Brainstorm (G1)

The name or term "Brainstorm" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Brainstorm (disambiguation).

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• IDW (2005)

Brainstorm is an Autobot Headmaster and one of the most famous notorious inventors from the Generation 1 continuity family.

If a job's worth doing, it's worth OVERDOING!

Brainstorm is a never-ending font of ideas. Whether he's in the middle of a battle or consciously working on another of his projects, new ideas are the background noise of his mind, sometimes to such an extent that his brain will overheat. In his zeal to see these ideas realized, Brainstorm sometimes forgets about things like "basic safety" and "proper experimental procedure". He will happily hand out new and untested inventions to less-than-responsible comrades for field-testing. His inventions range from useful biotechnology, to outlandish anti-personnel weaponry, to devices that harness the bizarre and unthinkable.

Brainstorm is at least partly responsible for developing the Headmaster process. It's sometimes hard to tell how much of it was his doing and how much was his Headmaster partner Arcana's, the two work together so seamlessly.

Sometimes he is also known as Genitus or Charon.

Brainstorm was quite different in Japan's The Headmasters animated series. See below for details.

Fiction

Marvel Comics continuity

Marvel The Transformers comics

Events from the UK-only comic stories are in italics.

He's green, dammit! Green!

After Optimus Prime and his troops aboard the Ark went missing, Brainstorm was one of several under the leadership of Fortress Maximus. Their faction was mired in a seemingly endless war with a band of Decepticons led by Scorponok, in a struggle so pointless and self-perpetuating that Fortress Maximus decided to leave Cybertron and its war and settle on the peaceful planet Nebulos. Brainstorm followed Fortress Maximus' lead, building the Steelhaven and departing their war-torn home.

It would not be so easy. The Nebulans were xenophobic towards the strange robots which invaded their world, and after several missteps in communication, Fortress Maximus, Brainstorm, and a handful of others surrendered their heads as hopeful proof of their benevolence and compliance. Ring of Hate!

Brainstorm would rather fight and die than live with the knowledge that he ran.

When the Decepticons arrived on Nebulos, Fortress Maximus and Brainstorm's heads convinced Galen to attempt the creation of hybrid warriors through a bio-mechanical engineering process. An experimental surgeon named Arcana constructed the necessary equipment based on the Autobots' theories and underwent the process himself along with several other Nebulans, binary bonding with Brainstorm. Together, the Autobots and their Nebulan partners were able to force the aggressors into a retreat, with Brainstorm and Arcana taking on Scorponok himself during the skirmish. Broken Glass! During his recollection of this battle, Stylor pointed out that Arcana and Brainstorm had been especially effective thanks to their amazing speed. Stylor's Story

During an adventure that happened at some unspecified point that was logically impossible given the circumstances, Brainstorm and the other Autobot Headmasters fought the Decepticon Headmasters while the Autobot Targetmasters were held captive by the Decepticons. Mindwipe hypnotized Brainstorm, causing him to crash into Hardhead, but the others were able to pick up the slack and overcome the enemy. Despite the victory coming a bit too easily, Brainstorm insisted they press on, as the Autobot Targetmasters were being held as Decepticon prisoners. The four attacked the Decepticons' Fortress of Despair where Brainstorm quickly located the captive Autobots, only to be ambushed by Scorponok and more of his lackeys. The Autobots learned that the Decepticons had thrown the earlier fight to lure them into Scorponok's trap; he was having trouble replicating the Headmaster process, and he planed to dissect them to work out its finer intricacies. Though overwhelmed at first, the Headmasters managed to free their brethren, bolstering their numbers. Because the Autobots learned to work together with their new Nebulan partners, they were able to send Scorponok fleeing. Worlds Apart!

The Decepticons continued to sow destruction across the globe, and next attacked the city-resort of Splendora. Brainstorm and Hardhead assisted the Technobots in defeating both the Terrorcons and Horrorcons there, though Splendora lay in ruins in the battle's aftermath. Following this pyrrhic victory, the Autobots came under heavy scrutiny from the Nebulan authorities. While Arcana and the others met with representatives from Nebulos's Council of Peers, they received a message alerting them that Lord Zarak was among a group taken captive by the Decepticons. The Headmasters once more sped off to meet the Decepticons in battle and rescue their captives. Upon their arrival however, the Autobots realized that the "captives" had allied themselves with Scorponok, forming a new team of evil Headmasters! In the battle that ensued, Brainstorm was defeated by a shot to the chest. Love and Steel! The new Headmasters managed to drive off the Decepticons, but also inadvertently created a new "arms race", as the Decepticons later created Headmasters of their own, and both sides also implemented Targetmaster warriors as well. Brothers in Armor!!

Fortress Maximus once made a vid-phone call to Brainstorm and Arcana's workshop, and the two eggheads managed to invent a new, smaller, and more efficient vid-phone between the conversation's beginning and its end. They later worked together to design a fuel convertor to get the Autobots to Earth aboard Steelhaven. However, this device was stolen through Decepticon trickery. The Final Conflict

The events in this UK story differ in significant ways to the Headmasters mini-series.

Fearing things could only get worse for Nebulos, Fortress Maximus and Galen took the excuse of an intercepted distress signal from Earth to abandon Nebulos and prevent the war from causing any further harm to the planet. Brothers in Armor!!

