Perceptor (G1)

The name or term "Perceptor" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Perceptor (disambiguation).

Perceptor is an Autobot from the Generation 1 continuity family.

"Back off, man. I'm a scientist."

Perceptor is a scientist, one of the most astute minds the whole of Cybertron can offer. He is perpetually seeking the continued quest for knowledge, and his discoveries have repeatedly proven invaluable. Though his specialties lie in metallurgy, electrical engineering, and additional sciences closely concomitant to Transformer physiology, his thirst for knowledge has made him kind of a scientific jack-of-all-trades.

One of Perceptor's most infamous mannerisms is the tendency in which he verbally communicates using scientific terminology. This has the unforeseen result of exasperating and occasionally frustrating his comrades. One might hypothesize that the jovial mechanoid is unaware that not everyone with whom he seeks to communicate shares his extensive vocabulary.

Engaging in physical melee is not his preferred activity. He is content to make his contributions to the Autobot cause in the manner in which he deems sufficient, but will engage in combat if the situation requires. Optimus Prime often relies on Perceptor's perspicacity, and considers him as inestimable as any of his officers.

French-Canadian name: Percepto

Italian name: Supervista ("Super-sight")

Hungarian name: Észlelő

Victory RTM 1 dub name: Doctor Baster

Fiction

Cartoon continuity

Generation 1 cartoon

Voice actor: Paul Eiding (English), Chikao Shiroyama (Japanese)

All my tubes and wires and careful notes!

Perceptor appeared on Earth during a period of time occurring after the initial impact of the Ark into the planet. Dinobot Island, Part 2 It is unknown exactly when he arrived, but the malfunctions he suffered during the Cybertonium depletion crisis would lead one to conclude that he had been present when the Ark crashed onto prehistoric Earth during the encounter wih the Nemesis. Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1

During his period of habitation on that planetary body, he experienced a myriad of adventures. Included in that scope were incidents such as reconfiguring his mass ratio to a microscopic scale in order to sever the connection of the Heart of Cybertron to Megatron's body. Upon doing so, he proceeded to dispose of the object by having Brawn throw the volatile energy source approximately two thousand feet in the sky and shooting it with his mobile cannon mode. Microbots

When Megatron perpetrated an egregious assault on the Autobots' reputation and had them forcibly expulsed from their residency on Earth, Perceptor was indubitably among their number. A fortuitous sequence of events allowed the Autobots to return to their former planetary location and extradict the Decepticons from their dominion over the humans. Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2 During another adventure, a series of aberrant mechanical malfunctions began afflicting the Autobots. Perceptor was incapable of altering from his microscope configuration, and expeditiously determined that the complication was a depletion of Cybertonium. Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1

During a constitutional along a seaboard, Perceptor, Beachcomber, Warpath, Powerglide and Seaspray were assailed by an assortment of Decepticons. Remarkably, Thrust appeared impervious to damage, and both Perceptor and Seaspray were captured and escorted to the submerged Decepticon headquarters. With the inclusion of Beachcomber, the three Autobots were able to effect an adequate escape and rejoin their cohorts in time to confront the Electrum-coated Decepticons. The Golden Lagoon

In an endeavor to assist Cosmos, who had run into difficulty on Titan, one of Saturn's attendant moons, Perceptor and Jazz traversed space in Omega Supreme. Although Omega's energy was depleted by the journey, Perceptor was able to locate a prodigious accumulation of energy crystals, with which he subsequently reenergized Omega, allowing them to repel the Decepticon invaders and effect a peregrination back to Earth. The God Gambit

The pen...cil is mightier than the sword!

