Soundwave (Cybertron)

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

Soundwave is a Planet X Decepticon from the Cybertron portion of the Unicron Trilogy.

"The rock it to the bang bang boogie say up jumped the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat."

Soundwave is possibly Planet X's most physically intimidating warrior, but his true talent and the real threat comes from his "mad skillz" at creating confusion. His audio-altering abilities let him change his voice to sound like virtually anyone, or focus devastating sonic attacks. He also seems to be able to create illusions, though of limited duration, to further confuse his targets. The abilities of his companion Laserbeak only increase Soundwave's ability to confound and crush.

Even his speech seems to be geared towards throwing people off-balance; though his tone is often a deadpan monotone (at least, when he's not impersonating someone else), his speech is that of a rave-club DJ, announcing loudly to "all the bots in the hizzouse" that he's here to "lay some science down on you all". Despite the appearance these mannerisms give off, he's actually a very serious-minded and focused robot, far more than his fellow Planet X agent Sideways. His mission is manipulating Autobot and Decepticon alike to get his revenge on the citizens of Gigantion, and serving the will of Unicron.

His name is Soundwave, and he spins like the sun.Thunderblast, "Giant"

Fiction

Cartoon continuity

Cybertron comic

When his home planet, the world of technological marauders known only as Planet X, was destroyed in a war with Gigantion, Soundwave was one of a small handful of survivors who became fixated solely on revenge against the Giant Planet. Immediately after that catastrophic event, Planet X's surviving scholars pooled their knowledge in a search for some force which might bring the same fate to their hated enemies. Lore of an ancient, planet-devouring being brought them hope, and they split up across the universe in their search for it. Soundwave would end up succeeding in the millennia-long quest, tracing the Gigantion Mini-Cons' origins to his quarry: Unicron. Soundwave struck a deal with the Chaos Bringer: one million years of servitude in return for the assured destruction of Gigantion.

Unfortunately for Soundwave, Unicron was destroyed just as the end date of his servitude approached. The Sun But he did not let this minor detail impede his loyalty; while Optimus Prime and Megatron's forces were busy searching for the Cyber Planet Keys, Soundwave and Laserbeak stole the fallen Nemesis Prime's Dead Matrix from the Autobots on Cybertron and cast it into the Unicron Singularity, liberating the Chaos Bringer's essence. Unicron's lifeforce immediately sought out and entered the tiny planet Yst, which he perverted and destroyed from within, shaping it into his new body. Revelations Part 3 Unicron (now the size of an average Transformer) returned to Cybertronian orbit and rejoined Soundwave. The two of them participated briefly in a battle among some Mini-Cons and a few dimensional travelers before the transformation of Cybertron itself into Primus' robot mode caused them to flee. Revelations Part 6

Cybertron cartoon

Voice actor: Robert O. Smith (US), Taketora (Japan)

"Can I get a what what?"

Following Primus' transformation, the Autobots and Decepticons focused their efforts into locating the fourth and final Cyber Planet Key, which just so happened to be on Gigantion. With the Decepticons unable to voyage across time and space to the parallel dimension in which Gigantion was located, Soundwave seized upon another chance for revenge and opted to ally himself with the villains. Emerging before the Decepticons from a fiery portal in space, Soundwave performed a bit of dramatic posturing before revealing his name and informing them that he knew the way to the planet. Titans

Living up to his word, Soundwave led Megatron and his troops through another fiery portal, across the dimensions to the Giant Planet. Warp When the Decepticons clashed with Optimus Prime's Autobots not long afterwards, Soundwave shocked the amassed heroes with his talent for mimicry by flawlessly impersonating the Autobot leader's voice. Prime was flattered and merged with Wing Saber to battle Soundwave; the villain held his own in the fight, but when Megatron was thoroughly pwned by Giant Planet leader Metroplex, he joined the Decepticons in fleeing. Giant Megatron proceeded to tap the power of Gigantion's Cyber Planet Key, and transformed himself into Galvatron, at which point Soundwave decided to "drop out of this session," and flew off to carry out his own agenda. He observed Galvatron's subsequent battle with Optimus Prime from afar with great interest. Fury

During a later battle between Optimus Prime and Soundwave's fellow Planet X-er Sideways over the starship Atlantis, Soundwave suddenly came streaking into the middle of the battlefield to yank Sideways out of the path of a blast from Prime. The pair retreated to safety, as Soundwave reminded Sideways not to forget the true reason they were there. City The duplicitous duo began searching for Gigantion's Cyber Planet Key, but when they were caught in the act by the Cybertron Defense Team, Soundwave didn't have any reservations about revealing his and Sideways's true history to the Autobot trio, as he intended to destroy them. As Laserbeak shrouded the area with a smokescreen, Soundwave used his imitative abilities to distract and disorient the three Autobots, until Scattorshot blasted Laserbeak out of the air. After the smoke cleared, the trio unloaded their weapons on the two tricksters, collapsing a tower on top of them. Challenge