On the way to Earth, Brainstorm and Chromedome worked together to re-engineer Fortress Maximus to be larger and stronger than ever before. Their leader now a veritable war machine, Brainstorm put Galen through the paces of testing out his new form. Then, he and Arcana managed to triangulate the Autobot signal to Mount St. Hilary. Meeting up with Goldbug there (who's mind had been transplanted into a toy car) and learning from him that his human friend had been captured by the Decepticons, Brainstorm suggested they rescue the "Earthen." But Maximus was eager to instead continue seeking out their fellow Autobots. Spike Witwicky, the aforementioned human's older brother, emerged from a hiding spot, and implored the Autobots to help in finding his younger sibling. Despite refusing him outright at first, Maximus fought to defend the boy from the Decepticons when they too arrived on Earth. This led to the death of Galen, and Spike taking over as controller of Fortress Maximus. Trial by Fire!

As the Steelhaven orbited the Earth, Brainstorm was kept busy building Goldbug a new body and repairing the injured Fortress Maximus. Goldbug was completed first, and so Brainstorm advised him to head out into the field when the Autobots intercepted a call made on behalf of "Optimus Prime," the legendary Autobot leader long-thought dead. Goldbug reported more than just making contact with Optimus: he also beamed back data from the Decepticons' genetics lab, detailing how to create Pretender warriors. Brainstorm enlisted six volunteers to undergo the process, and with them created the Autobot Pretenders. Pretender to the Throne! Unfortunately, Brainstorm's projects used up most of the group's available resources and prevented the proper recreation of Optimus Prime. The project proceeded despite Brainstorm's accurate warnings of failure. Afterwards, Maximus's crew made contact with another team of Autobots, under the leadership of Grimlock. The latter proved to be overtly hostile and eager to defend his position as supreme leader of the Autobots. Brainstorm was forced to watch as the cruel Dinobot took Goldbug prisoner, seeing as the little 'bot was considered a fugitive from his forces. But a challenger soon arose to contest Grimlock's position, and Brainstorm was audience to Blaster battling the Dinobot on the surface of the Earth's moon. The proceedings were interrupted by a Decepticon attack, which convinced the two duelists to momentarily put their differences aside to lead the troops together, allowing the Autobots to send Ratbat's forces into a retreat. Totaled!

Can Unicron detect how much cinnamon is packed into every bite of Brainstorm?

Brainstorm was displaced to Limbo along with a handful of other Autobots when Rodimus Prime traveled to the past with a group of Autobots of his own. Time Wars Later, he was one of the victims of a rogue Autobot Mark V Guardian droid, which resulted in him being thrown from the Ark and landing at the feet of Optimus Prime. Brainstorm's flaming body helped contribute to the Autobot leader regaining his desire to fight. Yesterday's Heroes!

Brainstorm was killed when Unicron ravaged Cybertron in 1991. Even Brainstorm's vast intellect failed him when confronted with the devil himself, so he simply screamed and shot desperately until Unicron scooped him up and ate him. By Unicron's own admission, Brainstorm was quite tasty. On the Edge of Extinction!

Regeneration One

"I've been asleep how long?! Why did I even invent the alarm clock if no one's going to freaking set it?!

Twenty-one years after the death of Arcana and destruction of Brainstorm's original body, Nebulos had signed an Interplanetary Trade Treaty with Cybertron, which included Project Lazarus—a project to build new bodies for the original heads of the now-deceased Headmasters. Grimlock reviewed transmissions in which Senior Scientist Borx explained that the initial attempts had led to extreme pain and complete rejection of the new bodies, including footage of a disastrous attempt at integrating Brainstorm's head with a new body, until data from Zarak's old files improved the process. Loose Ends, Part 2

However, this "unauthorised" decryption awakened the original head of Scorponok. Aided by knowledge gleamed from his binary bond with the deceased Zarak, he was able to enslave the Nebulans, complete Project Lazarus, and have them build a "mint replica of [his] original body". Natural Selection, Part One With the aid of Grimlock's Nucleon-soaked CNA, who he had captured while seeking a new body for himself and the other Nucleon victims, he completed another project—to create a "Gene Key" which could mute the consciences of Autobots, turning them into "Decepticons". The rebuilt Brainstorm—whose faceplate had apparently been forcibly removed, leaving a discolored lower face—was one of the three subjects he demonstrated this on, along with Highbrow and Hardhead, and as soon as they were freed, they proceeded to attack Grimlock for wearing an Autobot symbol. After Brainstorm had been chucked around a bit by Grimlock, Scorponok stopped them, as Grimlock was now working for him under blackmail anyway. They proceeded to travel to Cybertron to begin converting the populace into Decepticons. As soon as they landed at Iacon's Civil Defense Hub, the twisted Autobots shot the shocked Slapdash in the face. Leaving him for dead, they then marched in and began killing Civil Defense Force members until the coast was clear for Scorponok. Natural Selection, Part Two

Later, he stormed through Iacon, turning Autobots with the Gene Key, blindsiding Overdrive amongst others. As the Omnibot roared away, eager to cause chaos, Brainstorm turned on Grimlock, who had been wandering the city searching for the Dinobots, telling him that Scorponok had ordered him back to the Civil Defense Hub and escorting him there. Scorponok sought to assure himself of the Dinobot's loyaly, and so ordered Grimlock to execute Punch, who was immune to the key's effect, while the others looked on. Ultimately, Grimlock found himself unable to go through with the deed. Natural Selection, Part Three Grimlock escaped, but while he searched for the other Dinobots, he activated an alarm at the Nursery, where Slag was being held. This drew the Dinobots there as well as Brainstorm, Darkwing and Dreadwind to his location. On their arrival, Grimlock shot open the containment capsule holding Inferno. With his temperature spiking to dangerous levels, owing to his Nucleon exposure, Inferno begged them to get clear to no avail—as Grimlock intended, the resulting blast incapacitated Brainstorm and the two Decepticons. Natural Selection, Part Four

