yokel from the [[Unicron Trilogy]].
*[[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]], the Decepticon "Master of Fear" from the [[live-action film series]].
*[[Thundercracker (Animated)|Thundercracker]], the superior [[Starscream clone (Animated)|clone of Starscream]] from ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]''.
*[[Thundercracker (WFC)|Thundercracker]], the posh Decepticon scientist from the [[Aligned continuity family]].
}}

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Cyberverse Seekers]]
[[Category:Toys "R" Us exclusives]]

February 2

2019-05-22T00:59:51Z

Spark Mandrill:

<noinclude>{{cal-date|2|2}}</noinclude>
* '''[[1960]] —''' Toy designer [[Shōji Kawamori]] is born.
* '''[[1963]] —''' [[Kirk Baily]] (voice of [[Brawn (ROTF)|Brawn]] in ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'') is born.
* '''[[1966]] —''' [[Rolando de Castro]] (Mexican voice of [[Robert Epps]] in ''[[Transformers (film)|Transformers]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'') is born.
* '''1966 —''' [[D.C. Douglas]] (voice of [[Chase (RB)|Chase]]) requires an egg for the very first time.
* '''[[1976]] —''' Voice actress [[Susa Saukko]] is born.
* '''[[1992]] —''' The ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (cartoon)|Victory]]'' episode "[[Showdown! The Fortress vs the Victory Unification|Seek and Destroy the Space City]]" airs in Malaysia.
*'''[[1999]] —''' A [[Hasbro]] press release announces that the 15th anniversary of the ''Transformers'' brand is highlighted by the introduction of ''[[Animorphs]]''.[http://web.archive.org/web/20000201111653/http://beastwars.com/figures/bot_news_feb99.html]
* '''[[2000]] —''' The ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars Metals]]'' episode "[[Feral Scream Part 2|Arise! Cheetus]]" airs in Japan.
* '''[[2007]] —''' [[Hiroyuki Hoshiyama]] (writer for the ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' and ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (cartoon)|Victory]]'' cartoons) dies at the age of 62.
* '''2007 —''' Voice actor [[Albert Augier]] also passes away.
* '''[[2011]] —''' ''[[Infestation (IDW)|The Transformers: Infestation]]'' [[The Transformers: Infestation issue 1|#1]] is released by [[IDW Publishing]].
* '''[[2012]] —''' The [[Transformers Collectors' Club]] [[exclusive]] "[[Runabout (G1)#Timelines|Over-Run]]" sells out, after being properly available for only about a day. ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (toyline)|Shattered Glass]]'' [[Drift (SG)|Drift]] is down to about 17 pieces left.
* '''[[2014]] —''' The first ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)| Age of Extinction]]'' trailer is screened during the 48th Superbowl.
* '''[[2019]] —''' The ''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy (cartoon)|Rescue Bots Academy]]'' episodes "[[Five Into Four]]" and "[[Rescue Promo]]" premiere on [[Discovery Family]].

August 25

2019-04-29T17:03:30Z

Spark Mandrill:

