Breakdown (G1)

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

Breakdown is a Decepticon Stunticon from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Ever since the invention of Targetmasters, Breakdown has been convinced his pistol is out to kill him...

Breakdown has an acute case of paranoia. (What was that!?) He genuinely believes that things, both living and inanimate, are watching him. (They're everywhere!) Breakdown doesn't like to stand out in a crowd. (Did you hear that!?) He dreads being different and garnering attention. (Stop staring at me!) At times, he almost wishes he was a human so he could just disappear and no one would notice. (Get them off meeeee!) Needless to say, he and Red Alert (He's one of THEM!!) would be energon drinking buddies if each wasn't likely to be convinced the other was trying to poison him.

Breakdown can combine (They'll never take me alive!!) with his fellow Stunticons to form Menasor.

Italian name: Caimano ("Caiman")

French-Canadian name: Panicon

Hungarian name: Vibrátor ("Vibrator", aheh)

Chinese name (Taiwan): Pāu-máu (拋錨, "Breakdown")

Chinese name (China): Daji​ (打击, "Strike")

Fiction

Cartoon continuity

Voice actor: Jack Angel (First appearance only); Alan Oppenheimer (English), Keiichi Nanba (Japanese)

I'm Breakdown and...what the $*#@! are you looking at?!

After a failed attempt to steal experimental rocket fuel from United States military, Megatron realized that while the Decepticons controlled the skies, the Autobots had supremacy on the ground, and so they needed new ground-based warriors who could out-drive and out-fight the Autobots on their terms. Rumble was sent to steal various human vehicles that would be rebuilt to become the new Stunticons. Breakdown was given life by Vector Sigma along with the rest of the Stunticons. He agreed to obey Megatron, but there was a certain reluctance in his voice. He probably thought Megatron was out to get him, or something. The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1 Whilst the Autobots were trapped on Cybertron, the Decepticons returned to Earth with the newly awakened Stunticons who began wreaking havoc and damaging the Autobots' good name by attacking the US military base containing the experimental rocket fuel. Eventually, the Autobots returned with the newly built Aerialbots whose combined form Superion defeated the Stunticon combiner Menasor. The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2

Despite this defeat, the Stunticons were the key component in Megatron's elaborate scheme to hold a fake charity race from Paris to Istanbul so he could steal US driver Auggie Cahnay's car which would be melted down to house the the powerful Pearl of Bahoudin. One by one, the Stunticons disabled the Autobot participants assigned to protect Cahnay. Afterwards, the Stunticons were defeated when Cahnay rammed his car into Menasor’s face. Trans-Europe Express

When Megatron was infected with Cosmic Rust after a trip to the lost Autobot colony of Antilla, the Stunticons were assigned to capture the Autobot scientist Perceptor, who had developed the powerful anti-corrosion Corrostop. Arriving incognito on a ferry, Breakdown transformed and nervously informed the human passengers that this was a hijack and forced them into the captain’s cabin, though he actually locked them in the garage. AfterMegatron cured himself and infected the Autobots with the Cosmic Rust, Menasor attacked the Statue of Liberty in New York City with the ancient Lightning Bug heat ray, intent on stopping the Autobots from matter-duplicating more Corrostop from the layer they sprayed on the statue. Superion defeated Menasor and destroyed the Lightning Bug. Cosmic Rust

After Starscream was banished for yet another failed coup, he returned with a powerful new Decepticon team called the Combaticons, who were able to outfight Autobot and Decepticon alike. With Megatron needing a trump card, Soundwave attempted to call on the Stunticons to help, but they refused as they were having a demolition derby with various human-owned cars. However, the Stunticons belatedly arrived after the Combaticons' combined form of Bruticus defeated Devastator and forced Megatron to acknowledge Starscream as the new Decepticon leader. Realizing that Starscream would not stop at Megatron, the Stunticons merged into Menasor and disabled Bruticus in one mighty punch. Starscream's Brigade