Ultimately, Perceptor corrupted Scorponok's "master" Gene Key, intended to convert holdouts across the whole planet, and all the affected were converted back into "Autobots", including Brainstorm. Natural Selection, Part Five Though they wouldn't have been held accountable for their actions while altered by the Gene Key, the three former Headmasters turned themselves in to be tried as war criminals, unable to live with the thought of what they were capable of. Destiny, Part One Despite this, Brainstorm and the others stepped forward to defend Cybertron when Bludgeon and the Warworld attacked. Destiny, Part Four

Brainstorm later took part in the assault on Jhiaxus's Hub Network but was then captured and held at the Corral, and later executed along with Joyride, Sky High and Crosshairs when Rodimus couldn't call off the Wreckers. The War to End All Wars, Part 4

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Transformers cartoon

Voice actor: Michael Bell (English), Hiroshi Naka (Japanese)

"Okay, we'll become Headmasters, but you gotta take the old man."

Brainstorm was first seen on Cybertron, touting his new theory that an integration of human and Autobot would dramatically enhance their fighting abilities. Most of the other Autobots, though, thought he was a crackpot. Things turned around when he and a group of Autobots met a band of freedom fighters while stranded on the planet Nebulos. With several comrades kidnapped and the safety of the MacGuffin key to the Plasma Energy Chamber in jeopardy, the Autobots arranged to bond with the Nebulan soldiers. Their heads were reconstructed to accommodate Nebulan passengers and then "transform" around their partners as personal battle armor. The Rebirth, Part 1

Uh, Arcana, he has a cockpit.

With the help of their partners, the Autobot Headmasters freed their comrades and drove off the Decepticons. Unfortunately, their foes then joined forces with the freedom fighters' enemies, a group of evil machinesmiths called the Hive. They also created a new form of binary bonding called Targetmasters. The revitalized Decepticons returned and engaged the Autobots in battle anew. Mindwipe detected the key on Brainstorm and managed to disarm him. Several Hive agents then swarmed Brainstorm and removed the key from him, but he was able to run a full spectrum exo-scan on Nightstick, one of the Targetmaster partners, before they got away. With that information, Brainstorm was able to recreate the Targetmaster process for the Autobots. The Rebirth, Part 2

Returning to Cybertron in pursuit of the key and the new Decepticon city-base, Scorponok, Brainstorm and the others joined forces with Optimus Prime, and their partners were instrumental in reversing the chamber's power to usher in a new Golden Age for Cybertron. In the aftermath, Brainstorm and the Headmasters returned to Nebulos to clear out the Hive's machines and restore the planet to peace and prosperity. The Rebirth, Part 3

Wings Universe

Wings Universe is based on the Generation 1 cartoon, but deviates from it in cosmetic ways and continuity points.

Brainstorm has a crippling fear of cows.

Following Hi-Q's kidnapping, Brainstorm turned out with Highbrow, Crosshairs, and Chromedome to brief Pyro's team. A Flash Forward, Part 3

Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

In Japan, "Brainstorm" is the name for the combined small head-robot and transtector body. When separated from the large, lifeless robot body, the head unit is called Cana.

The Headmasters cartoon

Voice actor: Ryōichi Tanaka (Japanese), John Culkin (English, Omni Productions dub)

Four million years ago, Brainstorm was one of a number of small Cybertronians who left Cybertron in search of a new home. The Mystery of Planet Master they ended up crashlanding on Master, an inhospitable world with harsh weather conditions and a hostile environment, forcing them to rapidly advance in technology to survive. Brainstorm was among those to become a Headmaster, mastering the art of transforming so he could take control of a Transtector. The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery Unfortunately once they'd succeeded, a number of the Headmasters broke away from Fortress's leadership under the command of Scorponok. The Mystery of Planet Master

"What do you mean 'shouldn't you have a mouthplate?'?"

In the year 2011, when Galvatron launched his latest attack on Cybertron with the added power of his new Decepticon Headmasters, Brainstorm and his fellow Autobot Headmasters travelled to the planet to help their comrades defend their homeworld. Four Warriors Come out of the Sky On arrival, they set about fighting the Decepticons. Brainstorm and Chromedome were able to overcome Mindwipe, despite the Decepticon's powers of hypnotism. Following the battle's conclusion, they traveled to Athenia on board Battleship Maximus to join the Autobot forces there. Though they volunteered to accompany Hot Rod to Earth to help search for the Matrix of Leadership, he insisted on sidelining them. The Mystery of Planet Master After Blaster's death, the Headmasters joined Hot Rod anyway and helped him search. When the came under attack from Abominus, they were able to hold the Decepticon off long enough for Hot Rod to dig up the Matrix. They accompanied him back to Cybertron, where Hot Rod once more became Rodimus Prime, but they failed to stabilize Vector Sigma, and Optimus Prime was forced to do it himself by sacrificing his life. Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime

When the Decepticons created the Madmachine, the four Headmasters were ready to storm over to Chaar and destroy it, but Rodimus intended instead to send the Cassettes. When the Cassettes refused the mission, Brainstorm blocked their way, wanting to know what their problem was. Daniel pointed out they were still upset about Blaster's death, however Fortress resurrected Blaster as Twincast. While Twincast went to Earth, the Headmasters were sent to Cybertron and helped Throttlebots to destroy the Madmachine. The Great Cassette Operation While on patrol in Battleship Maximus, the Headmasters encountered two Beastformers, leading them to travel to planet Beast to thwart a Decepticon invasion. Rebellion on Planet Beast After failing to destroy a strange meteor, they aided the Technobots in a fight against Decepticons. Partway though, they were called back to Athenia so they could accompany Daniel on a mission to destroy the meteor, and Brainstorm and his fellows kept Galvatron's men busy while Daniel completed said mission. Approach of the Demon Meteorite

"Brainstorm, it's okay. The cow can't hurt you."
"No! Keep that thing away from me!"

