Overcharge (G1)

This article is about the Quintesson drones from Generation 1. For the Autobot Mini-Con from Universe, see Overcharge (Universe).

Overcharges are Quintesson creations from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Second-most unfortunately-named exclusive ever... and there's a chance it was intentional.

The Overcharges (オーバーチャージ Ōbāchāji) are the latest model of Quintesson mass-produced warrior-drone (aka "Terrorbots"), using technologies gleaned from the Decepticons. Produced in countless numbers and sold to whatever buyers can cough up the credits, Overcharges are strong, fast, powerful, and in the wrong hands, can overrun worlds.

While they have few physical weaknesses, they have a number of financial flaws thanks to the Quintessons' greed that keep them from being an even bigger threat than they currently are. They're expensive to purchase, keeping their active numbers low. Worse still, they suck up a lot of energy to function. People mutter darkly that they're called "Overcharges" because of what you had to pay for them or because you have to actually overcharge the bloody things to make them move.

Fiction

Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

Legends comic

Overcharges made up an army that invaded the Legends World under the supervision of a Quintesson Judge. The Quintesson's personal Overcharge attendant met his future self, who convinced him to make his own destiny and gave him his name: "Blitzwing". Thanks to the efforts of the future Blitzwing, Big Fight, and Astrotrain, the Quintesson forces were sent retreating to their home universe. LG59 Blitzwing To Fight with...

Generations Selects Special Comic

When a Quintesson Judge spoke of the Terrorcons as their ultimate Terrorbot models, Overcharges were presented as another example of Terrorbot. Abominus comic 1

2005 IDW continuity

Before the war began, Overcharge (or an Overcharge) was a member of the Triorian Guard, a detachment of multi-terrain Triple Changers charged with guarding the body of Nominus Prime as it lay in state in the Primal Basilica. An Intimate Beheading

Beast Wars: Uprising

Their beast modes are white elephants.

The Overcharges were ancient Quintesson Terrorbot surplus that may have predated the last Great War. The Builders bought some a while ago and were totally ripped off: they cost a lot and were inefficient clunkers.

Overshoot spent forty stellar cycles keeping watch over the Overcharge's warehouse near the Melpomene Bridge, watching the acid rain get in. After the Grand Uprising kicked off, Stiletto joined him and both were ordered to use the drones to defend the bridge if need be. Stilleto expressed distaste at the idea Cybertron would require "mindless drones" to defend it instead of proper Transformers. During their time, Overcharge Unit 381-PCE drove into a crater and couldn't get out.

When the Resistance came, three half-fuelled Overcharges were on patrol and were all they could use. Two of them accidentally shelled Stiletto, too crap to cease fire when ordered, and in the actual fight they missed most of their shots. Overshoot managed to weaponise their crapness though, having all three drones overload their engines and blow up the bridge so the Resistance couldn't take it. Burning Bridges

Toys

Collector's Edition

• Overcharge (Triple Changer, 2005)

• ID number: 72
• Accessories: "Heat rifle", "null gladius" sword, 3 missiles

Collector's Edition Overcharge is an e-HOBBY exclusive redeco of the original Blitzwing toy, using the coloration of the pre-Transformers "Triple Changer Jet Fighter Type" Diaclone toy. It transforms from robot mode to a Mitsubishi Type 74 tank or a MiG-25 fighter jet. In jet mode, it features two spring-loaded missile launchers, one within each wing assembly. And because Japan has different safety standards for projectile launchers, these are fully functional and launch them tiny things a pretty good distance.

Overcharge came with an extra decal sheet with multiple faction logos (including several totally new ones) so it could be assigned to different armies: Autobot, Decepticon, Quintesson/Terrorbot, "Ancient", EDC, and "Unicron's Herald" (using the Blentron sigil in yellow). However, the toy's factory-applied rubsign on top of the tank's turret is just a normal Decepticon sigil.

This figure can also be repurposed as Blitzwing's original form before defecting from the Quintessons, as seen in Blitzwing's Legends pack-in comic.

This toy shipped out to buyers in March of 2005.

• More information on Overcharge at TFU.info

Legacy

A leader-class army builder. Hear that? It's your wallet crying.

• Overcharge (Leader Class, 2025)

• Accessories: 2 blasters, sword, 2 "Energon gauntlets", 2 "energon fists" (combine to form missile racks/fists/boosters)
• Known designers: Mark Maher (Hasbro), Shogo Hasui (TakaraTomy), , Hirofumi Ichikawa (detailing), Emiliano Santalucia (concept artist)

Released in the fourth and final wave of Transformers: Legacy United Leader-class toys, Overcharge is a new-head retool of Leader Class Blitzwing, transforming from a robot to a fighter jet or a tank. His accessories include his sword and a pair of his original guns, which can all mount on his vehicle modes via various 5 mm holes, and two large "Energon gauntlets" with detachable hands. Said gauntlets can plug into his robot mode arms, plug into the back of the jet mode as boosters, or reconfigure into missile racks for the tank mode's turret. His accessories can all be stored on his back in robot mode, including the gauntlets which can be stored by plugging them into the tank turret, while pointing the turret down instead of up. The 5mm peg for the gauntlets has been changed and Overcharge can hold them more securely than Blitzwing. For safety reasons, the blade of his sword is cast in softer, slightly rubbery plastic.

Despite the original toy's "whoever you want" open allegiance, this version is simply marketed as a Decepticon. As with most modern Leader Class figures, Overcharge is technically Voyager-sized, but is sold at the Leader price point owing to the complexity of his transformation and accessories. His deco appears to be based directly upon his card artwork rather than the colors of his original toy. This is most obvious on his thighs and lower abdomen, which are green instead of black.

Notes

Recreate this at your wallet's peril.

• A proposed name was "Archblast" (アーチブラスト). Hirofumi Ichikawa, with Doug Dlin's advice, went with his original plan of "Overcharge".
• In the episode "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3", during the Decepticons' alliance with the Quintessons, Blitzwing is the only Transformer who recognizes the aliens, albeit in a vague, uncertain way. The cartoon (or for that matter the script) doesn't elaborate on this, but the initial outline for the miniseries actually explains this. Originally Blitzwing's role was intended for Shockwave, who was revealed as "one of the most ancient" Decepticons who had "vague memories" of the Quintessons, though millions of years worth of "uploads and downloads" meant he no longer knew why he distrusted them. While this outline only became public in 2022 the enigmatic aside intrigued fans.... especially e-HOBBY.
• While the toy's color scheme is based on the mold's original pre-Transformers Diaclone colors, the "character" appears to be based on the mass of Blitzwing-model tanks seen in the title sequence to the third season of the Generation 1 cartoon.
• Overcharges, it is noted, are based on technology from the Decepticons, since the Quintessons' original robots did not transform, only developing this skill after freeing themselves from slavery. The bio further states that Overcharges have the potential to develop individual personalities and that some have rebelled against their programming. This implies Blitzwing was one of these Overcharges; Hayato Sakamoto would explicitly show this in Blitzwing's Legends pack-in comic in 2018.