On another occasion, Perceptor and an assemblage of Autobots and Decepticons were propelled across the interstellar void by space bridge, landing on an unexplored world in which Cybertronian lifeforms were minuscule in relation to the immense indigenous population. After a series of alarming endangerments, Perceptor determined that a toy rocket ship possessed by the boy Aron, whose abode they had happened into, could be modified to return the Autobots home. Child's Play Calamitously, their mode of transport was intercepted by an alien named Bosch, who utilised a mechanism to place the Autobots in a submissive state, intending to barter them for energon. Smokescreen was eventually able to emancipate Perceptor and his fellows with the assistance of the bounty hunter Devcon. The Gambler

Examining a sample of extraterrestrial matter transplanted to Earth on Bumblebee's back, Perceptor was able to ascertain that Cosmos had inadvertently imported Morphobots, a genus of robotic flora which consumed mechanical life. His exhortation was sufficient to save Cosmos and the Morphobots were soon dispatched to a more suitable biosphere, however the sample he had acquired had also propagated to the point where it threatened to consume him along with his laboratory. Quest for Survival

Perceptor's spectrographic analysis of an ore sample determined that the asteroid from which it originated was, in fact, alive. In an unfortunate turn of events, Optimus Prime had just commanded Omega Supreme to obliterate said asteroid. The Secret of Omega Supreme Yet another enterprise took Perceptor to a world inhabited by transforming organic creatures who had been enslaved by the Decepticons. He assisted in liberating the Tlalakans, and was subsequently bemused by Bumblebee's notion that they should make a wish on the first stellar object they sighted. Sea Change

I don't believe it! There she goes again! She's tidied up and I can't find anything!

He also synthesized a panacea to remedy all corrosion, with the appellation corrostop, and was decorated by the humans for his ingenuity. Megatron also coveted his assistance, but for a dire emergency — the Decepticon had become afflicted by Cosmic Rust and it transpired that corrostop was the only counteragent. No content with merely being ameliorated, Megatron exploited Perceptor in a machination to infect the Autobots with Cosmic Rust, and all sources of Ingredient X, an imperative component of corrostop, had been exhausted. Perceptor and Wheeljack labored to make the matter duplicator operational so that more corrostop could be constituted and the Autobots saved. Cosmic Rust

Perceptor and Spike Witwicky discovered a disquieting fact — that aberrant disruption emanating from Cybertron was causing a shift in Earth's orbit, resulting the the planet's immanent collision with the nearest stellar body! The Autobots and Decepticons were forced to collaborate to avoid destruction in the Sun, however the Insecticons masticated the space bridge controls, rendering the possibility of its use dubious. With donated components, Perceptor repaired the space bridge and dispatched the amalgamated force to Cybertron to subjugate the Combaticons. The Revenge of Bruticus

I can smell the chemicals!

Perceptor's actions continued to be of intrinsic strategic import, particularly following the distinct tactical deficiencies during the battle of Autobot City that resulted in the expiration of Wheeljack, and pointing out that "gamma waves in this sector of space create marginal navigation probabilities" as the Autobots fled Earth. As a member of Ultra Magnus's company, he was marooned on planet Junk, where he contended with the indigenous race of mechanisms, designated Junkions. During the decisive battle against Unicron, Perceptor was stationed aboard the Junkion vessel when Unicron crushed it in his grasp, though fortunately was not a casualty of the catastrophe and could later be distinguished celebrating the antagonist's defeasance. The Transformers: The Movie

Perceptor had a mission of paramount importance and tasked it to Blurr and Wheelie. After the Galactic Olympics were disrupted by unknown assailants, he examined some debris but was unable to determine the exact nature of the attackers. He proposed he accompany Rodimus Prime on an undertaking to investigate the Decepticons, but Rodimus elected to procure Grimlock's abetment instead. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1 Perceptor later valiantly defended Cybertron against Decepticon intrusion. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5

The inexplicable resurrection of Optimus Prime lead Perceptor and the rest of the Autobots on a mission of retaliation against the Quintessons for the supposed termination of a selection of Autobots, including Rodimus Prime. When it transpired that a shuttle Optimus commanded the Autobots fire on in fact contained their still-functioning comrades, Perceptor was all too happy to arrest the ill-fated assault. Dark Awakening

On a second entanglement with the Quintessons, Perceptor was incapacitated early in the conflict and unable to prevent several of his fellow Autobots from traversing a chronal displacement aperture to Cybertron's distant past. Although Pipes was an adequate physician, Perceptor regained normal function subsequent to the resolution of the situation. Forever Is a Long Time Coming

