Mini-Con: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:57, 28 September 2015

This article is about the Transformers type "Mini-Con". For the unit of time "minicon", see Units of time{{#switch:{{#sub:Units of time|-1}}

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This article is about the Transformers type "Mini-Con". For the "Evil" faction of Stentarians mistakenly called "Minicons", see Ammonite{{#switch:{{#sub:Ammonite|-1}}

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Intentionally designed to look like the letter "M", the Mini-Con symbol is also reflected in the design of Unicron's helmet

Mini-Cons are a race of small, roughly human-sized Transformers capable of powerlinxing with a larger Transformer to impart extra abilities or greatly increase their strength.

Their origins (when explored) vary depending on the continuity in which they appear. In some timelines they are creations of Unicron; in others, they are creations of the Last Autobot or the descendants of Micronus Prime. Others are just... there.

Fiction

Unicron Trilogy

Cartoon continuity

Unicron created the Mini-Cons to be mindless tools, sent to Cybertron as an agitating element to the Transformers' civil war. The power-enhancing "smart tools" would be unleashed upon the populace, who would snap them up and bond with them, and the war would only get more destructive, as Unicron drank in the negative psychic energies from the death and destruction. Once he'd gathered the power he needed, the Mini-Cons would turn on their supposed masters, incapacitating them, and Unicron would fully awaken to devour the planet and all Transformers on it, eliminating his biggest obstacle to devouring all of existence.

But through a strange warp in space and time that no one really bothered to explain, three human children from the future—Rad, Carlos and Alexis—were sent to the Mini-Cons' birthing chamber on Cybertron just seconds before the small robots emerged from their pods. As the Mini-Cons had been designed to form mental bonds with other life forms, when Rad touched the Mini-Con who he knew from the future as High Wire, High Wire apparently formed his bond then, with Rad... and through the Mini-Cons' shared "soul dimension", the Linkage, sentience and free will spread throughout the Mini-Cons, forming "souls", and crippling Unicron's plans drastically.

Dreamwave Armada continuity

Mini-Cons are a second race of Transformer, mostly living in designated sectors by themselves, which left them open to attack when Megatron led his Decepticons on capture raids. Through experimentation on prisoners, the Decepticons discovered the Mini-Cons were rewired, their power (disproportionate to their size) could be added to a Transformer through Powerlinxing. Mini-Cons are also capable of tapping an extra-dimensional energy source of unknown origin, but are wary of doing this, and most have inhibitors installed to prevent this from happening.

Over-Run, a Mini-Con refugee from another dimension, led Cybertron's collected Mini-Cons in tapping that dimension's energies and channeling them into an attack on Unicron which left him stranded on the far fringes of space.

After Unicron's defeat, most Mini-Cons re-established their villages in the Mini-Con sector. When Unicron reappeared ten years later, no one went to fetch the Mini-Cons to battle Unicron again, so it seems likely the Mini-Cons' connection to their extra-dimensional power source was severed.

There is no indication that Mini-Cons are related to Unicron in Dreamwave Armada continuity.

Powerlinx and Evolution

Mini-Cons have the special ability to actually evolve other machines, from transforming simple cars into jet-powered assault vehicles, to upgrading Transformers to have new weapons spring from their body. The nature of Powerlinxing is emphasized more in the Japanese Micron Legend counterpart to Transformers Armada. Once powerlinked, the Autobot would call out "EVOLUTION!" and a portion of their body would literally reconfigure to become a new weapon. Afterwards, they retained this new ability without the powerlinking of the Mini-Con which granted it. Linking to that Mini-Con again simply enhances their firepower. The Mini-Con is not required in order to use the evolved weaponry afterwards. This has caused some confusion in the Armada viewing audience due to dub issues and the downplaying of the "Evolution" theme. Despite this, the term is used twice in the American series by Megatron.

Gigantion Mini-Cons

The exact origin of the Gigantion Mini-Cons is questionable as presented within the context of the show itself. The show offers little to nothing on their genesis, merely their function as "little detail" workers whose brains developed similarly to human children because of this (uh, yeah). Snarl speculated that they evolved a small stature to adapt to Gigantion like he adapted to the Jungle Planet. In Galaxy Force, they are stated to have existed since ancient times and controlled the larger Transformers. There are even ancient ruins discovered with inscriptions using Armada Mini-Con model sheets.

The Fun Publications fiction has linked these Mini-Cons to those of Armada, which simply has them migrating to Gigantion (as well as the other colony worlds) with the Transformers carrying the Cyber Planet Keys, offering the only definitive origin of those Mini-Cons. This would also make them creations of Unicron. However, this does not fully line up with the fiction, as the Mini-Cons in Armada are shown appearing in the time of Optimus Prime, years after the world colonization—so the matter is left more than a bit vague.

