Exarchon

Exarchon is a Transformer from the 2019 IDW portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

Ex, Exx, n' Exxy

Once a trusted figure, Exarchon was corrupted by forces unknown into the "Threefold Spark", one mind split across many bodies, unleashing the War of the Threefold Spark.

Fiction

2019 IDW continuity

First appearance: Transformers #7 (mentioned); Transformers issue #15 (full appearance)

At some point during Cybertron's Age of Expansion, Exarchon travelled into space beyond Cybertron, and was subsequently "corrupted" by someone or something, fracturing his psyche and leading the demented 'bot to declare war against the entirety of Cybertron. Allying with the amoral scientist Shockwave, and the cannibalistic Insecticons, Exarchon began forming an army. With Shockwave, he attempted to clone Skywarp, hoping to duplicate his teleporting powers. The resulting clone-drones lacked their progenitor's powers, but still gave Exarchon an army he used to sweep across Cybertron. The Change In Your Nature Part Three Escape Part Three The struggle to stop Exarchon would be remembered as the War of the Threefold Spark. Throughout the war, Exarchon became infamous for his many "iterations", his consciousness controlling multiple bodies simultaneously. However, Exarchon was a cautious sort, almost never taking all of his selves into the field. The Change In Your Nature Part Three This prudence didn't stop one of his shells falling prey to a "targeted intervention" at the hands of Arcee. Arcee/Greenlight: Run

At one point during the war, when Yuss was leveled, and Ultra Magnus's assault force had fallen back, Exarchon felt that the battle was over, and began inspecting the battlefield. He found a damaged Megatron, and noted that while the miner was his enemy, he could have been of use. Whatever Exarchon was planning, he didn't have a chance to implement it, as Strika's heavies attacked him, destroying one of Exarchon's bodies. However, he was saved by the timely arrival of Skywarp. The Change In Your Nature Part Three Another notable feat of Exarchon's was his "usurping" the Titan Croaton, an act that ultimately necessitated the Titan's destruction. Wheeljack: Orbital Decay

Exarchon's faction lost the war, and he had either died or left Cybertron before the present day. The war veteran Cyclonus remained unconvinced that he was truly gone, and maintained a solitary vigil at the site of Exarchon's defeat in the wastelands beyond Iacon. The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part One

When Senator Orion Pax wondered whether he could still trust Megatron, Orion's elder mentor Codexa claimed Cybertron once trusted Exarchon, to which Orion naïvely responded that Megatron was nothing like Exarchon. Orion Pax: Free Fall Eventually, Megatron would come to realize that it was Exarchon's will, not his weapons or deeds, that came to truly define his fearsome reputation. The Change In Your Nature Part Three

Plot details for Lord of Misrule: Test Flight I follow. Spoilers have expired, you may remove this tag

When the Matrix of Leadership merged with Orion Pax, its Mediator program explained that all the horrors that the Cybertronian race had weathered still existed in the sparks they had claimed. When Orion questioned if Exarchon counted among them, the Mediator noted that that particular horror had not yet returned home but also that it had more important things to tell him. War World: Prime By the time he had become Optimus Prime, he came to believe that whatever had corrupted Exarchon had done so to "punish" Cybertron.

While experimenting with her teleportation abilities, Jumpstream found herself teleporting out of control, and eventually wound up deposited on a Cybertron where Exarchon had conquered the planet. Lord of Misrule: Test Flight I

Notes

• The name "Exarchon" is a portmanteau of the Ancient Greek words "archon" (ἄρχων árchōn) and "exarch" (ἔξαρχος éxarchos). Both originally referred to rulers or other individuals in positions of authority, but in modern English usage have come to be used specifically for religious leaders within the Eastern Orthodox Church.
• One of Exarchon's seen bodies is based on Titans Return Deluxe Class Twin Twist. Whether this means anything remains to be seen.
  • Another of his bodies, the one destroyed by Strika's Heavies, resembles Prime Wheeljack.