Bruticus (RID)

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

Bruticus is a Predacon originally from the Robots in Disguise continuity family.

So, I taste my own genitals. In my mouth. It's a... conundrum.

The brutal Bruticus (aka Cerberus) tirelessly guards the prisons of the Predacon leader Megatron. He's got just enough brains between his three slobbering heads to do his very simple job: make sure Autobot prisoners don't escape, and if they do, smash them. His short fuse and lack of imagination qualify him only for this sort of trivial work, but Bruticus doesn't mind. He takes his job very seriously.

Fiction

A Predacon working for the authorities? How fortunately surprising.

TransTech

Bruticus liked to attend Gutcruncher's meetings. Gone Too Far

Another Bruticus worked in the Offworlder Zone Security Administration. When the Waruders caused a blackout throughout Axiom Nexus, Bruticus was appointed by General Optimus Prime to watch over the prisoners. Cybertron's Most Wanted

Legends World

Shogo Hasui designed a toy of Bruticus, something that impressed the beast-loving Rattrap. Legends Bonus Vol.

Ask Vector Prime

In unspecified realities (presumably affected by the Shroud), Bruticus was the vassal to Mortilus, one of the Thirteen. He was remembered in human art as Cerberus. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/08

In Viron 102.0 Beta, Bruticus somehow wound up in territory controlled by the Intruder Empire. The Elite Guard extracted Bruticus. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/22

According to a story which Vector Prime heard in Axiom Nexus, Bruticus was a villainous being of some manner. In 2002, most of the Autobots were offworld to deal with Bruticus, thus leaving Earth relatively undefended. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/01

Beast Wars: Uprising

Cerberus served as Double Punch's bodyguard, performing diligently in protecting the Builder's residence. Then, on Double Punch's first day on the Builder Assembly, the Decepticon's former protégé Gnashteeth broke into the mansion and murdered Cerberus, as part of his plot to frame the Kospego gang for Double Punch's murder. Identity Politics

Precursor World

Don't worry. We're just as surprised seeing him back here, of all places.

Created by Straxus from three fused clones, Bruticus was dispatched to annihilate Straxus's treacherous creations Convobat and Megalligator. Their formidable mutual opponent prompted the clashing brethren to put aside their conflict in favor of teaming up against Bruticus. Megalligator tried to telekinetically control spare transtectors to attack Bruticus, but the trinity of Bruticus powered up and easily disposed of the transtectors. However, as Bruticus was not a Headmaster, he found his three heads controlled by Megalligator's telekinesis while Convobat triple-decapitated him. Defeated, Bruticus proceeded to self-destruct in one final attempt to kill his targets. Cybertron Convobat

Toys

Robots in Disguise (2001)

Ace the Bat-Hound

• Bruticus (Deluxe Class, 2001)

• Accessories: Tail-flail
• Known designers: Shogo Hasui (TakaraTomy), Aaron Archer (deco artist)

Part of the second wave of Robots in Disguise Deluxes, Bruticus transforms into a "technorganic" Cerberus, a mythical three-headed dog. His robot mode continues the motif, with three different dog-shaped faces on his head; the back of the head hides his Predacon spark crystal. His left arm has a built-in axe which can fold down into his hand. His beast mode hind legs, which end up on his robot mode back, can unfold into a second pair of arms, each one brandishing a (non-removable) melee weapon. His triple tail becomes a flail weapon for robot mode, gripped somewhat precariously in his right "hand". He has a flip-up chestplate that reveals... nothing in particular. He has an articulated bit of chain hanging off of his right ankle.

Bruticus is one of only two new mold bad guys for the Robots in Disguise line, though his mold was originally developed to be a Maximal for the Beast Machines toyline. When the line was cut short, the toy had apparently made it just far enough into the development process to continue, if in a reduced capacity. As all second-year Beast Machines toys had spark-crystal-activated gimmicks, he was clearly meant to have something, but this function was abandoned. The shoulder design of the figure suggests the gimmick may have involved the two side heads "lunging" in beast mode or "slashing" as arms in robot mode when the center head was pressed. If the arms were originally driven by gears inside the torso, the flip-up chest likely revealed moving parts activated by the gimmick. Some very minor vestiges remain behind the existing chest panel (just a red plastic plug that fills a circular hole in an unnecessary second wall directly behind said panel), suggesting the panel was a late addition to cover the missing feature.

• More information on Bruticus at TFU.info

Universe (2008)

Just barely beating out Acid Storm for "Unlikeliest Character Homage of 2008".

• Predacon Bruticus (Ultra Class, 2008)

• Series: Robots in Disguise Series
• Accessories: Tail-axe, key
• Known designers: Alex Androski (deco artist)

Universe "Predacon Bruticus" is a redeco of Cybertron Ultra Class Scourge, transforming into a robotic dragon. Pressing the button on his neck activates an electronic roaring sound and red LED in his head. Inserting a Cyber Key into the slot on his back activates the original The Transformers cartoon transformation sound effect and flips out two smaller dragon heads, one on each side of his neck. Pressing the button on his neck now activates a laser blast sound (along with the LED lights).

In robot mode, he is armed with a massive axe formed from his tail which can be held in either fist. Inserting a Cyber Key in robot mode is the same as in beast mode, giving him shoulder-mounted dragon-heads. He includes a silver-bordered, Jungle Planet Cyber Key.

In Australia, Predacon Bruticus was available at hilariously-overstocked quantities as a Toys"R"Us-exclusive. While he is no longer available, there is no way to know if they actually sold them.

• More information on Predacon Bruticus at TFU.info

Merchandise

Transformers Character Card

Frontrunner for "Unlikeliest Character Homage of 2023"

• Bruticus & Iguanus Set (February 6, 2023)
  • ID number: 43 & 44

• Known designers: Shin Sasaki (Bruticus only)

Released as part of the sixth wave of the e-HOBBY exclusive Transformers Character Card series, this pair of holographic trading cards depict super-deformed art of Bruticus and Generation 1 Iguanus along with character profiles and tech specs.

• Translation of Bruticus's Transformers Character Card

Notes

ROVER THE HELLHOUND! Less primary, more... uh... clash-y.

• Originally slated to be released in the Beast Machines toyline as Cerberus, aka Rover the Hellhound, Bruticus originally had very different colors.
• Bruticus's Robots in Disguise toy deco was the first Transformers color layout done by Aaron Archer.
• It is possible, though difficult, to arrange the "bat wings" of 2001 Bruticus's robot head to effectively make any of his three faces the "primary" one (the one that faces forward).
• Copies of Bruticus's design artwork, along with a handful of other Hasbro Beast Machines and Transtech design drawings, periodically showed up for sale at BotCon.
• Bruticus's prototype colors were repurposed as a sort of "super mode" for his appearance in the Cybertron Convobat comic.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Bruticus (ブルーティカス Burūtikasu)

External links

• Original BBTS listing at Web Archive