Grandus (G1)

This article is about the Autobot from Return of Convoy. For the Autobot from Animated, see Grandus (Animated).

Grandus is an Autobot from the Return of Convoy portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

Grandus (グランダス Gurandasu) is a colossal Autobot who serves as a base for the numerous Autobot Micromasters. He can combine with Star Convoy and Sky Garry to perform the Triple Combination Battlestar Attack.

His Micromaster partner is Spinner.

Fiction

Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Battlestars manga and story pages

From left to right: Sixliner, Grandus and Sky Garry

To counter the threat of Dark Nova, the Autobots formed an elite sub-group known as the Battlestars, headlined by Sky Garry and Grandus. Their mission was to revive Optimus Prime so that he might thwart Dark Nova. The Battlestars Part 1

Aware of the mission of the Battlestars, Dark Nova stole Optimus Prime's body and cloned it as the evil False Convoy. Grandus and Spinner proved instrumental in defeating False Convoy before he could kill Sixliner. The Battlestars Part 3 After False Convoy's defeat, Grandus and the Battlestars rescued the fallen Supreme Commander's corpse from the Great Novaroid forces on planet Lucifer. Using the power of the Zodiac, they brought Optimus Prime back to life and upgraded him into Star Convoy. The Battlestars Part 4

Later, Grandus was stuck cleaning up the remaining Novaroid and Galaman soldiers on planet Lucifer while Star Convoy and Sixliner faced Super Megatron alone on Earth. The Battlestars special.

Grandus eventually joined the other Battlestars in a space battle against Super Megatron and his Great Galaman warriors. Combining into the Triple Combination Battlestar Attack, they shot Super Megatron to pieces. The Battlestars Part 7

Dark Nova then revealed himself and upgraded Super Megatron into Ultra Megatron. The Battlestars Part 8 Then after that, the Decepticon Emperor merged with Ultra Megatron to become the Star Giant. The Battlestars Part 9 Grandus and the other Battlestars traveled into Star Giant's stomach and took the behemoth apart from the inside-out, narrowly escaping just as their foe exploded and died. The Battlestars Part 10

Legends comic

When Dark Nova stole the body of Optimus Prime, he did so right under the nose of Prime's loyal guard, Roller. Sky Garry and Grandus allowed Roller to join the Battlestars and help them in their mission to reform False Convoy and stop Dark Nova. Roller was destroyed fighting Novaroids to divert enemy forces from the other Battlestars. When Sky Garry used to Zodiac to revive the Supreme Commander as Star Convoy, he placed the body of Roller next to the Prime, letting him be incorporated into the new leader's form. LG-EX Big Powered Prologue Part Two

In 2038, Grandus and the Battlestars were stationed on Zone. They opposed the new Dark Nova and his agents like Violen Jiger and Metrotitan. LG-EX Big Powered Prologue Part One

Wings Universe

Sprocket once claimed that he went to the Fractal Amphitheater with Grandus and Yoketron. When Rumbler pointed out that Grandus couldn't fit through the amphitheater doors, Sprocket had to concede that Grandus wasn't there, but Yoketron totally was! A Team Effort

Toys

Return of Convoy

You either have this toy or shelf space. There is no both.

• Grandus (Autobot, 1991)
  • Japanese ID number: C-371
  • Accessories: 2 small antennae, large antenna, radar dish, helipad, missile battery, dual-barrel cannon, 2 triple-barrel cannons, bridge, 2 ramps, Spinner

Part of the toyline's Micromaster Bases line, Grandus transforms from a short fat box on its stomach, to a fat box with a base sticking out of its stomach, to a fat box standing up. The inventor of the Triple Changer is rolling over in his grave.

A terminal point G1-era city-former, he is painfully simplistic and bricktastic in robot and vehicle modes, compensating with loads of 5mm ports scattered all over and an arsenal of weapons, as well as Micromaster ramp and base compatibility. The gimmick-laden base mode necessitates and capitalizes on the shoebox-like design to feature a working elevator with a large platform, a repair bay, and a command station. The lower surface offers a play area of nearly 1/2 square foot of continuous space consisting chiefly of a highway with a spring-loaded car launch, and an underpass through-way that also docks a sold-separately Micro Trailer. Said Micro Trailer forms a "viewing station" in vehicle mode.

In 'vehicle' mode, he can be towed by Star Convoy, and Sky Garry can be placed on top of him. In 'base' mode, a connector from Star Convoy can hook up to him such that Grandus's elevator gimmick is powered by Star Convoy's motor, and this also spins the four 3 mm radar ports on Grandus' shoulders and "ears". Unfortunately, this cool gimmick tends to disconnect within the first few seconds of trying it out.

Grandus came with a dedicated Micromaster partner, a police car named Spinner.

• More information on Grandus at TFU.info.

Notes

Grandus's toy was refitted as Dag Base for Takara's Brave cartoon. (pictured)

• According to Transformers Generations Deluxe, Grandus had the pre-production name of Iron Baron.
• Grandus's instructions show that Dai Atlas can use his motor gimmick in vehicle mode to tow Grandus.
• No instructions show this, but in a bizarre case of convergent engineering, Grandus in transport mode can combine with Metroplex himself in transport mode via the pegs on the former's shoulders and the fist holes on the latter. Jizai Gattai indeed.
• Both Sky Garry and Grandus have special attacks relating to things considered "mysterious". In Grandus's case, he possesses the "Stonehenge Kick", which is... interesting, in that he does not have moving legs.
• Grandus was retooled to make the "Dag Base" from Dagwon toyline, Takara's Brave series. Here, it served as both a base and a disturbingly overpowered (once all seven Dagwons are piloting it) "final mecha". Unfortunately, the Dag Base toy has been significantly remolded and somewhat gutted such that he can not be towed in vehicle mode by Star Convoy, and Star Convoy cannot power his elevator in base mode. This is one of many examples of late-run Transformers toys being recycled for a Brave Series release.
• Early catalog images reveal a very different Grandus, one arm possessing fold-out claws, different placements for his tri-barrel cannons, vastly different airstrip designs, and - most notably - the connection cog for use with Star Convoy placed on the back of Grandus in city-mode, rather than the side.