The Headmasters were sent to Praum to investigate reports of a Decepticon attack. On arrival, they found the base had been devastated and the occupants apparently destroyed, moving Brainstorm to make the sign of the cross. It turned out to be a trap set by Scorponok, but the five Headmasters remembered their struggles back on Master and swapped Transtectors in order to escape. Brainstorm made great use of Highbrow's Transtector during the ensuing battle against the Decepticons. The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery While investigating a mysterious blackmailer, the Headmasters checked out the Statue of Liberty. They arrived in London with Metroplex, only to find the Decepticons had leveled the place. They similarly arrived back in New York too late, though Brainstorm spotted Cyclonus and Scourge. They later aided the Trainbots in catching up with and defeating Sixshot, whom they'd encountered before on Master. Terror! The Six Shadows

The Headmasters continued to train, Brainstorm by lifting weights. When Decepticons were reported to be heading for Earth, he opted to remain on Athenia, and later traveled to Cybertron with Fortress when the Decepticons mounted an all-out attack on the planet. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1 When the Decepticon Headmasters split mid-battle, Brainstorm figured they were up to something, and they eventually discovered the Decepticons were heading for Vector Sigma and gave pursuit. Unfortunately they failed to stop the Decepticons destroying Cybertron. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2

During the launch of the Sol 1 satellite, the Headmasters defended the launch pad. Brainstorm took to the air to try and chase off Cyclonus and Scourge. They succeeded in launching the satellite, but when the Decepticons made another play for it, Sixshot kept the Autobot Headmasters busy. Brainstorm was ready to charge over to Chaar to get Sol 1 back, but Fortress had a better idea where it was. The Headmasters found the satellite near Zarak, but were forced to destroy it to keep it out of Decepticon hands. The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok

The Headmasters went to Earth to assist when a Peruvian volcano erupted. While fighting Predaking and the Decepticon Headmasters, Brainstorm used his whirlwind attack to draw hot ash from an ash cloud and blast the Decepticons with it. He also assisted during the evacuation of the village of Pan by rescuing Pipiro's donkey, Koro. The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts When they attacked a buridanka plant on Earth, Brainstorm boldly threw himself into one of the plant's mouths. The rest of the fight didn't go much better, and the Headmasters found themselves in danger of termination until Fortress broke out the Master Sword and cut the thing to shreds. Head On!! Fortress Maximus

When reports came in of the Decepticons being up to something on Mars, Brainstorm and the other Headmasters traveled there in Broadside. After tangling with Predaking they rescued Daniel and found out that the Decepticons were planning to blow the entire planet up. Interrogating the Decepticons led them to a crater which naturally turned out to be a trap. Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger Both Brainstorm and Highbrow were injured enough that they had to undergo extensive repairs. They finally returned to the fight to save Mars in time to witness MegaZarak's arrival, and Brainstorm's jet mode was swatted out of the air by the titan. As Mars exploded, the four Headmasters joined Fortress aboard Maximus, and they were able to escape the planet thanks to the explosions recharging Maximus' power. Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears

"Hey, listen up down there. That thing is called a 'cockpit'. Not a bathroom."

Brainstorm offered the opinion that a UFO Daniel saw might be aliens. He and the other Headmasters patrolled space near Chaar and came under attack from MegaZarak, but escaped thanks to another appearance by the mystery UFO. It wasn't until the Autobots gatecrashed Scorponok's coronation ceremony that the UFO was revealed to be the returned Galvatron, and they had to retreat. Return of the Immortal Emperor After an SOS was received from Sandra, the Headmasters prepared to take a shipment of energy to that world. The Decepticons set out to stop them, but Brainstorm and Highbrow kept them busy while Chromedome and Hardhead sneaked ahead with the energy. The Autobots arrived on Sandra in time to fight off the incoming Decepticons. SOS from Planet Sandra

As part of Spike's plan to negotiate with the Decepticon, the four Headmasters accompanied him to Shangri-La Island on Earth as an escort. When the Galvatron who met with Spike turned out to be an impostor, Brainstorm and the others rescued Carly and Daniel before attacking the Decepticons. During the escape, Sixshot destroyed the space bridge network, and the Autobots set out in pursuit in Battleship Maximus. Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!! When the Decepticons invaded Hive, the Autobots attempted to go help, but were stopped by the Hive ships which opened fire on Maximus. Even Chromedome, Hardhead and Brainstorm going out to try to reason with them failed, and the trio returned to the ship. Fight to the Death on Planet Hive!!

"Black Mesa can eat my bankrupt-"

As Maximus neared the Twin Star system, Brainstorm got the other riled up by claiming battle was about brain over brawn. He volunteered to accompany Daniel, Arcee and Wheelie to the planet of Toruin while the others fought the Decepticons on Spherity. The four of them weren't on the barren planet for long before they stumbled on an underground city—the inhabitants of Spherity were using the planet as a refuge. Brainstorm returned to the battle on Spherity, using a head swap technique with the other Headmasters so he could reach Fortress and deliver the news that Spherity was an empty world. He later apologized to the other Headmasters for his earlier comments about warfare. Battle for Defense of the False Planet

An SOS led the Headmasters to the planet Daros where they fought the Decepticons again and overthrew the corrupt government. Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!! Brainstorm noticed that Battleship Maximus' weapons systems were malfunctioning and had Chromedome and Hardhead go to fix them. When Highbrow was captured by the Decepticons on the planet of Paradise, the three other Headmasters were forced to go rescue him. Head Formation of Friendship

"There was cow meat in that burger? Oh god, I've been contaminated! SOMEBODY GET ME SOAP! I HAVE TO CLEANSE MYSELF!"

