Ricochet (Headmasters)

<div id="title-factionicons" style="float: right; display: none;"><div style="position: relative;"><a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Autobot" title="Autobot"><img alt="" src="Ricochet%20%28G1%20Autobot%29_files/30px-Symbol_autobot_reg.png" width="30" border="0" height="30"></a></div></div> <div style="border: thin solid rgb(170, 170, 170); margin: 0pt 1em 0pt 2em; padding: 0.5em; background: rgb(247, 248, 255) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">The name or term Ricochet refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Ricochet_%28disambiguation%29" title="Ricochet (disambiguation)">Ricochet (disambiguation)</a>.</div>

Ricochet is an <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Autobot" title="Autobot">Autobot</a> from the <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/The_Headmasters_%28franchise%29" title="The Headmasters (franchise)">Headmasters</a> portion of the <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Generation_1_%28franchise%29" title="Generation 1 (franchise)">Generation 1</a> <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Continuity_family" title="Continuity family">continuity family</a>.

[[Image:|right|300px|thumb|Jazz gets pimped.]] Ricochet's function is Rapid-Fire Attack, and he's well suited to it. He is the most accurate marksman the Autobots have and a <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Targetmaster" title="Targetmaster">Targetmaster</a> as well, further augmenting his incredible skill. Unfortunately he's also quick-tempered and very easily provoked. This leads to him having a hard time maintaining friendly relations or even conversations with his teammates. In his favor, Ricochet has an uncommonly strong sense of justice (exactly twice as strong as the ordinary Autobot).

His Targetmaster partner is <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Nightstick_%28Ricochet%29" title="Nightstick (Ricochet)">Nightstick</a>.

Japanese name: Stepper

<a name="Fiction"></a><h2><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Ricochet_%28G1_Autobot%29&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Fiction">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Fiction</span></h2> <a name="Japanese_comic_continuity"></a><h3><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Ricochet_%28G1_Autobot%29&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Japanese comic continuity">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Japanese comic continuity</span></h3> <a name="The_Headmasters_comic"></a><h4><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Ricochet_%28G1_Autobot%29&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: The Headmasters comic">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">The Headmasters comic</span></h4> Ricochet accompanied <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Artfire" title="Artfire">Artfire</a>, <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Chromedome" title="Chromedome">Chromedome</a> and <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Daniel_Witwicky" title="Daniel Witwicky">Daniel Witwicky</a> in responding to a building fire. While the Autobots attempted to rescue people and put out the flames, the <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Decepticon" title="Decepticon">Decepticon</a> Targetmasters attacked. However, the arrival of <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Fortress_Maximus_%28G1%29" title="Fortress Maximus (G1)">Fortress Maximus</a>, who dropped <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Fire-retardant_foam" title="Fire-retardant foam">fire-retardant foam</a> on the buildings in starship mode, gave the two Autobot Targetmasters the chance they needed to combine with their gun-partners and send the Decepticons flying away uncontrollably. <span style="border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-width: 0pt 1px; padding: 0pt 5px; font-size: 10px; background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" class="tt1_nowrap"><a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/The_Headmasters_issue_7" title="The Headmasters issue 7">The Headmasters issue 7</a></span>

<a name="Transformers_Collection_reissue_bio"></a><h4><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Ricochet_%28G1_Autobot%29&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Transformers Collection reissue bio">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Transformers Collection reissue bio</span></h4> On <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Cybertron_%28planet%29" title="Cybertron (planet)">Cybertron</a>, Ricochet often had marksmanship contests with his friends <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Fusion_%28Autobot%29" title="Fusion (Autobot)">Fusion</a> and <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Bluestreak" title="Bluestreak">Bluestreak</a>. (It's anyone's guess how the hot-tempered Ricochet, who couldn't maintain friendly conversations with other Autobots, could be pals with the chatterbox Bluestreak.)

