Raiden: Difference between revisions

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====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Keiichi Noda]] (Japanese)}}
{{voiceactor|[[Keiichi Noda]] (Japanese)}}
[[Image:Hmop_raiden.jpg|left|thumb|225px|[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raiden_(series) I'm not a video game]!]]
[[Image:Hmop_raiden.jpg|left|thumb|225px|[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raiden_(series) I'm not a video game!]]]
Raiden made his first brief appearance fighting alongside [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] against the [[Decepticon]] combiners when the villains invaded [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in 2011. They were very nearly crushed to death when [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] collapsed a building on them with his [[sonic stun-gun]], but the tide of the fight was turned when the Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] arrived to join the battle. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}}
Raiden made his first brief appearance fighting alongside [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] against the [[Decepticon]] combiners when the villains invaded [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in 2011. They were very nearly crushed to death when [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] collapsed a building on them with his [[sonic stun-gun]], but the tide of the fight was turned when the Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] arrived to join the battle. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}}


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Raiden was formed to defend the [[Sol 1]] satellite against [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]. He fought bravely against the bestial giant, and eventually sent the Decepticon fleeing with his tail(s?) between his legs. {{storylink|The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok}} Soon thereafter, Raiden battled Predaking again, with a raging volcano as their backdrop. The Headmasters soon became involved in the skirmish and, when Raiden briefly gained the upper hand on Predaking, they offered to step in so that the Trainbots could rescue the innocent villagers trapped at the base of the volcano. {{storylink|The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts}}
Raiden was formed to defend the [[Sol 1]] satellite against [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]. He fought bravely against the bestial giant, and eventually sent the Decepticon fleeing with his tail(s?) between his legs. {{storylink|The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok}} Soon thereafter, Raiden battled Predaking again, with a raging volcano as their backdrop. The Headmasters soon became involved in the skirmish and, when Raiden briefly gained the upper hand on Predaking, they offered to step in so that the Trainbots could rescue the innocent villagers trapped at the base of the volcano. {{storylink|The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts}}


[[Image:Hmep23_raiden_vs_galvatron.jpg|right|thumb|225px|Or a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raiden_(Metal_Gear) cyborg ninja]!]]
[[Image:Hmep23_raiden_vs_galvatron.jpg|right|thumb|225px|Or a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raiden_(Metal_Gear) cyborg ninja!]]]


When [[San Francisco]] came under siege by [[buridanka|a carnivorous alien plant]], courtesy of the Decepticons, the Trainbots, [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s, and [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s responded to the emergency. The Trainbots combined into Raiden in order to engage Bruticus in an energy-sword duel, but as the battle went on, they switched opponents and started fist-fighting with [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] while the Autobot Headmasters dealt with the vicious vegetable. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}} A little later, during a clash on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], Raiden helped [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] fend off a combined attack by the Decepticon Headmasters. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears}}
When [[San Francisco]] came under siege by [[buridanka|a carnivorous alien plant]], courtesy of the Decepticons, the Trainbots, [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s, and [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s responded to the emergency. The Trainbots combined into Raiden in order to engage Bruticus in an energy-sword duel, but as the battle went on, they switched opponents and started fist-fighting with [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] while the Autobot Headmasters dealt with the vicious vegetable. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}} A little later, during a clash on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], Raiden helped [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] fend off a combined attack by the Decepticon Headmasters. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears}}
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After the Decepticons embarked on a quest into deep space to seek out new sources of energy, the Trainbots joined [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] in following their foes. Raiden was formed on the [[Twin Star]] planets and did battle with Predaking. {{storylink|Battle for Defense of the False Planet}} He was also briefly seen on the planet [[Paradise]], {{storylink|Head Formation of Friendship}} and took on [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] himself on the [[Pirate Planet]]. {{storylink|Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship}}
After the Decepticons embarked on a quest into deep space to seek out new sources of energy, the Trainbots joined [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] in following their foes. Raiden was formed on the [[Twin Star]] planets and did battle with Predaking. {{storylink|Battle for Defense of the False Planet}} He was also briefly seen on the planet [[Paradise]], {{storylink|Head Formation of Friendship}} and took on [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] himself on the [[Pirate Planet]]. {{storylink|Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship}}


[[Image:Hmep35_raiden_vs_predaking.jpg|left|thumb|225px|[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raiden_(Mortal_Kombat) Or a guy from ''Mortal Kombat'']!]]
[[Image:Hmep35_raiden_vs_predaking.jpg|left|thumb|225px|[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raiden_(Mortal_Kombat) Or a guy from ''Mortal Kombat''!]]]


