Editing Sparkplug Witwicky

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|skywatch|edc}}
{{disambigm|Sparkplug (disambiguation)|Daniel Witwicky (disambiguation)}}
:''Sparkplug [[Witwicky (surname)|Witwicky]] is a [[human]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:SparkplugG1.jpg|upright=1.8|thumb|"I fought in wars, kid."]]
'''Sparkplug Witwicky''' is many things, but first and foremost a father. He's gruff and no-nonsense in a working-class manner, but he loves his son(s) dearly—a sentiment very much reciprocated. His experiences with the [[Transformer]]s aren't always smooth, but his down-to-earth approach serves him well. He is very mechanically inclined, which is an obvious asset when dealing with robots.

His several incarnations throughout the [[Continuity|multiverse]] have a varying number of sons with names like "[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]", "[[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster]]", and "[[Butch Witwicky (G1)|Butch]]".

Sometimes his real first name is '''William''', '''Irving''', or '''Daniel'''.

{{bigquote|I'm a mechanic! I know what I'm doing!|A mind-controlled Sparkplug states his credentials|"[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{quote|Y'know, son, if my hands aren't coated with an inch of motor grease, they may as well not be on my wrists!|Sparkplug Witwicky|"[[The Next Best Thing to Being There!]]"}}
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:LastStand-Sparkplugflashback.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Car monkey have boring weekend, boring manager Rob.]]
In his younger days, '''"Sparkplug" Witwicky''' was a Sergeant in the [[United States Marine Corps]]. A P.O.W. during the [[Korean War]], Sparkplug was forced to repair the [[North Korea]]ns' equipment. However, he secretly sabotaged that same equipment, leading to personnel and material losses for the North Koreans. {{storylink|The Last Stand}}

Later in life, he was a mechanic who owned [[S. Witwicky Auto Repairs & Tow Service]], his own auto service shop in [[Portland]], [[Oregon]]. He had a teenage son, [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster]], who didn't share his interest in auto repair. Buster was more interested in reading, learning, and his work in the literary scholarship program, which he hoped would help pay for his college. This caused Sparkplug to worry, because this wouldn't "lead to a job one day"? <font size=1>What?</font>

[[File:TheTransformers-Sparkplug.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Like any good father, Sparkplug believes education is a tragic waste of time.]]
Sparkplug was rudely awoken one night by noise in his garage, and when he rushed down there to investigate, he was incredibly pleased to see Buster inspecting a damaged Volkswagen Beetle. Finally his son had begun carrying on his father's work! Buster explained that Sparkplug was mistaken, and that this car was ''alive''. {{storylink|The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers}}

Buster told his dad that while he, [[Jesse (G1)|Jessie]], and [["O"]] were at the drive-in movie that night, they were attacked by [[Seeker (body-type)|three jet fighters]] and during the confusion that followed, Buster ended up driving the Volkswagen home. Sparkplug, though he disbelieved Buster's story, nonetheless began working on repairing the car. Hours later, what repairs Sparkplug could manage were finished, and the car transformed into the alien robot, [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee!]] He explained to the two humans that he was an Autobot who had crash landed on Earth along with several others, and that they were in the middle of a civil war. When Buster asked to return with Bumblebee to the [[Ark (G1)|Autobots' spaceship]], at first Sparkplug refused, but then Buster reminded him that Sparkplug had always wanted Buster to stop reading and start living. Sparkplug let his son leave. 

But the two quickly returned when Bumblebee realized his damage was more widespread than he realized. Using some materials from Sparkplugs garage, they constructed a communicator. Soon the rest of the Autobots arrived, and their leader, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], introduced himself to them and addressed their group's dire fuel needs. Their introductions were interrupted by an attack by the [[Decepticon]]s, the Autobots' enemies. As the battlefield consumed the neighborhood, Sparkplug hid with his son in the cab of a wreck in the lot's junkyard. However, the Decepticon leader, [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] located Sparkplug and grabbed him, intent on getting the human to make fuel for the Decepticons. Megatron dropped him ("Geronimo!") momentarily to fight Optimus Prime, only for Sparkplug to be scooped up again by [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]]. The Decepticons immediately fled with their prize. {{storylink|Power Play!}} {{storylink|Cold Comfort and Joy!}}

After being kidnapped by the Decepticons, he was instructed by Megatron to develop a process that would convert Earthen gasoline into fuel they could consume. Sparkplug drew on his memories of his time as a mechanic in the Korean War, recalling an instance where he had sabotaged the enemy vehicles' fuel and brake lines, and did the same to the Decepticons, poisoning their fuel and hopefully allowing the Autobots to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Finally, Sparkplug was rescued from the [[Fortress Sinister|Decepticons' fortress]] by the Autobot [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] and the mysterious [[Spider-Man]]. {{storylink|Prisoner of War!}}

[[File:LastStand-heartattack.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|Suffer a heart attack, Sparkplug, courtesy of my [[photon rifle]]!]]
However, before Sparkplug's heroic act could come to light, many of the Autobots believed that Sparkplug had betrayed them by making fuel for the Decepticons, and an over-reactive [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] let loose with his flamethrower. Although Sparkplug wasn't injured by the weapon itself, he did suffer a mild heart attack. Startled, the Autobots allowed [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] to drive Sparkplug and his son to [[Greater Portland Medical Center|the nearest hospital]]. Much later, Sparkplug's condition was stabilised, and he woke up in the hospital surrounded by Buster, Jessie, and "O". He smiled, knowing that ultimately, his plan to poison the Decepticons' fuel would spell their doom. {{storylink|The Last Stand}}

''The alien history student [[Dicet Alpha-zero]] traveled through time to witness key moments in the Autobot/Decepticon civil war, and thus he observed Sparkplug poison the Decepticons' fuel and suffer his heart attack.'' {{storylink|The Quest!}}

From his hospital bed, he asked Buster to promise to cut his ties with the Autobots, as an alien civil war was no place for a high school teenager. {{storylink|The New Order}} As Sparkplug was kept in the hospital, his customers grew irate with his disappearance and threatened to take their business to [[Scarpatoni's Garage]]. {{storylink|DIS-Integrated Circuits!}} Finally, Sparkplug was sent home, muttering about how the doctors demanded to keep him there a week for "only a little" heart attack. He couldn't wait to get back to fixing cars, but amazingly, when he opened the garage, there were none inside. Buster explained that he had somehow fixed them all. Ecstatic, Sparkplug noted that it wasn't too late to change the sign to say "Witwicky and Son." {{storylink|The Next Best Thing to Being There!}} 

[[File:Brainstorm-Sparkplug.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|"Uh, dad, when [[Jesse (G1)|Jessie]] says she's going to apologize, that's code for "[[kiss|make out]]." You're not gonna...?"]]
Convinced his son enjoyed auto repairs as much as he did, Sparkplug asked Buster to accompany him in the tow-truck when he learned about a breakdown on the interstate. They returned to their service shop to find Buster's girlfriend Jessie. Sparkplug told Buster to forget about the car repairs and have fun with Jessie on their bicycles, so long as they returned in time for dinner. But the repairs were interrupted when Bumblebee arrived and told Sparkplug that his son was in grave danger, for Buster had broken his promise to avoid the Transformers and had somehow come into possession of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]]. The Decepticons would stop at nothing to take it for themselves. Despite Bumblebee's warning, Sparkplug shooed the Autobot away, insisting that he didn't need help taking care of his son. Once Bumblebee left, Sparkplug left the shop in his tow truck, hoping to find Buster before the Autobots did. Though Sparkplug was able to notice Bumblebee tailing him and subsequently lose him, he didn't notice Bumblebee's colleague [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]. And thankfully so, because once Buster and Jessie were spotted, the group was under attack first by [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and then the mindless Decepticon creation, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]. Both Bumblebee and Bluestreak were damaged in the battle, so it fell to Buster Witwicky and his command of the Creation Matrix to save them. After Sparkplug watched Buster take apart Jetfire with his mind, he realized that Buster was becoming an adult and didn't need him to tell him what to do anymore - his son could decide what was best for himself. {{storylink|Brainstorm!}} {{storylink|Prime Time!}}

[[File:Specialteamssense.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|I'm just a caveman. Your "Defensor" and "Superion" frighten and confuse me.]]
''Buster eventually returned the Creation Matrix to Optimus Prime, but residual energy persisted within his mind. Late one night, Sparkplug rushed into Buster's room when he heard his son screaming from nightmares. During his sleep, Buster had somehow carved an image of [[Superion (G1)|a strange Transformer]] into his bedroom door. Righfully so, the next day Sparkplug insisted Buster join Jessie to a local demolition derby to help clear his head. After they left, Sparkplug detached the door and brought it to the Autobots in the hope that they could diagnose Buster's problem. Worried that [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] would come after Buster, Sparkplug and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] followed Buster and Jessie to the derby. After the Decepticons attacked as suspected and Buster was knocked into a coma, Sparkplug's misgivings about interacting with the Transformers were strengthened.'' {{storylink|Devastation Derby!}} ''Against his father's wishes, Buster and Optimus Prime traveled into Buster's dreams in order to decipher the meaning of them. After learning about the Second Generation of Transformers known as the "[[Special Teams]]," Buster and Optimus came to, and Buster's nightmares were excised. Sparkplug was left thoroughly confused by his son's babbling on about the Transformers he had seen in his dream however.'' {{storylink|Second Generation!}}