Ricochet's metabolic functions were damaged in an unspecified "incident." Nightstick, an engineer on the planet <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Master" class="mw-redirect" title="Master">Master</a>, volunteered to help him by undergoing a unique form of <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Binary_bonding" title="Binary bonding">binary bonding</a>. While ostensibly becoming a Targetmaster, Nightstick's gun mode wasn't merely hand-held. He instead plugged into Ricochet's robot-mode back, serving as a life-support system.

<a name="Dreamwave_comics_continuity"></a><h3><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Ricochet_%28G1_Autobot%29&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Dreamwave comics continuity">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Dreamwave comics continuity</span></h3> Though he was never activated, Ricochet was apparently one of several <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Cloning" title="Cloning">clones</a> created by <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Shockwave_%28G1%29" title="Shockwave (G1)">Shockwave</a> in the same program that produced <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Sunstorm_%28G1%29" title="Sunstorm (G1)">Sunstorm</a>. <span style="border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-width: 0pt 1px; padding: 0pt 5px; font-size: 10px; background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" class="tt1_nowrap"><a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Night_of_the_Combaticons" title="Night of the Combaticons">Night of the Combaticons</a></span>

<div style="border: 2px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); margin: 0pt auto 0.2em; padding: 2px; width: 90%; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239); text-align: left;">Note: This origin is at odds with what little else we know about Ricochet. Of course, <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Sunstorm_%28G1%29" title="Sunstorm (G1)">Sunstorm</a> wasn't a clone in most stories either...</div> <a name="Toys"></a><h2><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Ricochet_%28G1_Autobot%29&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Toys">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Toys</span></h2> <a name="The_Headmasters"></a><h3><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Ricochet_%28G1_Autobot%29&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: The Headmasters">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">The Headmasters</span></h3> [[Image:|right|180px|thumb|Former holy grail.]]

• Stepper (Targetmaster, 1987)
• Japanese ID number: C-109
• Accessories: "Nebulon" Targetmaster partner, gun mount backpack

A <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Retool" title="Retool">retool</a> and <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Redeco" title="Redeco">redeco</a> of the 1984 Autobot <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Jazz_%28G1%29" title="Jazz (G1)">Jazz</a>, Stepper transforms into a 1976 Porsche 935 Turbo sports car. As a <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Targetmaster" title="Targetmaster">Targetmaster</a>, he came with a smaller partner robot named <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Nebulon_%28Autobot%29" class="mw-redirect" title="Nebulon (Autobot)">Nebulon</a>.

In gun mode, Nebulon could peg into Stepper's car mode spoiler, or could attach to a separate bracket that mounted over his robot-mode shoulder. Stepper did not come with any of Jazz's accessories.

As a late addition to the Japanese Headmasters series (he was a tail-ender release and was unlikely to have been on shelves for very long as stores would reset for the new <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Super-God_Masterforce_%28toyline%29" title="Super-God Masterforce (toyline)">Super-God Masterforce toyline</a>) and one of the earliest Japanese-only Transformers, though Stepper was not particularly

rare, he was perceived as such in the West. As such, for several years Stepper commanded top dollar on the secondary market... until the reissue (see below) pretty much iced that.

<a name="Generation_1"></a><h3><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Ricochet_%28G1_Autobot%29&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Generation 1">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Generation 1</span></h3> [[Image:|right|180px|thumb|Modern heavily-discounted shelfwarmer.]]