Once the Autobots had returned to Earth, Raiden was next formed in defense of [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] as it was being attacked by Sixshot and Trypticon. He was intercepted by [[Apeface]] and [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]], however, and was unable to assist Ultra Magnus and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] in their fight. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}} Raiden was next seen battling Predaking on the [[Kamchatka Peninsula]], as the Decepticons attempted to exploit the [[Pacific Ring of Fire]]. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}} That battle concluded with the expulsion of the Decepticons from Earth, and soon after, Raiden helped eradicate any traces of the villains that remained on Earth by joining Defensor and [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] in demolishing their now-abandoned Earth base. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}}
Once the Autobots had returned to Earth, Raiden was next formed in defense of [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] as it was being attacked by Sixshot and Trypticon. He was intercepted by [[Apeface]] and [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]], however, and was unable to assist Ultra Magnus and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] in their fight. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}} Raiden was next seen battling Predaking on the [[Kamchatka Peninsula]], as the Decepticons attempted to exploit the [[Pacific Ring of Fire]]. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}} That battle concluded with the expulsion of the Decepticons from Earth, and soon after, Raiden helped eradicate any traces of the villains that remained on Earth by joining Defensor and [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] in demolishing their now-abandoned Earth base. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}}

Revision as of 00:02, 24 May 2019

Raiden is an Autobot combiner from the Generation 1 continuity family.
God of thunder! And rock and roll!

The main function of the Trainbots is transport, but when an obstruction arises that prevents them from delivering their passengers, they won't hesitate to combine into the mighty Raiden (ライデン) to clear the tracks. And no obstacle is too big for Raiden's matchless ambition: he is, after all, the guy who maintains an active rivalry with Devastator, and plans on challenging Predaking next! Fittingly enough, his other great personality trait is his peerless punctuality. This is one Robot Train that always runs on time!

Raiden is the combined form of all six Trainbots:

  • Shouki (Zero Shinkansen bullet train, leader, torso)
  • Getsuei (EF-65-1000 Electric Locomotive, right leg)
  • Yukikaze (200 Shinkansen bullet train engine, left leg)
  • Suiken (Tokai-type 153 Express locomotive, left arm)
  • Seizan (485 Limited Express Electric Locomotive, right arm)
  • Kaen (DE-10 diesel locomotive, pelvis)

Fiction

Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

Ask Vector Prime

The Trainbots were built in Japan, as a part of the Raiden Initiative. Their ability to combine was engineered by the mysterious Takahashi, who designed their Heavy Series-Linkage System. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/27

The Headmasters cartoon

Voice actor: Keiichi Noda (Japanese){{#if: |, {{{2}}}}}
I'm not a video game!

Raiden made his first brief appearance fighting alongside Superion and Defensor against the Decepticon combiners when the villains invaded Cybertron in 2011. They were very nearly crushed to death when Bruticus collapsed a building on them with his sonic stun-gun, but the tide of the fight was turned when the Autobot Headmasters arrived to join the battle. The Mystery of Planet Master

Sometime later, the Trainbots formed Raiden in order to defend Japan against the marauding Sixshot. Raiden and Sixshot fought fiercely until Trypticon crashed the party. The arrivals of Scourge, Cyclonus, and the Autobot Headmasters made it into a real brawl. During the fight, Raiden was swarmed by Sixshot and his hard-light doppelgangers in winged wolf modes. Raiden called for Chromedome to shoot at the Sixshots until he nailed the real one, even if Raiden was injured in the process. Terror! The Six Shadows

Raiden was formed to defend the Sol 1 satellite against Predaking. He fought bravely against the bestial giant, and eventually sent the Decepticon fleeing with his tail(s?) between his legs. The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok Soon thereafter, Raiden battled Predaking again, with a raging volcano as their backdrop. The Headmasters soon became involved in the skirmish and, when Raiden briefly gained the upper hand on Predaking, they offered to step in so that the Trainbots could rescue the innocent villagers trapped at the base of the volcano. The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts

Or a cyborg ninja!

When San Francisco came under siege by a carnivorous alien plant, courtesy of the Decepticons, the Trainbots, Aerialbots, and Technobots responded to the emergency. The Trainbots combined into Raiden in order to engage Bruticus in an energy-sword duel, but as the battle went on, they switched opponents and started fist-fighting with Abominus while the Autobot Headmasters dealt with the vicious vegetable. Head On!! Fortress Maximus A little later, during a clash on Mars, Raiden helped Hardhead fend off a combined attack by the Decepticon Headmasters. Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears

After the Decepticons embarked on a quest into deep space to seek out new sources of energy, the Trainbots joined Fortress in following their foes. Raiden was formed on the Twin Star planets and did battle with Predaking. Battle for Defense of the False Planet He was also briefly seen on the planet Paradise, Head Formation of Friendship and took on Galvatron himself on the Pirate Planet. Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship

Or a guy from Mortal Kombat!

