Editing Perceptor (G1)

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|wreckers}}
{{disambig3|Perceptor}}
:''Perceptor is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[File:G1 Perceptor reissueart.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Back off, man. I'm a scientist."]]
'''Perceptor''' is a scientist, one of the most astute minds the whole of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] can offer. He is perpetually seeking to increase knowledge, and his discoveries have repeatedly proven invaluable. Though his specialties lie in metallurgy, electrical engineering, and additional sciences closely concomitant to Transformer physiology, his thirst for knowledge has made him a kind of scientific jack-of-all-trades.

One of Perceptor's most infamous mannerisms is his tendency to engage in verbal communication using scientific terminology. This has the unforeseen result of exasperating and occasionally frustrating his comrades. One might hypothesize that the jovial mechanoid is unaware that not everyone with whom he seeks to communicate shares his extensive vocabulary.

Engaging in physical melee is not his preferred activity. He is content to make his contributions to the Autobot cause in the manner in which he deems sufficient, but will engage in combat if the situation requires. [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] often relies on Perceptor's perspicacity, and considers him as inestimable as any of his officers.

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Paul Eiding]] (English), [[Ken Shiroyama|Chikao Shiroyama]] (Japanese)|[[Carlos Agosti]] (American Spanish), [[Reinhard Brock]] (German), [[Claus Brockmeyer]] (German, The Movie and Generation 2), [[Dario de Castro]], (Brazilian Portuguese, The Movie)}}

[[File:DinobotIsland2-Perceptor.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|buymebuymebuymebuymebuymebuymebuymebuyme]]
Perceptor appeared on [[Earth]] during a period of time occurring after the initial impact of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] into the planet. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 2}} It is unknown exactly when he had arrived, but the malfunctions he suffered during the [[Cybertonium]] depletion crisis would lead one to conclude that he had been present when the Ark crashed onto prehistoric Earth during the encounter with the [[Nemesis (G1)|Decepticon starship]]. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1}} When the humans [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] and [[Chip Chase]] were investigating the chronal anomalies which plagued the Autobots with visitors from various eras of Earth's past, Perceptor introduced himself to them and offered his expertise as a "''true'' scientist." And then he transformed into a microscope. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 2}}

[[File:Microbots shrink.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|All my tubes and wires and careful notes!]]
During his period of habitation on that planetary body, he experienced a myriad of adventures. Included in that scope were incidents such as reconfiguring his mass ratio to a microscopic scale using the [[transmat reduction beam]] in order to sever the connection of the [[Heart of Cybertron]] to [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s body. Upon doing so, he proceeded to dispose of the object by having [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] throw the volatile energy source approximately two thousand feet into the sky and shooting it with his mobile cannon mode. {{storylink|Microbots}}

When Megatron perpetrated an egregious assault on the Autobots' reputation and had them forcibly expelled from their residency on Earth, Perceptor was indubitably among their number. A fortuitous sequence of events allowed the Autobots to return to their former planetary location and extradict the Decepticons from their dominion over the [[human]]s. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}} During another adventure, a series of aberrant mechanical malfunctions began afflicting the Autobots. Perceptor was incapable of altering from his microscope configuration, and expeditiously determined that the complication was a depletion of [[Cybertonium]]. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1}}

During a constitutional along a seaboard, Perceptor, [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]], [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] and [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] were assailed by an assortment of Decepticons. Remarkably, [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] appeared impervious to damage, and both Perceptor and Seaspray were captured and escorted to the submerged Decepticon headquarters. With the inclusion of Beachcomber, the three Autobots were able to effect an adequate escape and rejoin their cohorts in time to confront the [[Electrum]]-coated Decepticons. {{storylink|The Golden Lagoon (episode)|The Golden Lagoon}}

In an endeavor to assist [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]], who had run into difficulty on [[Titan (moon)|Titan]], one of [[Saturn]]'s attendant moons, Perceptor and [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] traversed space in [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. Although Omega's energy was depleted by the journey, Perceptor was able to locate a prodigious accumulation of [[energy crystal]]s, with which he subsequently reenergized Omega, allowing them to repel the Decepticon invaders and effect a peregrination back to Earth. {{storylink|The God Gambit}}

[[File:G1 cartoon Perceptor Pencil sword.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|The pen...cil is mightier than the sword!]]
On another occasion, Perceptor and an assemblage of Autobots and Decepticons were propelled across the interstellar void by the [[space bridge]], landing on an unexplored world in which Cybertronian lifeforms were minuscule in relation to the immense indigenous population. After a series of alarming endangerments, Perceptor determined that a toy rocket ship possessed by the boy [[Aron (G1)|Aron]], whose abode they had happened into, could be modified to return the Autobots home. {{storylink|Child's Play (episode)|Child's Play}} Calamitously, their mode of transport was intercepted by an alien named [[Bosch]], who utilised a mechanism to place the Autobots in a submissive state, intending to barter them for energon. [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] was eventually able to emancipate Perceptor and his fellows with the assistance of the bounty hunter [[Devcon (G1)|Devcon]]. {{storylink|The Gambler}} 

Examining a sample of extraterrestrial matter transported to Earth on [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]]'s back, Perceptor was able to ascertain that Cosmos had inadvertently imported [[Morphobot]]s, a genus of robotic flora which consumed mechanical life. His exhortation was sufficient to save Cosmos and the Morphobots were soon dispatched to a more suitable biosphere; however, the sample he had acquired had also propagated to the point where it threatened to consume him along with his laboratory. {{storylink|Quest for Survival}} 

Perceptor's spectrographic analysis of an ore sample determined that the asteroid from which it originated was, in fact, alive. In an unfortunate turn of events, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] had just commanded Omega Supreme to obliterate said asteroid. {{storylink|The Secret of Omega Supreme (episode)|The Secret of Omega Supreme}} Yet another enterprise took Perceptor to a world inhabited by transforming organic creatures who had been enslaved by the Decepticons. He assisted in liberating the [[Tlalakan]]s, and was subsequently bemused by Bumblebee's notion that they should make a wish on the first stellar object they sighted. {{storylink|Sea Change}}

[[File:Cosmic Rust Perceptor kick.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|I don't believe it! There she goes again! She's tidied up and I can't find anything!]]
He also synthesized a panacea to remedy all corrosion, with the appellation [[corrostop]], and was decorated by the humans for his ingenuity. Megatron also coveted his assistance, but for a dire emergency — the Decepticon had become afflicted by [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]] and it transpired that corrostop was the only counteragent. Not content with merely being ameliorated, Megatron exploited Perceptor in a machination to infect the Autobots with Cosmic Rust, and all sources of [[Ingredient X]], an imperative component of corrostop, had been exhausted. Perceptor and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] labored to make the [[matter duplicator]] operational so that more corrostop could be constituted and the Autobots saved. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}

Perceptor and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] discovered a disquieting fact — that an aberrant disruption emanating from Cybertron was causing a shift in Earth's orbit, resulting in the planet's imminent collision with the nearest stellar body! The Autobots and Decepticons were forced to collaborate to avoid destruction in the [[Sun]]; however, the Insecticons masticated the space bridge controls, rendering the possibility of its use dubious. With donated components, Perceptor repaired the space bridge and dispatched the amalgamated force to Cybertron to subjugate the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]]. {{storylink|The Revenge of Bruticus}}

[[File:Rumblevsperceptor.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|I can smell the chemicals!]]
Perceptor's actions continued to be of intrinsic strategic import, particularly following the distinct tactical deficiencies during the [[Battle of Autobot City]] that resulted in the expiration of Wheeljack, and pointing out that "gamma waves in this sector of space create marginal navigation probabilities" as the Autobots fled Earth. As a member of Ultra Magnus's company, he was marooned on planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]], where he contended with the indigenous race of mechanisms, designated [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]. During the decisive battle against [[Unicron]], Perceptor was stationed aboard the Junkion vessel when Unicron crushed it in his grasp, though fortunately was not a casualty of the catastrophe and could later be distinguished celebrating the antagonist's defeasance. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}
{{note|Perceptor’s involvement in these events, or events mostly similar, were also chronicled in the comic mini-series “[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]” and the storybook “[[Transformers the Movie (Ladybird adaptation)|Transformers the Movie]]."}}