After Fort Knox dematerialized, a preliminary examination by Perceptor of energon cubes discovered at the locale indicated they were contaminated with Dinosaur transform static. Further analysis indicated the cubes were of Decepticon manufacture, exonerating the Dinobots and Sky Lynx. Tracing the point of origin to Carbombya, the Autobots located the appropriated architecture and liberated the country from the habitation of the Decepticons. Thief in the Night

Perceptor was part of an ambush set for Galvatron when the incorporeal spirit of Starscream possessed Cyclonus. Starscream's Ghost When Wheelie and the Spike's immature offspring developed curiosity over Ultra Magnus's construction date, they consulted Perceptor, who suggested they scrutinize the Hall of Records, unaware of the endangerment the pair would soon face. Surprise Party Investigating another disappearance on the part of Daniel, this time complemented by Grimlock, Perceptor operated a Quintesson contrivance which transposed a rescue party to the domain of Menonia. Madman's Paradise While excavating isodrite in an asteroid belt, a team of Autobots was beleaguered by Decepticons, however as Perceptor observed, Galvatron was wreaking more havoc with his own troops than the Autobots. Webworld

Perceptor's calculations later tracked the Decepticons down to a comet, where the blackguards were installing an apparatus to propel it into Metroplex. During the altercation, a resonance of extreme amplitude disrupted proceedings, causing all present to expeditiously descent towards a nearby planetary body named Eurythma. As the Decepticons prepared to resume hostilities, Perceptor dismantled Devastator with one discharge of his artillery mode. He proceeded to participate in a diversionary engagement while Ultra Magnus and Blaster contacted the indigenous sentient life who communicated entirely in melody. Carnage in C-Minor

Detecting an aberrant semaphore on a Quintesson frequency, Perceptor allocated the mission to Sky-Lynx, Blaster and Outback. The Quintesson Journal He later oversaw the installation of a new power core on Cybertron. Not long after this occurrence, Galvatron unleashed a grotesque monstrosity with the ability to metamorphose Transformers into energy vampires. Perceptor not only formulated a remedy involving the infusing of a plethora of energy, but was able to effect the catharsis of the Dweller from Cybertron. The Dweller in the Depths He was equivalently successful in restoring Ultra Magnus, Rodimus, Arcee and Springer to their mechanoid forms after they were transplanted into organic bodies. Only Human

Memoirs of a tiny alien robot geisha with a male alien robot's transplanted brain

During the instatement of another power generator, Perceptor expressed a desire for an increase in the Dinobots' brainpower, to which Grimlock responded with a aggressive exclamation regarding his fist and Perceptor's cranium. Malfunctions caused by strange energy emanating from the generator resulted in Grimlock's intelligence being increased manifold, outstripping even Perceptor's own acumen. The Autobots journeyed to Unicron's skull in orbit around Cybertron, where they were incapacitated by anti-electrons. Providentially, Grimlock was able to construct a brigade of Technobots to salvage the situation. Grimlock's New Brain

During one of his final known excursions with Rodimus, Perceptor plummeted onto an alien world in a state of transformation paralysis. What's worse, his universal emulator was taken from his body and transplanted into the Zamojin construct called Nijika, which resulted in Perceptor's consciousness taking up residence within that form. All things considered, he took it quite well, and his alterations to the emulator resulted in the Quintessons inadvertently extricating the world from its incarceration. The Face of the Nijika

Japanese cartoon continuity

Victory cartoon

Voice actor: Masaharu Satō (Japanese)

Perceptor, Wheeljack and Minerva were summoned, called forth, or otherwise sought out by Star Saber to save, preserve, and defend the life of the critically damaged and weakened Ginrai. They succeeded, converting the former Transtector into the mighty Victory Leo.Ginrai Dies!! Fight!! Victory Leo Awaken! Victory Leo The Tide is Turned! The Ultimate Weapon, the Victory Unification

Japanese Generation 2 story pages

Look at him, all tiny back there.

