Hailstorm (TF 2010)

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

Hailstorm is a Decepticon from the movie continuity family (via the 2010 Transformers toyline).

As the explosions of the rocket-propelled cluster bombs he designed completely destroy another city on Earth, Hailstorm considers both the tactical and moral consequences, and the benefits, of possibly making the launcher capable of "rapid fire"

Before the war, Hailstorm used to belong to some of the same weapons clubs as Ironhide. So now that the Decepticon is at large, the only Autobot who knows through experience how dangerous Hailstorm can be has his mind set on bringing him to justice.

However, the Autobots might have overestimated Hailstorm a little. While he's got more firepower than he knows what to do with, he is smart enough to know his head from his reactor linkage unlike his peers. But what Hailstorm has in brawns and brains, he lacks in talent. Once you get past the larger-than-life rocket launchers perched on his shoulders, he's actually very clumsy and uncoordinated, and he knows this. The only tactic Hailstorm is capable of is unloading everything he has at his enemies and hope they're too busy getting blown up to chase after him as he flees the battle.

Fiction

Unite for the Universe

When Starscream used the Unite process to power himself up and take command of the Decepticons, Megatron moved in to stop the usurper, but since he wasn't an idiot, he had backup standing by. This proved to be a smart move, as Optimus Prime and a squad of Autobots moved in to not only stop Starscream but to keep Megatron from learning the secrets of Unite himself. While the two leaders tussled, Hailstorm, Skywarp, Insecticon, and Terradive moved in to handle the other Autobots. They all retreated when Starscream was neutralized and the Unite components fried beyond recovery by Ratchet. The Strongest Weapon

TransTech

Hailstorm was one of countless offworlders in Axiom Nexus's Under City. He hung out with Flamewar. Cybertron's Most Wanted

Toys

Transformers (2010)

Why's everybody running away? I too want to be hugged. (Hasbro version)

• Hailstorm (Deluxe Class, 2010)

• TakaraTomy ID number: AA-13
• Accessories: 8 missiles
• Known designers: Andrew Scribner (deco artist)

Part of the second wave of the 2010 Hunt for the Decepticons toyline, Hailstorm transforms into a multiple rocket launcher resembling a M270 MLRS. In both modes, he has a pair of positionable pressure-launch missile launchers, with each one containing four missiles. Each launcher also has a c joint bar on the top to attach additional weaponry also.

(Takara version)

Although he has open fists, they're not really 5 mm post compatible.

The TakaraTomy Autobot Alliance release of this toy is more accurate to the box art (and just generally more in tune with the movies' color schemes for Decepticons), being cast in a darker olive green plastic, replacing the light grey with dark grey, and replacing the golden treads with grey ones.

This toy doubles as Generation 1 Hailstorm, and was also retooled to make Reveal the Shield Mindset.

• More information on Hailstorm at TFU.info

Notes

• At Toy Fair 2010, Hasbro representatives stated that Hailstorm is based on the Generation 2 comic-only character Mindset, though the toy obviously takes quite a few liberties. With the nebulous Generation 1-or-movieverse intent that characterized the 2010 Transformers line, it's possible that Hailstorm—or more likely, his later retooling as Mindset—was intended to literally be Generation 2 Mindset on some level.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Hailstorm (ヘイルストーム Heirusutōmu)