Crumplezone (Armada)

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

Crumplezone is a Decepticon-allied Mini-Con from the Armada portion of the Unicron Trilogy continuity family.

Some bigger guy stole my name.

Crumplezone was once a very bored Mini-Con who thought he would never find his goal in life. Then one day, he became the partner of Cyclonus, the craziest nut on Cybertron, and it suddenly became clear to him what he really wanted out of life: thrill-seeking! Crumplezone is much happier now, as there's no greater thrill than being attached to Cyclonus as he randomly spins and loops his way through enemy fire.

“	Just enjoy the ride.	”
—Crumplezone's bio quote.

Fiction

Toy pack-in comics

Just the tip.

Crumplezone and Cyclonus attached an energy-draining device at a human power station. Hot Shot attempted to intercede, but the Decepticon duo initiated a combination fusion, turning their super-cannon on the hapless Autobot. Lucky for Hot Shot, his partner Jolt arrived to lend a servo. Hot Shot managed to elude Crumplezone and his partner by allowing them to be caught in the detonation of their energy-draining device. Armada Volume 1

Dreamwave Armada comic

WHY YOU LITTLE-!

Crumplezone lived in Mini-Con village C52 until the Decepticons made their move, ransacking the village and kidnapping him and the other inhabitants. Armada #1 He was assigned to partner with Cyclonus, and taken along for the Megatron's attack on Cyber City. Sadly, this meant he missed the other Mini-Cons' breakout, and had to remain with the Decepticons for several million years. Armada #2

Eventually, Megatron located the escaped Mini-Cons, and Crumplezone came with the Decepticons to Earth. After arriving, he powerlinxed with Megatron during a clash with the Autobots. Armada #5 A short time later, Crumplezone and all other Mini-Cons on the planet detected a beacon from a strange monolith and were compelled to gather around it. As it turned out, the monolith was a starship which took the Mini-Cons to the moon as soon as they entered it. Armada #8 There, they found that Dualor and his Destruction Team had been constructing a fortress where the Mini-Cons could live in peace. Armada #9 Crumplezone didn't think it was particularly homely, though, and joined several other Mini-Cons who wanted to leave. His wish was soon granted, in a fashion, when Megatron busted into the base and recaptured "his" Mini-Cons. Armada #10

Crumplezone was eventually released by the Decepticons so that he could channel his energy through the Mini-Con Matrix during the battle against Unicron. The End

Armada cartoon

Crumplezone was one of the first Mini-Cons recovered on Earth by the Decepticons. When Megatron accidentally triggered a landslide with his fusion cannon, several storage panels were uncovered in the fallout. The Autobots managed to powerlinx with two, but then Cyclonus swooped in and claimed two more for the Decepticons before warping out. For his success, Megatron allowed Cyclonus to keep the newly activated Crumplezone as his personal Mini-Con. Base

During a Mini-Con search in the cramped confines of a city subway system, Crumplezone and the other Decepticon Mini-Cons were dispatched to comb the catacombs more quickly than their bulk counterparts could manage. Underground Crumplezone and Blackout later powerlinxed with Cyclonus while he was searching for the Autobots base. Swoop

In their first battle alongside Tidal Wave, Demolishor assembled the Decepticons' military Mini-Cons (Crumplezone, Leader-1, Blackout and Inferno) into a ground warfare squad to confront the enemy. As he led them into combat, the Mini-Cons kept the Autobots busy on the ground while Tidal Wave and Thrust dealt with the aerial Jet Optimus. Desperate

Panini Armada comic

As Crumplezone was hanging out with his Mini-Con buddies at the Decepticon base, Sparkplug, Jolt, and Longarm suddenly broke in and offered to save them from the Decepticons. They had no desire to be saved, however, and would rather have captured the Autobot Mini-Cons for their Decepticon masters. Crumplezone explained that he had no complaints with being on the "winning team", but before he and Swindle could grab Jolt, they were stunned by his ability to create electric shocks. Into the Lions' Den! Later, Crumplezone was power-linked to Cyclonus when he battled Scavenger on the Moon. Between Two Worlds! He was also linked with Cyclonus when the Destruction Mini-Con Team took control of his body and forced him to fight with Megatron. Dawn of Destruction!

