Zetar (G1)

This article is about the heroic Autobot. For the evil mirror universe counterpart, see Zetar (SG).

Zetar is an Autobot from the Generation 1 continuity family.

He was awesome in Maniac Cop.

Zetar is one of the Powerdashers.

Fiction

S.T.A.R.S. pack-in flyers

The Powerdashers featured in two early recruiting messages sent to humans by the Autobots. The messages were almost identical in content, claiming that the Autobots marooned on Earth were becoming desperate in their battle against the Decepticons, sending an S.O.S. to Cybertron even though they didn't know if anyone would be there to receive it. Luckily, their plea was answered in the form of the Powerdashers, Omnibots, and Time Warriors. The only Powerdasher seen was the jet-form model, but the message noted that the Powerdashers' state of constant evolution meant that they might not look the same later. Reinforcements from Cybertron! The battle is far from over!

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

The three Powerdashers were created with a primitive design based on the forms of very early Cybertronians. Meant to aid the Autobots on Earth, the Powerdashers' powers and personalities were still growing when they were put into duty. More than Meets the Eye They were packed in stasis aboard the supply ship Orion, which ended up crashing on Earth after getting shot down by Sunstorm. The crew activated the Powerdashers, who awoke without a word and immediately began working on the ship. When they finished, they packed up their tools and quietly went back on board. Black Sunshine

2005 IDW continuity

The Lightnings of Zetar. (Zetar is the one with the drill head to the right of Ultra Magnus.)

Zetar attended Megatron's 54th gladiatorial match in the days before the war. Megatron Origin #2

Cromar and the other Powerdashers fought under Ultra Magnus in a battle on Clemency. Cromar's team was ordered by Magnus to try to disable the Nightmare Engine, but the group was interrupted by a K-Class Decepticon bombing. The Gloaming

Kre-O online manga

"Man, that guy's got a small face."

When the mighty Devastator attacked the Autobot base and tried to stomp on Optimus Prime, the Autobot leader flashed on a brilliant idea: tickle the sole of Devastator's foot! Zetar helped out, and the giant laughed so hard he toppled over backwards, crushing the unlucky Megatron under the combiner's big butt. A New Menace! The Giant Soldier Devastator Appears!

Ask Vector Prime

In some universes, the Powerdashers were three individual sentient beings, with Zetar as the team engineer. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/21

Toys

The Transformers

• Powerdasher (Mail-order, 1984)

This version of the Powerdasher transforms into a Cybertronic drill tank, featuring a pull-back motor in vehicle mode, allowing it to quickly roll forward across flat surfaces. It was only available as a mail-order exclusive from Hasbro, costing $3 and 2 Robot Points. The jet-mode Powerdasher was the only one pictured in the ads, but the type you got ended up being random. The jet-form Powerdasher appears to be the most common model sent, however.

• More information on the Drill-form Powerdasher at TFU.info

War for Cybertron: Siege

Looks like he got the brunt of the design changes.

• Powerdasher Zetar (Deluxe Weaponizer, 2019)
  • ID number: WFC-GS08
  • Japanese release date: September 8, 2019
  • Accessories: 2-part cannon barrel, drill bit

Branded as a Generations Selects release, Siege "Powerdasher Zetar" is a retool of Brunt, with a body based on the Centurion droid from IDW Publishing's Stormbringer comic miniseries that transforms into a Cybertronian drill tank and back. In tank mode, Zetar's turret rotates and can also raise and lower his cannon vertically. In robot mode, Zetar features 2/3rds of a new head (the front of Brunt's face makes up the back of Zetar's head), with a 5mm post on top to mount his new drill-tip skullcap/accessory. He is also compatible with the "Fire Blast" effect pieces from the Battle Masters assortment, which can be used to simulate blaster fire or explosions. Like the other Generations Selects figures made for Siege, he lacks "battle damage" paint applications.

Like his fellow "Weaponizer" figures, he can also separate into multiple parts compatible with the C.O.M.B.A.T. System to form armor and weapons for other figures of the subline, with two configurations shown in his instructions. The "Demolition Loadout" has him split into a "C-HP M2 OBV Launcher" (his lower legs in vehicle-cannon mode), a "C-AD M2 VX Cannon" backpack (waist/upper legs), the "C-CR M2 AGZ Blaster" (torso & drill in a loose connection that relies on the friction of the base of the drill and the lip of the torso’s connector), two "C-CMA M2 ME Amplifier" boots (arms), and the "C-HD M2 Turret Armor" shield (turret base). The "Serpentine Loadout" turns practically the entire figure into a backpack with a pair of massive "HMC" (Hydraulic Mauler Claw) arms and a "PBM" (Proximity Boost Module, whatever the heck that means). Curiously, the instructions for all of his modes completely omit the 2-part cannon barrel accessory left over from Brunt, though stock photography from both Hasbro and TakaraTomy shows this accessory in use.

Caution is advised when transforming Zetar's tank treads into his robot mode arms. The treads themselves must be pulled outwards and fully extended until they lock into place. However, the swivel joints used to connect the treads to his shoulders can pop out vertically if too much force is applied. This risks breaking the swivel joint housing, due to being designed to pop out horizontally rather than vertically.

Zetar was released exclusively through TakaraTomy Mall in Japan, and various online retailers in North America. Zetar was also available at general retail in Singapore.

Notes

Bluntly, to the point...

• The drill Powerdasher was originally a Diaclone toy called the "Drill Dasher". The Transformers version blunted the drill for safety reasons, removed the "DRILL DASHER" text from the factory-applied cockpit stickers, and omitted the extra sticker sheet for the cockpit and legs. And, of course, the Diaclone pilot was dropped. Of the three Dashers, it was the only one to not undergo a change of plastic color when being brought over for Transformers.
• "Zetar" was the name given to the Diakron, GiG Italian Trasformer, and Joustra French Diaclone releases of the toy. The Powerdasher Drill would not explicitly be given the name in Transformers fiction until the Facebook edition of "Ask Vector Prime" in 2015.
• The Powerdashers were the first Cybertronian (well, non-Earthly) vehicular toys released—and were released in 1984, to boot.
• Like all non-toy robot Kreons in the Kre-O manga, Zetar is made from existing Kre-O parts. Unlike most Kreons, he doesn't have a helmet; instead, he has a small drill-bit attached to the top of his head.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Zeta (ゼータ Zēta), Zetar (ジーター Jītā)