Autoroller (BW)

This article is about the Beast Wars II Predacon subgroup. For the Generation 2 Decepticon subgroup, see Auto Roller (G2).

The Autorollers are a Predacon subgroup and sometimes faction from the Beast Wars II portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

Clockwise from top: Autojetter, Autolauncher, Autostinger and Autocrusher.

The Autorollers (オートローラーズ Ōtorōrāzu) are everything the Combatrons are not. Where Dirge and Thrust are lazy do-nothings, the Autorollers are tirelessly industrious. Where Starscream and BB are ostentatious and ambitious, the Autorollers are practical and low-key. And where both pairs of Combatrons are constantly undermining and betraying each other, the Autorollers are a tight-knit unit, steadfastly dedicated to their teammates.

Seasoned veterans who have fought countless battles and waged innumerable campaigns for the Predacon cause, they were unfortunately reborn on the planet Gaia as mere construction officers, tasked with clearing land and building bases. This dismissal of their war record stifles their egos, but more pressing than that, it keeps them from settling their score with the Insectrons: bitter rivals whom they've pursued halfway across the galaxy.

The Autorollers consist of:

• Autostinger, leader, ex-mercenary and dump truck.
• Autocrusher, oldest member and payloader.
• Autojetter, youngest member and F/A-18 fighter jet.
• Autolauncher, skilled Discmaster and armored personnel carrier.

Fiction

Beast Wars II cartoon

Why did we go from this to generics to back? Don't worry about it.

Years ago, the Autorollers battled with the Insectrons on the planet Dross. During the battle, in an act of mercy between two mercenaries, Autostinger allowed Bigmos to escape with his life. Autorollers Roll Out! However, further battles would make the two teams bitter rivals. Danger! Scissor Boy Years later, somehow appearing as Combatants, the Autorollers were part of the crew of the Galvaburg II when it arrived on Gaia. When Galvatron needed demolition and construction work done for a new base, the Autorollers were given alternate modes from the Mother Computer and put to work. White Lion, Run! The Lake Trap The Insect Corps ArriveAutorollers Roll Out! Danger! Scissor Boy Galvatron RampagesPredacon General Offensive! The Festive JointronsWho Is the Leader!? The Black Lio ConvoyEnter Lio Junior Gigastorm's Treachery

When an alien device called the teleport gate crash-landed on Gaia, the Predacons quickly took control of it. The Autorollers were stationed on guard duty outside the ship, and were nearly crushed when the behemoth Majin Zarak arrived through the portal. They then joined Galvatron and the other Predacons on Majin Zarak's aircraft carrier mode, launching the Cyborg Beasts into battle. They joined the battle shortly afterward, but were repelled by the Maximal forces. The Lio Convoy Assassination Plot Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger! Knock Out Nemesis Lio Junior's Revolt!? Fly Out! Planet Gaia Breaking into Nemesis

Classics

"Scylla said she'd start hanging out with us if we ditched those two other losers."

Grimlock used Dinobot schematics to form both Autojetter's and Autolauncher's structural components, Scylla's profile in Club magazine #51 and tampered with their nano-structure's, in an attempt to create a better breed of soldier. Autojetter's profile in Club magazine #51 Autorollers were two of three Autobots stored in stasis pods aboard the Graviton, the third pod belonging to the Seacon Scylla. The stasis pods were lost overboard when the ship crashed over prehistoric Earth in an alternate universe, and the trio were converted into Decepticons by Megatron. They attacked Ultra Magnus and his team, however the arrival of Depth Charge turned the tide of the battle as he blasted the three new Decepticons. Shattered Expectations

The Decepticons pursued the Autobots to a chasm, where they watched Megatron take on Ultra Magnus and be defeated. They climbed to the bottom of the chasm to retrieve their fallen leader and found a giant face hewn into the rock. It cheered Megatron up immensely once they dug him out of the rubble. Shattered Paths Within the cavern they'd located, Autolauncher, Autojetter and the others watched Megatron utilize the ancient equipment. They got the opportunity to fight the Autobots, now calling themselves Maximals, again and Autolauncher blasted Magnus and Grimlock while Autojetter secured the Maximals' energy purifier. Shattered Hope The Predacons including Autolauncher and Autojetter accompanied Megatron as he used the giant mech he'd built to try and claim the matrix the Maximals had found. Shattered Balance They battled the Maximals once more, until they were all sucked into a dimensional rift thanks to Ultra Mammoth. Shattered Destiny

Toys

Beast Wars

• Autorollers

Autocrusher

Autojetter

Autolauncher

Autostinger

• Known designers: Takio Ejima and Hisashi Yuki (TakaraTomy), Masakatsu Saito (concept artist)

The four Autoroller toys included two molds previously released in the U.S. Generation 2 line, and two additional molds developed but never released. All four feature gearing mechanisms that automatically transform the toys from vehicle to robot when rolled forward.

Notes

Who's who? Only one of you is you!

• "White Lion, Run!" is the debut episode of the Autorollers and one screen shows the vehicles that are supposed to become their alt modes. This screen is curious in that it depicts a green payloader, which is a perfect match with Autocrusher, a grey dump truck, which is Autostinger's alt mode but Autojetter's color, a yellow pickup truck, which is no one's alt mode but Autostinger's color, and a red tank, which is no one's alt mode but Autolauncher's color. So, everyone's colors are accounted for but only Autocrusher's is assigned to the right vehicle and two of the vehicles do not match two of the alt modes among the Autorollers. That is, there is no tank and there is no pickup truck; Autojetter and Autolauncher become a jet and an APC respectively. For whatever it means, Autojetter and Autolauncher are that half of the Autorollers whose toy molds, respectively Jet Auto Roller and APC Auto Roller, did not get released in the West prior.
• It appears that Autostinger and Autocrusher were supposed to get rubsigns, just like Autojetter and Autolauncher. Evidence of this can be found on Autostinger's back, which has a square-shaped frame molded onto it, which isn't present on Generation 2 Dirtbag, and Autocrusher's chest which also has a square frame molded onto it (behind where his shovel sits), which isn't present on Roadblock. Autojetter and Autolauncher's rubsigns on the other hand, were placed in pre-existing spots that were already big enough to accommodate them, meaning that no retooling was required.
• Like some of the other Beast Wars II Predacons, the Autorollers were reissued in South Korea in Car Bot packaging, reaffiliated as Autobots, and renamed. Autocrusher became Scoutslasher. Autojetter became Scoutjet. Autolauncher became Scoutlauncher. Autostinger became Scoutstinger. The team as a whole was called Scoutforce.