Years later, Sparkplug had opened up a [[Wash and Roll]] car wash franchise adjacent to his service shop. Nothing pleased Sparkplug more than filling up cars, except maybe all the extra money that was coming in. It was later revealed that the car wash had put Sparkplug and countless other humans under hypnotic suggestion to surrender their fuel to [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s Decepticons and become their slaves. While under Decepticon control, Sparkplug and an angry mob attacked Buster while the teenager was attempting to defeat Ratbat. Once Buster managed to snap Sparkplug and the other slaves out of their trances, the humans turned on Ratbat and Laserbeak, their former controllers, en-masse. Sparkplug promised his son that he'd have more free time from then on, as the Wash and Roll franchise had until then swallowed their lives whole. Sure, he was out half his business, but it beat being a "rich zombie." {{storylink|Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom}}

[[File:TrialByFire-Sparkplug.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Something more like a stream of flames or something, maybe, but not a collapsing building."]]
Some months later, Sparkplug received a letter from his other son, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], who had been away at college "back east" and was going to come visit his family for break. Sparkplug went to tell Buster the great news, but Buster was too busy thinking about the Autobots he recently saw executed on the news; one of them looked like Bumblebee. Sparkplug reminded Buster that there wasn't anything ordinary folks like them could do. The next morning, the Witwickys received a surprise visit from [[Walter Barnett (G1)|Walter Barnett]], who carried a briefcase containing the brains of the executed Autobots attached to remote control cars. When Barnett said Buster must come with him on a matter of national security, Sparkplug happily handed over the keys to the pickup. But unfortunately for Sparkplug, once Barnett and Buster had departed, he was confronted by Ratbat and the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]]. When Sparkplug refused to give up their location, the Decepticons tore the Witwicky service garage apart, collapsing it on top of the mechanic. {{storylink|Toy Soldiers!}} 

Needless to say, a day or two later when Spike arrived from college and saw the collapsed building, he feared for his father's life. Sparkplug appeared behind him, laughing, saying that it "takes more than a garage collapsing on top of him to keep old Sparkplug Witwicky down!" It had taken over a day for the authorities to dig him out, but he was no worse for wear. Once Sparkplug told Spike that his younger brother Buster was last seen heading off to the Ark, Spike worried for Buster as well, and left Sparkplug to go find him. {{storylink|Trial by Fire!}} 

[[File:DesertIslandofSpace-Spikereveals.jpg|left|thumb|upright=2.2|"Oh, thank god, I thought you were coming out."]]
With his home demolished, Sparkplug took up residence in the [[Cascade Vista Motel]]. Several days later, Spike returned, telling his father that he was going to go find Buster. Their conversation was interrupted by a phone call from Walter Barnett, who said that he had located Buster and was keeping an eye on him, but couldn't tell them where he was. When Spike ran his fingers over the phone cord to track the call, Sparkplug's eldest son was forced to admit the cause of his recent departure: he had become an Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]], [[Binary bonding|binary bonded]] to [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. Sparkplug was understandably shocked, and when Spike combined with [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] and then combined with Fortress Maximus, the mechanic wondered audibly what the Autobots had done to his son. After being introduced to the Autobot [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]], Fortress Maximus bid farewell to his father, and the Autobots left him. {{storylink|The Desert Island of Space!}} 

[[File:PretendertotheThrone-Sparkplug.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Sparkplug's tired of Prime's prank calls.]]
Ethan Zachary, trying to help his digital copy of the dead Optimus Prime get through some personality issues, called every Witwicky in Portland, hoping to get in contact with one of Prime's former human friends. By then, Sparkplug was living in a boarding house in a run-down section of the city. When Zachary told Sparkplug that he was calling on behalf of Optimus Prime, Sparkplug fumed.

{{quote|My family's destroyed, my home is gone, I'm forced to live in this rat-hole -- all because of those robots -- '''and now you ask me to help them again?!'''}}

Sparkplug slammed the phone. "Some game players are sorer losers than others," Prime observed. {{storylink|Pretender to the Throne!}} 

Since his auto repair business had been destroyed, Sparkplug didn't get much practice fixing cars, so he was grateful when Jessie stopped by to have her car's transmission looked at. He bemoaned the loss of his business and both of his sons to the Autobots. Suddenly, an egg-like capsule landed, shot from orbit, and opened to reveal the Autobot [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]. Blaster offered to help them get Buster back... if one of them snuck him onto the Decepticons' island resort, [[Club Con]], in his stereo mode. Jessie noted that Sparkplug was too old and might be too conspicuous and volunteered herself. Sparkplug forbade it, not wishing harm to befall Jessie as well, but Jessie insisted, mentioning that with Buster back, she wouldn't be around to annoy him so much anymore. {{storylink|Club Con!}} 

Though Blaster failed, Buster was rescued from the Decepticons via other means, and Sparkplug was happy to have both of his sons back home with him. Spike was off to pick up his friend [[Cliff Dietz]] in [[San Francisco]] to go skiing, and Sparkplug told his eldest son to be careful, as he would be returning to college soon. {{storylink|The Man in the Machine!}}

{{note|In "[[The Last Stand]]", Sparkplug had a dream sequence where he identified his first name as William. Later, in "[[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom]]", while hypnotized, he identified his first name as Irving. Additionally, the name of his service shop is "S. Witwicky Auto Repairs & Tow Service", which was revealed at [[Bob Budiansky]]'s [[BotCon 2010]] slideshow to stand for "Stanislas Piotr" Witwicky.<ref name="BC10">[http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc10/bc10bb.html griffin's 2010 BotCon report]</ref>}}

====''Regeneration One''====
[[File:Sparkplug the war to end all wars.jpg|thumb|Hmmm... No, not seeing any difference.]]
{{NoteRG1}}
Sparkplug died sometime after the supposed end of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], most likely during [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s [[zombie]]-powered devastation of [[Earth]] in the mid-1990s. Later, as the [[Dark Matrix]] creature tortured Spike Witwicky in [[Zero Space]], it manifested as Sparkplug in order to fuel Spike's guilt over abandoning his family (and most of the population of Earth) to their fates. This caused multiple fissures to tear in the membranes of reality itself so that the Dark Matrix could infect the rest of the [[multiverse]], though its plan was ultimately foiled by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] and an army of alternate versions of himself. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 5}}
{{-}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Chris Latta]] (English), [[Toshio Ishii]] (Japanese)|[[Zhan Che]] (Chinese), [[Edgar Fruitier]] (Canadian French), [[Jacques Ferrière]] (European French), [[François Leccia]] (European French, "Make Tracks"), [[Albert Augier]] (European French, "Desertion of the Dinobots" episodes & "Blaster Blues"), [[Georges Atlas]] (European French, "Kremzeek!"), [[Gerd Wiedenhofen]] (German), [[Gerd Rigauer]] (German, ''Generation 2''), [[Juan Cuadra]] (American Spanish), [[Amaury Costa]] (Portuguese), [[Ayrton Cardoso]] (Portuguese, "Transport to Oblivion"), [[Márcio Marconato]] (Portuguese, DVD dub), [[Jaroslav Kuneš]] (Czech)}}
At some unspecified point in the past, Sparkplug Witwicky worked as a [[Ruby crystal mines of Burma|ruby crystal miner in Burma]], of all things. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}

[[File:Mtmte2 witwickys and trailbreaker.jpg|left|upright=1.3|thumb|"Another crumpet, Mr. Car?"]]
In [[1984]], he and his son [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] were working on an offshore [[oil rig]]. The day was like any other day, with Sparkplug asking his son to help him flush out a drill bit. Before they could carry out their task, [[Decepticon|giant robots]] descended from the sky and landed on the oil rig, and with no provocation, were almost immediately attacked by Sparkplug's coworkers. Regardless, their intentions became clear when Sparkplug himself was pinned against a wall by [[Rumble (G1)|a small purple robot]], who then threw Spike overboard when he tried to help his father. Freeing himself from the robot's clutches, Sparkplug dived into the water after his son. While the rig workers hid in the ocean, [[Autobot|another group of giant robots]] arrived and fought with the group of robots who were stealing [[oil]] from the rig. The leader of the evil robots destroyed the rig and set fire to the oil tanks as a diversion while he escaped. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}}