Once the Autobots had returned to Earth, Raiden was next formed in defense of Autobot City as it was being attacked by Sixshot and Trypticon. He was intercepted by Apeface and Snapdragon, however, and was unable to assist Ultra Magnus and Metroplex in their fight. Ultra Magnus Dies!! Raiden was next seen battling Predaking on the Kamchatka Peninsula, as the Decepticons attempted to exploit the Pacific Ring of Fire. I Risk My Life for Earth That battle concluded with the expulsion of the Decepticons from Earth, and soon after, Raiden helped eradicate any traces of the villains that remained on Earth by joining Defensor and Computron in demolishing their now-abandoned Earth base. Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)

When the Autobots learned that the Decepticons had withdrawn to the planet Master, the Trainbots joined the Autobots in pursuing them. After bombs planted by Weirdwolf damaged Fortress's battleship during a battle on Master, Raiden and Defensor were seen helping to repair it. Operation: Destroy the Decepticons

After the Transformers had all returned to Earth, the Trainbots formed Raiden for the final battle with Scorponok's Decepticons at the North Pole. He warred with his counterpart, Predaking, and was nearly crushed by the Battleship Maximus when Scorponok battered it away. In the end, Raiden lent his strength to the Headmasters' Head Formation, feeding Fortress Maximus enough power to overcome the effects of the crysmagnetal. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)

Super-God Masterforce Master File

Due to the destruction of the space bridge network, Trainbots were assigned to watch over the actions of a secret team of Autobot Pretenders on the Earth. Master File No, 1

The Headmasters manga

HI ZEN BUMBA LAAYYYY!!!

Responding to a distress call from their Beastformer allies on the planet Beast, the Trainbots merged into Raiden to deal with the Decepticons menacing the planet. Combining in mid-air, the united team allowed gravity to do the rest of the work as they delivered a shattering "JR Kick" straight to Predaking's face, taking him out of the fight. Great Decisive Battle of Planet Beast!

Back on Earth, the Trainbots joined Daniel and the Autobot Headmasters in investigating a Decepticon energy-stealing operation under the sea. The Decepticons were laying in ambush with a giant robot squid, but the Headmasters responded by tying its tentacles in knots, and the Trainbots then formed Raiden to swing the swing the automaton architeuthis like a mace, flattening the other Decepticons. The Headmasters #3

When Christmas rolled around, Raiden got into the spirit of the season when he joined the Autobot Headmasters in handing out gifts at a Japanese children's hospital, even going so far as to don a giant Santa hat and carry a huge sack. The merriment was soon interrupted by the arrival of the Decepticon Headmasters, but rather than join the battle, Raiden followed Chromedome's instruction to disengage and transport the hospital's patients to safety. The Headmasters #6

Super-God Masterforce cartoon continuity

Super-God Masterforce cartoon

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

Wars manga

Raiden was destroyed in a battle with the Nine Great Demon Generals, and while the Trainbots survived, Shouki felt responsible for their injuries and had his ability to combine removed. Train Wars: Shouki & Daniel Chapter While under attack by The Fallen, Shouki flashed back to Raiden's final battle. Train Wars 2

Super-God Masterforce manga

I'm afraid of the night! That's why I don't sleep next to you!

Several years after the Decepticons' expulsion from Earth following the final battle at the North Pole, the Trainbots were dispatched to pick up a new Autobot warrior named Ginrai who had risen to prominence on Earth and bring him to Athenia so Fortress could appoint him Supreme Commander. Naturally, the Decepticons attacked Athenia during Ginrai's stay, and Raiden was formed to fight back, only for him to wind up being cut down alongside Chromedome by a powerful blast from the combined Decepticon Scramble 7. The Battle Begins! The United Earth-Space Troops

The attack on Athenia had proven that the Decepticons on Earth had joined forces with the Decepticons in space, and so the Autobots elected to do the same to better fight their enemies. Soon after, when the leader of the space-based Decepticon forces, BlackZarak, began heading for Earth, Raiden, the Autobot Headmasters and Grand Maximus gave chase. They were unable to stop him, but luckily, no sooner had he arrived than Ginrai tricked BlackZarak and the Earth Decepticon leader Overlord into blasting each other. Raiden and his allies cheered for Ginrai's success. God Ginrai's Amazing Super-God Combination!

Kre-O online manga

Raiden was at Megatron's hanami party. Soundwave's Trap? Stop Operation Brainwash Humanity!