While assembling a new weapon capable of destroying any target by creating a chain reaction in its molecules, Megatron found himself short a few key components to finish the device. He sent the Stunticons out to retrieve those components by any means necessary. Breakdown and Wildrider assaulted a local optics laboratory to gather new focusing lenses for the cannon's beam. On their way to the weapon's construction site, they were intercepted by a troop of Autobots. It was Grapple who brought down Breakdown, setting him on fire with his arc-welder rifle by using a trail of fuel as a fuse. The Stunticons were imprisoned in the Ark, their radioes and vehicle modes disabled and trapped behind energized bars. The Autobots then used camouflage paint to alter their appearances and mimic the Stunticons, hoping to get close enough to Megatron to catch him unawares. Autobot warrior Sideswipe assumed Breakdown's appearance for the mission. After they left, however, Breakdown managed to use his unique vibratory pulses to disrupt his bars and break free. He caught his Autobot captors by surprise and blasted several of them before they could react, giving him enough time to free his fellow Stunticons and form Menasor. After a brief but memorable conflict, Menasor escaped the Ark and returned to Megatron. The cannon was rendered unusable by the Autobots' intervention, though, and Megatron's plan failed. Masquerade

In the wake of Unicron's attack on Cybertron in the year 2005 and the subsequent Decepticon exile to Chaar in 2006, the Stunticons were reduced to being scavengers, fighting like slaargs with their fellow Decepticons over the few scraps of energon they had. Motormaster determined that the Decepticon needed strong leadership to survive, and hope came when Cyclonus brought news of Galvatron's survival, and asked for the Decepticons to donate their remaining energon to revive their leader. While Dead End was pessimistic about their survival, Breakdown they were doomed anyway without a leader and focus. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1 However, while Cyclonus and the Sweeps were resurrecting Galvatron, the Quintessons arrived on Chaar with an offer of energon in exchange for attacking the Autobots. The Stunticons were instrumental in convincing the other Decepticons to ally themselves with the Quintessons. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3 After Galvatron returned to seize control of the Decepticons, the Stunticons were part of the Decepticon team attacking the Autobots on Earth. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5

Japanese cartoon continuity

The events of the Generation 1 cartoon occur in this continuity as detailed above, except the events of 2006 are pushed back to 2010. Japanese continuity inserts several new stories into the resultant gaps in the timeline.

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers comic

Breakdown and the Stunticons decided to have a little fun and tear up a baseball stadium in Japan. Luckily, the Autobots' plucky young ally Kenji was present to radio for assistance. All the combiner teams assembled, and it was Menasor and Bruticus against Superion and Defensor! Defensor was forced to break apart by the combined Decepticon attack, but Superion and Kenji got the idea to shoot out the Decepticons' leg components. Groove and Blades took advantage of the empty combiner ports and took over as Menasor's legs while First Aid and Streetwise took over as Bruticus' lower limbs. All four Protectobots immediately launched Menasor and Bruticus into the ocean. Breakdown was last seen chasing his "possessed" teammates into the distance. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 5

While posing as Autobots, Breakdown, Onslaught and the Stunticons rampaged through the city streets, smearing the good name of their adversaries. Later, Frenzy and Rumble posed as humans to rally people against the Autobots, and Motormaster's brigade staged an attack on the rally to drive the point home. The Autobot fire engines Hot Spot and Inferno arrived, however, and used their water hoses to wash off the Decepticons' fake insignia. Enraged, Motormaster planned to combine into Menasor...only to see Breakdown and the others were already retreating into the distance. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 7

Scramble City cartoon

Breakdown and the Stunticons were summoned by Megatron to put an end to the Scramble City project, and succeeded where Starscream had failed. Their first strike was impressive, holding back Optimus Prime and a cadre of Autobots and shooting the Aerialbots out of the skies. When the Aerialbots formed Superion, Breakdown and his teammates followed suit and merged into Menasor. Scramble City