The good robots, calling themselves the Autobots, saved the oil rig workers from a fate exactly the same as death. Grateful, Sparkplug and Spike happily latched on to the friendly alien robots, offering up their expertise and knowledge about planet Earth in exchange for joining the team. After the Autobots failed to stop the evil Decepticons at [[Sherman Dam]], Sparkplug, Spike and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] had a tea party in the woods, ostensibly so they could eavesdrop on the nearby Decepticon base. After finding out that the evil robots intended to attack the Ruby Crystal Mines of Burma, Sparkplug opined that he preferred being a spy to his old job at the oil rig, which was just as well, given the fact he was now unemployed. Later, Sparkplug's prior experience in the Burma mines came in handy when the Autobots needed to plant an explosive device inside the mine. As he left with [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]], Sparkplug declared that their mission was for both the fortunes of Cybertron and Earth. Moments later, they were caught in the explosion and buried alive. Oops. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}

[[File:G1 Transport RatchetSparkplug fixingIronhide.jpg|upright=1.34|thumb|"Now where is that tumor?"]]
Fortunately, they were saved. Later, both father and son volunteered for the Autobot attack on the Decepticon space cruiser. After [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] failed to stop the cruiser, Sparkplug tried to reassure the Autobot leader that he'd done all that anybody could do. Subsequently, the Decepticons were apparently defeated when their ship crashed into the sea, so Sparkplug and Spike were to join the Autobots as they went home to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], with fuel from the grateful nations of Earth. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}}

For some reason, this did not pan out, and neither the Autobots nor Sparkplug and his son went anywhere. As their livelihoods had been destroyed, the Witwickys seemed to move into the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and were almost constantly hanging out with the Autobots. After the Autobots failed to stop the Decepticons at the local solar power station, Sparkplug helped [[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] repair the stubborn old [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]]. Later, Sparkplug stopped the trigger-happy Ironhide from blowing up a shuttle full of Decepticon [[energon cube]]s, as he was the only one who bothered to remember the fact that Spike had been captured to pilot the shuttle through the [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion (episode)|Transport to Oblivion}} Shortly afterward, Sparkplug was present at Autobot Headquarters when it was attacked by the [[antimatter]]-powered Megatron. {{storylink|Roll for It}}

After Optimus Prime was mortally wounded in battle, Sparkplug watched Ratchet and [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] attempt repairs, but couldn't lend much more than moral support. Though a team was sent to Cybertron to pick up a replacement [[Cosmitron]] provided some hope, Sparkplug cautioned Spike that sometimes things just don't turn out like you'd hope. Spike continued to hope and, despite his father's wishes, went to help the Autobot defend headquarters against a Decepticon attack. Sparkplug's earlier caution was proved unnecessary when [[Chip Chase]] and the Autobots returned with a new Cosmitron. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer}}

[[File:WaroftheDinobots Sparkplug with plans.jpg|left|upright=1.2|thumb|"Wait, the anklebone's connected to the hipbone? That can't be right."]]
Spike and Sparkplug accompanied the Autobots to the [[Arctic]], to investigate Decepticon activity there. They couldn't do much more than run for cover when the giant Decepticon [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] fired on them. After Sparkplug rescued his son from the water, the pair became stranded on a chuck of ice, and captured by Skyfire. [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s treatment of the two humans, imprisoning them in an ice case, clued Skyfire in that the Decepticons weren't what they seemed. Spike and Sparkplug were soon rescued by the Autobots, and cheered on Skyfire as he dealt with [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Fire in the Sky}}

Sparkplug helped out with the construction of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s, and was present for their unveiling and subsequent rampage. Fortunately neither him nor his son were injured, but he was concerned when Spike and Bumblebee went after [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}} When Chip came up with two more Dinobots to build, Sparkplug professed his ignorance of the prehistoric beasts, but helped build them anyway. The Autobots lost contact with Optimus, who had gone to check on [[Meteorini Chipperoni|a potentially explosive meteorite]], and Wheeljack informed the humans that the meteorite had been moved. The two new Dinobots were sent to investigate, and by the time Sparkplug and the others arrived, Grimlock and Optimus were making up after an earlier falling out. {{storylink|War of the Dinobots}}

[[File:UltimateDoom1 SparkplugslapsSpike.jpg|upright=1.34|thumb|"Disrespecting little brat! OBEY YOUR DADDY!"]]
Sparkplug was kidnapped by the Decepticons as a test subject for [[Doctor Arkeville]] and turned to their side by the doctor's [[hypno-chip]]s. The Decepticons allowed the Autobots to free Sparkplug so he could sabotage [[Teletraan I]], which gave them an easy means to attack the Autobot headquarters. Spike confronted his father over the apparent betrayal, and Sparkplug appealed to his son to join the Decepticons. When Spike refused, Sparkplug declared that the next time they met, it would be as enemies. Sparkplug and a number of other controlled humans were used as a shield by the Decepticons, while they set up a huge space bridge. During the battle, Spike was able to momentarily reach his father, before Arkeville increased the power of the hypno-chip, once again overriding Sparkplug's will. Sparkplug later activated one of the massive pylons, bringing Cybertron into Earth's orbit and imperiling both worlds. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 1}}

[[File:UltimateDoom3 Sparkplug and Spike hug.jpg|left|upright=1.2|thumb|D'aawww.]]
In the aftermath, a celebratory Sparkplug left aboard [[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]]. When the Decepticons started using the slaves as human shields for their energon shipments, Sparkplug ended up on Cybertron. Spike mounted a rescue mission, eventually stumbling on the hypno-chip control center. There he encountered Sparkplug, who immediately trigged an alarm. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 2}} On [[Shockwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Shockwave]]'s orders, Sparkplug prevented Spike from escaping, but with the arrival of more Autobots, Spike got away. Once Wheeljack had rigged up disruption device to disable the hypno-chips, they returned to Decepticon HQ and used it to free Sparkplug. The reunited family returned to Earth in Skyfire to help defeat Megatron and remove Cybertron from orbit. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 3}}

[[File:PlagueofInsecticons distress call.jpg|upright=1.45|thumb|"Let's see if I remember my morse. Y. O. M. A. M. M. A. ... Hey!"]]
Sparkplug listened in on a distress call from [[Bali]] about [[Insecticon (G1)|giant monster insects]]. While Spike and several of the Autobots went to investigate, Sparkplug contacted Optimus Prime and alerted him to the problem. {{storylink|A Plague of Insecticons}} After Megatron challenged Optimus to a one-on-one duel, Sparkplug, Spike, Chip and the Autobots all turned out to watch and cheer Optimus on. To their horror, Megatron bested Prime, meaning the Autobots would have to leave Earth. Fortunately, when they got back to Headquarters, they discovered that Megatron had cheated, rendering the result void. {{storylink|Heavy Metal War}} 

In an effort to show his friend Wheeljack that the Autobot wasn't the only inventor in the Ark, Sparkplug once managed to take spare Autobot parts and put them together to make a functioning robot called [[Autobot X (G1)|Autobot X]]. Once activated, the mindless robot immediately bashed in everything and everyone in sight. After Spike was injured in a battle with the Decepticons, they formulated a plan to transfer Spike's mind into Autobot X while his human body was worked upon by surgeons. Sparkplug regretted this decision, as it drove Spike insane. Spike was on the verge of joining the Decepticons when his own actions sent his father plummeting from a clifftop. The threat to Sparkplug caused Spike to regain his senses, and he was later restored to his own body. {{storylink|Autobot Spike}}

[[File:AttackOfTheAutobots Attitude Exchanger.jpg|left|upright=1.34|Sparkplug Witwicky, Quidditch enthusiast.|thumb]]
Sparkplug was at Autobot HQ when new reports indicated Decepticon activity in [[New York City]]. As he left, Optimus told Sparkplug to tell the other Autobots to head there. {{storylink|City of Steel (episode)|City of Steel}} After "enjoying" a test of [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]]'s new speaker system, Spike and Sparkplug returned to HQ with the Autobot, to find [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] acting strangely. Once Sparkplug had patched up Teletraan I, they discovered that Megatron had modified the [[recharging chamber]]s to turn the Autobots evil. Sparkplug created an [[attitude exchanger]] and, after testing it on Bluestreak, built enough to cure the rest of the Autobots as well. He and Jazz daringly rescued [[Harding|Doctor Harding]] from Ratchet and [[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]], then headed to an air field to hunt down everyone else. Later there was a brief argument over who should claim the credit, before Spike reminded them that there were a bunch of planes busted by the Autobots that needed fixing. {{storylink|Attack of the Autobots (episode)|Attack of the Autobots}} 