• Ricochet w/ Nightstick (2003)
• Japanese ID number: TFC-15
• Accessories: "Nightstick/Nebulon" Targetmaster partner, gun mount backpack, rifle, missile launcher backpack, 3 missiles

Announced first by <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Hasbro" title="Hasbro">Hasbro</a> but released almost simultaneously by both Hasbro and <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Takara" class="mw-redirect" title="Takara">Takara</a>, Stepper (now called Ricochet for his Hasbro debut) was released through Toys "R" Us in the United States in <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Commemorative_Series" title="Commemorative Series">Commemorative Series</a> IX, and as part of Takara's <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers_Collection" title="Transformers Collection">T/F Collection</a>

reissue series. His arsenal was bolstered by the addition of Jazz's weapons, chromed gold for the Takara version, and solid black plastic for the Hasbro release. Additionally, Nightstick was retooled with a slender peg extension to allow Ricochet to actually hold him in his hand as well as changing the plastic clasp that held his legs in (this part was easily broken) to the more sturdy pin and solid plastic holder.

Amusingly enough, neither version sold all that well, and in

the United States was eventually sent to the "closeout" chain Tuesday Morning, where he could be purchased for $8 (original TRU price: $35). Japan saw similar clearance sales on the piece.

<a name="Alternators"></a><h3><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Ricochet_%28G1_Autobot%29&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Alternators">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Alternators</span></h3> [[Image:|right|200px|thumb|Sadly, Ricochet's brilliant plan to score fembots by becoming a lifeguard failed miserably.]]

• Ricochet (Alternator, 2006)
• Alternator ID number: 20
• Accessories: Intercooler/gun

A late-run <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Alternator" class="mw-redirect" title="Alternator">Alternator</a>, Ricochet is a <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Redeco" title="Redeco">redeco</a> of the Subaru Impreza WRX mold used to make <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Bluestreak" title="Bluestreak">Silverstreak</a>.

He features opening doors, hood and trunk, has a detailed interior, and his intercooler becomes a hand-held (non-firing) weapon. He is one of the few Alternators with a state-specific license plate; Ricochet is registered in New Jersey. With his attitude, he'll fit right in.

Though publicity photography give Ricochet a fully-gold face,

for unknown reasons the final product's nose was white. Contrary to popular belief, it was not left unpainted, as his head is made out of black plastic.

This mold was retooled to make <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Red_Alert_%28G1%29" title="Red Alert (G1)">Red Alert</a> and <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Smokescreen_%28G1%29" title="Smokescreen (G1)">Smokescreen</a>.

<a name="Merchandise"></a><h2><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Ricochet_%28G1_Autobot%29&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Merchandise">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Merchandise</span></h2> <a name="Robot_Heroes"></a><h3><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Ricochet_%28G1_Autobot%29&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Robot Heroes">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Robot Heroes</span></h3>

• Ricochet vs Predaking (2-pack, 2009)

[[Image:|right|300px|thumb|Finally, someone to redeco every Jazz into.]] <center> <table style="" cellspacing="0">

<tbody><tr> <td style="padding: 0pt 1em; text-align: right;"><div class="tti_messageboxdiv" style="border: 1px solid rgb(159, 159, 255); margin: auto; padding: 0.5em; width: 100%; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 255); text-align: center;">[[Image:|left|100px|Or you could pick... WHAT'S IN THE BOX.]] This item is currently scheduled for release, but is not yet available.

</div> </td></tr></tbody></table> </center>

<a name="Trivia"></a><h2><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Ricochet_%28G1_Autobot%29&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Trivia">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Trivia</span></h2>

• Stepper and Artfire's Targetmaster partners' names were switched from their <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Nightstick_%28Decepticon%29" title="Nightstick (Decepticon)">English-language</a> <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Fracas" title="Fracas">counterparts</a>.

There has been some speculation among fans that "Stepper" and "Artfire" may have been switched as well; this is fueled by the fact that the <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Robots_in_Disguise" class="mw-redirect" title="Robots in Disguise">Robots in Disguise</a> Ricochet homage <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Hot_Shot_%28RID%29" title="Hot Shot (RID)">Hot Shot</a>'s Japanese name was Artfire, not Stepper.

<a name="External_links"></a><h2><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Ricochet_%28G1_Autobot%29&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: External links">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">External links</span></h2>

• Ricochet at TFU.info
• Headmasters #7 translated in English