Smokescreen (Movie)

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

Smokescreen is an Autobot from the Transformers portion of the movie continuity family.

So apparently visible sound is yellow. Somebody tell Klaw.

When the Autobots need some Decepticon sensors scrambled, they call in their chief diversionary tactician, Smokescreen. With an array of specially designed auditory and visual-jamming weapons and tools at his disposal, ranging from sonic burst weapons to magnetic smoke bombs and oil slicks, this 'bot is a master of distraction. In the event that all else fails, Smokescreen will race past Decepticons, thereby becoming the bait for his own traps.

Fiction

IDW movie comics

Many years ago, Smokescreen was a member of the Cybertronian defense force under the command of Protector Megatron. After the discovery of ancient relic and an alien attack on Cybertron, Defiance #1 Protector Megatron changed the military's mission of defense to one of offensive war. Defiance #2 Smokescreen was sent with Prowl and other security officers to arrest science division leader Optimus on trumped-up charges of treason. What they didn't know was the military was leading all of them into a trap, and that all bar Optimus were marked for death. After the group was shelled by Brawl in Metrotitan, Smokescreen laid down a Disruption Cloud to cover their escape, though he was concerned for Optimus's safety against so many enemies. Optimus merely replied that he would "make do" - by dropping a city on Starscream's would-be assassins. Defiance #3

After the fugitives established a hide out at Burthov, Smokescreen acted as a sentry guard and assisted Bumblebee in the capture of the disenchanted Ironhide. Defiance #4 He was later present in a crowd of Autobots watching as the Decepticons launched the Nemesis. Foundation #3 Years later, as the civil war came to a climax, Optimus Prime revealed his plan to capture the AllSpark and ferry it away aboard the Ark. As it turned out, Prime's real plan was to blast the Cube into deep space, buying the Autobots valuable time, and then chase after it in their ship. Smokescreen was one of those who volunteered to crew the ship during the search. Defiance #4

Thousands of years later, following the defeat of Megatron on Earth, Smokescreen was part of a small Autobot unit led by Arcee that tracked Starscream, now the leader of the Decepticons, to his base on Mars. The Reign of Starscream #2 After laying down a diversionary Ion Cloud, Smokescreen and the others made short work of the Swindle, Dreadwing, and Payload drones that the Decepticons sent against them. He narrowly escaped being sniped by Hardtop, thanks to Arcee, but soon fell victim to Thundercracker's sonic weaponry. He attempted to evacuate the fallen Air Raid as Camshaft perished trying to cover them, but the pair were seemingly blown to oblivion by Starscream. The Reign of Starscream #3

What did those monsters do to you?!

However, in time it became apparent that Smokescreen had survived his seeming death. When Soundwave visited Mars and discovered only two Autobot corpses belonging to Air Raid and Camshaft. Convergence chapter 4 Smokescreen evidently managed to make his way to Earth, but before making contact with the Autobots on the planet, was captured and brainwashed by the human organization the Initiative into being one of their soldiers. His colours were bleached out and he was thrown at an Autobot/NEST team in the Initiative's final battle. Nefarious #6

Following the Initiative's defeat, Smokescreen and the other Autobots were freed from the Initiative's control, but were still left a little mentally "off" by the experience. They were all eager to return to battle, but Optimus told them they still needed to recuperate after the mental trauma they'd suffered. Rising Storm #1 While Optimus and his team went to save Sam Witwicky from a Decepticon attack, Smokescreen and the other refugees remained on Diego Garcia, nostalgically staring at pictures from Cybertron's past. In their docile state, they were found and killed by Shockwave. Rising Storm #3 Shortly after his death, a grave was made for him. Dark of the Moon #1

Titan movie comics

You'd be panicked too if the IDW Comics section had been about you...

Smokescreen had the misfortune to be on duty at NEST's South African prison when Bludgeon staged a jailbreak! He worried that the Decepticons would find a way past their inhibitor clamps (they did), worried they couldn't hold the Decepticons without back-up (they couldn't), really worried when Brawn said to take cover behind him only to be knocked down, and was told he should be worrying more by Lockdown, who smashed him into the ground. Luckily, reinforcements arrived before Smokescreen could be killed. Inside Out!

