Sparkdrinker

"OK, who needs a haircut?"

Sparkdrinker is the colossal, multipurpose axe wielded by Metroplex, leader of the planet Gigantion. In its normal state, the axe head can be spun like a saw blade to cut through objects such as giant I-beams. The axe head is also capable of acting as a fan when spun, creating a strong gust of wind capable of blowing smaller robots back. Finally, when the weapon is powered up with Metroplex's Cyber Key, the head separates into two non-rotating axe blades for extra damage. In this form, it can be swung or hurled like a boomerang.

Sparkdrinker forms the excavation equipment of Metroplex's vehicle mode.

Fiction

Cybertron cartoon

During his first battle with the Decepticons, Metroplex brought the powered-up axe down on Megatron's head while the latter was in a Cyber Key-enhanced Dark Claw Mode. This resulted in Megatron being smashed through the floor and Nemesis Breaker being knocked against a wall so hard he disintegrated. Giant

After Megatron's upgrade into Galvatron, Metroplex tried unsuccessfully to use Sparkdrinker against him, only to have the weapon taken and used to knock the giant Autobot out. Optimus Prime later wielded Sparkdrinker, powering it up with a Cyber Key and damaging Galvatron. Fury

Optimus would use Sparkdrinker twice more: once to punish Ransack and Crumplezone for holding Jolt and Bud captive, City and against Galvatron for a second time. Optimus

Later, Metroplex wielded his axe against legions of Laserbeak drones, throwing it like a boomerang to destroy dozens of the mechanical birds. Unfortunately, dozens more pinned him down before he could get off a second shot. Guardian

Sparkdrinker would be used against Galvatron one last time during the battle to reclaim the Omega Lock and Cyber Planet Keys from him. Optimus Prime and the other Autobot leaders summoned their Cyber Keys for extra power to bring down the now-super giant Galvatron. Saying, "I hope this stings a wee bit!" Metroplex hurled Sparkdrinker at Galvatron with all his might. Along with a back-cannon blast from Prime, shots from Override's engine blaster, Evac's missiles, and Scourge's flames, it collided painfully with Galvatron, decreasing his power and rendering him stunned and barely able to move. End

Toys

Cybertron

• Metroplex (Leader-Class, 2005)
  • Japanese ID number: GC-23
  • Accessories: "Sparkdrinker", gold Giant Planet Cyber Planet Key

Metroplex transforms into a Cybertronic bucket-wheel excavator. In this mode, his bucket-wheel/shovel assembly is on a rotator and contains numerous ratchet-joints, plus the wheel can spin, though it does not do so freely. This assembly becomes Metroplex's colossal axe "Sparkdrinker" in robot mode, plus has a spot on the shovel to attach Drill Bit in his vehicle mode. Plugging a Cyber Planet Key into the Key jack on Sparkdrinker opens up the wheel to form the axe-head, plus activates an electronic light.

Like his fellow Gigantions Quickmix and Menasor, Metroplex has two different robot modes: a full-sized standard mode and a shorter, sturdier "work" mode.

He comes with his Mini-Con partner Drill Bit and a gold-bordered, Gigantion-style Cyber Planet Key. The Hasbro version has the Key Code "lm74" on the back of the Cyber Planet Key.

Metroplex has a grand total of 14 Mini-Con hardpoints.

• More info on Metroplex at TFU.info

• Megalo Convoy gold edition

A solid-gold-chromed version of Metroplex (and thus of Sparkdrinker) was given away as a contest prize in Japan. Limited to 15 pieces, it was available from TV Magazine and came with a gold-chromed version of Legends-scale Cybertron Optimus Prime.

Notes

• The name of the axe may be a play on a magical weapon from Dungeons and Dragons, 'Life-drinker'. Whether it really is +1 to hit and damage, and delivering negative levels to its enemies, is not shown or described in the fiction.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Megalo Axe (メガロアックス Megaro Akkusu)