Sparkplug alerted Ironhide after [[Sky Spy]] witnessed [[Carly]] being captured by the Decepticons. Though Ironhide figured Spike would handle it, Sparkplug talked him into lending a hand. Sparkplug was pleased as punch when his son went out with [[Carly]], because she was clearly out of Spike's league. {{storylink|The Immobilizer}} When the Autobots were called to [[Quantum Laboratories]] to fight out-of-control machinery, Sparkplug found a [[Remote Control Circuit Linker]] card on one of the devices. He accompanied the Autobots on a hydrofoil to the [[oil rig|oil platform]] which the Decepticons were using to steal energy from [[oil tanker]]s. He was useful in alerting the Autobots when he spotted the Decepticons making a swift retreat, and everyone evacuated before it exploded. {{storylink|Day of the Machines}}

Sparkplug joined his son for the unveiling of [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]] and fled the hall when the Decepticons attacked. {{storylink|Enter the Nightbird}} During a demonstration of the training Wheeljack had given the Dinobots, Sparkplug was impressed with their progress, but it turned out he'd spoken too soon, as the Dinobots began another rampage. He and Ratchet made the mistake of starting to try to fix thing ''before'' the Dinobots had been reigned in. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 1}} Repairs were completed in record time, however the repaired Teletraan alerted them to strange energy readings in town, which Sparkplug realised were near where Spike had gone. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 2}} He helped out with one of the stranger plans by loading a box containing [[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]], [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] and Bumblebee onto [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]]. {{storylink|Microbots}}

[[File:MMP2 Sparkplug Chip enjoy Decepticon Day.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"This is the LAST time I visit San Francisco, Chip."]]
Sparkplug, Spike and Chip were part of the cheering crowds that greeted the Autobots on [[Autobot Day]]. Unfortunately the crowd turned nasty after incriminating video was played of the Autobots raiding [[oil refinery|oil refineries]], but the trio stuck by their Autobot friends, returning to Headquarters with them. To Sparkplug's bewilderment, the Autobots were rapidly found guilty and commanded to leave the planet. As they did so, Sparkplug wondered where Spike had gone. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1}} The humans put on [[Decepticon Day]], a celebration that Sparkplug found sickening. Spike turned up with evidence exonerating the Autobots, but as he, Sparkplug and Chip tried to present it, the other shoe dropped — the Decepticons revealed their true intent and took over the city. The trio was put to work with other humans in a power plant. Just when all hope seemed lost, the Autobots returned and freed everyone. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}}

[[File:DesertionDinos1 SparkpluginaSuit.jpg|left|upright=1.3|thumb|"A suit? Who are you, and what have you done with my father?"]]
Later, Sparkplug left on a ''mysterious'' trip that required him to wear a suit. Upon his arrival at the airport, he was greeted by Spike, Carly and Bumblebee. The three humans were remarkably unharmed after Megatron blew up a nearby plane, though the Dinobots were badly damaged, and Sparkplug helped repair them, only for the ingrates to leave the Autobots. When the Autobots suffered from [[Cybertonium]] depletion, Sparkplug managed to persuade the Dinobots to steal some from the Decepticon space bridge. Instead they went to Cybertron. Spike and Carly opted to follow them, so Sparkplug supplied Spike with a two-way radio. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1}} He monitored the pair as they explored Cybertron, providing guidance until they went too deep into the planet to communicate with. He somehow set up a space bridge platform right outside Headquarters, and was waiting by it when Spike, Carly and the Dinobots returned with a supply of Cybertonium. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2}}

Blaster's broadcast of a human concert managed to annoy Sparkplug as well as the Autobots when it came through the comms system at Headquarters. When Megatron subsequently stole the [[Voltronic Galaxer]] and blocked radio transmissions worldwide, Sparkplug wondered what they could do and quickly [[Roll out|got an answer]]. {{storylink|Blaster Blues}} As the Autobots expanded their operations, they installed a small urban base in [[New York City|New York]] City, concealed behind an auto-repair garage operated by Sparkplug. In the aftermath of the failed Decepticon plan to use stolen cars as robot drones, Sparkplug bemoaned the fact it would take weeks for himself, [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], Ratchet and Wheeljack to return the cars to normal functionality. {{storylink|Make Tracks}}

[[File:CosmicRust Spike Carly Sparkplug at awards.jpg|thumb|upright=1.34|"How is it that ''Sparkplug Witwicky'' of all people owns more than one suit?" muses guy-in-front-who-is-totally-G.B.-Blackrock.]]
When Megatron unleashed [[Kremzeek]] onto the Autobots, Sparkplug was the first to realize the electrically based creature scrambled Autobot circuits and would thus be repelled by an insulating compound sprayed on the remaining Autobots. While those few left for [[Japan]] to chase after the creature, the hapless Sparkplug was left with the unenviable task of reactivating the other Autobots left behind. {{storylink|Kremzeek!}} Spike and Sparkplug were running a workshop when Powerglide was assigned to protect [[Astoria Carlton-Ritz]]. Sparkplug observed with amusement that Powerglide appeared to have fallen in love with Astoria, provoking laughter from Ratchet and Ironhide, and a threat of violence from Powerglide. {{storylink|The Girl Who Loved Powerglide}} After [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] was critically damaged, Sparkplug worked hard to help repair him. His toiling and support of Ratchet helped to show the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s that the Autobot cause was worthier than the Decepticon one. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}} Sparkplug got all gussied up again for a [[National Scientific Achievement]] ceremony during which Perceptor was presented with an award. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}

====Scramble City: Mobilization====
Sparkplug worked alongside Spike, [[Chip Chase]] and [[Carly]] to help to construct [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]]. {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}

====''Legends'' comic====
Sparkplug was at the Autobot base when [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] unveiled his latest invention. {{storylink|Slugslinger's Ambition}}

===Find Your Fate Junior===
{{notemultipath}}
====Battle Drive====
Sparkplug discovered a critical weakness in the Decepticons' circuits that would allow the Autobots to destroy them once and for all. However, the Decepticons discovered this and came after Sparkplug, who fled to the hills to hide. This eventually led to an Alamo-like standoff with a small group of Autobots holding off the Decepticon army from the shelter of a cave for two days while they waited for relief to arrive, with Sparkplug performing the makeshift repair work to keep them running. In one possible scenario that ensued, Sparkplug and Prowl attempted to make a mad dash back to Autobots headquarters in order to get the schematics to safety. But this turned out to be one of [[you]]r dreams. In another possible sequence of events, Sparkplug, Buster and the Autobots trapped in the cave tried to escape by going farther down inside the cavern. They only plummeted to their doom for their trouble, as they couldn't see the chasm before them in the dark.

The paper on which Sparkplug had the specifics of the weakness was ruined in the battle. He could re-create the research, but the Decepticons would be able to change the design of their circuits while he did so. Still, at least it would keep them out of trouble for a while! {{storylink|Battle Drive}}

====Attack of the Insecticons====
While tinkering in his lab, Sparkplug invented the [[Sun-Pak]], a powerful solar battery that threatened to change the balance of power between the Autobots and the Decepticons. Observing Ironhide testing the device in an underground cave, Sparkplug alongside his son, Buster, and the Autobots became excited at the prospect of never needing to worry about their energy supplies running low ever again. Optimus Prime was quick to praise Sparkplug, calling him a genius for his new invention, though the ever-humble Sparkplug was happy enough with the simple title of "mechanic." Celebrations are short lived, however, as the Decepticons discover the Autobot's testing grounds just as the device is waning in power, and Sparkplug is pushed aside to safety by Optimus when a firefight breaks out between the two factions.

One of the possible outcomes of the firefight leads to Sparkplug being kidnapped by Starscream, hellbent on acquiring the Sun-Pak for himself. Later finding himself before Starscream and Bombshell in a museum after-hours, the two Decepticons attempt to browbeat the human into building another Sun-Pak for them. He is given the choice of building one out of his own free will, or being subjected to Bombshell's Cerebro-shells, and being made a slave to the Decepticons' whims. Sparkplug insists that nothing will make him cooperate with the evil robots, and so Bombshell prepares to administer the mind-control device. Depending one what choices Buster makes, who observed the whole drama develop while hiding nearby, Sparkplug's fate differs.

If Buster decides to contact Megatron and provide him with a recording proving that Starscream intends to overthrow him as leader of the Decepticons, Megatron is shortly on-scene. The Decepticon leader orders Sparkplug's release, and allows the humans and their Autobot allies to leave the museum safely while he deals out disciplinary actions towards his troops. Though Sparkplug is worried that the Decepticons may seek out to steal his invention again, Buster informs him that circumstances are so either all Decepticons who know about the Sun-Pak will be unable or unwilling to divulge the information to Megatron.