The Great Transformer War comic

Galvatron kidnapped Doctor Dalton of Eran to upgrade the might of his combiner warriors. When the Autobot combiners arrived to save Dalton, Breakdown and his teammates were deployed at high speeds from Motormaster's launcher mode. They met Superion in mid-air, and the force of their deployment enabled the combiner teams to tear him apart. The Stunticons then merged into Menasor to move in for the kill. They were ultimately outwitted by the Autobots, however, who rescued Dalton and safely returned to Metroplex. The Great Transformer War issue 1

The Headmasters cartoon

Breakdown and the Stunticons participated in Galvatron's siege on Cybertron. They managed to gain the high ground against the Dinobots and Throttlebots, and rained laser fire down on their opponents. Four Warriors Come out of the Sky Breakdown and his team formed Menasor to fight their Autobot counterparts, but were steamrolled by the might and firepower of the Battleship Maximus. Transporting back to Earth, they attempted to interfere with Hot Rod's quest for the Matrix. Breakdown and the Stunticons were confronted by the Aerialbots in the desert, but the battle of their combiner forms eventually led them to the Arctic. The Mystery of Planet Master

When Vector Sigma began perfecting the new super-metal Cybertonuron on Cybertron, Galvatron ordered another all-out attack on the planet to seize the metal for the Decepticons before the Autobots could make use of it. Breakdown and the Stunticons journeyed to Cybertron with the strike force, and confronted their old enemies, the Aerialbots. The Aerialbots got the drop on Breakdown's group by forming Superion and lashing out before the Stunticons could form Menasor as well. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1 Breakdown and the Stunticons were still in a firefight sometime later, as Chromedome passed by looking for Mindwipe and the Decepticon Headmasters. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2 In San Francisco, Breakdown and the Stunticons assisted Bruticus in using a carnivorous plant to distract the Autobots from Scorponok's plans on Zarak. They fought against the Technobots and Computron. Head On!! Fortress Maximus

Sometime later, Breakdown and the Stunticons gathered in the desert as their Ninja Commander Sixshot began issuing orders. They assembled as Menasor, and took part in the escalating Decepticon war effort as five separate Autobot outposts were attacked simultaneously at Sixshot's command. The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg

Zone OVA, manga and story pages

Seeking to create a Decepticon Zone to counter the Autobot Zone, Decepticon Emperor Violen Jiger gathered together the Nine Great Demon Generals, upgrading them with powerful new armor and weaponry, then sent them forth to conquer planets. Breakdown was among those summoned, but only as a part of Menasor. Zone Part 1 Transformers: Zone Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!

Marvel Comics continuity

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

Generation 1

Breakdown is the blue guy in the background.

Upon learning that the cerebro-shell implanted in Optimus Prime had also granted them access to the powers of the Creation Matrix, Megatron and Soundwave immediately built a team of Decepticons. The new Stunticons, which included Breakdown, were sent to find the Autobot Skids, who had earned new trust for the Autobots by publically saving a human. After Breakdown and the others knocked over every car in their way to get to Skids, they turned to "protect" him from the new Aerialbots, hoping to confuse the public and discredit the Autobots. Breakdown combined with his fellow Stunticons to form Menasor, and they fought the Aerialbots' Superion. Heavy Traffic!

Breakdown is responsible for the mints on pillows.

Megatron gathered Breakdown and the rest of the Stunticons before him to escort him in gun mode to Florida, where they would be air-lifted to the Decepticons' new island headquarters. In the wake of the death of Optimus Prime, Megatron's paranoia had grown so great that Breakdown and the others left their leader behind to deal with a random human truck. Gone but Not Forgotten!

Ratbat moved their space-traveling island base back to Earth's seas, where it became a human travel resort to smokescreen the Decepticons' efforts to locate a key to finding the powerful Underbase. Breakdown was advertised on television as part of the island's smiling welcoming party. Club Con!

Earthforce

These stories do not fit into the normal Marvel continuity. See Earthforce for details.