Games

The Transformers (PS2)

"After the Decepticons, I thought I could walk off the battlefield and...into a normal life. But here I am, surrounded by death, arguing philosophy with terrorists. I told myself this was about justice, about protecting the weak...but I was wrong."
Voice actor: ? (English){{#if: |, {{{2}}}}}

Raiden was a member of the large Autobot force dispatched the planet Zel Samine to prevent the Decepticons from obtaining the world's powerful Zel Quartz. As the Decepticons closed on the quart's resting place at the Enormous Laser Transmission Array. Raiden descended from the skies to bar their way. Unfortunately, he fell before the villains' combined assault and withdrew, though he could barely believe it himself. The Transformers

Toys

The Headmasters

His real name is Jack.
  • Raiden (Trainbot, 1987, 1990)
    • Japanese ID number: C-131
    • Accessories: Left & right fists, chestplate, waist armor, back armor, 2 "Leg Beams", 2 "Wing Lasers", "Train Bazooka" rifle
Raiden began life as the Diaclone "Trainbot", released as part of the "Real and Robo" subline. One of the few Diaclone toys not initially ported over for release in Hasbro's Transformers line, the Trainbots eventually found their way into the Transformers universe a few years later when they were released by Takara, with the addition of waist and back armor panels for their combined mode, as part of the Headmasters line, available only in Japan.
The six Trainbots who form Raiden were available both individually and together in a giftset. Like his fellow Diaclone-born combiner Devastator, each of Raiden's components becomes a specific part of his body; they are not interchangeable, like the later-designed "Scramble City" combiners were. Raiden requires several additional parts to complete his combination, beyond the usual extremities-and-chestplate accessories of most other combiners, which take the form of various unique weapons: his shoulder-mounted "Wing Lasers", ankle-mounted "Leg Beams" and hand-held "Train Bazooka" gun, none of which are wielded by any of the smaller Trainbots.
The Trainbots were later re-released in 1990 as part of the Zone toyline, but only in individual packaging, never as a giftset.


Transform Jr

Revenge with a vengeance...
  • Raiden (1987)
    • Accessories: Left & right fists, chestplate, "Train Bazooka" rifle
The simplified Transform Jr version of Raiden was released both as a single gift set and in three two-packs (Shouki and Seizan, Yukikaze and Suiken, and Getsuei and Kaen). Like the larger Trainbot toys, these six figures are carry-overs of pre-existing Diaclone toys. The giftset includes an Autobot insignia pocket-clip included with many Transform Jr figures.


Merchandise

Transformers Gum

Revengeance.
  • Raiden (1987)
    • Accessories: Left & right fists, 2 "Leg Beams"
Released as part of the seventh wave of Kabaya's Transformers Gum series of snap-together candy toy model kits, this simplified version of Raiden is molded in white, blue and grey plastic. Being that he is a combiner, Raiden doesn't transform like most other Transformers Gum models; instead, his limbs can disconnect and transform into train-mode Yukikaze, Seizan, Suiken and Getsuei (his torso is not capable of transforming, so Kaen and Shouki get no such love). The figure features no paint applications, but came with stickers to add detail, and a terrible stick of gum.


Super Collection Figure

File:Scf raiden.jpg
Come at me, bro!
  • Raiden (2001)
    • Accessories: Display stand
A three-inch tall PVC figurine of Raiden was available in the third Headmasters-centric wave of Takara's Super Collection Figure line. Like all the figures in the wave, it was available in both standard full color figure and colorless clear plastic versions, one of each of which was available in a standard case of twelve blindpacked figures. Additionally, in two out of every ten cases, the colored version of Raiden came packaged with the head and sword pieces for the wave's collectable Fortress Maximus "build-a-figure".


Notes

"We've managed to avoid drowning!"
  • "Raiden" can be written as the kanji "雷電", meaning "Thunder and Lightning". It is also an alternate name of [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Raijin|{{#if:||Raijin}}]] (as Raiden Sama), the Japanese god of thunder and lightning. Our Raiden's name is a little odd by Japanese standards, as it is spelled out with phoenetic katakana (ライデン), instead of the appropriate kanji (雷電). On one hand, this could, both in and out of universe, reflect Raiden's alien robot nature. On the other hand, Raiden's constituent members were actually born in Japan on planet Earth, so...
  • Raiden had the preliminary name of Grandliner (グランドライナー). This name would later be used by Toei for another train combiner robot in the 1999 tokusatsu series [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGoFive|{{#if:||Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGoFive}}]].
  • Raiden's on-package bio specifically notes that he dislikes Devastator, presumably a reference to the toys' shared origins as Diaclone combiners.
  • Raiden's animation model is based on his Diaclone toy, rather than the Headmasters version of the figure, lacking as it does the orange armor plate added to the waist of the robot for his Transformers release.
  • The Trainbots' combined train form appears in the title sequence of the Super-God Masterforce cartoon, but not in the series itself. The series creators seem to have intended to use the Robot Train to travel back and forth to Athenia, more closely tying Super-God Masterforce to previous Transformers series, but the idea was quietly dropped. They did, however, appear for that purpose in the manga, and were also re-released as part of the Super-God Masterforce toyline.

Foreign names

  • English: The Robot Train, Grimlock (Omni Productions dub)
  • Mandarin: Léidiàn (雷电, "Thunder and Lightning")
  • Russian: Neustrashimiy (Неустрашимый, "Fearless")