Editing Prowl (TM2)

{{disambig3|Prowl}}

:''Prowl is a [[retcon|complete continuity headache]] thanks to [[Ben Yee|some idiot]], appearing in [[Binaltech|numerous]] [[Beast Era|convulted]] portions of the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:IDW Prowl.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Give a hoot! Read a book!]]

'''Prowl''' is not a verbose Maximal, preferring instead to listen. He gathers information, analyzes it, and instantly suggests an appropriate course of action. His logical mind is without match among his Maximal brethren, who rank him among their best military strategists. Prowl feels that he fulfilled that same role in a previous life.


==Origins and complications==

Due to the fact that ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' (1986) was not released in Japan until 1990, the production staff of the assorted Japanese-exclusive series were not entirely aware of the fact that several characters died during the film.  As a result, these deceased characters continued to appear in subsequent Japanese series - Prowl in ''[[The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]'', [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] in ''[[Victory (cartoon)|Victory]]''. Prowl was an especially erroneous instance, because he had been ''specifically'' name-checked as being among the deceased in the Japanese dub of "[[Dark Awakening]]", and yet... here he was.

The story accompanying the ''[[Binaltech]]'' (2003-2005) introduced the [[Genetronic Translink]] System, a mechanism which allowed Transformers to simultaneously operate multiple bodies. This served as a possible explanation for the survival of many of these characters, but it did not explain how Prowl could still be around, since he had specifically been stated to be dead. Enter '''Prowl II''', an identical clone (sort of) with Prowl's memories that seemingly [[retcon]]ned the appearances in ''The Headmasters'' into being Prowl II, rather than Prowl.

This continuity patch-job failed to stick, however {{m-}} at the conclusion of the ''Binaltech'' storyline, its events were branched off into a parallel dimension, leaving the appearances of Prowl in ''The Headmasters'' as an anomaly once more.

The anomaly continued in early 2008, when IDW's ''[[Beast Wars Sourcebook]]'' profiled the [[Transmetal 2]] [[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Warrior]] Prowl. Originally released in 1998, this Prowl's [[bio]] noted that he believed himself "to have been a great military strategist in a former life," a reference to the original Prowl. As the sourcebook had already chosen to represent the [[Magnaboss]] component ''also'' known as Prowl as an upgraded version of the original character, TM2 Prowl {{m-}} here given the moniker of "Prowl II" {{m-}} was established to be an upgraded version of the semi-clone from ''Binaltech''.

This is not an ideal situation, however. The IDW ''Beast Wars'' storyline occurs simultaneously with the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon, and the events of the branched-off ''Binaltech'' timeline do not line up with the ''Beast Wars'' show (specifically, in the G1-era of the ''Beast Wars'' universe, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] is known to have killed [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], but in the ''Binaltech'' timeline, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] never even ''becomes'' Galvatron). This is perhaps best left overlooked, lest we all wind up cross-eyed.

==Fiction==

===Japanese animated continuity===

====''Binaltech''====

Offered a glimpse of the fast-approaching future by the time-travelling [[Decepticon]] [[Ravage]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] was witness to the death of Prowl and various other Autobots in the year 2005. In an attempt to alter the course of these events, he began [[Project Bodyshop]], developing new Binaltech bodies for his comrades that they would be able to control via the [[GT System]]. A body was developed to be used a secondary unit by Prowl, and designated "Prowl 2."

When Prowl came under attack from Decepticons on a mission in the vicinity of Saturn, Wheeljack made a desperate attempt to preserve Prowl's life by attempting a long-range transfer of his spark into his new body via [[sub-space]]. Unfortunately, the process malfunctioned and Prowl's spark was lost. The body, however, had already been programmed with Prowl's [[datatrax]], and [[Chip Chase]], recalling [[Roll For It|the time years before]] when he had taken control of Prowl's body, and volunteered to have his own mind transferred into the shell, bringing it to true life as the new Prowl.

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====	 
[[Image:Prowlwubsmagnus headmasters.jpg|thumb|G-G-Ghost Prowl!]]	 
Prowl takes part in the defending [[Autobot City]] from [[Sixshot]]'s attack. He and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] are supporting [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] when the the Decepticon offensive breaks. Prowl notes they were lucky.<!--At least he does in the RTM dub, maybe he says something else in Japan...-->{{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}}	 
			
Later Prowl attends a briefing at [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] where Ultra Magnus assigns several units of Autobots to run interference with Decepticons for [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] as he retrieves the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. Prowl accompanies Ultra Magnus's unit.{{storylink|A Dream Is Born, Double Prime}}

===Beast Wars===

Prowl II appears to have undergone [[recycling]], losing all specific memories of his prior existence.  He remains convinced that he was a great military strategist in a previous life.