Games

3D Battle-Card Game

Armed with a disruptor rifle, jamming missiles and the ability to produce smokescreens, Smokescreen fought alongside his fellow Autobots against the Decepticons... or sometimes alongside Decepticons against his fellow Autobots. Nobody was particularly loyal during this conflict. Under the command of Optimus Primal, Smokescreen may also have fought in the "Energon Wars" against Predacon Megatron's troops. 3D Battle-Card Game

Toys

Transformers (2007)

Because really, there aren't enough homages of this deco. We need about forty-six more.

• Sonic Shock Smokescreen (Fast Action Battlers, 2008)

• Accessories: Missile

A redeco of "Ion Blast" Autobot Jazz, "Sonic Shock" Smokescreen sports a red and blue colour scheme based very closely upon Generation 1 Smokescreen. In vehicle mode he's kind of a squat and cutified Pontiac Solstice, while in robot mode he bears a decent resemblance to various Generation 1 hood-chest Transformers. Amusingly, Fast Action Battlers Smokescreen's head is mounted on a piece of plastic extending from the roof/windshield piece, just like the original Generation 1 Smokescreen toy. His articulation is limited to his shoulders, hips and knees, and he has a spring-loaded missile launcher in place of his left hand.

• More information on Sonic Shock Smokescreen at TFU.info

Revenge of the Fallen

My clever diversion is to not get killed. You know, like this guy or that guy.

• Smokescreen (2009)

• Accessories: Telescoping "sword" (rifle)

Smokescreen is an extensive redeco of Deluxe class Jazz. Unlike most redecos called Smokescreen, he isn't a slavish recreation of Generation 1 Smokescreen's colours, instead favoring a predominantly blue scheme with red and silver for detailing. As he is a redeco of the regular Jazz mold, he comes with the telescoping "sword" rifle, instead of the more fiction-accurate (for both Jazz and Smokescreen) Crescent Cannon that came with Final Battle Jazz.

• More information on Revenge of the Fallen Smokescreen at TFU.info

So does this mean this mold will get redecoed as Hot Shot at some point? Seems only fair.

• Smokescreen and Starscream (Legends 2-Pack, 2010)

Smokescreen is a redeco of Universe Rodimus, transforming into a racing car of made-up model. He came packaged with Starscream as a Target exclusive as part of the "N.E.S.T. Global Alliance" subline imprint.

His cardback stock photo is pretty grievously mistransformed; the entire chest transformation was left out, so his hood is still behind his head and his inner "spine" is clearly visible.

This mold was later redecoed as Dark of the Moon Rodimus.

• More information on Legends Smokescreen at TFU.info

Merchandise

3D Battle Card Game

He won that body in a card game.

• Smokescreen (2007)

• Card number: 12

Smokescreen is a 29-point "Uncommon" piece in the 3D Battle-Card Game. Constructed of punch-out pieces from randomly-packed plastic cards (two full robots per pack), he can be assembled into his car mode, or into a rather stumpy robot mode. One of his blaster-weapons is held in his right hand, the other can mount on either shoulder. His design is largely based on Alternators Smokescreen, except without all the rally markings.

He uses the same construction as the Cliffjumper and Jazz cards. This style is similar to the one used by Barricade, Earth-mode Bumblebee, and Swerve.

This was actually the first "appearance" of the movieverse Smokescreen.

Notes

• Whilst looking virtually identical to Jazz, Smokescreen does have a few subtle differences in his earlier IDW appearances, mainly being his weapons and face. His facial features look somewhat different from how Jazz is seen while his visor (which glows orange) appears to be permanently fixed into place, as opposed to being retractable like Jazz's.
  • In Defiance, Smokescreen is depicted with a shoulder cannon as a callback to his Generation 1 counterpart.
• In Titan's comics, Smokescreen was given a mouthplate and an arm gun inspired by the above Fast Action Battlers toy to distinguish himself from Jazz.