If Buster decides to contact Megatron but refuses to provide him with proof of Starscream's treachery, Megatron appears nonetheless, but allows the Cerebro-shell to be administered onto Sparkplug. Though it appears at first as though the Decepticons have secured themselves victory over the Autobots, the mind-control process leaves Sparkplug's memory damaged, and he is unable to recreate the Sun-Pak for the Decepticons. He is later released from Decepticon custody, the effects of the Cerebro-Shell having worn off, and informs his Autobot allies that the only invention he could provide for the Decepticons while under their spell was a laser-toothbrush!

If Buster decides to formulate a plan with Bumblebee and Blaster to rescue his father, the Autobots use a combination of speed and Electro-scramblers to have Bombshell miss his target, and hit Starscream instead of Sparkplug. Sparkplug is ordered to be release by the newly mentally malleable Decepticons, and father, son and Autobots allies ride off safely as Starscream and Bombshell bicker over allegiances.

In another possible outcome of the previously mentioned firefight, if the Autobots attempt to flee and confuse their escape route with another passage, they find themselves in the Insecticons' underground nest. The heroic Cybertronians find themselves under the effect of an Electro-Scramblers, and are unable to fight back against their captors. Sparkplug and Buster are however unaffected by the device. Sparkplug proposes that he can rewire the Sun-Pak to provide for a short time a source of energy for all the Autobots, if the manage to recharge it.

If Beachcomber is tasked with sneaking off with the Sun-Pak to the surface, and manages to make his way there, the Autobot comes face to face with Kickback. Thankfully, Sparkplug and Buster find their way to the surface too, and take the Insecticon by surprise with a blaster. Father, son and Beachcomber make their way back to the rest of the Autobots, and enable them to escape the Insecticon's trap with the now-charge Sun-Pak.

If the Autobots instead attempt to use the Sun-Pak as a bargaining chip against the Insecticons, the Insecticons turn down their offer, leaving Sparkplug and Buster to rescue the lot of them. The duo sneak up on the Insecticons, and turn the power of the Electro-Disrupter onto them, allowing the Autobots to flee safely out of the cavern.

In other possible adventures where the Autobots are forced to destroy the Sun-Pak to keep it out of Decepticon hands, Optimus is confident that Sparkplug can construct a new Sun-Pak if the situation calls for him to do so. {{storylink|Attack of the Insecticons}}

====Earthquake====
In one possible sequence of events, after the Autobots had uncovered a Decepticon plot to destroy Center City, a lead team, including Optimus and his strongest Autobots, headed for the city to defend it. On route, Optimus picked up Sparkplug to help the Autobots better communicate with the humans. Stopping outside of Center City, Prime asked Sparkplug on which course of action would best... To enter Center City in their [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]]s, or in their [[robot mode]]s?

If Sparkplug suggested that the Autobots not worry about subtlety, the entire squad transformed and began prowling the streets in search of Decepticons. Though Sparkplug and the Autobots attempted to find the mayor of the city to restore order, they were unable to do so amidst the chaos. Having lost too much time, Sparkplug was presumably killed when the Decepticons’ earthquake successfully destroyed Center City.

If Sparkplug suggested that the Autobots not risk causing a panic and remain in their vehicle modes, he asked the Autobots to drive him to the mayor's office. As an old friend of his, the mayor would listen to his pleas for an evacuation. The Autobots would serve as the means for the evacuation in their vehicle modes. Sparkplug's plan was carried out smoothly. {{storylink|Earthquake (book)|Earthquake}}

====Decepticon Poison====
Sparkplug was dispensing the Autobots’ newest batch of fuel, only to discover once he had topped up about half of the Autobots that the fuel had been poisoned by the Decepticons.

If Optimus decided in light of these events to stay on the defensive while the Autobots attempted to devise a cure, he sent Sparkplug out to fetch the Autobots’ emergency stash of fuel, in case the Decepticons attacked while the Autobots were in a weakened state.

In one possible scenario, Sparkplug returned to the Autobot headquarters with the fuel in tow just in time to refuel Optimus, Mirage, Prowl and Bumblebee as the group took off on an espionage mission against the Decepticons.

In several possible versions of the events that followed, Sparkplug then returned to the Autobot headquarters with more fuel, just in time to see the Autobots having been cured from the poison. {{storylink|Decepticon Poison}}
{{-}}

====Project Brain Drain====
[[File:ProjectBrainDrainSparkplugandSpike.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Sparkplug was fiddling around with a new invention, a new type of high-tech radio when Spike came about to inform his father that he was off to a rock concert at [[Heywood Heights]]. Just as Spike was leaving, Sparkplug managed to get his radio to work, only for him to stumble upon a secret Decepticon frequency. Overhearing their plans, Sparkplug learned that the Decepticons were planning to drain the brain powers of the attendees of the very rock concert his son was going to attend later in the day. Though Sparkplug attempted to warn Spike, the boy had already left with his friends. Realizing that he needed to radio the Autobots, Sparkplug needed to decide whether he would try contacting them over his radio, or if he should set out for the Autobot city Metroplex.

If Sparkplugs set out immediately for Metroplex, he managed to make it most of the way there, only for his old beat-up car to get a flat a few miles from the Autobot base and swerve out of control. The car was demolished after crashing into a telephone pole, but Sparkplug emerged unharmed from the wreckage. Knowing that time was still of the essence, he pressed on towards Metroplex.

If Sparkplug continued to follow the road towards Metroplex, he soon crossed paths with Bumblebee, who gave him a ride to the Autobot headquarters. The both of them then rushed to Ultra Magnus to inform him of what Sparkplug had previously learned.

In one possible scenario that ensued, Sparkplug joined the Autobots as they headed to the Decepticons’ headquarters, hoping to create enough trouble there that the Decepticons would be forced to abandon their scheme. Upon arrival, Sparkplug checked his watch to realize they had only a few minutes left before the Decepticons were scheduled to begin their attack. Sparkplug didn't participate further in the conflict from this point forward, and whether or not the Autobots won depended on what choices Ultra Magnus made.

In another possible scenario, Sparkplug accompanied the Autobots as they moved to intercept the Decepticons at the concert itself. He was mostly uninvolved in the ensuing battle, and whether or not the Autobots succeeded depended on choices his allies made.

Alternatively, if instead of continuing on the road to Metroplex, Sparkplug attempted to take a shortcut, he accidentally tumbled into a raving en route, falling into a hole from which there was no escape. Oops.

In a completely different sequence of events, where Sparkplug attempted to contact the Autobots through his radio instead of setting out for Metroplex himself, he came into communication with Wreck-Gar. Unable to hail anyone else, Sparkplug agreed to have the Junkion motorcycle drive him to Ultra Magnus. En route, the pair noticed an old abandoned building guarded by Decepticons. Realizing that the Brain Drain device might be held within, Sparkplug considered sneaking into the lab and taking care of it himself.

If Sparkplug decided to keep on pushing Wreck-Gar to head for Metroplex, the strain caused the Junkion to break down. Stranded in the middle of nowhere, without any spare parts to repair Wreck-Gar, the pair were unable to reach the Autobots in time to warn them of the Decepticons’ plot.

If Sparkplug decided to sneak into the lab, he and Wreck-Gar circled the building until they came upon an unguarded backdoor. They two of them made a dash for the entrance, only to run into Soundwave exiting the building. Spotting them immediately, Soundwave opened fire on the pair, forcing them to retreat. But Sparkplug soon found his and Wreck-Gar's escape route being blocked off by a detachment of Decepticons. Surrounded by Decepticons on all sides, Sparkplug was instructed to surrender by Soundwave, who further told him that no harm would come to him if he did so.

If Sparkplug did surrender, he was immediately blown to smithereens by the lying Decepticons.

If instead, Sparkplug and Wreck-Gar made a mad dash to escape, the two of them managed to get past the Decepticons surrounding them, but were then chased down by Thrust and Laserbeak, who managed to send them skidding into a nearby lake. As the Decepticons moved in for the kill, Hot Rod, Kup and Jazz showed up, shifting the odds and rescuing Sparkplug and Wreck-Gar. With Thrust and Laserbeak retreating, Sparkplug explained to his rescuers the situation as it were. The Autobots then decided whether they would try a counter-attack on the Decepticons’ lab, or if they would send Hot Rod off to Metroplex for reinforcements while the rest of them headed for the rock concert.

If the Autobots decided to storm the Decepticons’ lab, Sparkplug loaded Kup up with some hefty rock, so that he too could participate in the battle that ensued. Sparkplug managed to knock out Thrust with one of his rocks, which demoralized the rest of the Decepticons, and led to them being further beaten back. The Autobots winning, Soundwave attempted to escape with the Brain Drain device in hand.

If Hot Rod attempted to stop Soundwave, Laserbeak managed to grab hold of the device and flew off to meet Galvatron. The Autobots being too low on power to pursue meant that the Decepticons would ultimately be victorious. If Jazz attempted to stop him however, he was successful in doing so and the Autobots successfully destroyed the Brain Drain device.