Perceptor, along with Wheeljack and Jetfire, discovered new properties of the Matrix which allowed Optimus Prime to revive himself as Laser-Rod Optimus Prime subsequent to a crushing defeat by Megatron. G-2 Part 4

Teletraan Go! Go! comics

The doctor is in...sane.

Sent to gather data on Perceptor, Teletraan 15 found him giggling creepily over a microchip and telling it that it was time for its check-up.

Wheeee!

As she recoiled in horror, Perceptor's tone became clinical and, retracting his faceplate, he demanded that she identify herself. After Teletraan 15 recorded her notes on the Autobot scientist, he transformed into his seldom-seen mobile battle mode and took her for a ride... whether she wanted it or not.

Marvel Comics continuity

Generation 1

Events from the UK-only comic stories are in italics.

On Cybertron, Perceptor was often considered an officer or otherwise highly ranked personage by other Cybertronic life forms in the vicinity, inspiring in the aforementioned others a tendency to view him as a "commander" of a faction of Autobots who engaged in armed conflict against localized enemy forces until such a point as the aforementioned combat unit, or the surviving portions thereof, crossed the multidimensional warp system for transport, otherwise known as the Space Bridge, to join the forces based on the planetary body known to the overwhelming majority of those of his species who had shifted their operations to its locality as Earth. The Smelting Pool! The Bridge to Nowhere! He was later deactivated for a somewhat extended period of time, by human standards if not by those of his species, by the opposing faction (as judged by an outside observer who insists on a binary classification system) in the Underbase conflict, so named for the goal of the conflict, a legendary storehouse of Cybertronic knowledge. Yesterday's Heroes!

Marvel UK future timelines

In a parallel junction of quantum-temporal values, Perceptor aided his fellow residents of Autobot City in the initiation of combat proceedings against unwanted Quintesson visitors possessing acutely nefarious intent. Unfortunately, said combat proceedings proved to be incapable of properly sustaining the necessary level of applied force to rebuke and rebuff the forward progress of the invading hostile xeno-biological entities, leading to a cessation of proper operating status for Perceptor and several of his Autobot co-actors. Space Pirates!

One solar-terrestrial revolution cycle later, Perceptor again responded to the presence of hostile activities when an Autobot interstellar transport shuttle made a sudden and disastrous relocation from space to earth at velocities far exceeding safety protocols. At the shuttle's location, Perceptor fell into a paradoxical situation necessitating that the Autobots save their commander Rodimus Prime from his own disparate mental status. White Fire

Generation 2

Perceptor did not engage in random fisticuffs and altercations with the Cybertronians, for that would most emphatically be in a milieu of activity not of his preference. Alternatively, he participated in an expedition of a scientific nature to the lunar orbiting body of J'asik to determine what nefarious entity had structurally destabilized the populace at a molecular level. His findings unveiled astonishing and almost inarticulable obfuscations from deep in the Cybertronian past. Swarm

Universe: The Wreckers

Perceptor counseled Rodimus Prime against making a leadership decision that, when one considers both the opinions of observers that are generally regarded as wise, to such an extent as observers with finite capacity for knowledge can comprehend the infinite, and the final results of the decision in question, could be regarded as less than optimal.

Knowing the commander in question many of those reading this documentation may surmise the result... Betrayal

Dreamwave Generation 1 comics continuity

Perceptor was again held to be an officer or leader, a position he occupied with Blaster, among a group of underground Autobots on Cybertron after the unexpected return of Megatron, who had disappeared along with Optimus Prime many years ago in an early space bridge test, commanding the Aerospace Extermination Squadron, an army of Seeker-form drones. The combat efficiency of these Air Warriors, as they were also known, led to a Decepticon conquest of Cybertron, as well as the enslavement of many Autobots. During this period, Perceptor theorized that if Megatron had survived the space bridge explosion, one could logically conclude that Optimus Prime also survived. At a base appropriately designated the Think Tank, Perceptor designed and built a device intended to locate Optimus Prime. Before a proper test of the device could be conducted, Perceptor's group managed to capture an Air Warrior, with the intentions of examining its systems with the hope of finding an effective counter measure against the drones. War Within: The Age of Wrath Unfortunately, financial irregularities on the part of Dreamwave's President resulted in the company filing for Chapter 11, where it currently remains in Bankruptcy court to this day, precluding any possible end to the story at this time.