Brainstorm was keen to take the fight to the Decepticons before their foe could return to Chaar. The Headmasters took part in a battle on the Pirate Planet, though there turned out to be no energy there. Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship As the Decepticons returned to Chaar, the Autobot Headmasters returned to Athenia. They traveled to Earth to try to stem a Decepticon attack, but were too late to prevent Ultra Magnus's death at the hands of Sixshot. Ultra Magnus Dies!!

The Decepticons began striking at points across the Earth, but the Headmasters followed Galvatron to Alaska, where they were able to use information passed on by Punch to defeat Galvatron, trapping him beneath the ice. The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg New information pointed to the Decepticons trying to destroy Earth altogether. As Chromedome had become consumed with guilt over endangering Spike, Brainstorm was put in temporary charge of the Headmasters and sent to the Kamchatka Peninsula with Hardhead and Highbrow. They didn't fare well against the Decepticons there until Chromedome successfully completed Highbrow's research and arrived with the knowledge of MegaZarak's weak spot. I Risk My Life for Earth

Sure, he thinks it's funny to use the ejector seat on Arcana now, but he'll regret it when he tries to transform and realizes he has no head.

With Earth largely abandoned by the Decepticons, the Autobot Headmasters set about finding the bombs they'd planted. Brainstorm and Highbrow retrieved a bomb from a mine and returned it to Battleship Maximus. During the disposal of the bombs in space, an accident created the Targetmasters from a group of refugees from Master and some Autobots and Decepticons. Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1) Brainstorm and Highbrow carried Pointblank back to the ship, though the newcomer dismissed their combat skills. Warned by the refugees, the Headmasters returned to their home world and fought the Decepticons. Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 2)

After the Decepticons ransomed Wheelie for information on the Master Sword, Brainstorm and the other Autobots were unsuccessful in keeping said information out of the Decepticons' hands, even after Wheelie was rescued. The Master Sword Is in Danger!! The Headmasters worked on finding Scorponok by searching for unique energy wavelengths and even found the cavern where he was constructing the Zarak Shield, but were too late to prevent its completion. The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide Brainstorm went along with Chromedome's plan to rally the residents of Master against the Decepticons, but it went horribly wrong when Scorponok popped up in the middle of the city and defeated Fortress Maximus in combat. Operation: Destroy the Decepticons

The Headmasters traced Daniel to planet Daira after he became separated from the ship, and were surprised to find he'd been looked after by Sixshot. My Friend Sixshot! When Sixshot challenged Chromedome to a duel and the other Headmasters failed to talk their friend out of it, Brainstorm offered to be Chromedome's second and got a punch in the mouth for his troubles. They were reluctant to let him go alone, but when it turned out the whole thing was a diversion while the other Decepticons headed for Earth, they had no choice but to let him go it alone. Duel on the Asteroid

The Autobots hurried back to Earth, where the Decepticons were busy erecting Death Towers. When they learned that Spike and Carly's plane had crashed in the Andes, the four Headmasters went there with Daniel and Wheelie to rescue them. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1) On their way to Egypt to deal with another Death Tower, the four Headmasters had to contend with Mindwipe, Skullcruncher and Weirdwolf, though the trio didn't present much of a threat in the end. After failing to stop the Death Tower from rising, the Autobots' entire army went to the North Pole where they faced the Decepticons in a final battle to save Earth. As Fortress Maximus was caught in the energies preparing to tear the planet apart, Brainstorm and the other three Headmasters attempted a Head Formation to give him more power. It was only when the other Autobots joined in that they succeeded, and the Decepticons' satellite was destroyed. With the Decepticons having fled into space, the Autobots left Earth to pursue them. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)

The Great Transformer War

Before the Headmasters joined the greater Transformer war, Brainstorm, as part of the Headmasters of Justice, hunted down the Headmasters of Evil on a barren planet. Their ensuing battle was interrupted when Sixshot arrived to retrieve the Headmasters of Evil, as Galvatron had need of them. As they left, Fortress met up with the four Autobot Headmasters and they all boarded Battleship Maximus to pursue the Decepticons to Cybertron. The Great Transformer War #3

The Headmasters manga

On Athenia, Brainstorm attended the unveiling of the Optimus Prime memorial statue. He and the other Headmasters of Justice also waylaid a Decepticon bombing attack on the planet. The Headmasters #1

Venturing to Beast, Brainstorm and the Headmasters of Justice investigated an SOS from their allies. On aerial recon, Brainstorm and Highbrow found Alligatron and Predaking attacking innocent Beasts. The Headmasters heroically bought time for the Beasts to flee, but were captured by the Decepticons. Luckily, Hardhead and Chromedome found reinforcements in Kane and the Autobot Beastformers. They provided a needed distraction for Highbrow and Brainstorm to break free from their captors. Through quick thinking and teamwork, the Headmasters, Trainbots, and Beastformers successfully drove the Decepticon forces off of Beest and back to Chaar. Great Decisive Battle of Planet Beast!