Breakdown was briefly seen at the Enclave, rubbing shoulders with the various troops from Megatron and Shockwave's factions. The Bad Guy's Ball! Later, after the factions merged, he drove into battle alongside the Stunticons and Battlechargers when Soundwave led an attack on Autobot Earthbase. Although the Autobot defense systems were down at the time, Breakdown and his comrades were still ultimately driven off. Divide and Conquer! On another occasion, Starscream and Soundwave learned the Autobots had a human reporter writing a positive story about them. Fearing that good publicity among the humans would give Earthforce an edge, they sent the Stunticons to kidnap the human. As Motormaster made off with the reporter, Breakdown and the Stunticons ran interference against the Autobot cars following him. After Jazz transformed and got off a quick shot at their leader, Breakdown rear-ended him in the legs. The Autobot was knocked out of the fight, but so was Breakdown as he had caved in his own hood in the effort. End of the Road!

It is unclear which faction Breakdown was on before Soundwave and Starscream led their coup for Decepticon leadership.

Marvel UK future timelines

Breakdown and the Stunticons attacked Kup on the road in 2003, making an attempt to steal the plans for the upcoming Autobot City. They were successful, but the plans were a set of fakes, so they ultimately didn't gain anything. A traffic light tried to tell Breakdown as much, but he refused to listen to it. Ark Duty

In 2008, Scourge, Cyclonus and Death's Head were compelled by Unicron to make an assassination attempt on the Decepticon leader, Shockwave. They sealed the door to the audience chamber during the attack, and so Soundwave summoned the Stunticons as Menasor to break through the door. They eventually did so, and Breakdown and Dead End were about to execute the Decepticon traitors when Death's Head returned with news of Shockwave's demise. Using a series of explosives built into his hover platform as an incentive, the bounty hunter forced Soundwave and the other Decepticons to submit to their leadership. The Legacy of Unicron!

Generation 2

Breakdown was among the Decepticons rallied for war against the Cybertronian Empire after Skullgrin's death. New Dawn

Dreamwave comics continuity

At some point in Cybertron's recent history, the Stunticons were deemed psychotic and too dangerous to function in society, and as a result were placed into perpetual stasis lock inside of a prison facility. Later, in an attempt to create a diversion while he set his final plans in motion, Shockwave arranged for the release of the Stunticons. They formed into Menasor and ran amuck for awhile, until Ultra Magnus arrived and began insulting them. Unable to reconcile with this, the five Stunticons began to bicker with each other over whose fault it was that they were failing, temporarily stopping Menasor and allowing Ultra Magnus to ram the combiner in the chest, forcing him to separate into his component parts and disabling the Stunticons. Passive Aggression

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

"I learned this from Scrounge!"

It must've been Breakdown's lucky day when Teletran 3 went haywire and transported him the Stunticons to 1930s Chicago, as unlike his comrades, he stayed conscious the whole time instead of getting locked in a new vehicle mode. Breakdown decided to stay quiet, however, and let himself be used by a human criminal gang until he and the others were found by a group of G.I. Joes and Cobra members sent to bring the lost Cybertronians back to the future. After overhearing Optimus Prime explaining what would happen to Earth if the Stunticons weren't retrieved, Breakdown revealed himself and stole Beachhead's disruption units, using them to awaken Dead End, Wildrider and Drag Strip. With Motormaster absent, Breakdown led the others in a car chase across Chicago, which ended when Prime and the humans found Motormaster and sent everyone back to present-day Cybertron. G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #2

The Stunticons were later recruited into Serpent O.R.'s army, and Breakdown both helped capture some Autobots and G.I. Joes and attack an Autobot peace ceremony in the form of Menasor. The Art of War #3 Following the battle, he and Nautilator were assigned to guard the imprisoned Joes, and Breakdown told his fellow Decepticon how freaky it was to be on Earth and have all those fleshlings stare at you. He then decided to check up on the prisoner in black, only to hypnotized by the human's Arashikage ninja techniques and forced to gun down Nautilator. After then freeing the humans, Breakdown was released from Snake-Eyes's control and fell unconscious. The Art of War #4

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.

