Stranglehold

Stranglehold is a Decepticon Pretender in the Generation 1 continuity family.

A brainless brawler of a bot, Stranglehold is the Decepticon equivalent of the stereotypical wrestler, which is rather appropriate, seeing as how he is the reigning Intergalactic Cybertronic Wrestling Federation Champ. Stranglehold has absolutely no qualms about cheating and will do anything to win. Stranglehold turns into a rhino, has a shell that resembles a giant human gladiator, and carries a gun that saps the strength of its targets, making them too weak to fight back. Just how he likes them.

French-Canadian name: Prisegorge

Italian name: Demon

Fiction

Marvel Comics

Generation 1

Recruited to form part of Snarler's Anti-Carnivac Mayhem Attack Squad, along with Bludgeon and Octopunch, Stranglehold was able to survive the climactic duel between the two Pretender Beasts and returned to Cybertron. Where Wolf?

For one shining moment, Stranglehold was modest enough to wear something.

Along with Octopunch, Stranglehold remained a part of the Mayhem Attack Squad when Bludgeon took command, when it was sent by Thunderwing to assassinate the Autobot Pretenders; Bumblebee, Grimlock and Jazz. After tracking the Autobots to their secret base, the Mayhems interrupted the Classic Pretenders and Micromaster Rescue Patrol's trip through the trans-time dimensional portal, with all three groups transported to the core of Cybertron. Surprisingly, Cybertron's core contained none-other then Primus himself! Yesterday's Heroes!

Interrupting again as The Keeper told the assembled Autobots of the origin of their race, the Mayhems attacked the Autobots, who were reluctant to return fire in case of awakening Primus. Emerging from his shell, Stranglehold rampaged through the Autobots in his rhino alt-mode, until Jazz set-up a meeting between him and a wall. Primal Scream

Stranglehold and the other Mayhems ended up on Earth, and joined forces with Scorponok. They worked for him until the war against Unicron was successfully won, and Scorponok killed. On the Edge of Extinction!

At this point, Stranglehold's comrade Bludgeon assumed command of the Decepticons, and arranged to leave the Autobots stranded on the dying planet of Cybertron while he and the Decepticons began conquering anew. They basically levelled the planet Klo before the Autobots managed to catch a ride and track them down, flying right into an Decepticon ambush. Grimlock and his surviving warriors fought back though and, with the arrival of Optimus Prime and the Last Autobot, the fight turned against the Decepticons. Stranglehold stood next to his leader as he swore vengeance and then slunk away into exile. End of the Road!

Generation 2

Stranglehold was ordered by the revamped Megatron to attack Jhiaxus's troops, which resulted in the Pretender being reduced to a puddle of slag by acid bombs.

Toys

Generation 1

• Stranglehold (Pretender, 1989)
  • Accessories: Gun, large gun, helmet, backpack

File:G1Stranglehold toy.jpg

Stranglehold's inner-robot transforms into a rhino with an orange body and green limbs, while his shell resembles an intergalatic sci-fi wrestler/barbarian. Like the other smaller humanoid 1989 Pretenders, Stranglehold's shell includes an accessory that is an integral part of his inner robot: the combined back and tail of his rhino alt-mode (in a delightful shade of neon pink), which attaches to the upper left arm of his outer shell as a small shield. Stranglehold also includes a small orange gun for his inner-robot to hold or plug into his alt-mode backpiece, and a large white rifle and helmet for his shell.

At least according to Cybertronian: The Unofficial Transformers Recognition Guide, Stranglehold's shell resembles Welcome Back Kotter star Gabe Kaplan. Stranglehold's shell is also one of the few overtly human instead of monster/inhuman themed Decepticon shells.

External Links

• Stranglehold at TFU.info
  
  
  From Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki, a Wikia wiki.