Perceptor had a mission of paramount importance and tasked it to [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]. After the Galactic Olympics were disrupted by unknown assailants, he examined some debris but was unable to determine the exact nature of the attackers. He proposed he accompany [[Hot Rod/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] on an undertaking to investigate the Decepticons, but Rodimus elected to procure [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]]'s abetment instead. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}} Perceptor later valiantly defended Cybertron against Decepticon intrusion. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}} 

The inexplicable resurrection of Optimus Prime led Perceptor and the rest of the Autobots on a mission of retaliation against the [[Quintesson]]s for the supposed termination of a selection of Autobots, including Rodimus Prime. When it transpired that a shuttle Optimus commanded the Autobots fire on in fact contained their still-functioning comrades, Perceptor was all too happy to arrest the ill-fated assault. {{storylink|Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening}} 

[[File:G1 ForeverIsALongTime Pipes Rodimus Perceptor.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Pipes, I don't care what you call him, please put "Little Pipes" back in your pants!]]
On a second entanglement with the Quintessons, Perceptor was incapacitated early in the conflict and unable to prevent several of his fellow Autobots from traversing a [[Time Window|chronal displacement aperture]] to Cybertron's distant past. Although [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] was an adequate physician, Perceptor regained normal function subsequent to the resolution of the situation. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}} 

After [[Fort Knox]] dematerialized, a preliminary examination by Perceptor of [[energon cube]]s discovered at the locale indicated they were contaminated with [[Dinosaur transform static]]. Further analysis indicated the cubes were of Decepticon manufacture, exonerating the Dinobots and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]. Tracing the point of origin to [[Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya|Carbombya]], the Autobots located the appropriated architecture and liberated the country from the habitation of the Decepticons. {{storylink|Thief in the Night}} 

Perceptor was part of an ambush set for [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] when the incorporeal spirit of [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] possessed [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]. {{storylink|Starscream's Ghost}} When Wheelie and the [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Spike's immature offspring]] developed curiosity over Ultra Magnus's construction date, they consulted Perceptor, who suggested they scrutinize the [[Hall of Records]], unaware of the endangerment the pair would soon face. {{storylink|Surprise Party}} Investigating another disappearance on the part of Daniel, this time complemented by Grimlock, Perceptor operated a Quintesson contrivance which transposed a rescue party to the domain of [[Menonia]]. {{storylink|Madman's Paradise}} While excavating [[isidrite]] in an asteroid belt, a team of Autobots was beleaguered by Decepticons, however as Perceptor observed, Galvatron was wreaking more havoc with his own troops than the Autobots. {{storylink|Webworld}}

[[File:CarnageCMinor Perceptor microscope.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|That's not where you look into a microscope, Hot Spot.]]
Perceptor's calculations later tracked the Decepticons down to a comet, where the blackguards were installing an apparatus to propel it into [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. During the altercation, a [[Harmony|resonance]] of extreme amplitude disrupted proceedings, causing all present to expeditiously descent towards a nearby planetary body named [[Eurythma]]. As the Decepticons prepared to resume hostilities, Perceptor dismantled [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] with one discharge of his artillery mode. He proceeded to participate in a diversionary engagement while Ultra Magnus and [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] contacted the indigenous sentient life who communicated entirely in melody. {{storylink|Carnage in C-Minor}}

Detecting an aberrant semaphore on a Quintesson frequency, Perceptor allocated the mission to Sky-Lynx, Blaster and [[Outback (G1)|Outback]]. {{storylink|The Quintesson Journal}} He later oversaw the installation of a new power core on Cybertron. Not long after this occurrence, Galvatron unleashed a [[Dweller|grotesque monstrosity]] with the ability to metamorphose Transformers into energy vampires. Perceptor not only formulated a remedy involving the infusing of a plethora of energy, but was able to effect the catharsis of the Dweller from Cybertron. {{storylink|The Dweller in the Depths}} He was equivalently successful in restoring Ultra Magnus, Rodimus, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] to their mechanoid forms after they were transplanted into organic bodies. {{storylink|Only Human}} 

[[File:PerceptorNijika01.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Memoirs of a tiny alien robot geisha with a male alien robot's transplanted brain]]
During the instatement of another power generator, Perceptor expressed a desire for an increase in the Dinobots' brainpower, to which Grimlock responded with an aggressive exclamation regarding his fist and Perceptor's cranium. Malfunctions caused by strange energy emanating from the generator resulted in Grimlock's intelligence being increased manifold, outstripping even Perceptor's own acumen. The Autobots journeyed to Unicron's skull in orbit around Cybertron, where they were incapacitated by [[anti-electron]]s. Providentially, Grimlock was able to construct a brigade of [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s to salvage the situation. {{storylink|Grimlock's New Brain}}

During one of his final known excursions with Rodimus, Perceptor plummeted onto an [[Zamojin (planet)|alien world]] in a state of [[transformation paralysis]]. What's worse, his [[universal emulator]] was taken from his body and transplanted into the [[Zamojin (species)|Zamojin]] construct called [[Nijika]], which resulted in Perceptor's consciousness taking up residence within that form. All things considered, he took it quite well, and his alterations to the emulator resulted in the Quintessons inadvertently extricating the world from its incarceration. {{storylink|The Face of the Nijika}}
{{-}}
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|The Search for Alpha Trion}} {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}}}

====Rodimus vs. Cyclonus====
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Rodimus vs. Cyclonus}}}}
{{-}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' manga=====
Alongside several other Autobots, Perceptor tried and failed to defend Yokohama from an attack by [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 4|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #4}} He later came with [[Kenji]], [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] to an uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean, where they were supposed to meet some other Autobots. They soon found that the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] had captured their friends and were using the island as a build site for the humongous [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. By magnifying one of Hound's holograms through Perceptor's lens, the Autobots tricked Trypticon into attacking a fake [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] and falling into the ocean. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 6|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #6}}

=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' story pages=====
{{charstubfiction}}

=====Full Throttle Scramble Power!=====
Perceptor accompanied the massive Autobot reinforcements called in to counter Megatron's nefarious [[Omega Whip]]. {{storylink|Full Throttle Scramble Power!}}

=====''Story of Binaltech''=====
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Unfinished Business, Part 3}}}}

=====''Victory'' cartoon=====
[[File:Minerva victory.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Two are red, two have shoulder-mounted weapons, and two have weird ears. They '''almost''' have so much in common!]]
{{voiceactor|[[Masaharu Satō]] (Japanese), [[Rik Thomas]] (English)|[[Roberto Alexander]] (Latin American)}}

Perceptor voyaged back to Earth with [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Minerva (Masterforce)|Minerva]] in response to an urgent communique from [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] to the effect that [[Ginrai|God Ginrai]] had been grievously wounded. A preliminary examination of the patient suggested his termination was inevitable, however Wheeljack had an alternative treatment—transplant God Ginrai's internal mechanism into a new assemblage. Despite Perceptor's misgivings, the stratagem was put to God Ginrai, and his approval obtained for commencement. With limited time available, the trio initiated the operation. {{storylink|Ginrai Dies!!}} The procedure achieved a favorable outcome, resulting in God Ginrai's rebirth in the new form of [[Victory Leo]]. Perceptor and his cohorts turned their attention to Star Saber, who had also been seriously damaged.

When Victory Leo proved mentally unstable, Perceptor assured [[Jan Minakaze]] that such instability occasionally occurred in robotic lifeforms. Perceptor advised against Star Saber going into battle as repairs on him were not yet completed, and consequently Victory Leo was sent out as a substitute. {{storylink|Fight!! Victory Leo}} Following successful completion of Star Saber's repairs, Perceptor and his team commenced installation of a unique unification circuit to allow Star Saber to combine with Victory Leo. {{storylink|Awaken! Victory Leo}} Despite Perceptor's grave misgiving about the potential risks, Star Saber went ahead with his first combination with Victory Leo in order to terminate the threat of the missiles [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] had created to threaten the planet. {{storylink|The Tide Is Turned! The Ultimate Weapon, the Victory Unification}} Perceptor later departed Earth to rejoin the Autobot forces in space. {{storylink|Jan - Defend the Campus!!}}
{{-}}

=====''G-2'' story pages=====
[[File:G2StoryPageWheeljackPerceptor1.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Look at him, all tiny back there.]]
Perceptor, along with Wheeljack and [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], discovered [[Reconfiguration Matrix|new properties]] of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] which allowed Optimus Prime to revive himself as Laser-Rod Optimus Prime subsequent to a crushing defeat by Megatron. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (story page)|G-2 Part 4}}
{{-}}

=====''15 Go! Go!''=====
[[File:TGGPerceptor1.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|The doctor is in...sane.]]
Sent to gather data on Perceptor, [[Teletraan 15 (G1)|Teletraan 15]] found him giggling creepily over a microchip and telling it that it was time for its check-up.