Packaging blurb

Long ago, Mini-Cons fled Cybertron to escape the endless war between Autobots and Decepticons. Many teams were broken up in that war, leaving only a few left living in peace while roaming the universe.<ref>Universe Armada Series Mini-Con multi-pack packaging blurb.</ref>

Ask Vector Prime

In Aurex 304.0 Epsilon, Mini-Cons were the creation of Primacron. They sparked a four-way war between the Autobots, Decepticons, Omnicons, and Destructicons. Ask Vector Prime

Generation 1

3H comics

Ramulus uses "Mini-Con" as a term of derision, implying that CatSCAN is timid or insufficiently assertive. Betrayal

Classics

Classics continues from the Marvel US series, and does not include the UK stories or any subsequently published stories.

Mini-Cons were created by the Last Autobot to cleanse Cybertron of Demons and Mutants before the Autobots returned. The New World

Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Mini-Cons of this universe are a sub-set of Micromasters, diminutive Autobots who were originally unable to transform until exposed to the energies of a dimensional shockwave. When most of the Micromaster population decamped from Earth under the command of Hot Rod to found their own civilization on Planet Micro, some elected to remain with the Autobots to help them continue the war. These little 'bots partnered up with larger Transformers, adopting weapon and equipment alternate modes (in addition to their vehicular forms) which their partners could wield. Like the Mini-Cons from other universes, they provide their partners with a power-up by connecting to them when in weapon mode. Some of the earliest known include Tailgate and Swerve's partners Groundshaker and Phaser, Tailgate/G1 Micron Chapter though many more named warriors would follow as partners of the Power Core Combiners. Transformers United EX

Evidence suggests that Mini-Cons would persist into the Beast Era: the enigmatic Wedge Shape, as well as several of the combatants involved in the "Eternal Prisoner" conflict, professed Maximal and Predacon allegiances. Micron Booster Ver. 4 Additionally, Mini-Con Dragoyell is reported to have taken part in the Beast Wars. Dragoyell's bio

Live action film series

Little is known about the nature of Mini-Cons in this continuity, other than the fact that they're small. Known Mini-Cons include Longarm, Frenzy, Chopster, and Bomb-Burst.

Power Core Combiners

Commanders had the ability to combine with Mini-Cons, which powered up their abilities in vaguely defined ways.<ref>Smolder's bio, Sledge's bio, Heavytread's bio, and Salvage's bio.</ref> Some power ups are given more specific descriptions. Huffer became faster, stronger, and smarter. Searchlight got extended operational duration. Leadfoot became invisible to sensors. And Darkstream received enhanced maneuverability.<ref>See respective toy bios.</ref>

Aligned continuity family

Minicons (no dash) are a race of small, human-sized Transformers who are native to Cybertron's two moons. They are descended from Micronus Prime. Some Minicons are notably inhuman in appearance, with animalistic robot modes. Minicons have been known to form partnerships with larger Transformers. Minicons that choose to undergo this process are known as Deployers, and usually transform into additional armor for their partners instead of becoming vehicles.

A few Minicons, such as Fixit, appear to have been mass-produced through an unknown process. These "Fixit drones" do not appear to be sentient. Deep Trouble Fixit himself reverted to a similarly mindless state after Denny Clay tampered with his internal workings. The Trouble with Fixit

A few Cybertronians appear to display prejudice against Minicons; Megatron was known to have despised them, while Orion Pax associated them with distrust. Exodus Some used them to guard prisoners; Fixit's "sentry mode" programming may have been some kind of mandated upgrade.

Known Minicons include:

A new form of Minicon was created on Earth when the planet's energon infused the Transformers' weapons with life and transformation ability. These new robots became known as the Arms Microns. Arms Micron Theater

The Arms Micron backstory was told specifically in reference to the "partner" Microns packed in with larger toys, but it is assumed that it holds true for all toys called "Arms Microns" regardless of release type.

Things that are not Mini-Cons

There have been a number of character or toys that either have Powerlink 'catcher' ports but are not Mini-Cons, or are recolored from Mini-Con molds (often even having the molded-in faction symbol) but who are nonetheless, according to their associated bios or fiction, not actually Mini-Cons.

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Cybertron Laserbeak (sometimes)
Search and Destroy Robot

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Toys

Mini-Con toys debuted as the signature element of the Armada franchise, bringing the "micro play pattern" back to Transformers after many years' absence. Much like Armada itself, the Mini-Cons proved to be a smash hit with fans and kids, and Hasbro scrambled to include them in the subsequent franchises.

