Overkill (G1)

Overkill is a Decepticon from the Generation 1 continuity family. He is sometimes a Mini-Cassette.

"When we take over Cybertron, I'm gonna have a whole harem of girl-bots! Blue ones, red ones.."

As you might guess from the name, Overkill is all about excess. Sometimes this works to his advantage, such as when his endless tirades and theatrics distract his foes in combat. Sometimes excess works to his disadvantage, such as when he gets so caught up in showing off that he becomes distracted in combat. And sometimes it just makes him look silly, swinging and blasting at a fallen foe long after the fight has ended.

Though he talks a better game than he fights, Overkill's dinosaur mode is strong enough to be a decent threat... except when the circuits that control his size-change from cassette to dinosaur malfunction (as they are wont to do) and he finds himself stuck as an audiotape-sized dino. Awwww!

French-Canadian name: Mâchoire ("Jaw")

Fiction

Cartoon continuity

Madman Transformers comic

In the year 2001, Overkill, along with Slugfest, Ratbat, Beastbox, and Squawktalk, were dispatched by Soundwave to locate the Matrix of Leadership, which Optimus Prime had buried somewhere at the construction site of Autobot City, prior to the mass Autobot evacuation of Cybertron. Slugfest had to explain what "excavation" was to the dull witted Beastbox, though Squawkbox ended up finding the Matrix. However, Slugfest and Squawktalk were then run over by Hot Rod. Madman Transformers Comic

Generation 1 cartoon

Voice actor: N/A

Oh so crucial to the plot.

In 2006, during a battle on Earth's Moon, Overkill was one of the many "primitive" Transformers who answered the call put forth by Primacron's assistant in response to the threat posed by Tornedron. Call of the Primitives

Overkill is seen ejecting from Soundwave's chest in response to the call, and then promptly disappears, as does Slugfest. Assuming the two of them boarded Trypticon with the group, it is possible that they simply stayed inside of him for the remainder of the episode.

Headmasters manga

After the Decepticons abandoned Earth, Soundblaster remained behind with his cassettes. He jumped the Witwicky family out of nowhere, and had Overkill and Slugfest keep them hostage while he taunted their protector, Chromedome. While his back was turned, though, Overkill and Slugfest were overwhelmed and defeated by Daniel Witwicky.

Daniel Witwicky. The Headmasters issue 8

Devil's Due G.I. Joe vs the Transformers comics continuity

As part of Serpent O.R.'s Decepticon forces, Overkill attempted to prevent Optimus Prime and a group of Joes from escaping Decepticon headquarters. While trying to devour Hawk (and bragging about his future girl-bot harem), Overkill was violently blinded by Snake-Eyes and incapacitated. The Art of War, Part 5

Timelines

In a gambit to counter a string of humiliating defeats by Grimlock, Overkill's leader had this new body built for Overkill. Overkill's chronic failure to grow larger in robot mode had become a permanent condition, sidelining him from the battlefield. This new body carries an armored interface housing in its chest allowing Overkill to be inserted in cassette mode, effectively overcoming his disability.

Special Edition bio

Overkill reinstalled his cerebro-circuitry into a larger, more dangerous body. Doing so released him from his status as a partner and slave to Soundwave. He is now free to indulge in his destructive whims.

Curiously, despite his bio describing him as larger and more dangerous, his tech specs remain unchanged from his mini-cassette form. His Fireblast even lost half a point.

Toys

Generation 1

That's one horny T. rex.

• Slugfest and Overkill (Mini-Cassettes, 1987)
• Accessories: Left & right "motion missile" pods

Overkill was only available with his partner, Slugfest, and transforms from a blue and white microcassette into what his cardback bio calls a "Tyrannosaurus" (the actual toy more resembles a ceratosaur, with a prominent nose-horn T. rex lacks.). He has two non-firing chromed "motion missile" weapons which attach to his robot-dino mode.

• Overkill (Cassettron, 1987)
• Japanese ID number: D-109
• Accessories: Left & right "motion missile" pods

In Japan, Overkill was available only by himself. Like all Japanese releases of the cassettes, he also came with a clear-plastic "tape case" to store in.

Timelines

File:Overkill Timelines.jpg

Me Grimlo--er, me Overkill, not kisser!

• Overkill (BotCon 2007 customization class)
• Accessories: Missile launcher, missile, tail-flail

This repaint of Classics Grimlock was only available in the customization class at BotCon 2007. Parts were provided (cast in the original toy's colors), but the individuals taking the class had to assemble and paint the toy.

The toy transforms from robot mode to a mechanical Tyrannosaurus rex. His bayonet blaster can be deployed in either mode and fires a clear projectile. Both weapons can be stored on his back when not used. His beast mode tail becomes a hand-held flail weapon in robot mode.

Universe (2008)

Special Edition

Juicy-Fruit Overkill. Now in Spearmint flavours.

• Overkill ("Special Edition" Deluxe, 2008)
• Accessories: Missile launcher, missile, tail-flail

Classics Grimlock was once again used as the base to make the 2008 Universe version of Overkill. Unlike the BotCon customization class version above, this toy is actually cast in white and aqua plastics. He retains all of his previous gimmicks. Like the other "Special Edition" figures, Overkill comes in a black book box-style packaging with monochrome art.

Though an Asia/Australian exclusive, Overkill is available for purchase in the United States via Hasbro Toy Shop.

External links

• Overkill at TFU.info

• Overkill's Universe profile at NTFA.net