[[File:TGGPerceptor2.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Wheeee!]]
As she recoiled in horror, Perceptor's tone became clinical and, retracting his faceplate, he demanded that she identify herself. After Teletraan 15 recorded her notes on the Autobot scientist, he transformed into his seldom-seen mobile battle mode and took her for a ride...whether she wanted it or not. {{storylink|Perceptor Volume}}
{{-}}

=====e-HOBBY comics=====
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|MP-1B Cybertron Commander / Convoy Black Ver.}}}}
Perceptor and [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] were sent out by Optimus to help out with a battle with an underwater “monster” that was not going too well for fellow Autobot Splashdown. While on-route, they encountered Starscream’s gargantuan ghostly form. {{storylink|MP-3G Destron Air Commander / Starscream Ghost Ver.}}

=====''Black Body''=====
Perceptor put Optimus through the paces necessary to upgrade himself with a “[[black body]]” coating in order to more effectively absorb energy into himself. The Autobot scientist put Optimus in an isolation for this process, as the black body coating would absorb energy from all nearby machinery, including transformers. Unfortunately, Decepticons had falsified some of Perceptor’s data, leading to Optimus being left in a volatile state. So that his new body would not drain the energy of all those near him, Optimus went to seclude himself in an uninhabited canyon, while Perceptor and Wheeljack tried to figure out how to reverse their leader’s condition. {{storylink|Black Body}}

====''The Battle of the Star Gate''====
Perceptor attended a lecture on Earth about the human’s earthquake-prediction technology. Perceptor mostly attended for the off-chance that he could show off how smart he was. Before any plans could be made for Perceptor to talk at the next forum, an Earthquake struck the area, leading to the Autobots to suspect the Decepticons were somehow causing tremors nearby. Perceptor and Professor Ohnishi were mostly to thank for the deduction, as they had noticed despite the recent seismic activity, there was a lack of “earthquake clouds.” Perceptor was later part of the small team of Autobots who came upon Megatron and Starscream to foil their Energon-gathering scheme, and explained in simple terms how they discovered them to Starscream. He then transformed into his tank mode and engaged him in combat. {{storylink|Activation}}
{{-}}

====''Wings Universe''====
{{Wingsnote}}

After the [[Autobot]]s' first battle with [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], Perceptor assisted in repairing the wounded. Later, he was left behind when the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] departed. With his other comrades on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Perceptor underwent stasis hibernation till new energy sources were detected on the planet. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 6|Battle Lines #6}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:TheSmeltingPool-Perceptor.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|Oh, you mean we're drawing a mouth on him, and we shouldn't color his face like he has his toy's [[mouthplate]]? Well, crap.]]
On Cybertron, Perceptor was often considered an officer or otherwise highly ranked personage by other Cybertronic life forms in the vicinity, inspiring in the aforementioned others a tendency to view him as a "commander" of a [[Cybertron Seven|faction of Autobots]] who engaged in armed conflict against localized enemy forces. The Autobot communications officer, heretofore known as "Blaster", would routinely cause superfluous amounts of mischief for Perceptor, largely due to the former's overdeveloped anti-hero circuitry. Annoyingly, this endeared Blaster to their shared peers more so than to Perceptor, despite Perceptor's rational decision-making and refusal to risk lives unnecessarily. A pertinent example, if we were to belabor the matter, would be when Blaster felt irrational concern over the unreliable Autobot scout, [[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]]. Despite the obvious danger and the expendability of Scrounge, Blaster's utilization of charisma and other personality-based social tools were able to persuade Perceptor's team to search [[Polyhex]] for him. Perceptor warned of the futility of such actions, and, true to the probabilities calculated, Scrounge was not located. Blaster would predictably leave to find Scrounge on his own, returning later to report that Scrounge had sacrificed himself to bring news of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s apparent survival, somewhere on a planet called [[Earth]]. {{storylink|The Smelting Pool!}} 

[[File:AerialbotsoverAmerica-soswearsCircuitBreaker.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Perceptor remained in the position of commander until such a point as the aforementioned combat unit, or the surviving portions thereof, crossed the multidimensional warp system for transport, otherwise known as the space bridge, to join the forces based on the planetary body known to the overwhelming majority of those of his species who had shifted their operations to its locality as Earth. {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}} Perceptor's band was immediately spotted by a squadron of airborne Decepticons, but it seemed, at least on a superficial level not readily able to withstand a more critical analysis, that the Decepticons were more generally annoyed than willing to engage in combat, and thusly departed. {{storylink|Command Performances!}}

The dubious function of counter-Autobot measures was instead transferred to a team of battle-acclimated natives, known amongst themselves as the anti-Transformers task force known as [[Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team|RAAT]]. These ruffians were led by a [[human]] female who was able to levitate herself using a patchwork coating of circuitry, in a surprising lack of modesty, if one must dwell on such matters. Suffice to say, this [[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Circuit Breaker]] was able to disable Perceptor and his fellow Autobots through the release of atomic micro-batteries at a 300,000-volt blast of electricity, which short-circuited them succinctly. The removal of Perceptor's face was subsequent, and it and the faces of his compatriots were hung up on a vertical surface, or wall, while his body was experimented on for educational purposes, admirably enough. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}} Perceptor would remain in such a sorry state for a short period of time, up until his services were needed, in conjunction with that of his fellow captors, to be assembled into a [[Circuit Breaker's Autobot suit|mega robot designed specifically to counter a targeted duo of Decepticons]] until such a time that services had been rendered, thus guaranteeing their freedom. {{storylink|Decepticon Graffiti!}}

[[File:FallenAngel-Perceptor.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|That's one microscope you don't want to look in the wrong way.]]
''Perceptor and his Autobots were being directed towards the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], the Autobots' headquarters, by an Autobot daydreamer designated "[[Skids (G1)|Skids]]," when suddenly Skids disappeared in a flash of light and sound, leaving nothing but a charred area of organic floor surfacing where he had stood previously. To make matters worse, that is to say unfavorably ranked versus other incidents along a spectrum of agreeableness, Perceptor's band of Autobots was soon under attack by a strange and powerful Decepticon named [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. Despite Perceptor's rare usage of his tank alternate form, alongside his peer [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]]'s similar mode, the two were responded to in kind and found themselves summarily removed from battle capability, that is to say, consciousness.'' {{storylink|Fallen Angel}}

''Rescued from destruction by the vagrant [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], Perceptor's group, regrettably still sans Skids, finally traversed the remaining distance between their arrival coordinates and the Ark, where the Autobots there were surprised to hear of Galvatron's return to their chronal locality. Perceptor attempted, valiantly, to explain to [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] that their surprise was without merit, but in a characteristically erudite fashion that left the simple-minded relic dumbfounded. But it was soon Perceptor's opportunity to be dumbfounded as it was learned that Optimus Prime had recently perished, his body found in tatters, no doubt the work of the Decepticons. A [[Transformer funerary practices|funeral]] was, indeed, called for in due course, and the Earthbound Autobots felt that their late commander would have wanted to be buried according to the customs of Earth's dominant simian life form. Blaster, in a rare moment of propriety, quietly expressed his misgivings about this approach to Perceptor, who quietly agreed with his colleague that this method of burial was crude. Their complaints were soon rendered moot, as before their eyes Optimus Prime materialized, no worse for wear, and revealed his death had been but a ruse.'' {{storylink|Resurrection!}}'