Brainstorm and the Headmasters next traveled to an Alaskan energy refinery, where the Headmasters of Evil managed to temporarily get the drop on them, separating the Masters from their Transtectors. Through quick thinking and teamwork, the Autobot Headmasters reunited with their Transtectors and defeated the enemy. The Headmasters #2

The Trainbots joined Brainstorm and the Headmasters on an undersea mission where they found Rippersnapper, Skullcruncher and the Sharkticons stealing(?) energy from subaquatic vents. They also found a giant robot squid lying in wait. Through quick thinking and teamwork, the Headmasters and Trainbots dismantled the squid and stopped the Decepticons' scheme. The Headmasters #3

In a battle with Sixshot, Brainstorm and the Headmasters of Justice failed to prevent the Six Clan ninja from stealing food rations. And kidnapping Daniel. By accident. Way to go, guys. The Headmasters #4

During the Christmas season, Brainstorm and his friends entertained the patients at a children's hospital until the Decepticons arrived. Through quick thinking and teamwork...aw, you get the picture. The Headmasters #6

On Earth, Brainstorm and the crew of the Battleship Maximus helped put out a fire so that Ricochet and Artfire could concentrate on battling the Decepticons. The Headmasters #7

Super-God Masterforce cartoon continuity

Super-God Masterforce cartoon

Archive footage of a battle in space involving Brainstorm was used to educate the future Headmaster Juniors about the Master Wars. Birth! Headmaster Jrs

Unite Warriors

Brainstorm and his comrades' involvement in Galvatron's defeat and icy entombment was recounted. Grand Galvatron Chapter

Transformers Legends comic

In one of Rattrap's dreams wrought about by his size complex, he was approached by Cana, Brainstorm's head robot, who yelled at him to never feel bad about his small stature. He told the Maximal that anyone can grow bigger and stronger with practice, using his transtector as an example, then combined with it into Brainstorm and shared the story of how he and his compatriots ended up on Master. His point was that despite their size and deadliness of the planet, they didn't just lay down and die, but fought back and became stronger—strong enough that Brainstorm could even knock down Scorponok. When Rattrap woke up, Brainstorm's final words to keep training and never give up inspired him to go jogging. Bonus Edition Vol. 9

Brainstorm was asked by Rattrap why he looked different from the old days, and he confirmed he'd trained hard and acquired a new version. This bothered Chromedome, who found it unfair that out of all the Headmasters of Justice only he got an upgrade. Cana later woke up with his Transtector missing, only to find Rattrap had stolen it and was smugly claiming he too "trained hard" to get a bigger body. When Rattrap refused to return it, telling the Headmaster to just get a new one, an angry Cana combined with the body anyway, causing its flip-down Tech Spec to trap the rat. Brainstorm Chapter

Swamp of the Scorpion

The following summarizes one or more multipath adventures. Details vary depending on the paths taken in-story. See the book's page for information on alternate paths.

Highbrow and Brainstorm once battled Cyclonus, using an electronic circuit jammer to prevent the Decepticon from taking flight.

Brainstorm was supposed to help Highbrow investigate Decepticon activity on the planet Nebulos. Before their mission was fully underway, however, his power-lines begun to over-heat. Brainstorm and Gort stopped at a nearby city to get repaired while Highbrow carried on with the mission. Swamp of the Scorpion

Ladybird Books continuity

Voice actor: Peter Marinker (English)

As the Decepticons built an energy interceptor at Nebulos's north pole, the Autobots learned their device risked wiping out the entire planet. After destroying the first energy interceptor, the Autobots were nonplussed to learn the Decepticons built a second, more heavily guarded interceptor in its place. Thinking creatively, Brainstorm worked with the Autobot Targetmasters to turn the Decepticon fortress Scorponok's strength against it. During a sabotage raid, the Targetmasters used thermal lasers to melt the ice underneath Scorponok and the interceptor installation, causing them to fall helplessly into the slush. Decepticons at the Pole

When the Autobots located a vast reservoir of oil on the planet, Brainstorm spearheaded the effort to create a major pipeline to pump the oil back to Autobot base. Autobots Strike Oil

Brainstorm later assisted Optimus Prime in charting a planet-wide search for Decepticon activity on Nebulos. Decepticons Underground

IDW Generation 1 continuity

Brainy Smurf Storm.

Originally known as Genitus, the cold-constructed 'bot who would become Brainstorm worked at Zeta Prime's New Institute, from where he got his head-themed nickname. He was infatuated with his co-worker Quark, an unrequited love that would go on to have lasting repercussions. Following the ooutbreak of the Great War, Brainstorm joined the Autobots and became a double agent for the Decepticons, spinning old information in different ways to make it seem as if he was feeding the 'Cons intelligence about new advances. This job was a cover for a complicated plan to save Quark from his death at Grindcore prison, procuring parts to construct a paradox trap-exempt time machine with which he planned to save his love, at the cost of his own existence. This time machine took shape within in a briefcase that never left Brainstorm's care.

As the war ground on, he worked at Kimia, producing all kinds of bizarre weapons that were mostly vetoed by the Ethics Committee as violations of the Non-Conventional Weapons Act. After the end of the war and the repopulation of Cybertron, Brainstorm was one of the 200 Autobots who volunteered to serve aboard the Lost Light as part of the quest for the Knights of Cybertron. Over the course of this voyage, Brainstorm had all sorts of adventures, brieftly returning to Cybertron to thwart Shockwave's "Dark Cybertron" scheme. Brainstorm eventually deployed his time machine in a bid to talk Megatron out of starting the war altogether. Believing him to be an undercover mole for the Decepticons, the Autobots pursued him through space and time; although Brainstorm failed in his mission, the adventure created the existence of a parallel universe where Megatron had died before he had been activated. Following a mutiny aboard the Lost Light, he was one of the Autobots identified as a Megatron sympathist by Getaway and Atomizer, and was subsequently marooned on the Necroworld with his fellow loyalists.

