Brain module

"Brain" redirects here. For other meanings and uses of the word, see Brain (disambiguation).

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Goldbug's brain module. Human hand and forceps included for scale.

If the spark is the Cybertronian equivalent to the soul and/or heart, the brain module is the Transformers', well, brain. The brain module contains the mind and personality of a Transformer and can be transferred between bodies. They give off a distinctive odor, which can be detected by Transformers with sensitive enough olfactory sensors{{#ifeq: ||}}.

Fiction

Generation 1 continuity family

Marvel The Transformers comics

Events from the UK-only comic stories are in italics.

The Constructicons' brain modules.

Shockwave built brain modules for each of the Constructicons. The modules had to be infused with life by the Creation Matrix. These modules were of a rectangular design. The Next Best Thing to Being There!

One of Bombshell's cerebro-shells implanted itself in Optimus Prime's brain module. Heavy Traffic!

After dissecting captured Autobots, Circuit Breaker discovered that it was the brain module, a tiny cluster of microchips, that controlled a Transformer's actions. She was able to manipulate it with electrical currents. She put this knowledge to use in putting together her Autobot suit. Decepticon Graffiti!

The Throttlebots were in the custody of the Intelligence and Information Institute (I.I.I.) and scheduled for termination. One of I.I.I.'s agents, Walter Barnett, became convinced that not all Transformers were the same and that the Throttlebots were on the humans' side. In order to save them, he transferred their brain modules into toy cars and snuck out of I.I.I. headquarters with them. Goldbug and Barnett went to Witwicky Auto Repair to ask for Buster's help in getting to the Ark. After the Throttlebots' empty bodies were compacted, I.I.I. headquarters was attacked by the Predacons and Ratbat. Ratbat inspected the remains of the Throttlebots and noticed their brain modules were missing. He was able to track them by scent to Witwicky Auto Repair, but Buster already left with Barnett and the Throttlebots. They stopped at a mall to get batteries for the toy cars from a Radio Shed. Ratbat and the Predacons arrived and chased the cars through the mall. Buster escaped with Goldbug, leaving Barnett and the other Throttlebots behind. They traveled to the Ark, only to find it gone with only some leftover equipment. Buster used the equipment to radio for Autobot help. Ratbat revealed himself after stowing a ride inside Buster's portable stereo. Toy Soldiers!

Fortress Maximus's Autobots received the message from Nebulos and decided to travel to Earth. Brothers in Armor!! When they arrived at the location of the Ark, they found Spike, who was looking for his brother, and Goldbug, who was still a toy car. Goldbug was able to communicate by faint radio signals. Trial by Fire! Barnett revealed that after Buster left the mall with Goldbug, the Predacons broke off their pursuit. Barnett then took the remaining Throttlebots to an aircraft carrier where I.I.I. was monitoring the Decepticons on their desert island.

Brainstorm and Highbrow rebuilt Goldbug's body aboard the Steelhaven and installed his brain module. Pretender to the Throne! Optimus Prime rebuilt the Throttlebots into stronger bodies. Dark Star

Ultra Magnus, Fizzle, Guzzle, Sizzle, and their prisoner Flywheels were attacked by zombies in Kalis. Ultra Magnus theorized that without brain modules, the dormant circuitry of the deceased Transformers were being controlled by a strong computer signal. He was proven right when they were able to jam the signal and the "zombies" went dormant. City of Fear! One of the zombies was the body of Impactor, who was able to regain some sense of himself despite not having a functioning brain module. Legion of the Lost! Meltdown! Perhaps he had some residual programming on secondary hard drives. Or something.

Marvel UK future timelines

In 2008 the freelance peacekeeping agent Death's Head killed the Decepticon leader Shockwave by blasting him open, extracting his brain module and crushing it. The Legacy of Unicron!

Transformers '84

After Skyfire was shot down by the Dynobots, Shockwave retrieved his trusted colleague's brain module from the wreckage with the intent to restore him to life at a later date. Secrets & Lies #1

2005 IDW continuity

The "life cord" of Cybertronians, including the brain module.

The brain module of the Titan Trypticon.

The brain module is directly integrated with the part of Cybertronian anatomy known as the "life cord", connected to the spinal strut via the cranial stem. Full Circle One of the three most important pieces of a Cybertronian's physiology, the brain module formed one third of Rossum's Trinity alongside the spark and the transformation cog. The Chaos of Warm Things

The Titans had a distinctive style of brain module. Salvation

The nature of transformation made it so that one's brain module was not always at the forefront of their alternate mode. The art of deducing the location of a brain module in alternate mode is known as cerebral dowsing. slaughterhouse Even those with beast modes were subject to this phenomenon allowing, at least in the case of the Dinobots, for the destruction of their beast mode head with no damage to their brain module. Night and the City The complete reconfiguration of one's body exerted differing pressures on the brain module depending on what form one was in. Kill All 'Cons

Before the war, cerebroscientists at the Institute developed "Shadowplay", a forbidden science that let them brainwash other Transformers by accessing their brain modules and implanting new patterns of behavior. Patternism Births, Deaths, and Interventions

When Snare was mortally wounded helping the Wreckers, Impactor gave him a mercy kill by crushing his brain module. Last Stand of the Wreckers #4

The Sparkeater that menaced the Lost Light paralyzed its victims by using some kind of mental powers to remotely disconnect their brain module without destroying it, leaving the spark intact for the monster to absorb. The Chaos of Warm Things

After discovering a P-6 Worldsweeper ship on the planet Clemency, the Decepticons Misfire and Crankcase were most disconcerted to discover that the ceiling in one of its passageways was covered in brain modules. Rules of Disengagement

Decepticon Justice Division member Helex was fond of stuffing his victims' brain modules into their own mouths. The leader, Tarn, was adept at cerebral dowsing and forced the crew of the alternate Lost Light to transform into their vehicle modes whereupon he shot each of them in the head. slaughterhouse

The Camien tradition known as "cityspeaking" involved interacting with the colossal brain modules of hibernating Titans to divine their thoughts from their instrument readouts. A 'Bot and Her City A Titan's brain module could also be connected to, either rousing the giant or allowing another Cybertronian to puppeteer their actions. Desperate Measures

When Sentinel Prime returned to life, he planned to use Luna 1's Titans to wipe away modern society on Cybertron, he wired Sovereign into one to jumpstart the Titans. Ten to Midnight

When Sentinel's army made it way to Cybertron, Windblade plugged herself into Carcer's brain module to seek his aid, discovering that he was in fact Vigilem. Desperate Measures As the Titan began to reboot, Elita One opened fire on his brain module, Rubicon prompting him to download his mind into Windblade's own. If I Know You

War for Cybertron Trilogy cartoon

A core override could remotely detonate a Cybertronian's brain module. The rulers of Praxus had developed this technique to cope with the higher number of criminals compared to law enforcement. Siege episode 5

After Ultra Magnus had surrendered himself to the Decepticons, Red Alert worried that they might hack his brain module for information. Siege episode 2

Cyberverse cartoon

In what would later be regarded as his most famous victory in gladiatorial combat, Megatron crushed the brain module of Devastator Maximus. Trials

Gallery

• 
  In the Marvel Comics universe, brain modules are sometimes cuboids, yes?
• 
  The cuboid design returns in Transformers '84.
• 
  Metroplex's Titan-sized brain module.
• 
  Trailcutter's brain module being pulled out by Kaon.

Notes

Foreign names

• Japanese: brain module (ブレインモジュール Burein Mojũru)

References

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