''Immediately after Optimus Prime's death had been declared a hoax,'' the Autobots' legendary Earthbound commander left with the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] on a mission of medium importance and had returned in less than satisfactory condition. As Perceptor and the other functioning Autobots looked on, [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] failed, despite his best efforts as the Autobots' chief medical officer, to revive him, and Optimus Prime was declared deceased, that is, nonfunctional. Perceptor, though a newcomer to the Earthen stage of the Cybertronian wars, was selected to deliver Optimus Prime's eulogy before their late commander's inert chassis was ejected into the void surrounding their new home planet, via a rocket-powered funereal containment unit. Adjacent within the chronal dimension, a human intruder was able to repurpose the Ark's defensive instruments against the mourning Autobots, and destructive tools of various forms turned themselves on their makers. Perceptor, acting with regards to the long term, forbid the Autobots from responding in kind, noting that were the Ark to suffer damage, the Autobots would be unable to repair their home to the tolerances required to return them to their original planet. Ratchet, who had neglected to appear at Optimus Prime's funeral, was capable enough to disable the threat from within the Ark. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}} Following the Funeral, Cobra [[Tele-Viper]]s attacked the Autobot base. Perceptor helped defend it, though he and the other Autobots had to do little more than pick off stragglers while Omega Supreme handled the bulk of the aggressors. {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}}

[[File:Democracykingofthehill.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|Why are you running things, Perceptor? You just got here!]]
With Optimus Prime deceased, it became pertinent for the Autobots to congregate and [[democracy|deliberate]] on a replacement for his managerial position, a crucial task for which Perceptor summoned high-ranking representatives. The proceedings were according to plan until, with reckless abandon, the brutish commander of the Dinobots, [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]], interrupted and threw the process into disarray. Grimlock carried no positive feelings about Optimus Prime's leadership style, and the Dinobot commander implied he would prefer to take his post by force, but Perceptor, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] cut short his charade with a verbal assault. However, following a siege orchestrated by the massive but articulate Decepticon [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], Perceptor had altered his initial position, having seen Grimlock's selflessness and leadership in battle against their opponent. The Autobots hailed Grimlock as their new commander. {{storylink|King of the Hill!}}

[[File:DarkStar-PerceptorTentakil.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|Fangirls, you can stop squeeing right now. We can hear you through the Internet.]]
After suffering through months of Grimlock's actual leadership style, Perceptor once again changed his assessment; moreso, he had decided that, in fact, Blaster would make the perfect replacement for their thuggish Dinobot leader, despite his appraisal of Blaster's strategic deficiencies back on Cybertron. {{storylink|Spacehikers!}}

Regardless of such trivialities, Optimus Prime himself returned to command, and Perceptor was next seen suffering from defective circuits in the Arctic, preventing him from detecting the presence of the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacon]] of the [[Tentakil (G1)|multipod variety]]. {{storylink|Dark Star}} He was later listed as deactivated for a somewhat extended period of time, by human standards if not by those of his species, by the opposing faction (as judged by an outside observer who insists on a binary classification system) as a result of the [[Underbase]] conflict, so named for the goal of the conflict, a legendary storehouse of Cybertronic knowledge. {{storylink|Yesterday's Heroes!}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
In a parallel junction of quantum-temporal values, Perceptor aided his fellow residents of [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] in the initiation of combat proceedings against unwanted [[Quintesson]] visitors possessing acutely nefarious intent. Unfortunately, said combat proceedings proved to be incapable of properly sustaining the necessary level of applied force to rebuke and rebuff the forward progress of the invading hostile xeno-biological entities, leading to a cessation of proper operating status for Perceptor and several of his Autobot co-actors. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}

One solar-terrestrial revolution cycle later, Perceptor again responded to the presence of hostile activities when an Autobot interstellar transport shuttle made a sudden and disastrous relocation from space to earth at velocities far exceeding safety protocols. At the shuttle's location, Perceptor fell into a paradoxical situation necessitating that the Autobots save their commander [[Hot Rod/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] from his own disparate mental status. {{storylink|White Fire}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Aerialbots over America!}} {{storylink|The Legacy of Unicron!}} {{storylink|Totaled!}} {{storylink|Club Con!}} {{storylink|Back from the Dead}} {{storylink|Shadow of Evil}} {{storylink|The Planet-Eater!}} {{storylink|Judgment Day!}} {{storylink|The Final Battle!}}}}

====Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic====
Perceptor did not engage in random fisticuffs and altercations with the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronians]], for that would most emphatically be in a milieu of activity not of his preference. Alternatively, he participated in an expedition of a scientific nature to the lunar orbiting body of [[J'asik]] to determine what nefarious entity had structurally destabilized the populace at a molecular level. His findings unveiled astonishing and almost inarticulable obfuscations from deep in the Cybertronian past. {{storylink|Swarm (issue)|Swarm}}

At a subsequent juncture, Perceptor applied reasoning to the impending conundrum of the Cybertronian pseudo-biologic entity dubbed "[[Swarm (G2)|the Swarm]]" and its imminent arrival. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}

====''Classics''====
{{noteclassics}}
As the Autobots renewed their connection with Earth after the Unicron war, Perceptor took up residence at the ''Ark II'' in Canada. When the [[Terminus Blade]] opened a rift in space-time, Perceptor and the Autobots attempted to protect the human population as their universe was literally destroyed around them. Only the Earth itself survived the cataclysm, passing over into the negative polarity universe. {{storylink|Invasion (issue)|Invasion}} 

Perceptor was interviewed by [[Esmeral (SG)|Esmeral]] of the [[DBN|Decepticon Broadcasting Network]] when they arrived on negative-Cybertron. {{storylink|Solar Requiem}} 

He continued his research into Rarefied Energon on his own Earth, and discovered anomalies indicating the substance was actually alive. As the planet itself came apart transforming into a robot mode, Perceptor and his allies were ferried off-world by Grimlock in a shuttle. {{storylink|The Future Buried...}}
{{-}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{noterg1}}
Twenty-one chronological solar intervals subsequent to the ultimate conflict on the cosmological body commonly referred to as [[Klo]], Perceptor was operational on Cybertron. He ably provided assistance to the [[Wrecker]]s special operations team as they rebelled against the explicit orders issued by Optimus Prime and performed a non-lethal siege-breaking manoeuvre within the [[Pax Cybertronia Decommissioning Depot]] located in the polity of [[Kalis]], necessitating the defusing of a [[Warbird|Type-K Warbird ballistic missile]] and its cobalt-60 warhead through the issue of an emergency stand-down protocol code, which he readily supplied. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 1}}

Postliminary to the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]] [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]'s return from his sojourn to the planet [[Nebulos]], the temporary Autobot commander Hot Rod ordered Perceptor to interrogate him concerning his experiences during the span of his time away, not least with regard to the restoration of his transformative abilities. Grievously, the tergiversating Grimlock seized upon this circumstance as an opportunity to upload the nefarious resurrected Decepticon villain [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s [[Gene Key]] into Perceptor's personal infrastructure, supplanting his [[CNA]] and functionally overwriting his core programming into that of a Decepticon. Subsequently, the now-morally compromised former resistance cell leader issued a most sinister indication to the inattentive penal custodian [[Kick-Off (G1)|Kick-Off]] that he could, in all safety, facilitate Perceptor's egress from his current confinement. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Two}}

The former [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] commander put Perceptor to work on the construction of a considerably upscaled version of the Gene Key in the vicinity of the [[Sonic Canyons]], with the calamitous intent of utilizing the unique properties of the canyons to propagate the Key's CNA-overwriting signal across all of Cybertron, facilitating the forced conversion of every Autobot on the planet. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Three}} As Perceptor put his talents to use in the creation of the Key, Scorponok aggrandized about his role in the ultimate unification of the Transformer race under the Decepticon banner, closing the rift in [[Primus]]'s grand plan that he perceived to have developed due to the incitement and prolongation of the Cybertronian civil war. Perceptor offers the opinion that, with chaos being the natural order of things, perhaps the conflict was ''part'' of Primus's design. Scorponok was forced to repress a sudden swell of rage at the thought of his plan being questioned, as Perceptor observed, without interrupting his work. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Four}}

Perceptor announced another delay in the successful completion and activation of the Key, citing a minor technical difficulty. The statement infuriated Scorponok enough to forcefully remove [[Roadblock (G2)|Roadblock]] from his immediate vicinity in a pique of anger, sending the hapless Decepticon lackey plummeting into the depths of the canyons. Scorponok was not impeded in his ranting, as the other Decepticons in the area observed with silent concern, until Grimlock unexpectedly arrived via [[Sky-sled]] and engaged the would-be conqueror in battle. Gaining a distinct tactical advantage over Grimlock, Scorponok ordered Perceptor to activate the Gene Key, while continuing to pontificate to the Dinobot about the true unification of Cybertron and his role in it. Much to Scorponok's astonishment, however, the Key's effect caused a regression of the alterations that had already been individually performed on various Autobots, restoring them to their original personalities!