Reader's Digest Armada novels

During a Decepticon attack on the Autobots' base, one of Megatron's stray shots caused a rock slide. This rock slide unearthed four Mini-Con panels, one of which contained the Mini-Con that would come to be known as "Crumplezone." Cyclonus snatched it and another panel out of the grasp of the humans Rad and Alexis as the Decepticons retreated from the battlefield. Back at the Decepticons' base on the Moon, Megatron rewarded Cyclonus by allowing him to keep one of the dormant Mini-Cons for himself. Cyclonus activated the panel, causing the robot within to bond with him mentally. Cyclonus then named his Mini-Con, and vowed to use his power to defeat the Autobots. Race for the Mini-Con Robots

Games

Transformers (PS2)

Crumplezone was powerlinxed with Cyclonus when he confronted the Autobots atop a temple in the Deep Amazon. Upon his defeat, Cyclonus spiraled out of control and crashed into the temple with Crumplezone still attached. Transformers

Toys

Armada

Hmm, is this guy pals with Ransack? (Hasbro version pictured)

(Takara version pictured)

• Cyclonus with Crumplezone (Super-Con, 2002/2003)
  • Takara ID number: MD-04
  • Takara release date: December 26, 2002

• Known designers: Aaron Archer (Hasbro), Yuichiro Hira (Takara), Marcelo Matere (packaging artist)

Released as part of the first wave of Armada toys, Crumplezone was only available in a Super-Con (aka "Deluxe") set with his larger partner Cyclonus. Crumplezone transforms into a tank of entirely made-up model, with a rotating turret. As a Mini-Con, he has a Powerlinx socket that allows him to attach to larger toys through dedicated Mini-Con hardpoints.

He also has a third configuration, turning into a long-nosed "cockpit" with under-slung cannon that can attach to the front end of Cyclonus (once you raise his normal canopy up). Combined in this way, Cyclonus's rotor gimmick also makes Crumplezone's gun-barrel wave back and forth, as well as making Cyclonus's vehicle mode look so much cooler.

The Takara version of the toy is for the most part the same, only it uses slightly brighter shades of the same plastic colors, especially the white. He was also slightly retooled; his legs are attached to his waist-piece by a bolt rather than with ball-and-socket joints.

This mold was also used to make Galaxy Force Trigger. This toy was also repurposed as Beast Wars: Uprising Cannon.

• More information on Crumplezone at TFU.info

• Sandstorm & Destruction Micron (Multi-pack, 2003)
  • Sonokong name: Sandstorm & Destruction
  • ID number: MS-04
  • Takara release date: December 26, 2002

Takara's "Sandstorm" (with "Cannon") was sold both as an individual and in a multi-pack with the Destruction Mini-Con Team, whose gear-gimmicks were designed to function with Cyclonus's gearing system. All of the toys in the set are identical to their individual releases.

This multi-pack was also sold in South Korean markets by Sonokong.

Well, he must be.

• Powerlinx Cyclonus with Powerlinx Crumplezone (Super-Con, 2003)
  • Takara release date: September 27, 2003

Redecoed along with his larger partner, Crumplezone got a new green and brown color scheme in this late addition to the Armada series. He still uses the ball-and-socket leg connections from the original Hasbro release.

This toy was not released as part of the normal Legends of the Microns series in Japan, but was straight-imported as a USA Edition exclusive to LaOX stores.

• More information on Powerlinx Crumplezone at TFU.info

Built to Rule!

• Megatron with Leader-1 and Cyclonus with Crumplezone (Built to Rule!, 2003)

A building-brick figure that kinda sorta vaguely not really turns from robot to tank, Built to Rule! Crumplezone was only available in the largest set in the series with Cyclonus, as well as Megatron with Leader-1.

• More information on Built to Rule! Crumplezone at TFU.info

Energon

Wondering where the Death Helicopter is.

• Cyclonus with Crumplezone (Deluxe, 2004)
  • Takara ID number: SD-03
  • Takara release date: December 25, 2003

Redecoed once again, this time for the Energon series, Crumplezone gained a black, light gray, and lavender coloration.

While this set was a normal retail release as part of the Takara Super Link line, sold in its very first wave of product, it was held back for a fair bit in Energon, eventually seeing release as a KB Toys exclusive. Both versions use the "bolt" leg-connection tooling this time.

• More information on Energon Crumplezone at TFU.info

Notes

Foreign names

• Japanese: Cannon (キャノン Kyanon)
• Korean: Cannon (캐논 Kaenon)
• Polish: Zgniatacz (Star Foods Chips Crusher)

Gallery

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  Armada cartoon robot mode
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  Armada cartoon vehicle mode