Most Mini-Cons stand around 2" tall, roughly the same size as their Micromaster predecessors. Most Mini-Cons are considerably more complex, as well; unlike Micromasters, there's no single dominant transformation scheme. With dozens of molds, Mini-Cons cover a wide range of articulation, size, alternate modes, and complexity. Aesthetically, their facial designs tend toward the unorthodox.

Each Mini-Con includes one or more Powerlinx ports somewhere on their body, a 5mm round peg-slot that allows them to be attached to any "Bulk" figure with a corresponding Powerlinx peg. These pegs were standard-issue on the larger, original-mold Armada toys, where at least one such peg could be used to activate various gimmicks on each large figure. Toys from subsequent franchises have featured Powerlinx pegs only as a static feature. Due to the center-peg of the Powerlinx port, they are incompatible with normal 5mm posts. Later Mini-Cons (starting with the Power Core Combiners series) would sometimes have 5mm holes without the "signature" center-peg.

Because of the overwhelming number of Mini-Con redecos—we're talking well into the hundreds—the following list is of unique first-use molds only.

Armada

3-pack team molds

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Adventure Mini-Con Team

Dune Runner (dune buggy)
Iceberg (snowcat)
Ransack (jeep)

Air Defense Mini-Con Team

Jetstorm (Concorde jet)
Runway (supersonic bomber)
Sonar (space shuttle)

Air Military Mini-Con Team

Gunbarrel (cargo jet)
Terradive (recon jet)
Thunderwing (stealth bomber)

Destruction Mini-Con Team

Buzzsaw (excavator)
Drill Bit (mining vehicle)
Dualor (tank)

Emergency Mini-Con Team

Firebot (fire engine)
Makeshift (VTOL plane)
Prowl (police cruiser)

Land Military Mini-Con Team

Bonecrusher (missile transport)
Knock Out (armored personnel carrier)
Wreckage (tracked missile platform)

Race Mini-Con Team

Dirt Boss (rally SUV)
Downshift (Le Mans racer)
Mirage (Indy racer)

Sea Mini-Con Team

Oceanglide (solar-powered boat)
Stormcloud (speedboat)
Waterlog (hovercraft)

Space Mini-Con Team

Astroscope (space station)
Payload (rocket transporter)
Sky Blast (rocket)

Street Action Mini-Con Team

Grindor (skateboard)
High Wire (dirtbike)
Sureshock (motor scooter)

Street Speed Mini-Con Team

Backtrack (sportscar)
Oval (sportscar)
Spiral (sportscar)

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Partner Mini-Con molds

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Incinerator (partner: Blurr)
Refute (partner: Hoist)
Jolt (partner: Hot Shot)
Over-Run (partner: Supercon Optimus Prime)
Nightbeat (partner: Side Swipe)
Liftor (partner: Smokescreen)
Rollout (partner: Overload)
Longarm (partner: Red Alert)
Rollbar (partner: Scavenger)
Comettor (partner: Jetfire)
Sparkplug (partner: Super Optimus Prime)
Crumplezone (partner: Cyclonus)
Blackout (partner: Demolishor)
Inferno (partner: Thrust)
Wind Sheer (partner: Wheeljack)
Thunderclash (partner: Skywarp)
Swindle (partner: Starscream)
Leader-1 (partner: Megatron)
Ramjet (partner: Tidal Wave)
Rook and Crosswise (partner: Sideways)
Dead End (partner: Unicron)

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Micron Densetsu

Hikari no Unicron (campaign prize item)
- Accessories: Chest missile, 6 leg missiles

The "Unicron of Light" toy is a redeco of Armada Unicron in an emerald, light green, blue, and white color-scheme. This Unicron was the prize for a lucky-draw contest in Japan.

Energon

3-packs

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Energon Saber Team

Scattor (Concorde)
Skyboom (space shuttle)
Wreckage (supersonic bomber)

Street Action Mini-Con Team

Grindor (hoverboard)
High Wire (motorbike)
Sureshock (four-wheeler)

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Other

Kicker/Highwire 2-pack

Cybertron

Partner Mini-Con

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Drill Bit (partner: Metroplex)
Stripmine (partner: Quickmix)
Heavy Load (partner: Menasor)
Safeguard (partner: Vector Prime)

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3-packs

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Recon Mini-Con Team

Jolt (helicopter)
Six-Speed (LeMans race car)
Reverb (pickup truck)

Giant Planet Mini-Con Team

Deepdive (submarine)
Longarm (double-crane truck)
Overcast (military cargo plane)

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Classics (2006)

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Demolition Team

Dinobots

Night Rescue Team

Clear Skies Team

Dirt Digger Team

Predator Attack Team

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