It was revealed that Grimlock had merely demonstrated the existence of the Gene Key to Perceptor, choosing not to actually utilize its full capability upon him. Thus, Perceptor's CNA had not been overwritten, allowing the scientist to serve as Grimlock's "inside man" so that he could actually sabotage the larger Key, foiling Scorponok's scheme. Scorponok prepared to turn on Perceptor, but Grimlock was joined by his fellow Dinobots in striking back at Scorponok. With their temporary commander's plans reduced to a shambles, the remaining Decepticons opted for a discretionary withdrawal, leaving Perceptor behind to bear witness as Grimlock dislodged Scorponok and himself from the bridge over the Sonic Canyons, the two warriors grappling as they plummeted into the murky depths. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Five}} In the aftermath, Perceptor briefed Hot Rod and the others on the lingering effects of the Gene Key, resembling shock or PTSD among the Autobots afflicted. {{storylink|Destiny, Part One}}

During the Decepticon invasion of Cybertron, Perceptor and Prowl correctly identified the [[Warworld]] as the broadcast source for the Blitz Engines' power, identifying it as primary target for the [[Wrecker]]s. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Four}}

Perceptor and the Autobot leadership assessed the damage after the Decepticon assault. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 1}} He also ran sensor probes of Jhiaxus's vessel when it arrived, but was unable to penetrate their security. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 2}} As the shadow-creatures raced over Cybertron, it was Perceptor's analysis that confirmed they were former Cybertronians transfigured by some dark force. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 5}}

===Sticker Adventures books===
Perceptor was part of the crew of an Autobot ship that was studying the Universe. After being hit by meteors, they were forced to make landfall on the nearby Junk planet. There, he helped Springer and Arcee fix the ship, until the native Junkions attacked them. The fighting stopped when Kup arrived on-world, and used the universal greeting to calm down the Junkions. Now friends, the Junkions and the Autobots worked together to fix the damaged ship. Perceptor and the Autobots then blasted off and went on their way. {{storylink|Battle on the Junk Planet}}
{{-}}

===Marvel coloring books===
{{charstubfiction| {{storylink|The Invasion of the Decepticon Camp}}}}
{{-}}

===Find Your Fate Junior===
{{notemultipath}}
====Decepticon Poison====
After the Autobots’ latest batch of fuel had been poisoned by Ramjet, leaving a number of Autobots unable to assume their robot forms, Perceptor tasked himself with finding an antidote. Perceptor also suggested that the Autobots who hadn’t been been poisoned stay at Decepticon headquarters to guard against Decepticon attacks. Prowl disagreed with the scientist, opting for a more aggressive course of action.

If Optimus went along with Perceptor’s plan, the Autobot scientist worked feverishly to concoct a cure, and was soon told to dispense the untested formula he had created when Optimus informed him that the Decepticons were already moving in on their position. Before Perceptor complied, he informed Optimus of some of his findings; the poison put into the Autobots’ fuel was not a complex one, and could be used to create a poisonous smog if the fuel was burned. Perceptor presented Optimus with two choices; either the Autobots could risk his untested antidote, despite whatever side-effects it might have, or they could burn the remaining tainted fuel they had on hand, putting the rest of the Autobots at risk, but also gain the chance of poisoning the Decepticons themselves.

If Optimus decided to risk Perceptor’s antidote, the scientist had to try and figure out on the spot how much antidote to give to each Autobot. Too little, and the poison would not be neutralized. Too much, and the Autobots would risk an averse reaction to his solution.

If Perceptor decide to dispense one millilitre of his solution to each Autobot, his cure successfully cleared the Autobots’ systems of the Decepticon poison, allowing them to resume their [[robot mode]]s and ready themselves against the incoming Decepticons.

In another possible scenario, where Optimus followed a plan courtesy of Prowl, the Autobot leader instructed his troops to transform into [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] and play dead. The Decepticons, believing the Autobots’ ruse, disarmed themselves in order to carry out the Autobots’ “carcasses.” Now with the element of surprise against unarmed opponent, the Autobots Transformed and were able to easily defeat the evil robots.

In another possible turn of events, Perceptor gave out too much of his antidote to each Autobot. The Autobots who received the antidote soon found themselves falling apart, leaving Perceptor and the rest outmatched against the greater number of Decepticons.

In yet another possible sequence of events, the Autobots decided to use the tainted fuel as a weapon against the Decepticons. Lighting the fuel to create a toxic cloud allowed the Autobots to ward off the Decepticons, allowing Perceptor enough time to safely create a cure for the poisoned Autobots. {{storylink|Decepticon Poison}}
{{-}}

====Autobot Alert!====
[[File:AutobotAlertSuperBooster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Perceptor had been recently busying himself inventing new devices and weapons for the Autobots. Among these were “laser-ignited explosives,” and a “rapid-fire, high-intensity rifle cannon." He told his fellow Autobots that the later invention could “blow away a skyscraper at a close range.”

In one possible scenario, the Autobots had retrieved a cybertite sphere containing the formula for an ancient Autobot power-booster. Perceptor went to work, and successfully produced a first batch of the power-booster, ensuring that the war would soon tip in favour of the Autobots. {{storylink|Autobot Alert!}}
{{-}}

===3H comics===
[[File:Skidswreckers2.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|"Rodimus, a cursory evaluation of Decepticon capability indicates a distinct tactical deficiency! ...it's you."]]
Perceptor counseled [[Hot Rod|Rodimus Prime]] against making a leadership decision that, when one considers both the opinions of observers that are generally regarded as wise, to such an extent as observers with finite capacity for knowledge can comprehend the infinite, and the final results of the decision in question, could be regarded as less than optimal. 

Knowing the commander in question, many of those reading this documentation may surmise the result... {{storylink|Betrayal}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:AgeofWrath3-Perceptor.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|You should see me when I'm ''not'' on steroids!]]
Perceptor was again held to be an officer or leader, a position he occupied with [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], among a group of underground Autobots on Cybertron after the unexpected return of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], who had disappeared along with Optimus Prime many years ago in an early [[space bridge]] test, commanding the [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]], an army of [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]-form drones. The combat efficiency of these Air Warriors, as they were also known, led to a Decepticon conquest of Cybertron, as well as the enslavement of many Autobots. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}} During this period, Perceptor theorized that if Megatron had survived the space bridge explosion, one could logically conclude that Optimus Prime also survived. At [[Iacon Command]], Perceptor designed and built a [[Dimensional Interface Assembly|device]] intended to locate Optimus Prime. Before a proper test of the device could be conducted, Perceptor's group managed to capture an Air Warrior, with the intentions of examining its systems with the hope of finding an effective counter measure against the drones. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.3}} 

[[File:BrothersBurden-Perceptor.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Perceptor use small words for dumb friends.]]
Millions of years after the aforementioned events, Perceptor again allied with a group of Autobots who opposed the oppressive regime of the Decepticon [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], but these activities were covert in nature and he publicly remained a respected Autobot scientist. {{storylink|Brothers' Burden}} He presented evidence of Shockwave's unorthodox experiments on various Transformers, as well as the fact that Cybertron's spatial coordinates seemed to have changed, to the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]]. The High Council was unwilling to take any constitutional action against Shockwave, over feelings of gratitude for his assistance in restoring the peace, even after they were verbally accosted by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. Ultimately, any censure or movement against Shockwave was discontinued due to a rampage on the part of the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]]. {{storylink|Cold War (issue)|Cold War}} After Optimus Prime escaped custody and united the various resistance movements, Perceptor participated in the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]]'s offensive against [[Shockwave's Tower|Shockwave's fortifications]] within Hub Capital Iacon. He also helped to repair [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], commander of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], despite the latter's well known bias against intellectuals. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (issue)|Countdown to Extinction}}
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Fragmentation (G1)|Fragmentation}} {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}} {{storylink|Generation 1 issue 0|Generation 1 #0}} {{storylink|Original Sin}}}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
In the year 1985, Perceptor and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] hastily took off for [[Earth]] in an starship poorly-suited for interstellar travel, despite Perceptor's protests. Upon arrival, they unsurprisingly crashed, landing in the forests of [[Oregon]] near [[Mount St. Hilary]]. They were discovered there by a [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] team led by [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]]. {{storylink|Targets of Opportunity}}

