Sprocket (G1)

This article is about the heroic character. For his mirror universe evil counterpart, see Sprocket (SG).

Sprocket is an Autobot Action Master from the Generation 1 continuity family.

"Touch my monkey or I'll shoot my Jeep."

When he enters a battlefield, the only difference between the ferocious Sprocket and a Decepticon is the Autobot symbol barely visible beneath the thick, steaming spray of his enemies' vital fluids. Sprocket specializes in quick and decisive violence. He enters combat with a fervor few robots in any army could match, and he's never taken a prisoner. This would all make him a spectacular front-line fighter if an oversight by the harried Autobot command hadn't assigned him to do surveillance instead. Still, he does surprisingly well, always being sure to report back exactly what those he eviscerated were working on before he reached them.

His Attack Cruiser helps in his thirst for slagging some Decepticons.

“	Know your enemy and victory is yours!	”
—Sprocket's bio quote

Fiction

2005 IDW continuity

First appearance: Spotlight: Arcee

"Now I am as happy as a little girl!"

Sprocket was an Autobot soldier stationed at the penal facility Garrus-9 under Fortress Maximus's command. He was injured in the assault by Banzai-Tron and the Decepticon Secret Service, and was seen being supported by Rollout. Spotlight: Arcee

He later joined the Lost Light and would attend Rewind's second storytelling session over a bottle of "Old Corroder" in Swerve's. (It seems he once had an adventure with Xaaron, Dipstick, Atomizer, and Slapdash.) An Intimate Beheading

Sprocket was later arrested and thrown in the brig for repeatedly touching something of his that Ultra Magnus would rather he didn't. Cybertronian Homesick Blues

Shortly before the Lost Light's second launch, Sprocket was seen drinking with Blades in Swerve's. No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases

When Getaway began his mutiny against Rodimus and Megatron, Sprocket was among the Autobots seen on the bridge supporting the change in command. Filling in the Blanks

Wings Universe

Whoa.

Sprocket used to be a super awesome Autobot commando, but on one of his first missions for the Elite Guard, a mishap while hacking into the computers at Darkmount resulted in the entire Cybertron info core being dumped into Sprocket's mind. Since then, Sprocket's been spotty at best. Depending on what time of day it is, he can't remember his motto, his function, or even his own life. Sprocket's profile in Club magazine #41 Sprocket has since claimed once that he wanted to be an artist when he was younger, while also claiming to have been taught by Yoketron. According to his twin brother Rumbler, at least the latter isn't true.

Now an overactive, overexcitable, and all-around childish and erratic fellow, Sprocket joins Rumbler as part of Powerflash's Elite Guard Stealth Team. A Team Effort Despite acting like a huge glitch, Sprocket remains in the Elite Guard, largely due to Powerflash's vouching for him, and he has yet to be a liability on the battlefield. Sprocket's profile in Club magazine #41

While at the base in Detrona, Sprocket had the habit of hallucinating (or just imagining) that he was talking to Autobot High Councillor Halogen, much to Rumbler's annoyance. The team had a meeting, during which they were given the assignment to stop the Decepticon Warlord Gutcruncher from seizing a mysterious asteroid, and Sprocket finally realized the significance of the name "Decepticon". As part of the plan Powerflash came up with, Sprocket gave his leader a repaint. When they inspected the Darklon, the ship which was to be part of the plan, Sprocket made instant friends with the ship's computer, though none of his teammates believed him when he told them so. He and Rumbler were concealed in a chest in the cargo bay while Powerflash and Tap-Out tricked Gutcruncher's men into hiring them and their ship.

"His agony was gorgeous. I need to be slapped."

The pair were awoken by Powerflash when Gutcruncher discovered the deception, though Rumbler did most of the fighting and Sprocket mostly just annoyed Rumbler. It didn't stop him innocently claiming half the credit for the capture of Gutcruncher's three men. After their arrival at the asteroid, Sprocket emerged from the ship carrying the scientific equipment, only to find that the Decepticons had escaped and had Powerflash and Rumbler at gunpoint. He subsequently admitted to his teammates that he'd neglected to recharge the F-249 Quantum Pulse Regulators after their last mission, so the Decepticons were toting useless weapons.