====IDW ''Beast Wars'' comic continuity====
Prowl was one of the [[protoforms]] left behind by the crew of the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' on prehistoric [[Earth]]. He was activated and put in chronal phase by [[Razorbeast]] at [[Magmatron]]'s request, but was protected from Magmatron's [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] shell-program by Razorbeast's viral code. 

Accompanied by [[Night Glider]], [[Sonar (BW)|Sonar]], and [[Air Hammer]], Prowl sped to meet up with Razorbeast. These fliers and a phalanx of other Maximals finally reached Razorbeast's team just in time to fight off an army of Predacons.  In the battle that ensued, Prowl battled [[Sky Shadow (BW)|Sky Shadow]].

Prowl air-lifted [[Snarl (BW)|Snarl]] (who cloaked them both) in an effort to put a chronal displacement device on [[Shokaract]].  However, when Snarl jumped off, Prowl was visible once again and was blasted out of the sky.  Fortunately his sacrifice was not in vain. {{storylink|The Ascending issue 4}}
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==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
*'''Prowl''' (Deluxe Transmetal, 1999)
[[Image:Prowl tm2 fktoy.jpg|thumb|His wings will drive you nuts.]]
: Prowl is a [[Transmetal|Transmetal 2]] bio-mechanical Hunter Owl with a flip-around-reveal [[spark crystal]] in his owl-skull. In beast mode, he has a spring-gear-activated spinning-wing attack gimmick.  Oddly, the ''advertised'' robot mode for this figure has limited range of motion, since its wings would prevent its arms from moving forward.  However, box art suggests folding the wings over the shoulders, rather than sticking out sideways from the chest.

: His toy was released in two color schemes. The first one is white, turquoise, and red. The second is black, blue, and red, and was done as a "[[running change]]" variation under the same individual [[DCPI number]] rather than as a completely new release.

===Robots in Disguise===
*'''Prowl 2''' (Spychanger, 2002)
[[Image:Prowl2 rid toy.jpg|150px|left|thumb|Prowl 2: Revenge of the Spychanger.]]

: Prowl 2 is a [[Spychanger]] released in a 2-pack with [[Side Swipe (RID)|Side Swipe]].  He features a white-blue-yellow color scheme, a gun which stows between his legs in vehicle mode, and a ''ginormous'' Autobot symbol.

:Prowl 2 subsequently received a solo carded release with commemorative [[Tiny Tins|Tiny Tin]].

:Neither toy included a tech-spec, and consequently, just exactly ''who'' this figure represents can be debated. The Binaltech storyline refers to Prowl's Binaltech body as "Prowl 2" as a callback to this figure, but since {{m-}} in Japanese continuity {{m-}} ''RID''/''Car Robots'' is part of the Generation 1 animated continuity, it might be argued that this figure might represent either [[Prowl (RID)|RID Prowl]] ''or'' Prowl II, here, although any specifics would be pure speculation.

{{-}}

===Binaltech===
* '''Prowl''' (Binaltech, 2005) 
:''Japanese ID number:'' '''BT-15 '''
[[Image:BinaltechProwl.jpg|thumb|right|170px|[[Chip Chase]] cosplaying.]]

: For his standard Japanese Binaltech release, Prowl recieved a vehicle mode deco based on a real Japanese police car (the Hasbro [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]'s deco being based more on the original Generation 1 toy), a different spoiler mold, different rims, right-side steering, a Japanese police cherry blossom emblem instead of an Acura logo, and gray plastic instead of stony-blue. He was also labeled as a "Honda Integra Type-R", the model's make in Japan. 

{{-}}

*'''Prowl Vivid Blue Pearl Edition''' (Binaltech, 2005)
:''Japanese ID number:'' '''BT-15 '''
[[Image:Binaltech Blue Prowl toy.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Prowl can argue with Grimlock til he's blue in the body.]]

Like Jazz, Prowl got two different Binaltech decos released in equal numbers. The second version, known as Vivid Blue Pearl Prowl, is a civilian version with no police lights, a mostly blue interior, a Honda logo (instead of the cherry blossom emblem) on the grill, and a solid blue car-shell. His robot-mode parts remained mostly the same color, however. 

This mold (the Japanese blue Prowl variant, combined with parts from American police Prowl) was used to make Alternators Camshaft. 

{{-}}


==External links==
*[http://tfu.info/1999/Maximal/Prowl/prowl.htm Prowl at TFU.info]


[[Category: Maximals]]
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