TransTech

In Primax 806.30 Gamma, Brainstorm was binary-bonded to the G.I. Joe weapons specialist Dynamite using reverse-engineered technology from Sgt. Savage. The binary-bonded Autobots joined up with the Screaming Eagles to battle the forces of S.K.A.R. The Autobots and Screaming Eagles ultimately emerged victorious from this destructive global conflict and ushered in a new Golden Age for Earth. Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 2016/05/01

Commercial appearances

• Brainstorm, Chromedome, Hardhead, and Highbrow awaited their Headmaster partners as Hot Rod sent out a Decepticon alert. Once Arcana was aboard his vehicle mode, Brainstorm sped off to come to blows against the Decepticon Headmasters. Brainstorm and Arcana transformed and combined to ward off their enemies! Headmasters commercial
• A stone sculpture of Brainstorm was savaged by Skullcruncher as part of his training. Decepticon Headmasters commercial
• After Brainstorm and Highbrow were dealt one too many defeats at the hands of the Decepticons, their latest in a battle against Mindwipe and Weirdwolf, the Autobots conceived of a new breed of warriors: Autobot Pretenders! Pretenders commercial

Games

Transformers: The Headmasters

Brainstorm was kidnapped by the Decepticons and held captive on the Jail planet by Abominus. He was rescued by Chromedome and his other comrades, and in turn helped rescue those who were still imprisoned. Once they had reunited, Brainstorm and the others met with Fortress Maximus for the last battle against Scorponok. Transformers: The Headmasters

The Transformers (PS2)

Voice actor: Peter von Gomm

Autobot story

Brainstorm was available as a playable character in the Autobot campaign during the second playthrough.

Decepticon story

Brainstorm, believing he was the match of the Decepticon leader, challenged Megatron's march on Zel Samine as his forces made their way through an array of wind turbines. They handed his aft to him, leaving Brainstorm shocked and confused; how could his frontal attack against superior forces have failed?

He retreated to formulate a new plan.

Later, at ELTA, Chromedome and Brainstorm joined forces to battle the Decepticons again, to no avail. The Transformers

Transformers Legends

The Autobot Headmasters led by Brainstorm hunted for Starscream's ghost by tracking the electro-magnetic spikes which signaled his manifestations. They were able to prevent him passing over into the physical world, and scattered the Decepticons who had aided him. Ghost in the Machine When the Decepticons aimed to get hold of the Key to the Plasma Energy Chamber, Brainstorm and his fellow Headmasters made off with it but soon crashed on Earth. They were aided by the EDC, who patched them up and helped them fight off Apeface and Skullcruncher. Last Stand of the Earth Defense Command

Transformers: Battle Tactics

Seriously, Brainstorm once destroyed an entire village because he thought he saw a cow. And it turned out to be a washing machine.

Brainstorm participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was a Super Rare character who could be recruited for 300 units of Cybermetal, 95 units of Transmetal, 60 scout cores, and 5 cores of this character. Transformers: Battle Tactics

Toys

Generation 1

File:G1Brainstorm toy.jpg

No no...

• Brainstorm (1987)
  • Japanese ID number: C-104
  • Accessories: "Arcana" Headmaster pilot, left & right "High-Energy Photon Pulse Cannons"

Brainstorm transforms into a turquoise Cybertronic fighter craft. Both of Brainstorm's twin pistols attach to the front of his alt-mode's nosecone to extend it and augment it with two canard wings. As with all larger Headmaster toys, Brainstorm features both a cockpit suitable for his partner, Arcana, to sit in and an abbreviated Tech Specs bar graph inside his chest hidden under a hinged panel. When a compatible Headmaster head is plugged into the socket on Brainstorm's robot mode, the bars will show three of that character's Tech Specs.

• More information on Brainstorm at TFU.info

Generations

Briefcase sadly not included.

• Brainstorm (Voyager, 2014)
  • Series / Number: 02 / #009
  • Accessories: Head/pilot robot, left & right blasters

Part of the eighth wave of 2012-onwards Generations Voyager Class toys, Thrilling 30 Brainstorm transforms into a turquoise Cybertronian aircraft based off of Nick Roche's design for More than Meets the Eye. He is notable for being the first modern Headmaster-style figure available in general retail after the Generation 1 versions. He also holds the distinction of being the first Headmaster-style figure with an articulated neck. He comes with two pistols which can attach via 5mm post to his hands and the nosecone of the jet. His head transforms into an unnamed robot that is most certainly Arcana, and can be inserted inside the cockpit to be used as a pilot. Putting the pilot robot into the neck socket will reveal Tech Specs like the G1 toy. The Tech Specs are based off the original figure, not the Tech Specs on the box.

Exercise caution while using the Headmaster gimmick, as the main robot's neck socket is painted, making the pilot robot rather difficult to remove. Too much force could separate the pilot robot's own head from his body. However, there have been reports of a running change in the toy that fixes the Headmaster gimmick; this is signified by a rubber band holding the head in place.

Please take note that Arcana cannot connect to Brainstorm's Deluxe Class counterpart due to having different connectors, and any Titans Return Titan Master (including Teslor) is incompatible with Brainstorm's Voyager Class body.

• More information on Generations Brainstorm on TFU.info
• Fixed Headmaster gimmick running change

I'm Charon in London.

