Tow-Line (Energon)

This article is about the Energon character. For the Robots in Disguise character, see Tow-Line (RID).

Tow-Line is an Autobot from the Energon portion of the Unicron Trilogy continuity family.

Because you're mine, I walk tow the line.

Tow-Line isn't the strongest Autobot, but what he lacks in muscle he makes up in cleverness. He can out-think and generally out-last most opponents, preferring to use his brains to prevent conflicts, skills that have made him one of Optimus Prime's most trusted team members.

Fiction

Energon comic

When the Terrorcon invasion struck Earth, Tow-Line stepped up to help defend the planet. He joined Jetfire in Los Angeles, California, fighting against a horde of Insecticon drones. Multiplicity, Pt. 2 Tow-Line was seen driving around the burning city as Rad White and Alexis tried to get to safety. Multiplicity, Pt. 3 The team soon began to run out of juice in the battle against the overwhelming numbers of Terrorcons, but thankfully Rad returned with the E.V.A. and charged them up with energon gas. With some unexpected help from Megatron, Tow-Line and the others then drove the Insecticons off-planet. Multiplicity, Pt. 4

Energon pack-in comics

When the Decepticons Sharkticon and Slugslinger infiltrated an Autobot energon refinery plant, Tow-Line was waiting for them, along with his compatriots Bulkhead and the mighty Omega Supreme! Together, they halted the Decepticons' nefarious ploy, Tow-Line contributing to the counter-assault by blasting Slugslinger's wing. Energon Volume 3

Timelines

After the evacuation of Cybertron due to the Unicron Singularity, Tow-Line served as a crew member on the Iron Hope. He installed transwarp jump coordinates on the computers of the six scout ships searching for the lost Autobot colonies. Force of Habit

Toys

Energon

Ready to broadcast, Rook!

• Tow-Line (Combat Class, 2004)

• Takara release date: August 10, 2004
• Accessories: Fold out gun/radar energon weapon
• Known designers: Eric Siebenaler (Hasbro), Takashi Kunihiro (Takara)

Released in the fourth wave of Hasbro's Energon Combat Class toys (basically "Deluxes"), Tow-Line transforms into a large television mobile broadcast van; in this mode, his Energon weapon becomes the telescoping microwave dish/mast used to beam signals back to a TV station. In robot mode, his lower vehicle portion becomes a mobile battle/repair platform. He can fold his legs back and up over his shoulders (hel-lo!) and re-attach to this platform for a "battle mode". In this... ahem, position, Tow-Line can also form the top half of a two-robot "Powerlinx combiner" with any Energon Deluxe Autobot, and any of them can also use his platform for their own combination. He is unique amongst the Energon Deluxe Autobots, as he's the only one who can Powerlinx with himself. He features a spark crystal on his left shoulderpad/door to fit an energon star onto.

There is a discrepancy in the paint applications shown in Energon Tow-Line's stock photography and the final deco on the figure. The pre-final sample differs from the latter in that it has grey feet (as opposed to cyan feet), a lack of beige paint applications on the waist, and has silver paint on the cyan shins instead of gold. Additionally, the pre-final sample shows the mobile battle/repair platform with silver paint applications to the drive sprockets, road wheels, and idler wheels of the tank treads and hubcaps as well as red paint applications to the rear and side windows of the alternate mode (whereas the finalized deco lacks these additional paint applications).

In Japan, Tow-Line was not released in the standard Super Link toyline, but did get a limited release as a "USA Edition" exclusively through Toys"R"Us. Basically, the Hasbro toy was imported and new stickers with Japanese-language legal information was applied to the packaging.

This mold was retooled with new heads to make BotCon 2005's versions of Generation 1 Ironhide and Ratchet.

• More information on Tow-Line at TFU.info

Notes

• Tow-Line seems to be a medley of homages. According to designer Aaron Archer, the concept was based on the original Ironhide/Ratchet mold, with its battle platform component. Additionally, the toy's head resembles that of Skids, with the van mode using Skids' red stripe pattern—when asked whether Tow-Line's deco was an intentional homage to Skids, Archer responded with "lets go with yes". Take that as you will.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Tow-Line (トゥ ライン Tu Rain)