Haywire (Targetmaster)

Haywire is an Autobot-aligned Nebulan Targetmaster from the Generation 1 continuity family.

I think we got to Scatman's Land.

One of the younger Nebulans to binary bond to a Transformer, Haywire is very much of the "act first, think later"-impulsive-teenage mold. In that respect, the relationship between Haywire and his partner Blurr is one where they get on like a house on fire, but also a classic example of the lack of planning in the early stages of Targetmasters bonding for how effective a combat team they would make. Transforming into an electro-laser cannon, Haywire is just as hyperactive as his partner in combat, often more concerned with how often he fires than where he's aiming or how effective his shots are.

Fiction

Marvel Comics continuity

Haywire was among those Nebulans who joined the Autobots and binary-bonded to Transformers—in his case, Blurr—to defend his planet from the Decepticon forces, first seeing action in the Autobots' unsuccessful defense of the Nursery. Shortly afterwards, the Autobot forces fled to join those on Earth in an attempt to lure their enemies away and save Nebulos from further harm. Brothers in Armor!!

Haywire and Blurr went along with the other Autobot Targetmasters selected to accompany Fortress Maximus to Earth to rescue Buster Witwicky, brother of the newly binary-bonded Spike Witwicky, who proceeded to introduce his team to his father. The group's rescue attempt at the Decepticons island base was ultimately unsuccessful. The Desert Island of Space!

Generation 1 Cartoon

Voice actors: Rob Paulsen (English), Jin Horikawa (Japanese)

I'm Green, but not Big & Mean.

A member of Gort's group of freedom fighters, Haywire took part in an ambush to capture beings whom the Nebulans assumed were Hive machines. He was quick to notice that the machines had humans with them and, as it turned out, the machines were actually heroic Autobots. Haywire mused aloud that if they had the physical power of the Autobots, the Hive machines would be no problem. The Rebirth, Part 1

When the Autobots stole Targetmaster technology from the Decepticons, Haywire volunteered to be binary bonded to Blurr. He greeted the Autobot leader Optimus Prime to Nebulos by boasting about his ability to hit a target from a distance of four thousand yards. The Rebirth, Part 2 Like the other Nebulans, he traveled to Cybertron with the Autobots, and helped to close the Plasma Energy Chamber and bring a new Golden Age to the planet. Afterward, they returned to Nebulos to rid the planet of the Hive's machines. The Rebirth, Part 3

Toys

Generation 1

• Blurr (Targetmaster, 1987)

Haywire was first released in 1987, boxed with the Targetmaster version of Blurr; he is a small humanoid in robot armor that transforms into an "electro-laser cannon". Like most Targetmaster weapons, his transformation is simple; just fold his legs up, and the barrels of his gun form are revealed. Haywire could be placed in either of Blurr's hands or in a plug just in front of his windshield. This resulted in a noticeable difference between Blurr's Targetmaster mold and his earlier release: his hands and chestpiece needed to be retooled to add peg-holes large enough to accommodate his new partner.

• More information on Haywire (with Blurr at TFU.info

United

You'd think a sniper'd want a better grip on his gun...

• Haywire (Targetmaster Micron, 12-28-2010)

A redeco of Power Core Combiners Caliburst, Haywire transforms from robot mode a hand-held rifle. He was only available at Yamada Denki stores with the purchase of over 3000 yen worth of United product, and is meant to compliment the United Blurr toy. Though loose in the Generations Blurr's hands, Haywire fits snugly in the United version's hands.

His instructions only show the hand-held mode, but as he is a Power Core Combiners Mini-Con mold, he can also be converted into anti-aircraft artillery meant for vehicle-mode use (attached by his Powerlinx socket), plus an "armor" mode that connects to a Power Core Combiners Commander toy's chest or back-mounted Powerlinx plug for use in either of their robot modes.

This mold was also used to make Darkray.

Notes

Foreign names

• Japanese: Haywire (ヘイワイヤー Heiwaiyā)