Flatline (G1)

The name or term "Flatline" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Flatline (disambiguation).

Flatline is a Transformer often affiliated with the Decepticons from the Generation 1 continuity family

We're gonna need a Trailcutter, a Hoist head, and a bit of black paint...

Flatline is a medic, particularly adept at replacing body parts or constructing whole new bodies for his patients. Although nominally a Decepticon, Flatline takes his medical oaths very seriously and will treat any damaged Transformer who finds themselves in his care, be they Decepticon, Autobot, or otherwise.

Fiction

2005 IDW continuity

First appearance: Robots in Disguise #18 (mentioned); #20 (full)

Flatline was among those who remained in Iacon after Starscream took command of the neutral population and banished both Autobots and Decepticons. When Fixit refused to leave injured Autobots behind, Starscream argued that they didn't need him since they had Flatline and Quickmix, who were both medics. Second Exodus Starscream then tasked Flatline with building him a new body, though he got annoyed when the medic started going on about why the Aerialbots were so popular. Three Monologues

There's nothing big about beating up a Micromaster. It just makes you look small.

Flatline got his work cut out for him after a "death wave" emitted from the Necrotitan killed and injured many of Iacon's citizens. Whilst diagnosing Starscream's injury, he let out a flippant remark about leadership that caused the stressed-out jet to snap and start yelling at him, but Flatline was too busy watching the Necrotitan stomp into the city to listen. No Exit When the Autobots returned to lend a hand, an angry Flatline confronted Fixit, outraged that he was keeping their wounded in a trailer and accusing him of failing to repair the Aerialbots or Omega Supreme before he left. Burning Bright He then got back to gathering the injured and evacuating the city. Finis Temporis

In the calm that followed the Necrotitan's defeat, Flatline helped Ratchet bring a bisected Megatron in for repairs and build a new body for Arcee. The Becoming He reactivated Wheeljack after he'd spent months recovering in a CR chamber, and was among the 'bots repairing Superion when Starscream brought Wheeljack to the facility. The World of Tomorrow

Sent by Starscream to examine the fresh hot spot in Alyon, Flatline reported having found hints of someone having visited recently—that someone being Bludgeon, who soon returned and cut down Flatline as well as all the Badgeless posted there. He survived and was later involved with an experiment involving inserting one of Bludgeon's corrupted sparks into the remains of Slug. Salvation

Following Baron Ironblood's attack on Iacon, Flatline was of the opinion that humans—due to their brief lifespans—were intrinsically violent creatures, and was displeased that such a species would be joining the Council of Worlds. Primeless, Part 1

2019 IDW continuity

First appearance: Transformers #10

"Look, we all know which way you're gonna go, so can we hurry this along?"

Flatline tended to Sideswipe at Security headquarters after a disastrous raid on a Rise facility. He was less than enthused about Sideswipe focusing on having been insulted by Shadow Striker. The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four Later on, Flatline appeared at The Rise hideout tending to Shockwave's injuries. Instead of being a secret member of the terrorist cell, Flatline indicated he was ethically bound to provide aid to all Cybertronians, regardless of character, in the local version of the Hippocratic oath. All Fall Down

Flatline was repairing the injured Roughstuff on a carrier that also held a captive Quake, before a mob of Ascenticon supporters started toppling the hovering platform. Prisoners Flatline later helped Ratchet and Hoist repair injured Autobots. When Gutcruncher's group of Decepticons arrived to threaten their patients, Hoist managed to drive them away using repurposed diagnostic drones. Escape Part One

His first major starring role and he isn't even in the driver's seat for it.

After the Autobots abandoned Iacon, Flatline remained behind to care for the brain-dead Ruckus and Kaskade. When the long-thought dead Provoke was discovered alive, Flatline administered to her as well, offering a diagnosis to her visiting friend Cyclonus. Test Flight I Flatline continued to monitor Provoke and called Cyclonus back to the medbay when she awakened. Test Flight II Later, when Ruckus unexpectedly awakened as well, Flatline was flummoxed, as it seemed medically impossible. Provoke tried to convince him otherwise, but Flatline insisted on a full examination of Ruckus. Provoke then revealed that she was actually Exarchon in disguise and required two more bodies to contain his Threefold Spark— Ruckus...and Flatline himself! Enigmatic His spark supplanted by Exarchon, Flatline's body was used to gain access to The Rise's hideout, where Exarchon made known his return to his former lieutenant Shockwave. Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part Three Exarchon-as-Flatline gave his sales pitch to both Shockwave and Skywarp, trying to secure their allegiance once again. War's End Part One Ultimately, Exarchon's Flatline incarnation was melted to slag by the radiation-spewing Sunstorm. War's End Part Three

End of G1 Universe

A native of another universe, Flatline arrived in the Velocitron of another world through the Multiverse Space Bridge and took a position as a doctor for racers. When the forestonite-recolored Stunticons arrived from the G1 World through a rift, they were brought before Flatline, who explained where they were. Mistakenly assuming they were from the "G2 era" of their world, Flatline impressed the Stunticons into becoming racers for the Speedia 500 and marked them with the G2 Decepticon symbol. Mystery of the Speedia 500

Games

Transformers: Earth Wars

It's not a hearse, but it'll do.

• Class: Medic
• Lowest Star rating: 2 star
• Weapons:

Healing Tower: Spawn a healing tower that recovers 39.4 health to all allies in range every second for 15 seconds. It cannot be targeted nor destroyed.

• Cost: 5 Ability points +5 for extra usage

Toys

Age of the Primes

...a Red Alert is fine, too.

• Flatline (Voyager Class, 2025)

• TakaraTomy name: Decepticon Flatline (ディセプティコンフラットライン)
• TakaraTomy ID number: AOTP-21
• TakaraTomy release date: January 31, 2026
• Accessories: Left fist, cannon, claw missile, blaster/tool attachment, triple-barreled blaster attachment
• Known designers: Mark Maher (Hasbro), Tomoki Tatsumi (TakaraTomy)

Part of the third wave of Age of the Primes Voyagers (seventh wave of product in the TakaraTomy version of the line), Flatline is a redeco and retooling of Autobot Red Alert, with a new head based on his comic appearance, as well as a left hand that didn't make it into Red Alert's final release. He transforms into an emergency SUV of made-up model.

His left hand can be replaced with with either of his two gun attachments or the claw missile via 5 mm posts, and he can deploy his (non-firing) missile launcher in both robot and vehicle modes. There are a pair of small posts on the top of his windscreen, which allow his blaster attachments to connect in both modes, which lines up with his various media appearances.

• Designer commentary on Flatline from Mark Maher on Instagram

Notes

• Flatline is an adaptation of the Revenge of the Fallen comic character. Robots in Disguise line artist Andrew Griffith designed Flatline as a "virtual retool" of the Thrilling 30 Deluxe Class Trailcutter toy.
• Flatline's Earth Wars renders mistakenly have Autobot symbols on his hood. This error is corrected in-game.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Flatline (フラットライン Furattorain)