The Decepticons and Autobots found a huge crystal monolith in a nearby crater and were zapped unconscious by it. When they recovered, they found they were unable to transform and were forced to hike back to the Darklon. The Autobots, with their powers enhanced by the crystal's power, were able to overcome the Decepticons. During the later debriefing in the Elite Guard infirmary, Sprocket explained that Gutcruncher hadn't been able to activate the Darklon's defense systems because the ship didn't like him. A Team Effort

"Why is it that the truly brilliant are doomed to a life of obscurity, surrounded by a sea of mediocrity, only to end up covered in sores in a pool of their own filth? Oh well, the beat goes on."

Sprocket and the Stealth Team were on hand to defend Elite Guard headquarters with Sentinel Major when the Combaticons returned leading Deathsaurus's troops. The Coming Storm: Part 5 Bruticus killed just about everyone The Coming Storm: Part 6 luckily Sprocket and Rumbler were among the survivors.Battle Lines, Part 4 An errant shot from Sprocket had trapped himself and the other survivors under some wreckage, inadvertently keeping them from harm. Sprocket's profile in Club magazine #41 They were eventually discovered and repaired, and along with Ironfist and Big Bang, went to aid Magnum's team in fighting Deathsaurus and his men. No sooner had they done so, than they were dogpiled by Decepticons, though Sprocket at least seemed to be enjoying himself. As Deathsaurus was about to finish off Magnum and Thunderclash, Spocket jumped on the Warlord's back for a "zap-pony ride". When Deathsaurus sounded less than enthusiastic about this, Sprocket jumped over him and blasted him in the chest, announcing he was "it". That pretty much resulted in the Decepticons retreating. Battle Lines, Part 4

A week later, when the Decepticons assaulted Iacon, Sprocket and Rumbler were sent flying via Shockwave's attacks. Battle Lines, Part 5 Sprocket survived, but Rumbler didn't. However, Sprocket didn't pick up on his brother's death and spoke to him as if he were there. With other pacifistic-minded Autobots, Sprocket left Cybertron for Paradron some time later. Battle Lines, Part 6

Commercial appearances

"Your presence intimidates me to the point of humiliation. Would you care to strike me?"

• Sprocket stood alongside his fellow Autobot robots when the leader Optimus Prime decided it would be a brilliant idea to dispense with the transforming. This idea was so brilliant that it destroyed Sprocket's soul. Action Master commercial
• Sprocket and Wheeljack were driving on Cybertron, aboard the Attack Cruiser and the Turbo Racer respectively, when they came under fire from Gutcruncher's Stratotronic Jet. Action Master vehicles commercial

Toys

The Transformers

"ENOUGH! YOUR STORY GROWS TIRESOME!"

• Attack Cruiser with Action Master Sprocket (Action Master Autobot Vehicle, 1990)

• Accessories: "Attack Cruiser" vehicle, 2 missiles/rifles

Released in the seventh and final year of The Transformers in the US (sixth and non-final in Europe), Sprocket is a non-transforming 3¾-inch action figure of a robot with hints of some form of fighter jet alternate mode, with tiny wings on the backs of his biceps and exhaust thrusters in his heels. His construction is broadly similar to that used by the G.I. Joe figures of the time, having a swivel neck, shoulders and knees, plus ball-jointed hips attached via a steel rod internally secured by a rubber "o-ring". His hands have standard 3 mm holes which allow him to hold any other accessory in the Action Master line, plus his feet have holes in the bottom to secure him to larger vehicles. On top of that, the hole in his back is compatible with 5 mm posts.

He came with the larger Attack Cruiser vehicle, which can seat him and a second Action Master in the main compartment in both of its modes. While Sprocket does not have any dedicated weapons of his own, he can hold the Cruiser's two missiles as very very long rifles, thanks to the pegs towards the warhead ends.

This mold was also used to make fellow Action Master Rumbler.

• More information on Sprocket at TFU.info

Notes

• Sprocket is the first Action Masters-original character to have a vehicle mode designed for his Action Masters robot mode. Previously shown transforming Action Masters, like Over-Run and Banzaitron, were redesigned with new robot modes to accommodate a transformation process.