{{note|Due to Dreamwave's bankruptcy, Blaster and Perceptor's motivations for coming to Earth—and pretty much anything else—were never revealed.}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:JoevsTFII1-Perceptor.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|You never see him do this in any of the slashfic.]]
Perceptor accompanied [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] to [[Teletran 3]], where he providing covering fire for Magnus and captured [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] with [[energon chains]]. He then tapped into Teletran 3 and learned that it had transported a random number of Cybertronians into various points in [[Earth]]'s timeline, which would cause a temporal feedback that would destroy the planet unless they were retrieved. Thankfully, [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] and [[Cobra]] were happy to save their planet, and Perceptor operated Teletran 3 to send them after the missing Transformers. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #1}} After that, all he could do was wait inside the slowly dying force field erected around Teletran 3. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #2}} Unfortunately, the field went down before all the rescue teams had returned, and the Autobots were captured by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], who taunted Perceptor as he allowed his Earth-destruction scenario to play out. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #3}} It was not to be, however, as the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] were retrieved from Earth's distant past and ripped Shockwave's forces apart, saving Perceptor and the other prisoners. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #4}}

Some time later, Perceptor was sent to [[Area 52 (G1)|Area 52]] on Earth to oversee the decommissioning of Cybertronian technology along with [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]. Before he had time to do much other than greet [[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] and deliver a message from Optimus Prime, the facility came under attack by Cobra, and Perceptor had to help fight them off. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}} Bumblebee went missing during the battle, and the Autobots followed his [[energy signature]] to the lowest areas of Area 52, only to find the head of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], deactivated two years earlier. Perceptor was outraged that the humans had been experimenting with something so dangerous, but [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] insisted that he had been completely unaware. As it turned out, Megatron's remains had been used to make the dangerous and hostile [[Serpentor|Serpent Organic Robot]], who forced the [[G.I. Joe battle mech|Joes' mech suits]] to fight against Perceptor and the other Autobots before warping to Cybertron. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 2|The Art of War #2}}

The Autobots and Joes followed him, and Perceptor called [[Capitol City]] for reinforcements before discovering the movement signals of several [[cannibalizer]]s around them. They escaped from the monstrosities, only to run straight into Serpent O.R.'s newly recruited Decepticon army, who captured them before Perceptor's reinforcements had time to arrive. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 3|The Art of War #3}} They were eventually freed thanks to [[Snake-Eyes]]'s ninja tricks. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 4|The Art of War #4}} While fighting their way out of the Decepticon base, the Autobots learned that Serpent O.R. had also captured Optimus Prime, and they went to rescue him. When they arrived, Serpent O.R.'s body had been transformed by the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] and was now being controlled by [[Cobra Commander]]. The Cobra leader used his tentacles to smash Perceptor's shoulder to pieces, and with a cry of "Goodness!", the scientist was taken out of action. After Cobra Commander was defeated by Hawk, Perceptor listened to [[Roadblock (G.I. Joe)|Roadblock]] tell funny stories about [[Barbecue]]. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
{{ongoing}}
In the time preceding the war, Perceptor worked for security control for Sentinel Prime's government.{{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} In the earliest days of the war, Perceptor was part of [[Jetfire (G1)|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)/IDW Generation 1 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)/IDW Generation 1 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:Perceptor fixes Blaster Spotlight Blaster.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.0]]
In the 21st century, Perceptor led an expedition aboard the ''[[Ark-17]]'', along with [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and others in a mission to rescue an insane [[Kup (G1)|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)|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}}

[[File:SpotlightBlaster Perceptor whitestatic.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Cut the crap, Perceptor, and just get the cable back up!]]

After Jetfire and the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s recovered and improved upon the unstable [[Pretender]] technology, Perceptor worked with Brainstorm at the [[Kimia Facility]] to apply a variation of the tech to help repair Kup. Overseeing the operation, [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 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/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Hot Rod]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15#Lost & Found|Lost & Found}}

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}} {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}}

[[File:AHM8-Perceptor.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|IDW Transformers drinking game: Take a sip for every panel of Perceptor shooting things while looking bad ass.]]
Later, when 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)|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}}

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:LastStandoftheWreckers2 Perceptor Sniping.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|*sip*]]
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)|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|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}}

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)/IDW Generation 1 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}}

[[File:Brainstorm Hangers On.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|left]]
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)|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}}

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 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)|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=1.3]]
Perceptor attended an award ceremony for [[Chromedome (G1)|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)/IDW Generation 1 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 (G1)|Rewind]] gathered Perceptor, [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], [[Siren (G1)|Siren]], [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] and 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}}

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}}

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]] 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}}

The Autobots were soon overcome by the Hunters and brought before their unexpected leader, [[Tyrest (G1)|Chief Justice 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#IDW Generation 1 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}}

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 [[Necrotitan]] and listen to Brainstorm's dumb jokes. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}}

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)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]]. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 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}} 

{{--}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|The Gloaming}} {{storylink|Little Victories}} {{storylink|The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|The Custom-Made Now}} {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|All Our Parlous Yesterdays}} {{storylink|The Not Knowing}}}}

===''Transformers United''===
With the Autobots on Earth infected with a deadly nano-virus, Perceptor worked tirelessly to find a cure, despite being afflicted himself. With the Autobots' ally, Supreme Scientist Zella, having successfully synthesized a cure, Perceptor sent out a team of Headmasters and Targetmasters, the only Autobots unaffected by the virus, to retrieve it. {{storylink|The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos}}
{{-}}

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

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Awakening (Cloud)|Awakening}} {{storylink|Wandering}} {{storylink|Shock (Cloud)|Shock}} {{storylink|Eagerness}} {{storylink|Metamorphosis (Cloud)|Metamorphosis}}}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
{{ongoing}}
Together with [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] and [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]], Perceptor investigated [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] after the abandoned city had been covered in foliage due to a [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] attack on Cybertron. Perceptor inspected one of the [[G.I.Rocket|creeper plants]] left behind by the Joes' attack, only to be taken aback by the organism's rapid growth. The Autobots were then caught up in a Decepticon attack against the invading humans, and Perceptor was captured by [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]. Thankfully, Mirage escaped the Decepticons' notice, and managed to save his allies from Megatron's throne room within [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Targetmasters (issue)|Targetmasters}}

The trio made it back to [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], bringing the Joes along as captives. The humans were presented to [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], who promptly dropped them in a pool filled with [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]]. Not waiting around for the show, Perceptor, Brawn and Mirage took off to find Wheeljack. They found the Autobot being vivisected within the Joes' base camp. Perceptor and his friends charged in, exchanging fire with the off-worlders until blasts from both sides knocked everyone unconscious. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend}}

Both teams eventually awakened and readied to take up arms once more when [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] showed up, accompanied by [[Breaker]], [[Jinx]], [[Cover Girl]] and [[Clutch (G.I. Joe)|Clutch]]. Grimlock declared a truce between the Joes and the Autobots had been reached, and both factions partied together to cement their alliance. {{storylink|Form Follows Function}} After the Joes moved into [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], Perceptor confided in Wheeljack that he had reservations about the Autobots allying themselves with the humans. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}} As it turns out, Perceptor had more elaborate reasons to express his distrust of the Joes... As [[Tunnel Rat]] found out, he was really a double-agent, working for the Decepticons! Under [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]]<nowiki>'</nowiki>s supervision, Perceptor performed an autopsy on [[Wild Bill]]'s body. {{storylink|Expelled from the Garden}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Earth: R.I.P.}}}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
In [[Primax 085.0 Eta]], the Autobots defeated the Decepticons on Earth and recaptured control of Cybertron. Peace reigned for a time, but a series of [[Earthquake (event)|cyberquake]]s and [[Devastator Winds|Devastator storm]]s began, threatening Cybertron. Perceptor eventually determined the source of the crisis to be the planet [[Moebius]] in [[Gargent 087.0 Kappa|an alternate universe]], designated the 22nd Strata. Perceptor devised a method of crossing dimensions, the [[Reality Bridge]], and sent a [[Sky Spy]] through. The Sky Spy returned with hazy images of local cyborg lifeforms. [[Optimus Prime (G1)#The Battle for Planet Earth|Optimus Prime]] assembled a team to travel to the 22nd Strata to stop the crisis. Modifing themselves based on Perceptor's technical readouts, they dubbed themselves the [[Spy Changer]]s. Eventually, the Spy Changers succeeded in securing Cybertron's safety. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 30/9/2015}}

