Magnificus (G1)

This article is about the Generation 1 former Decepticon general. For the clone from Animated, see Magnificus (Animated).

Magnificus is a Decepticon from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Magnificus (マグニフィカス Magunifikasu) is a former Decepticon military counsul of Mebion wrongly ousted by his rivals. Sent into pit-fighting arenas, Magnificus has developed an incredible level of fighting skill.

He has teamed with Ga'mede, a kindred spirit whom he rescued from a death at the hands of betrayers himself, and together they wreak a terrible revenge on those who wronged them. The two have amassed an impressive arsenal of destructive weapons over the course of numerous campaigns. But his most impressive piece of technology is undoubtedly his matter-enlarging scope, capable of actually pulling microscopic objects through it and increasing their size once they come out the other end, the very tool that enabled him to save Ga'mede's life.

Fiction

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

Probably not a Headmaster.

Magnificus was one of several clones created by Shockwave in the same program that produced Sunstorm. While in a tube, he was discovered by the Battlechargers, who released Sunstorm. The laboratory the clones were stored in was soon destroyed by Sunstorm. Night of the Combaticons Prowl viewed a recorded image of Magnificus during his investigation of Shockwave's cloning experiments. The Omega Effect

Since the clone's appearance pre-dates the release of the Magnificus toy by over a year, officially, he's not Magnificus, just a convenient pre-existing color scheme for the toy body. In fact, of the six clones seen, three were previously officially same-character alternate-color toys ("Movie Preview" Ultra Magnus, Twincast, and Soundblaster), and one other was never officially a clone previously (Ricochet). But fans have made the obvious retcon.

Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

e-HOBBY bio

Magnificus was Decepticon Military Council at the base known as Mebion. He was framed for unknown crimes by his own command staff and exiled to a remote region of space as a gladiator. Magnificus's ability to summon items from microscopic size somehow linked him to a microverse, inadvertently extracting Ga'mede of the royal family of Xeptos into the macroverse. Magnificus had accidentally rescued Ga'Mede from circumstances very similar to his own, and together the pair became strong allies working to survive together.

e-HOBBY comics

In the year 2034 in Iron Town, Magnificus and Ga'mede were attacked by the Decepticon bounty hunter Oilmaster. The Decepticon outlaw dispatched Oilmaster's shell with a Mebian warhead, before being saved from the inner robot by "Hawk". He offered Magnificus employment in a different band of Decepticons, led by Scrash. Badlands

Legends comic

In 2040, Magnificus and Hawk located Scrash, who years ago had been trapped in the body of the Assaultmaster robot drone. Scrash accepted the Decepticon Skyquake as his new host, and the three prepared to tear down the Cybertron Alliance. Before they could escape, however, they were confronted by the united team of Optimus Prime and Megatron themselves! Epiloge

Wings Universe

Magnificus was part of the joint Autobot/Decepticon resistance on Cybertron against Jhiaxus's Cybertronian clone army. He was stationed at Uraya under the command of Backstreet. However, the city fell under attack and the troops were forced to evacuate the city. Termination Regrouping, Magnificus and other Decepticons were part of the successful battle against the Cybertronians. Magnificus in particular carried around a miniaturized Oilmaster, who he enlarged once they hit the battlefield. A Common Foe

Toys

Collector's Edition

Master of dark science oooOOOOooo

• Magnificus & Ga'Mede (Destron, 2005)
  • ID number: 68
  • Accessories: "Ion Rifle", "Spear Gun" missile launcher, 3 missiles

An e-HOBBY exclusive redeco of the Perceptor toy, Magnificus transforms into a working microscope (though not with a very high magnification rate), as well as a tank that Microman figures can ride (albeit not very securely). His hand-held spring-loaded missile launcher weapon is fully functional, thanks to different safety standards for projectile launchers in Japan as compared to the US.

He came with his partner Ga'mede.

This toy was later repurposed as Shattered Glass Perceptor.

• More information on Magnificus at TFU.info

Generations (Japan)

• Magnificus (September 2013)

Generations Magnificus is an e-HOBBY-exclusive redeco of Reveal the Shield Deluxe Class Perceptor in black, silver, and red, using the tooling's pre-existing alternate head. He transforms into a generic "scientific expedition" vehicle with the front half resembling a modern off-road vehicle similar to a Land Rover Defender or a Jeep Commander, while the rear section features treads instead of wheels, making it a half-track vehicle. The light rack on top of Magnificus's truck mode can also be turned into a small microscope in a nod to his original toy's alt mode, and his chest door can open. His hands are compatible with 5 mm posts, such as the ones on the guns of his original toy.

Preorders from e-HOBBY were open from March 26 to May 8, 2013, and Magnificus shipped in September.

The toy was also available for sale through the Transformers Collectors' Club website.

• More information on Generations Magnificus at TFU.info

Generations Selects

A Generations Selects add on for Legacy, this rendition of Magnificus is a redeco and retool of Studio Series 86 Perceptor, replacing the original's cartoon accurate head with a toy accurate one. Early listings showed that he was a Target exclusive.

Notes

• Magnificus's coloration is based on the mold's original pre-Transformers Microman colors. This toy was designed to work with the then-current Microman figures. The set of Magnificus and Ga'mede is a celebration of Transformers and Microman's shared history with Takara.
• His backstory is strongly evocative of the 2000 film Gladiator, about a military general who is wrongly accused of crimes and sold into slavery where he becomes an accomplished pit fighter. Oh, and he was named Maximus in case you still haven't seen the movie.

External links

• Translation of Magnificus's bio