Vanflint

Vanflint is a human in the Hearts of Steel portion of the Generation 1 continuity family. He is also called Vanfleet.

Can't you just hear Hans Conreid's voice?

Vanflint is the greedy, amoral supervisor of a rail gang in the latter part of the 19th century. He looks and acts like Snidely Whiplash, except with a slightly better grasp of long-term planning. His first name is unrevealed.

Fiction

IDW Hearts of Steel continuity

Vanflint was supervising a rail gang (which included John Henry as its spike-driver), when a mysterious yellow locomotive appeared. When the locomotive turned out to be an automated steam hammer, Vanflint ordered Smythe, his assistant, to find out where it came from, so that he could order a dozen more like it and fire all the human track-layers. Hearts of Steel #2 He hired the Pinkertons to investigate, and they eventually pointed him toward the Decepticons' factory. At that point, Vanflint's superior, Jacob Lee Bonaventure, became involved, and together the two met with Starscream, forging an alliance based on conquest and profit. When Vanflint absently mentioned the "little yellow locomotive", Starscream interrogated him, realizing that the Autobots were awake and active. Hearts of Steel #3 Vanflint was aboard the Astrotrain during the journey to New York, but offered nothing but color commentary to the running battle. He presumably perished when the Astrotrain plummeted over a cliff. Hearts of Steel #4