==Commercial appearances==
*Perceptor joined the battle against the Decepticons just as [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] unleashed [[Triple Changer]]s, "the most evil Decepticons of all!" In the middle of a fight against [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus]] used Perceptor's microscope mode to inspect some Decepticon debris. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Triple Changers and Perceptor|Triple Changers and Perceptor commercial}}
*Blaster, Cosmos and Perceptor had a dance-off against Soundwave, Rumble and Frenzy. {{storylink|Blaster VS Soundwave 2013}}

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

{{-}}
===''Transformers Legends''===
Perceptor was around when a short alliance was formed between several bots with a love for construction from both side of the Autobot/Decepticon war. Perceptor himself was not an active participant in the event proper, however. {{storylink|The Master Builders (Legends)|The Master Builders}}

Perceptor was an active participant in the Autobot/Decepticon war when Ultra Magnus decided to reunite with his unit from the planet Junkion, only to be attacked by the Insecticons. {{storylink|Junkion Reunion}} Perceptor was shocked when [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] rushed off to battle the Constructicons after the Decepticon team took over an asteroid. He and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] attempted to warn Omega about the space beast contained in the asteroid, but were forced to defend [[San Diego]] when the creature was released. {{storylink|The Secret of Omega Supreme (Legends)|The Secret of Omega Supreme}}

{{-}}
===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
Perceptor participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He appeared in multiple different bodies:
*''Perceptor'' — This Epic character could be acquired as a reward in the "Scary Smart" event.
*''Generations Perceptor'' — This Epic character could be recruited by collecting 500 units of Cybermetal, 250 units of Transmetal, and 50 cores of this character.
{{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}

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

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[File:G1toy-Perceptor.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Because it's easier to see small things when you have a giant laser cannon aiming at them.]]
*'''Perceptor''' (Autobot, 1985)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''39'''
**''Accessories:'' [[concussion weapon|Concussion rifle]], missile launcher, 3 missiles

:Formerly a [[Micro Change|Microchange]] MC-20 Micro Scope, Perceptor transforms into a predominantly red, functional microscope. His magnification is limited to 14X<ref>Perceptor's [[instructions]].</ref> due to the relatively crude nature of his lens. In [[robot mode]], Perceptor is armed with a red "Concussion Rifle" and a spring-loaded rocket launcher that can fire one of three red missile-shaped projectiles (functional only in the Takara release).

:A holdover from his Microchange origins, Perceptor can also transform into a 'tank' mode.

:The Japanese version does ''not'' launch missiles from the scope, despite what some sources say.

:There is an odd variant of this toy: some have a more golden-hued chrome than the normal silver. This is not a very common variant.

:The mold was later [[redeco]]ed to make [[Magnificus (G1)|Magnificus]].
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1985/Autobot/Perceptor/perceptor.htm More information on Perceptor at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===The Transformers Collection===
*'''Cybertron Perceptor''' (Transformers Collection, Japan 2005)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TFC-19'''
: Perceptor was [[Generation 1 reissues|reissued]] in Japan as part of [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s ''[[The Transformers Collection|Transformers Collection]]'' line.
{{-}}

===Classics===
[[File:ClassicsLOCPerceptor toy.jpg|thumb|"I will blow up your whole city. For science."]]
*'''Perceptor''' (Legends, 2006)

:Available as part of the first assortment of ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' ''[[Legends Class (2005)|Legends of Cybertron]]'', Perceptor is a [[redeco]] of the ''Legends of Cybertron'' [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]]. He transforms into a BTR-90 armored personnel carrier with a large missile/laser cannon/microscope/telescope.

:This mold was also used to make ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Autobot/ClassicsPerceptor/perceptor.htm More information on ''Classics'' Perceptor at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Universe (2008)===
[[File:Universe2008-Perceptorreissue.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Free him from his prison, so that he may think ''outside'' the box!]]
*'''Perceptor''' (2009)
**''Series'': '''G1 Series'''
**''Accessories'': Concussion rifle, missile launcher, 3 missiles

:Hasbro did their own reissue of Perceptor as part of the [[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|''Universe'' line]]. The [[Toys"R"Us]] [[exclusive]] was issued in a box with an opening front cover and advertised as a "Commemorative Edition", much like the earlier [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave]] and the Insecticons (which were released at the same time as Perceptor).

:Strangely, the spring of the missile launcher was not weakened like most Generation 1 toys, but were straight-out omitted from the gun. This makes the missiles totally useless, because they don't even clip into the gun.
{{-}}

===Transformers (2010)===
[[File:TF2010toy-Perceptor.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66| Thank you [[Aaron Archer|Aaron]], and your love of Perceptor!]]
*'''Perceptor''' (Deluxe, 2011)

:Part of the sixth wave of the [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|2010 ''Transformers'' toyline]], Perceptor is based on a combination of Generation 1 Perceptor and [[Perceptor (Animated)|''Animated'' Perceptor]]. His [[alternate mode]] is a generic "scientific expedition" vehicle with the front half resembling a modern off-road vehicle similar to a [[Wikipedia:Land Rover Defender|Land Rover Defender]] or a [[Wikipedia:Jeep Commander|Jeep Commander]]. The rear section features treads instead of wheels, making it a half-track vehicle (which aren't actually produced anymore).

[[File:PerceptorHasbroStock.jpg|right|thumb|120px|Lack of G1 chrome was deemed "not nerdy enough".]]
:The gun on top of his truck mode can also be turned into a small microscope in a nod to his original toy's alt mode. His license plate reads "MR 51409", the exact significance of which is not yet known (though it might have something to do with the possible birth date of [[Bill Rawley]]'s daughter). In addition, Perceptor has some [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum-metalized]] parts, which are kind of unusual for a mainline Hasbro toy. The chromed dials on his forearms feature bars compatible with [[C joint]] accessories. Like all ''[[Reveal the Shield]]'' [[subline imprint]] figures, Perceptor has a [[rubsign]], which is located behind a translucent door on his chest that can be opened. His hands are compatible with [[5mm post]]s, such as the ones on the guns of his original toy.

:The [[instructions]] incorrectly tell you to position the feet horizontally in vehicle mode, which causes them to press against his knees and prevent the vehicle mode from tabbing correctly in numerous places, when they are meant to be positioned vertically and rest against the trunk. Strangely, the correct position can be seen in the numerous steps depicting the underside of the vehicle, but it immediately switches to the incorrect position on the steps concerning the feet. Additionally, [[packaging]] [[stock photography]] depicts a considerably different Perceptor than the final product. The photos show him having silver [[paint operation]]s on his upper legs and inner forearms, but said parts appear to be made of [[unpaintable plastic]], rather understandably causing the paint operations to be dropped. Additionally, the shoulder laser, chest, and arm knobs sport silver paint rather than chrome.

:According to Hasbro back at [[BotCon 2010]], the toy was planned to eventually be retooled into [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]], using a new head that looks like Perceptor's original toy head.<ref>http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/conventions-15/botcon-2010-hasbro-designers-panel-170066/</ref> This head mold was used when the mold was [[retool]]ed into ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' [[Magnificus (G1)#Generations|Magnificus]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2011/Autobot/Perceptor/perceptor.htm More information on ''Reveal the Shield'' Perceptor at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===United===
[[File:Unitedtoy-Perceptor.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Maybe my [[C joint]]s will work!]]
*'''Autobot Perceptor''' (Deluxe, 2011)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''UN-15'''

:''[[Transformers United|United]]'' Autobot Perceptor features several differences from his Hasbro ''Transformers'' (2010 toyline) counterpart, covering his red vehicle panels with metallic red paint, replacing the clear yellow with colorless clear plastic, and adding some additional detailing to his vehicle mode and robot mode. Other notable details are blue translucent paint on the eyes, as well as silver detailing on his chest. As with all ''United'' versions of the ''Transformers'' (2010) toys, Perceptor lacks a heat-sensitive [[rubsign]], replacing it with a [[tampograph]]ed Autobot sigil. Surprisingly, he lacks any of the chrome from the Hasbro release, leaving those corresponding parts either painted silver or unpainted light gray plastic.
{{-}}

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

:Hasbro again re-released G1 Perceptor in 2015 in the [[Transformers: Platinum Edition|''Platinum Edition'']] toyline. He was co-packed with [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], [[Eject (G1)|Eject]], [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] and [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] in a box with an opening front cover. 