Alternatively, if Sparkplug, Wreck-Gar, Kup and Jazz headed towards the concert while Hot Rod headed back to Metroplex for reinforcements, the small group found themselves wondering how they could defend the huge sea of people by themselves upon their arrival. Hearing the Decepticons approaching, but uncertain from which direction they were coming from, the Autobots and Sparkplug had to decide whether they would station themselves on the west side of the concert, or at its south.

If the Autobots decided to head for the west side of the concert, Sparkplug and the others positioned themselves just in time to see a whole squadron of Decepticons coming into view. As the Autobots fought the Decepticons off, Sparkplug stood at the ready to perform any repairs needed to help his friends. After Wreck-Gar was blown apart, Sparkplug help reassemble him, so that the Junkion could continue fighting. But Wreck-Gar was blown apart once more. As Sparkplug scramble to bring back together the Junkion's parts, he spied a cloud of dust coming towards them from the horizon. Unsure whether it was more Decepticons or Autobot reinforcements, Sparkplug needed to decide whether to continue reassembling Wreck-Gar or to try and signal the newcomers.

If Sparkplug went off to wave the newcomers over, he was relieved to see Hot Rod, Ultra Magnus, and numerous other Decepticons drive up to meet them. Thanks to Sparkplug directing the reinforcements to his position, the Autobots were successful in foiling Galvatron's plans.

If Sparkplug instead continued to fix Wreck-Gar, the reassembled Junkion was able to himself destroy the Brain Drain device.

Alternatively, if the Autobots decided to head for the south side of the concerts, Sparkplug split from the group to search the crowd for his son. As they were facing in the wrong direction, the Autobots were surprised and immediately destroyed by the Decepticons. With no one to stop him, Galvatron used the Brain Drain device on the crowd before him. Sparkplug found his son too late to save him from having all of his brain power stolen from him. {{storylink|Project Brain Drain}}

===Big Looker storybooks continuity===
[[File:Battle-for-earth sparkplug.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|1980s coveralls had big shoulderpads.]]
When Sparkplug and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] were inspecting the damage wrought by a volcano's eruption, they spotted an ancient buried spacecraft from which came [[Decepticon|giant robots]]. The pair hid, and after the Decepticons left, they approached the ship and encountered [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]. After helping the Autobots get back on their feet, Sparkplug suggested they tap into the volcano's thermal energy as a power supply. On their way back to their home city of [[Kimball]] in [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], Spike and Sparkplug spotted the Decepticons attacking the nuclear power plant and alerted the Autobots. During the ensuing battle, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] was hit, and it was only Sparkplug's quick work that got him functioning again, ensuring an Autobot victory. {{storylink|Battle for Cybertron}} The Autobots entered a car rally to win free gas and Sparkplug and Spike turned out as spectators to cheer them on. Despite Decepticon interference, [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] got to the finishing line first, to cheers from the two humans. {{storylink|The Great Car Rally}}

===Marvel Storybooks continuity===
Shortly after the Autobots arrived on Earth, they met Sparkplug and [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]], who befriended them. One morning Buster pointed out to his father the new [[Freedom Sports Arena]] being built in [[Beacon (city)|Beacon]], and Sparkplug said the company building it was well known for its great buildings. He wasn't to know that the reason for that was because [[Global Building Corporation]] was a front for the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s, and the buildings it had created were all cunning traps! {{storylink|Battle for Earth}}

===Marvel coloring books===
[[File:Bumblebeetotherescue-sparkplug.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|tfw there's a sale at Menards]]
Sparkplug and [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] spied on the Autobots from behind rocks, but were grabbed by the Decepticons. Fortunately the Autobots noticed their predicament and came to their aid. In return, Sparkplug repaired all the damaged Autobots and declared his intent to help the Autobots defend Earth. When the Decepticons attacked [[Hoover Dam]], Sparkplug went along and, with [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]'s help, carried out battlefield repairs on [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]. {{storylink|The Deadly Fuel Shortage}} Sparkplug was serving as referee for a race between [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] when Decepticon [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] trapped them with [[Sleep Net]]s. When all of the Autobots except Bumblebee were captured by the enemy, a plan was devised and implemented — Sparkplug and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] constructed a giant cut-out Autobot which was placed outside Decepticon headquarters as a diversion while Bumblebee slipped in and freed everyone. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue!}}

Sparkplug and Spike accompanied the Autobots on a ship [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] built, when the Decepticons were searching for undersea treasure. The humans were safe inside [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] when the missiles started flying. {{storylink|Search for Treasure Under the Sea}} Sparkplug and [[Butch Witwicky (G1)|Butch]] went fishing in the forest with the Autobots, or at least Butch fished while Sparkplug polished Bumblebee. During a battle with the Decepticons, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] made a grab for Sparkplug and Butch... but came up empty-handed because he'd been fooled by one of [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]'s holograms. Afterwards, the Autobots fixed the forest, and Sparkplug and Butch thanked them. {{storylink|Forest Rescue Mission}}
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|The Big Book of Coloring Fun}}}}

===Sticker Adventures books===
While Optimus and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] prepared a one-bot ship for launch to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Sparkplug put together a device to track the ship's journey, though he didn't see why they needed to leave a lovely planet like Earth. Optimus patiently explained that they needed to see what had been happening there in their absence. The Decepticons picked that point to attack. After Optimus recovered, he related the dream of returning to Cybertron he'd had, and Sparkplug said he was glad Optimus was still with them, for now. {{storylink|Return to Cybertron}} Optimus and Sparkplug went on a road trip together to find parts for the Autobot spaceship. When they returned, they found that the Decepticons had stolen the Autobots' fuel supply and were attacking. Luckily the pair had picked up lots of fuel on their way back, and the Autobots used it to recharge and chase the Decepticons off. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons}}
{{-}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
{{voiceactor|[[Blain Fairman]] (English)}}
[[File:LaserbeaksFury Cliffjumper and Sparkplug.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Spike's father had seen lightning damage all sorts of things, which is why he wasn't surprised to see it had made half of a mountain disappear. After he explained the phenomenon to the Autobots, they build a machine to try to harness the power of lightning, and he joined them in watching the initial test from a safe distance. {{storylink|Autobots' Lightning Strike}} Spike's father helped the Autobots repair their space cruiser, but lamented the lack of a power source for the ship. He and Spike accompanied [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] to a solar research plant, and he was able to decipher Spike's morse code when the boy scouted out the Decepticon activities. {{storylink|Megatron's Fight for Power}}

When the Decepticons were found to be at work on a space cruiser of their own, Spike's father noted that the area they were building in was once famous for its quarries, and the Decepticons were probably using one of those. After Spike discovered that there was a convenient road rally in the area, he and his father entered with the Autobots as vehicles, so they could search for the Decepticons without raising suspicion. {{storylink|Autobots Fight Back}} During a search for [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], Spike's father filled the Autobots in on the technical aspects of windmills. He and Spike manage to avoid being flattened when the Decepticons accidentally destroyed the windmill in question. {{storylink|Laserbeak's Fury}} Spike's father offered advice to the Autobots when they found a Decepticon base dangerously near a human estate. He and his son were able to talk to the office and factory workers, and establish that the place would soon be empty and it would be safe for the Autobots to attack the Decepticons. During the ensuing battle, the pair proved themselves useful by distracting the Decepticons with a piece of machinery. {{storylink|Decepticon Hideout}}

{{note|Sparkplug is never referred to by name, merely as "Spike's father".}}
{{--}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:DWPrimeDirective1 Sparkplug newspaper.jpg|thumb|left|No, not taken the day before Daniel was born.]]
Though he believed the alien robots to all be dangerous at first, {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}} Sparkplug, along with his sons Spike and Buster, befriended the Autobots shortly after the Transformers re-awoke in 1984. After [[Operation Liberation]] and the defeat of the Decepticons, Sparkplug was one of the humans chosen to accompany the Autobots back to Cybertron. Unfortunately, he and the rest of the [[Magnificent Seven]] were killed in 1999 when the ''[[Ark II]]'' exploded. 