<noinclude>{{cal-date|8|25}}</noinclude>
* '''19?? —''' [[Takayasu Usui]] (Japanese voice of [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]], [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] and others in ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'') is born.
* '''[[1957]] —''' [[Kai Taschner]] (German voice of ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]], [[Kremzeek (G1)|Kremzeek]] and other Generation 1 roles) is born.
* '''[[1961]] —''' British comic artist [[Kev Hopgood]] is born.
* '''[[1963]] —''' [[Brianne Siddall]] ([[Bridget|Doctor Bridget]] and additional voices in the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon]]) is born.
* '''[[1965]] —''' Voice actor [[Masato Obara]] is born.
* '''[[1967]] —''' [[Nobuyuki Hiyama]] (Japanese voice of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] and ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'' [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]]) is born with the Triforce of Courage in hand.
* '''[[1973]] —''' [[Rossella Acerbo]] (Italian voice of ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]) is born.
* '''[[1977]] —''' [[Masumi Asano]] (Japanese voice of ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'' [[Arcee (Energon)|Arcee]], [[Sally Jones]] and more) is born.
* '''[[1991]] —''' The ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (cartoon)|Victory]]'' episode "[[A Fierce Battle!! The Asteroid|Combat in the Meteorite Zone]]" premieres in Malaysia.
* '''[[1998]] —''' [[Lee Gunther]], executive producer of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''Transformers'' cartoon]] (and other [[Hasbro]] cartoons), dies of a stroke at age 63.
* '''[[1999]] —''' The ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (cartoon)|Beast Wars Neo]]'' episode "[[Unicron Revived!?]]" premieres in Japan.
* '''1999 —''' ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (cartoon)|Beast Wars Neo]] — ACT. 3'' and ''ACT. 4'' are released on VHS in Japan by [[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]].
* '''[[2000]] —''' The ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars: Transformers]] DVD BOX'' is released in Japan by [[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]].
* '''[[2004]] —''' "[[Infestation (Dreamwave)|Infestation]]" is released in the US by [[Dreamwave Productions]].
* '''[[2005]] —''' The ''[[Information Administration Teletraan 15 Go! Go!|15 Go! Go!]]'' chapter "[[Kup Volume]]" is published in the October 2005 issue of ''[[Dengeki Hobby]]''.
* '''2006 —''' The ''15 Go! Go!'' chapter "[[Starscream? Volume 2]]" is published in the October 2006 issue of ''[[Dengeki Hobby]]''.
* '''[[2012]] —''' [[TakaraTomy]] releases ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|Prime]]'' [[Swerve (Prime)#Toys|Swerve]] and [[Airachnid (Prime)#Toys|Airachnid]], and AMW [[Arms Micron]]s [[Pral]], [[Sais]] and [[Jayz]].
* '''2012 —''' [[Neil Armstrong]], US astronaut to be the first man to step on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], passes away at age 82 due to complications from heart surgery.
* '''2012 —''' The ''[[Vortexx]]'' block starts its run on the CW.
* '''[[2015]] —''' The ''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|Transfomers: Rescue Bots]]'': "[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)/home video#Shout! Factory|Dinobots!]]" compilation DVD is released in the US by [[Shout! Factory]].
* '''[[2016]] —''' "[[Intersectionality]]" is released by [[Fun Publications]].
* '''[[2018]] —''' [[TakaraTomy]] releases ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' [[Shadow Panther#Masterpiece|MP-34S Shadow Panther (Beast Wars)]] and ''[[Power of the Primes (toyline)|Power of the Primes]]'' [[Quintus Prime#Generations|PP-20 Quintus Prime]], [[Rippersnapper (G1)#Generations|PP-21 Terrorcon Rippersnapper]], [[Cutthroat (G1)#Generations|PP-22 Terrorcon Cutthroat]], [[Blot (G1)#Generations|PP-23 Terrorcon Blot]], [[Sinnertwin (G1)#Generations|PP-24 Terrorcon Sinnertwin]], [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)#Generations|PP-25 Terrorcon Hun-Gurrr]], [[Elita One (G1)#Generations|PP-26 Elita-1]], and [[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Generations|PP-27 Optimus Primal]].

May 6

2018-12-05T01:47:44Z

Spark Mandrill:

<noinclude>{{cal-date|5|6}}</noinclude>

* '''[[1915]] —''' [[Orson Welles]] (voice of [[Unicron]] in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'') is born. Spoilers: he wants his sled.
* '''[[1949]] —''' [[Yū Shimaka]] (Japanese voice of [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and many others in ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]'') is born.
* '''[[1961]] —''' [[Wally Wingert]] (voice of the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon]] [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]] and [[Mirage (RID)|Mirage]]) is born. Riddle Me This!
* '''[[1998]] —''' The ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars II]]'' episode "[[Mystery of the Ancient Ruins]]" premieres in [[Japan]].
* '''[[1999]] —''' The ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[Nemesis Part 1]]" premieres in the [[United States of America|US]].
* '''[[2006]] —''' [[Free Comic Book Day]]: A free comic previewing four different series is released by [[IDW Publishing]].
* '''[[2008]] —''' The ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' books ''[[Attack of the Dinobots!]]'', ''[[Transformers Animated: How to Draw|How to Draw]]'', ''[[Robot Roll Call]]'', and the [[Transformers Animated Coloring and Activity Book and Crayons|coloring and activity book]] are released in the US.
* '''[[2009]] —''' [[The Transformers: Best of UK: City of Fear|''Best of UK: City of Fear'' #4]] is released by [[IDW Publishing]].
* '''[[2010]] —''' [[Hasbro]] announces the fourth nominee in the [[Transformers Hall of Fame]] for 2010: [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]].
* '''2010 —''' [[Michael Telloke]] (German voice of [[Noble (BM)|Savage/Noble]] in [[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]) passes away.
* '''[[2014]] —''' The ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Transfomers Energon]]'': [[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)#Energon|The Complete Series]] DVD set is released in the US by [[Shout! Factory]].