:A new feature included in this set specifically for Perceptor are six 'microscope slides' featuring different pictures, and a slide holder / cage which can hold all six slides. The slides fit snugly onto the mirror of Perceptor's mounting platform, although looking at them through the scope is an underwhelming experience, to say the least.
:Although Perceptor's missile launcher is included, once again the firing mechanism is completely gutted, with the trigger glued into the launcher. However, the missiles are still able to plug into the launcher and are held firmly in place by friction.
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Decoy===
[[File:Decoy Perceptor.jpg|upright=1|thumb|Red and rubbery with science!]]
*'''Cybertron Hero Collection 22''' (Decoy multi-pack, 1985)

:Perceptor 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, Perceptor 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 available in red as part of a 22-piece box set of Autobot figures, 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.

*'''Perceptor''' (Decoy, 1987)
**''Decoy number'': 30

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

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Autobot/Decoys/Perceptor/perceptor.htm More information on decoy Perceptor at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Super Collection Figure===
[[File:HOC Perceptor.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|What's the deal with corn nuts?]]
*'''Perceptor''' (2002)

:''[[Heroes of Cybertron|Super Collection Figure]]'' Perceptor is a non-transforming three-inch tall figure. In Japan, he was released [[blindpacking|blindpacked]] in the ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (franchise)|Victory]]''-themed "Act 7" of the line, and came with the rifle necessary to build [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] into Victory Saber.

===Heroes of Cybertron===
*'''Perceptor''' (2003)

:Perceptor was released in the fourth wave of the ''[[Heroes of Cybertron]]'' line as a mostly unaltered version of the Perceptor figurine from the Japanese ''Super Collection Figure'' line, though as a HOC he uses the standard "all clear-blue plastic painted over" coloring process to give him light-piped eyes. He was released on a separate card instead of a blindpacked box, and came with the head and sword of the [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] build-a-figurine.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Autobot/HoCPerceptor/perceptor.htm More information on ''Heroes of Cybertron'' Perceptor at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Robot Heroes===
[[File:Robotheroesperceptorhardshell.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Now competing on "Iron Chemist"]]
*'''Perceptor vs. Hardshell''' (2009)

:Part of the fourth wave of ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' ''[[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]]'', Perceptor is a super-cute figure packed versus [[Bombshell (G1)|Hardshell]] as part of the "Generation 1 Series".

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/RHPerceptor/perceptor.htm More information on ''Robot Heroes'' Perceptor at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:G1PerceptorProtoColors.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Perceptor's long-lost fraternal twin, Perceivor.]]
[[File:GenerationsDeluxe-AMPerceptor.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|He couldn't stop at just one.]]
*The initial inspiration for Perceptor came from the anime series [[wikipedia:Armored Trooper Votoms|''Armored Trooper Votoms'']]. [[Shinji Aramaki]], designing toys for Takara at the time, liked the microscope look of the heads of the mecha from that series and applied it in a more literal sense with the Micro Change toy, but his involvement ended at the conceptual stage.
*Perceptor's toy has a mouthplate, whilst his character model doesn't. Bizarrely, his original Marvel comics colour scheme has a splash of blue across the bottom half of his face, where his non-existent mouthplate would be. Unlike [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|certain other characters]], ''Regeneration One'' chose to maintain Perceptor's unique Marvel colours, and the artwork depicted the blue area as a recessed mouth, ala [[Blackarachnia (BW)|''Beast Wars'' Blackarachnia]].
*According to [[Aaron Archer]] at [[OTFCC 2004]], he chose to name the ''Armada'' [[Mini-Con]] combiner robot "[[Perceptor (Armada)|Perceptor]]" to honor the [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] employee who engineered the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team|Street Action Team]] because that employee was also responsible for engineering the original Perceptor toy. It's ''likely'' this was [[Hideaki Yoke]], given his [http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/japanese-transformers-40/interview-with-takara-lead-designer-hideaki-yoke-174597/ favorite Transformer is G1 Perceptor], but Archer did not specify at the time. Since Shinji Aramaki was long gone from Takara and directing the animated movie ''Appleseed'' in 2004, though, Occam's razor suggests that Hideaki Yoke engineered both of the Perceptors in question.
*In the animated portion of Perceptor's original toy commercial, he is presented as being quite small, the size a microscope would be in relation to Prime's robot form, and not growing at all, but remaining just as tiny in robot form.
*While the color scheme of the original Perceptor toy was created for the North American market (the ''[[Microman]] [[Micro Change]]'' toy was black and silver), there was apparently some indecision about its exact layout. A prototype toy in the 1985 U.S. [[catalog]] and Perceptor's own [[package art|box art]] show him with his colors shifted around; compared to the final toy, the prototype's black parts are red, the blue parts are black, and the orange parts are blue. Although the same prototype resurfaced in an early Japanese guidebook for the toyline, Perceptor's only known fictional appearance in this color arrangement is the original, [[Dreamwave]]-colored version of "[[Betrayal]]," the second part of ''[[Transformers: Universe (comic)|Transformers: Enter the Wreckers]]''.
**Rather than the bright blue originally intended, the finished Perceptor toy uses a greenish-blue for his biceps and thighs. The original, blue-limbed figure can be seen in Perceptor's commercial; his [[character model]] was also created and colored based on this earlier layout, so he appeared blue all throughout the Generation 1 cartoon and comic. Modern fiction and toys of the character tend to oscillate back and forth between cartoon-blue and toy-greenish-blue.
*Perceptor's Generation 1 [[character model]] and toy [[instructions]] position his scope/cannon of his left shoulder. You ''can'' put it in that position on the toy, but it won't sit flush; it's supposed to go on his ''right'' shoulder.
*A Perceptor [[Action Master]] was planned at one point, but apparently went no further than a concept sketch. Unlike some other Action Masters, the art is based solely on the toy, including its faceplate. It has the distinction of carrying on Perceptor's well-armed legacy, with not just one but TWO shoulder-mounted microscope cannons, arm shields, and a large crossbow-like handgun.<ref>''[[Transformers Generations Deluxe]]'', p110</ref>
*Like a lot of other Transformers, Perceptor was never released in the UK.{{fact}} As a result, the Commemorative Edition was the first version sold in the country and was an Amazon exclusive.
*In a rather surprising twist of events, part of this article has been placed on the cover of [[All Hail Megatron issue 15|''All Hail Megatron'' #15]]. The result is a [[micro-continuity]] in which Perceptor reads this Wiki. What is this "fourth wall" you speak of, reader?

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Perceptor''' (パーセプター ''Pāseputā'')
*''English:'' '''Doctor Baster''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
*''French:'' '''Percepto''' (Canada)
*''Hebrew:'' '''Taffsán''' (תפסן, "Perceptor")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Észlelő''' ("Perceptor"), '''Látó''' ("Seer", 1st movie dub)
*''Italian:'' '''Supervista''' ("Supersight")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Kǎn-Yìng Chě''' (Taiwan, 感應者, "Perceptor"), '''Gǎnzhīqì''' (China, 感知器, "Perceptron")
*''Russian:'' '''Microscope''' (Микроскоп ''Mikroskop'')
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Lovillnik''' (Ловильник, "Catcher")

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Cloud Autobots]]
[[Category:Council members]]
[[Category:Decoys]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Platinum Edition]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Toys "R" Us exclusives]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:United Autobots]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Universe Autobots]]
[[Category:Wings Universe Autobots]]
[[Category:Wreckers]]
[[Category:Zombies]]