• Titan Force (gift set, 2016)
  • Accessories: Gun, vehicle nosecone/Titan Master sled, "Autobot Teslor" Titan Master, sticker sheet of multiple Autobot and Decepticon faction symbols

A retool of Titans Return Blurr, Brainstorm is part of the "Titan Force" giftset, exclusive to the Hasbro Toy Shop website and the Hasbro Toy Shop booth at San Diego Comic-Con 2016. He features a new face, shoulders, and vehicle mode parts, mostly inspired by his IDW More than Meets the Eye design. As with all Deluxe-or-larger Titans Return toys, his Titan Master head, Autobot Teslor, can be freely swapped between figures, and transforms into a robot which can pilot or peg onto alternate modes.

A rarity: A trademark conflict in a specific non-US market.

Brainstorm includes a foil sticker sheet, featuring a choice of Autobot or Decepticon symbols for the sculpted spot under his windscreen in robot mode and for his wings (either to cover the tampographed symbols already there or to go on the reverse side for robot mode). He is packaged together with a translucent plastic redeco of Titans Return Sentinel Prime and a Fortress Maximus-themed redeco of Windblade (using her Robots in Disguise Warrior toy).

The Titan Force giftset was officially redistributed in the United Kingdom by A1 Toys, first at their booth at London Film & Comic-Con 2016 and later also via their website and at other UK conventions. Due to trademark issues, the character was renamed Charon via stickers applied to the outside of the box. It was also sold at Cybertron Con Shanghai 2016, at the Hasbro booth at Animation-Comic-Game Hong Kong 2016 and at the HasbroStore booth at Fan Expo 2016 in Canada, each time sans Brainstorm's renaming.

It's okay, Teslor can breathe in space.

• Autobot Teslor & Brainstorm (Deluxe, 2016)
  • Accessories: Gun, vehicle nosecone/Titan Master sled, "Autobot Teslor" Titan Master

Brainstorm was also sold individually in the United States as the first-ever Transformers exclusive for Walgreens drugstores. Compared to the San Diego Comic-Con version, this one has a deco closer to the original G1 toy, including a yellow canopy.

Initial samples on display at conventions had his helmet left unpainted (showing the same darker gray as used on his wings and feet) and his Autobot symbol tampograph applied to the top of his canopy like on his Titan Force release. His stock photography, however, matched the version of the figure available at retail.

Reports of Brainstorm cases making their way to Walmart stores cropped up in late August 2016.

Legends

File:LegendsBrainstorm.jpg

Some say this deco is overdoing it.

• Brainstorm (Voyager, 2015-01-24)
  • ID number: LG09
  • Accessories: "Cana" Headmaster pilot, left & right weapons

Legends Brainstorm is a redeco of Generations Brainstorm with some minor changes in plastic, such as an orange canopy. He more noticeably features additional paint detail, including red and white highlights on his smaller wings, some white added to the red details on his chest, and a silver midriff. Brainstorm's bio is written from a The Headmasters perspective and as such names the Headmaster its Japanese name, Cana. He comes with volume 9 of the Transformers Legends Comic: Bonus Edition comic.

Yellow belly. (Well, close enough.)

• Brainstorm (Deluxe, 2016)
  • ID number: LG39
  • Accessories: Gun, vehicle nosecone/Headmaster sled, gun, Headmaster jeep/hovervehicle/blaster vehicle, "Cana" Headmaster partner

The second Legends Brainstorm is a slight retool and redeco of the tooling used for the previously mentioned Titans Return Brainstorm releases. This figure's deco is based directly off of Brainstorm's character model in The Headmasters cartoon, and the Headmaster partner himself is retooled to match—notably removing his faceplate in favor of a mouth. Also included is a redeco of Titan Master Brawn's vehicle accessory, which is built to accommodate all Titan Masters/Headmasters.

Titans Return mold: Hyperfire
Hasbro: Titans Return Hyperfire Autobot Stylor Autobot Teslor (Titan Force) Autobot Teslor Autobot Throttle Parsec Leinad Retro Headmasters Stylor Arcana TakaraTomy: Legends LG25 Blurr LG32 Chrome (Chromedome) LG39 Cana (Brainstorm) LG-EX Chromedome (Headmaster Set) LG-EX Brainstorm (Headmaster Set)

Notes

Please find us clearer footage.

His blue period.

• In early planning stages, the Large Headmasters were to have differently styled heads that would be replaced by their more familiar heads during the Headmaster process. A commercial for Headmasters #1 featuring animation of Brainstorm and others is the only time these designs were used.
• The Headmasters appeared in a second commercial with much more sophisticated animation. In this entry, we see the Autobot Headmasters lined up in vehicle modes as their Nebulan partners run up into their cockpits and then launch into an attack. [1]
• Additional footage of the Headmasters featured in the animated introduction to the first commercial for the Pretenders. As Brainstorm battles Mindwipe, the narration claims that after a series of defeats, the Autobots are required to up the ante by developing Pretender technology.
• In all three of these commercials, Brainstorm is colored in his Marvel Comics colors rather than his color scheme seen in "The Rebirth", with his dark green and orange being replaced with cyan and yellow.
• Brainstorm is a Christian! In the Headmasters cartoon episode "The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery", when the Headmasters encounter a massacre on the planet Praum, he crosses himself.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Cana (カーナ Kāna), Brainstorm (ブレインストーム Bureinsutōmu)
• French: Cerveau (Canada, "Brain")
• Hungarian: Agytröszt ("Genius", literally "Brain-Trust")
• Italian: Goblin
• Mandarin: Burn (Taiwan, 伯恩 Bó Ēn), Xiǎo Zhūgé (China, 小诸葛, "Little Zhuge")
• Russian: Fantazyor (Фантазёр, "Dreamer")