His death caused Spike and Buster to turn into jerks towards the Autobots. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}} Buster, now a Colonel working at the Pentagon, kept a photo of his father on his desk. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
When Ratchet began feeling lost and disillusioned while on Earth, he began going on more and more combat missions, increasingly leaving his medical duties in the hands of Sparkplug, Wheeljack, and Perceptor. This presumably stopped after he had a perception-changing experience in a chance meeting with [[Stitch|a disabled war veteran]]. {{storylink|Healers, Fighters, and Transformers}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:tf08 the hunger witwickies.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4]]
'''Daniel "Sparkplug" Witwicky''' frequently used to take his son, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Spike]] out camping in the woods when he was young, but these trips came to an end when he became a colonel in the [[United States military]]. {{storylink|Scrapper (issue)|Scrapper}} When his son went to West Point, he was able to get away with being a complete prat because of who his dad was. {{storylink|Police Action Part 2: Only Forward|Only Forward}} Sparkplug had met General [[Joe Colton]] at some point. Colton did not consider Sparkplug [[Adventure Team]] material but did know him to understand the chain of command. {{storylink|White Light}}

[[File:Danielwitwickyidw.jpg|left|upright=1.2|thumb|Sparkplug sucks the blood off his toothpick as Chad gasps wordlessly, organs spilling out of his lacerated belly. It tastes of tapioca and shame.]]
Sparkplug was grinning and bearing a cocktail party with [[Mrs. Witwicky|his wife]]'s environmentally-conscious associates, fantasizing about killing them with his toothpick, when an army helicopter suddenly landed on the lawn. At the [[President of the United States|president]]'s request, Sparkplug was whisked to [[New York City]] to lead troops against a Decepticon onslaught. On the way, he repeatedly mouthed off at CIA [[Grant (G1)|Agent Grant]] and later had him assaulted by another soldier because the member of ''the CIA'' was big on secrecy. Once in New York, he gathered all the senior officers for a briefing, but when the Decepticons began targeting the city's bridges and tunnels, he just stood there open-mouthed and said, "Good God." {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2|All Hail Megatron #2}}

As the Decepticons overtook New York City, the now-General Witwicky had his troops pulled back into the residential areas, given that the last batch was annihilated by [[Frenzy (G1)|one robot]], to better protect them from raids. He sat in his command tent powerless as he got updates on the death toll, the flooding of the tunnels, and how the Decepticons had begun invasions of [[San Francisco]], [[Los Angeles]] and [[San Diego]]. He was then informed of how the Decepticons had completely wasted the US Navy, and that Air Force One had been destroyed. The president dead, Witwicky was left as speechless as the "snooty elite" he'd harped on earlier. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 3|All Hail Megatron #3}} {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}}

Witwicky would later send Spike on a special mission to take out [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], but was disheartened when his son's team was attacked by [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] and thought dead. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}} In truth, Spike alone survived and called his dad from within New York after the Decepticon radio blackout was taken down. Sparkplug told him that the other nations were planning to [[Nuclear weapon|nuke]] the city with him and all other survivors still there. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}}

[[File:Dropshot down AHM.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|"Anyway, tomorrow I'm gonna go back to trying to kill you guys."]]
Later, when the Autobots returned to Earth and [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] battled [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], Witwicky was astounded but continued to lead an evacuation. Unfortunately one of his vehicles happened to be [[Dropshot (G1)|Dropshot]], who transformed and started mowing down his men. The colonel was not amused. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} Sparkplug fired a bazooka at Dropshot, but only slightly injured him. Luckily [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]] showed up. Afterwards, Sparkplug and Kup had a chat about outer space and Kup's "[[cy-gar|cigar]]" while sitting on the fallen body of Dropshot. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

In the aftermath of the invasion, the covert alien investigation organization [[Skywatch]] was reworked into a Transformer-hunting military force working under the [[United Nations]]. General Witwicky was put in charge of the organization, replacing the very ineffective [[Joshua Red|Agent Red]]. Spike also became a Major of Skywatch. {{storylink|The Man of Steel}}

[[File:Sparkplug New Arrivals Old Encounters.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8]]
Two years later, Autobot leader [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] surrendered himself to Skywatch and was put into custody at Spike's base. Once General Witwicky heard of this, he contacted his son and ordered him to keep Prime there while he conferred with the Joint Chiefs of Staff on what to do. He was unimpressed with how Spike had been off-site during two important events: the Autobots attacking and saved [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|a prisoner]], and Prime's surrender. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}} Wanting to show his dad and the other generals that he could be a good leader and not just a grunt, Spike struggled to get any information at all out of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 2: "A Rude Awakening"|A Rude Awakening}} {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"|Seasons in Flight}} Just hours before General Witwicky arrived, Spike temporarily released Optimus Prime so he could fight [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and didn't care if anyone reported him to his father. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 5: "Earthworks"|Earthworks}}

[[File:Sparkplug All His Engines.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]
When Sparkplug finally did arrive, he was outraged about the release of the prisoner, but Spike argued that the Autobots weren't a threat to humans and that forming an alliance with them would be for the best. Sparkplug reluctantly agreed with his idea, as long as the much stricter [[Allenby|General Allenby]] didn't find out he let Optimus Prime go and they kept [[Section 82|certain]] Skywatch activities secret from the Autobots. {{storylink|All His Engines}} Together with Allenby and the Joint Chiefs, he later participated in a video conference with Spike, helping his son's cover story by lying to Allenby that Optimus Prime had actually escaped on his own. When they got some time alone, he warned Spike against getting sloppy as he feared what might happen if the Autobots stopped trusting him. {{storylink|Scrapper (issue)|Scrapper}}

As it turned out, the Autobots did indeed stop trusting him because he'd been cutting deals with Decepticons for weaponry. Spike became an international fugitive as a result... and Sparkplug ''aided'' him in this, sending him covert emails. {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part Two: Vs.|Vs}}

[[File:DetonationBoulevard MarissaGeneralWitwicky.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|left]]
Years later, following the apparent dissolution of Skywatch after their alliance with the Autobots was made public, General Witwicky had come to lead its replacement, [[Earth Defense Command]]. Together with Director [[Marissa Faireborn]] he traveled to the [[Antarctica|South Pole]] to meet with [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] and [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] when the Decepticons returned to Earth with a peace offer. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|Detonation Boulevard}} In return for the Decepticons' help in preventing the return of the Autobots, the EDC would build them a haven in the form of a space station near [[Jupiter]]. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 4: Full Fathom Five|Full Fathom Five}}

[[File:IDreamOfWires GalvatronKillsGeneralWitwicky.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.6]]
When the Decepticons ambushed the Autobots, Witwicky monitored the situation and ordered Faireborn to keep the number of civilian witnesses to a minimum, but was cut off when Soundwave began blocking all communications. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 3: The Mind Bomb|The Mind Bomb}} As the battle risked revealing their alliance to the public, the EDC used their [[mindbomb]] weapon to neutralize the Decepticons, prompting a vengeful Galvatron to confront General Witwicky at their [[Marshall Islands|Bikini Atoll]] base. Keeping his composure, Witwicky defended himself by accusing the Decepticons of not sticking to their agreement and updating them on the progress of the EDC's part of the bargain. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 4: Full Fathom Five|Full Fathom Five}} Interrupted by an Autobot attack on the base, Witwicky tried to organize an evacuation, only to learn that Galvatron had not been placated when he found himself staring down the barrel of the Decepticon leader's cannon. For his last words, Witwicky tried to pass on a message to his son, Spike, but Galvatron didn't hear him out and killed him on the spot. When Marissa Faireborn arrived at the scene, the Decepticon upheld the alliance by telling her the general had been killed by Prowl. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 5: I Dream of Wires|I Dream of Wires}}

After his death, Prowl used General Witwicky's emails to track down Spike. {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part Two: Vs.|Vs}}  [[Miles Mayhem]] later recalled being present when the general and the EDC made their alliance with Galvatron and Soundwave.  {{storylink|Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Secret Raiders}}

{{-}}

===''All Spark'' comic===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Reunion and Parting}} {{storylink|Conclusion}}}}

===Energon Universe===
{{spoiler|Transformers (2023) issue 3|January 10, 2024}}
'''"Sparky" Witwicky''' lived in Farmingham with his wife and two children, [[Jimmy Witwickey|Jimmy]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)| Spike]]. Following the death of his wife and, much later, Jimmy, Sparkplug spent his days in the local bar attempting to drown his memories of his former military service and his son before his night shift at the local power plant. 

One afternoon, he was interrupted by Spike, who had come looking for him. When Spike asked him how long he had been at the bar, he tried to lie and say he hadn't been there long due to errands, only for bartender Danny to reveal he had been there since noon. Sparky asked Spike where he was going with Jimmy's old telescope, with Spike reminding him of he and [[Carly]]'s trip to [[Hanger's Rock]] that night and how it let the young man feel closer to Jimmy. In response, Sparkplug said that Jimmy's memory was better left forgotten than remembered. The two were interrupted by Sparky's co-worker [[Davey]] who offered Sparky a ride to work. Before leaving, Sparky told Spike he would eventually need to grow up, only for the boy to ask if that meant becoming like him.