Following this defeat, Soundwave and Sideways dropped out of sight for a period of time, during which the Autobot successfully located Gigantion's Cyber Planet Key. Galvatron was able to steal all four keys and the Omega Lock from the heroes, but before he could make good his escape, Galvatron was confronted by his treacherous lieutenant, Starscream. As the two former allies engaged in battle over the keys, the Autobots prepared to intercede, only for Soundwave and Sideways to suddenly burst out of nowhere and stand in their path. The two Planet X-ers kept the Autobots occupied while Galvatron and Starscream's battle escalated until the two Decepticons were channelling so much raw energy that reality actually began to warp around them. Having failed to predict such a calamitous outcome, Soundwave was in favor of simply warping away to fight another day, but Sideways insisted on making one final play for the Cyber Planet Keys; while he pleaded for Soundwave to flee and save himself, Soundwave stuck by his "bro". The pair lunged for the Omega Lock, suspended between Galvatron and Starscream, just as their conflict reached a crescendo, resulting in a colossal explosion of energy. As the light from the blast dimmed, Starscream, Soundwave and Sideways had vanished, and although Vector Prime could not be certain, he believed that they had been blasted into yet another dimension. Showdown

Get down with the groove!

Precisely what had happened to Soundwave and Sideways was never clearly explained, but they did, at least survive the experience. When Galvatron had a vision of Starscream, seemingly reaching out across the dimensions via the fire dimension to mock him one last time, Soundwave and Sideways were seen standing at his side, Unfinished Later, the pair were shown to have found another Planet X, presumably in the dimension they had been blasted to, and seemed to be pretty dang happy there, given the way they were boogieing. Beginning

Toys

Cybertron

"Throw your hands up in the air, you can surrender but I just don't care."

• Soundwave w/ Laserbeak (Voyager-Class, 2005)
  • Japanese ID number: GX-02
  • Accessories: Laserbeak Mini-Con partner, tri-barrel cannon/bomb, double-barrel blaster/bomb, Planet X Cyber Planet Key

Soundwave transforms into a Cybertronic stealth bomber somewhat akin to a F-117A Nighthawk prototype, the Have Blue. He comes with three hexagonal prism "bombs"; one converts into his partner Laserbeak, the other two unfold into non-firing blaster weapons. Any one of these "bombs" can be stored in his robot-mode chest, which opens by plugging a Cyber Key into him. Inserting the key in vehicle mode allows whichever "bomb" is stored there to drop. The other two store in indents on the underside of his wings. In an homage to Generation 1 Soundwave, his lower chest has tape-player buttons. He comes with a silver-bordered Planet X style Cyber Key; the Hasbro version has the Key Code "vmj8" tampographed on the back.

The Japanese Galaxy Force version has more elaborate paint applications, particularly around the face and wings. This version also has vacuum-metallized plastic, but lacks the Decepticon sigil. Many Soundwave figures in the initial Galaxy Force run had a serious misassembly issue preventing the toy from correctly transforming into fighter mode. The large hinge bar that connects the upper torso to the waist is bolted crookedly on one side, making it impossible for the legs and the canopy to properly form the front of the fighter.

This mold was later used to make Galaxy Force Soundblaster and the 2008 Universe Autobot Blaster.

• More information on Soundwave at TFU.info

Of all the LOCs, this one gets served the most.

• Soundwave (Legends of Cybertron, 2005)

This incredibly-simplified version of the original Soundwave toy was made available in the third wave of "Legends of Cybertron" product. His jet-mode cockpit does not attach to his left arm, but rather just kind of hangs awkwardly off his left hip. The stock photo (at right), the picture on the toy's card, and the toy's instructions, show three different arrangements of Soundwave's hips and lower torso in vehicle mode. (They differ in whether the triangular pattern of stripes on his crotch points up or forward, and on whether the fronts of his thighs point up or out.) None of the arrangements work terribly well.

This mold was also used to make the 2008 Universe version of Air Raid.

• More information on Legends-class Soundwave at TFU.info

Classics

• Soundwave (Legends class, 2007)

Bizarrely enough, Soundwave was one of three Cybertron Legends toys straight-released in Classics packaging, though with the modifier "Cybertron Collection" printed on the cardfront. The toy itself is identical to the Cybertron release.

Trivia

• According to the Galaxy Force Volume 13 DVD booklet, Soundwave's stats are:
  • Height: 4.1 meters
  • Weight: 4.1 tons
  • Speed: Oh oh! Guess what it is? It's Mach 4.1! Surprise!