Millions of years after the aforementioned events, Perceptor again allied with a group of Autobots who opposed the oppressive regime of the Decepticon Shockwave, but these activities were covert in nature and he publicly remained a respected Autobot scientist. He presented evidence of Shockwave's unorthodox experiments on various Transformers, as well as the fact that Cybertron's spatial coordinates seemed to have changed, to the High Council. The High Council was unwilling to take any constitutional action against Shockwave, over feelings of gratitude for his assistance in restoring the peace, even after they were verbally accosted by Ultra Magnus. Ultimately, any censure or movement against Shockwave was discontinued due to a rampage on the part of the Stunticons. After Optimus Prime escaped custody and united the various resistance movements, Perceptor participated in the Autobot leader's offensive against Shockwave's fortifications within Hub Capital Iacon. He also helped to repair Grimlock, commander of the Dinobots, despite the latter's well known bias against intellectuals. War and Peace

Dreamwave Transformers/G.I. Joe comics continuity

In the year 1985, Perceptor and Blaster hastily took off for Earth in an starship poorly-suited for interstellar travel, despite Perceptor's protests. Upon arrival, they unsurprisingly crashed, landing in the forests of Oregon near Mount St. Hilary. They were discovered there by a G.I. Joe team led by Flint. Targets of Opportunity

Due to Dreamwave's bankruptcy, Blaster and Perceptor's motivations for coming to Earth - and pretty much anything else - were never revealed.

IDW comics continuity

This section covers fiction that is ongoing. It will be added to as the story progresses. If it isn't current, you can help by updating it.

Cut the crap, Perceptor, and just get the cable back up!

Perceptor embarked upon a mission in which the Ark-17 was the principal mode of transport as likewise did Springer, attempting to disentangle Kup from a scenario that would all but undoubtedly lead to his expiration. Perceptor, as was the general consensus of those who had embarked upon the voyage, attempted to dissuade Springer of the less than optimal, considering resource allotment, military operation he had accepted. Spotlight: Kup

He later served on Autobot Orbital Command Hub, acting as a peer to acting-commander Silverbolt. He appeared to know Blaster of old, and helped him with his investigation. Spotlight: Blaster

Spoiler warning: Plot details for All Hail Megatron issue 15 follow. Spoilers expire in 140 days

Kup was eventually rescued and taken to Kimia Facility where Perceptor and the scientists there helped repair Kup using Pretender technology. Prowl also had Perceptor secretly install subroutines into Kup that would allow Prowl to have control over the old codger. Though Perceptor opposed this, he followed his orders. He also was assigned to Kup's unit to keep a supply of cy-gars handy to keep Kup sane. Everything in Its Right Place

Perceptor later accompanied Kup on a mission to rescue some captured Wreckers and was badly injured during the operation. He was saved by Drift. Spotlight: Drift

Spoiler warning: Plot details for All Hail Megatron issue 15 follow. Spoilers expire in 140 days

After healing from his injuries, Perceptor decided to make some upgrades to his body, making him more useful as a warrior. He gave himself a near-impervious breastplate, aiming stabilizers and a monocle-like targeting optic. He demonstrated these to great effect, taking out Monstructor in one blast during a rescue of Hot Rod. Lost & Found

Like every other tough-guy group walk in the movies...