At work, Davey attempted to politely confront Sparky about his treatment of Spike. Sparky then told him to keep his naïve opinions to himself. Suddenly, the two watched as a [[Starscream (G1)|giant robot]] touched down at the plant and began tearing apart the machinery. Davey made a dash for his car while Sparky told him to wait. He then watched as the robot grabbed his friend and crushed him with its bare hands. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 1|Transformers #1}} 

The next day, Sparky spoke with a police officer with his co-worker Jordie, affirming their story that a jet robot had attacked the plant. As Sparky was demanding the officer ditch protocol and call up the army, [[Skywarp (G1)|another robot]] touched down, followed by two others. Sparky watched in horror as the robots began setting up a converter to collect the plant's energy, while the robot from the previous day left in jet mode to intercept an incoming fighter plane. He entered an abandoned police car in an attempt to escape and was almost caught by the black jet robot, but the crashing fighter jet gave him the opportunity to drive away. Sparky drove home and, with a new resolve, opened up a crate of old military equipment. He then met up with Carly, informing her that the robots had killed her father, Davey. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 2|Transformers #2}}

He comforted Carly as she cried, only to realize she and Spike had already encountered these robots. Suddenly, [[Laserbeak (G1)#Energon Universe|a bird-like robot]] burst through the wall and attacked them. Sparky opened fire with his assault rifle, but the robot was unfazed and threw him across the room. As it advanced on Carly, [[Cliffjumper (G1)#Energon Universe| a new, red robot]] entered the fray and attacked the bird robot. Sparky, in turn, shot the newcomer in the face with his shotgun despite Carly's objections. He took the opportunity to leave with Carly in the police car. The two drove to the bar, Sparky noting on their arrival that phones, radio, and the Internet were all down. The local townsfolk had the same idea as Sparky: arm up and rendezvous at the bar. Sparky informed Danny about his worry that Spike had been taken by the robots. Carly protested, saying [[Autobot|some of the robots]] seemed to fight for good. However, to Sparky, allegiance and ideology don't matter in war: "When the shooting starts, people die."

The shooting started almost immediately, as when the red robot poked its head into the bar to talk to them, Sparky began shooting at it. The group was then met with the arrival of the black jet robot, who shrugged off their bullets and attacked them. Sparky and Danny dashed for some heavier artillery: a rocket launcher they claimed just before debris crushed the truck it was on. The battle evolved as [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Energon Universe|a red truck robot]] appeared with Spike and began to battle the jet. The truck claimed the upper hand and prepared to finish off the jet with an [[Energon-axe|axe weapon]], so Sparky took the opportunity and ordered Danny to fire the rocket right into the truck's elbow. The jet seized the advantage and began firing into the wound, prompting Spike to attempt to rush in. At the same time, Sparky ordered his men to open fire on the robots. 

A stray bullet struck Spike in the abdomen, leaving him unconscious and bleeding. Sparky ordered everyone to stop firing and ran to his son. The truck robot picked up the wounded boy, and a tearful Sparky ordered it to drop his son. Instead, the truck transformed and promised to save the boy. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 3|Transformers #3}}
{{ongoing}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
Sparkplug spent a night out with [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], testing the latter's new sound system. When they returned to base, they found [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] had sabotaged the [[recharging chamber]], turning the other Autobots evil. Sparkplug created an [[attitude exchanger]] to repair the damage to the Autobots' circuits. {{storylink|Attack of the Autobots (Legends)|Attack of the Autobots}} After Spike's mind was placed in a [[Autobot X (G1)|robot body]] and the boy turned against the Autobots, Sparkplug's injury in the ensuing battle resulted in Spike coming back to his senses. {{storylink|Autobot X (Legends)|Autobot X}}


==Toys==
===''Kre-O''===
[[File:KreO-toy DanielWitwicky.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Ripclaw Strike''' (2013)
**''Set number'': '''A2201'''
**''Pieces'': 199
**''Kreons'': Ripclaw, Colonel Daniel Witwicky
**''Accessories'': Missile launcher, flak jacket

: The first toy of Sparkplug came from the ''[[Kre-O]]'' line, and is based on the [[#2005 IDW continuity|IDW military-man incarnation]] to boot. Part of the "Ripclaw Strike" set, he comes with a pressure-firing missile launcher.

: In this set, he faces off alone against two different versions of [[Ripclaw#Kre-O|Ripclaw]], one as a giant brick-built dragon-like creature that can be rebuilt into a robot, and Ripclaw Kreon. Good luck with that, Sparky!

: As part of the ''Beast Hunters'' series of ''Kre-O'' sets, "Ripclaw Strike" was pretty much only sold at [[Toys"R"Us]] stores in the US... not because it was an intentional [[exclusive]], but because by that point the other major retailers had stopped carrying ''Kre-O Transformers'' outside of the [[Micro-Changer]] items. It and the other large sets eventually ended up in clearance-sale chains.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Autobot/Kre-ODanielWitwicky/danielwitwicky.htm More information on Daniel Witwicky at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|PredaconAttack}}
[[File:KreO-Toy PredaconAttack-Box.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Predacon Attack''' (2016)
**''Set number'': '''B6192'''
**''Pieces'': 199
**''Kreons'': Ripclaw, Colonel Daniel Witwicky
**''Accessories'': Missile launcher, flak jacket

: Re-packaged and re-released through budget chains like Dollar General and Family Dollar in the US, this is a seemingly-unchanged version of the "Ripclaw Strike" set, only with the packaging and instructions omitting any mention or visuals of the kit's large robot build. The set still has all the parts for the large robot build, there's just no instructions for said build so you get to puzzle it out yourself (or look them up online).
{{-}}

===''Masterpiece''===
*'''Convoy''' ([[August 31]], [[2019]])
**''ID number:'' '''MP-44'''

:After years of not having any normal figure, Sparkplug finally has one of his own! Sparkplug is scaled to fit inside Prime's cab mode. He is about two inches tall and has ball-jointed articulation at the head, arms, hips, and torso, as well as swing-jointed knees. In a reference to the classic [[Diaclone]] pilot figures, he also has tiny magnets in the soles of his feet, allowing him to stand on several magnetized panels scattered around Prime's [[Combat Deck (G1)|Combat Deck]]. He can also pilot [[Roller (G1)|Roller]] or the Auto-Launcher mounted on the deck. However, like his other human friends packaged with Prime, the tiny size of his ball joints make them rather weak, and he is prone to falling apart when his limbs are moved.
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:FFoD01CastSparkplug.jpg|upright=0.6|thumb|He was sick that day, so the Skuxxoid filled in.]]
*Although the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Sunbow cartoon]] [[production bible]] states that Sparkplug is a widower,<ref>[http://tfarchive.com/cartoons/bible/#007 Sparkplug's bio] in the G1 cartoon bible.</ref> the cartoon itself never mentions him having a wife—or ''anything'' whatsoever about Spike's mom. In fact, no published story ever acknowledged a [[Mrs. Witwicky]] to exist until 2008 in [[IDW Publishing]]'s [[All Hail Megatron issue 2|''All Hail Megatron'' #2]].
*Speaking of love interests, in addition to revealing Sparkplug's real name to be "Stanislas Piotr Witwicky", [[Marvel Comics]]' original treatment mentions Sparkplug's "ladyfriend", "Toots". She's kept out of the loop on the Transformers' arrival from Cybertron and wonders why Sparkplug's suddenly so busy all the time.<ref name="BC10"/>
*Sparkplug is mentioned in the [[Sunbow Productions|Sunbow]] cast list for "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1]]"—and the relevant [[dialogue script]] for the episode reveals that he was indeed supposed to make an appearance! He would have been with [[Outback (G1)|Outback]] and [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] aboard the [[Earth Defense Command|E.D.C.]] shuttle sent to investigate reports of Decepticon activity in [[Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya|Carbombya]]. His one line—"How're we gonna find the Decepticons? It's like a needle in a haystack."—was reassigned to Blaster in the final cut of the episode.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Sparkplug Witwicky''' (スパークプラグ・ウィトウィッキー ''Supākupuragu Witowikkī'')
*''French:'' '''Malabar''' (Canada)
*''Hungarian:'' '''William "Gyertya" Witwicky'''
*''Mandarin:'' '''Spikeplug''' (斯派克普拉 ''Sīpàikèpǔlā'')
*''Portuguese:'' '''Vela-de-Ignição Witwicky''' (Portugal comics), '''Bob Centelha''' (Brazil comics)
*''Russian:'' '''Fakel''' (Факел, "Torch")

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Witwicky, Sparkplug}}
[[Category:Earth Defense Command]]
[[Category:Energon Universe humans]]
[[Category:Fiction-only characters]]
[[Category:Generation 1 humans]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon humans]]
[[Category:Legends humans]]
[[Category:Mechanics]]
[[Category:Regeneration One humans]]
[[Category:Skywatch]]
[[Category:United States military officers]]<!--IDW continuity-->
[[Category:United States military personnel]]<!--Marvel continuity-->
[[Category:Witwicky family|Sparkplug Witwicky]]