Sporting a decidedly dour demeanor, Perceptor obtained a modicum of prominence. In the company of Kup, Springer, et. al, Perceptor had opted to become more directly involved in deeply discomfiting the Decepticons... until their inopportune crash-landing on Cybertron. All Hail Megatron issue 5 When some swarms of Insecticons made an appearance, he once again displayed his disturbing targeting proficiency, inflicting immediate and conclusive damage on one scout with only minimal effort. All Hail Megatron issue 6

Later, when the Autobots fled from the Swarm, they had planted some explosive charges to several bridges in order to cut off their pursuers. When they passed one of the bridges, Kup ordered Perceptor to shoot the charges, which he did with two small handblasters. However, he was taken out by a dart fired off by a Swarm (who got blasted for its effort). All Hail Megatron issue 8

Toys

Generation 1

• Perceptor (Autobot, 1985)
  • Japanese ID number: C-39
  • Accessories: "Concussion Rifle", missile launcher, 3 missiles

File:G1Perceptor toy.jpg

Because it's easier to see small things when you have a giant laser cannon aiming at them.

Formerly a Microchange MC-20 Micro Scope, Perceptor transforms into a predominantly red, functional microscope. His magnification is limited to 1X due to the relatively crude nature of his lens. In robot mode, Perceptor is armed with a red "Concussion Rifle" and a spring-loaded rocket launcher that can fire one of three red missile-shaped projectiles.

A holdover from his Microchange origins, Perceptor can also transform into a 'tank' mode.

The Japanese version does not launch missiles from the scope, despite what some sources say.

There is an old variant of this toy: some have a more golden-hued chrome than the normal silver. This is not a very common variant.

The mold was later repainted to make Magnificus.

Transformers Collection

• Cybertron Perceptor (Transformers Collection, Japan 2005)
  • Japanese ID number: TFC-19

Perceptor was reissued in Japan as part of Takara's Transformers Collection line.

Classics

File:ClassicsLOCPerceptor toy.jpg

"I will blow up your whole city. For science."

• Perceptor (Legends, 2006)

Available as part of the first assortment of Classics Legends of Cybertron, Perceptor is a redeco of the Legends of Cybertron Red Alert. He transforms into a BTR-90 armored personnel carrier with a large missile/laser cannon/microscope/telescope.

This mold was also used to make Universe Onslaught.

Universe (2008)

G1 Series

• Perceptor (2009)

Hasbro will do their own reissue of Perceptor as part of the Universe line.

Merchandise

Heroes of Cybertron

• Perceptor (2003)

What's the deal with corn nuts?

Perceptor was released in the fourth wave of the Heroes of Cybertron line as a mostly unaltered version of the Perceptor figurine from the Japanese Super Collection Figure line, though as a HOC he uses the standard "all clear-blue plastic painted over" coloring process to give him light-piped eyes. He came with the head and sword of the Fortress Maximus build-a-figurine.

Robot Heroes

• Perceptor vs. Hardshell (200?)

Part of the fourth wave of Universe Robot Heroes, Perceptor packed versus Hardshell as part of the "Generation 1 Series".

Trivia

• In the animated portion of Perceptor's original toy commercial he is presented as being quite small, the size a microscope would be in relation to Prime's robot form, and not growing at all, but remaining just as tiny in robot form.

• A Perceptor Action Master was planned at one point, but apparently went no further than a concept sketch. Unlike some other Action Masters, the art is based solely on the toy, including its faceplate. It has the distinction of carrying on Perceptor's well-armed legacy, with not just one but TWO shoulder mounted microscope cannons, arm shields, and a large handgun . The figure may have been intended as a pilot or driver for an Action Master vehicle, as the handgun has handlebars jutting off either side. Or, perhaps, the aforementioned munition was engineered to be wielded in an akimbo manner.

• The initial inspiration for Perceptor came from the anime series Armored Trooper Votoms. Shinji Aramaki, designing toys for Takara at the time, liked the microscope look of the heads of the mecha from that series, and applied it in a more literal sense with the Microchange toy, but his involvement ended at the conceptual stage.

• In a rather surprising twist of events, part of this article has been placed on the cover of the upcoming All Hail Megatron issue 15. The result is a micro-continuity in which Perceptor reads this Wiki. What is this "fourth wall" you speak of, reader?

External links

• Perceptor at TFU.info
• Perceptor's Universe profile at NTFA.net