Breakdown was among the Decepticons abandoned on Earth after the fall of Megatron. Two years later, he was so desperate for energon that he attacked a human solar power planet, looking to somehow recharge. Skywatch was dispatched to the scene, and they overpowered the Stunticon using armored Crash suits. By attaching a mode-lock device, the Skywatch agents forcibly reverted Breakdown to vehicle mode, leaving him trapped and unable to operate himself. Spike Witwicky took possession of Breakdown's car mode himself after the battle. ...For All Mankind

Breakdown has since been relegated to Spike's pimpmobile, although the human did repair the battle damage first before taking the Decepticon out on the town. New Arrivals, Old Encounters

Spoiler warning: Plot details for Enemies of the System follow. Please give an expiry date ({{spoiler|(story)|DATE}}) - either the date of the next episode/issue in the series or 30 days after release, whichever is sooner

Enemies of the System

Toys

Generation 1

Wahoo reaction, now a gucci cola sale

• Breakdown (Stunticon, 1986/1987)
  • Team ID number: S2
  • Japanese ID number: D-51
  • Accessories: "Concussion cannon", double-barreled "plasma-energy blaster".

The original Breakdown toy transforms into a white Lamborghini Countach. He comes with a blue double-barreled cannon that attaches to the back of his vehicle mode. In robot mode, he is armed with a small blue laser pistol. As he was designed with the "Scramble City" style of combination, he can form the arm or leg to any similarly-constructed super robot. Although the 1986 Stunticon gift set shows Breakdown as the left arm of Menasor, Breakdown's nominal placement is as Menasor's right leg.

The original release featured a red sticker on Breakdown's hood. Later "Classics" range releases in Europe featured a gold sticker instead.

• More information on Breakdown at TFU.info

• Menasor (Giftset, 1986)
  • Japanese ID number: D-55
  • Accessories: "Concussion rifle", double-barreled "plasma-energy blaster".

Breakdown was also available as part of the Menasor giftset in numerous markets, along with his teammates Motormaster, Dead End, Drag Strip, and Wildrider. All of the toys in the set are identical to their individual releases.

Generation 2

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean you aren't coloured neon blue.

• Breakdown (Stunticon, 1994)
  • Team ID number: S3
  • Accessories: "Concussion rifle", double-barreled "plasma-energy blaster".

Generation 2 Breakdown was released as an exclusive at BotCon 1994, with only approximately 300 units sold. Originally, Hasbro had planned to mass-release a complete set of Generation 2 Stunticons, but ultimately only Breakdown saw official release in any form. The "collect them all!" cross-sell on the back of the packaging featuring the other Stunticons was covered by a BotCon 1994 sticker.

The toy is, of course, a redeco of the original Breakdown toy, and has the distinction of being the first BotCon toy ever.

• More information on Generation 2 Breakdown at TFU.info

Timelines

• Generation 2: Redux (BotCon 2010 box set)
  • Accessories:

A redeco of Universe Sideswipe, Breakdown has a new remolded head, and a deco close to his original Generation 2 paintjob

He's part of a Generation 2-themed five-figure box set available exclusively at BotCon 2010.

Trivia

So what if he can't transform? He doesn't have to link up to that jerk Motormaster ever again!

• An unofficial Action Master Generation 2 Breakdown was an exclusive at BotCon 2004, created from bootlegged Action Master Sideswipe parts. Though this wiki does not normally list unofficial items, this one is put here simply to reinforce that even though it is a BotCon toy, it was from the one year that BotCon was unofficial, and the toy is not Hasbro-approved either. Thank you, won't we?

• In the Transformers Decepticons game based on the 2007 movie, an unlocked alternate mode called "Scout" is a homage to Breakdown.

• Revenge of the Fallen Runamuck's vehicle mode deco homages Breakdown's Generation 1 form.

Also, Revenge of the Fallen Brakedown homages G1 Breakdown in form, color, and name.

• Breakdown's IDW appearance uses Universe Sunstreaker's model, sans roof. Sunstreaker's roof IS removeable without tools, so feel free to paint away...

External links

• Breakdown's Universe profile at NTFA.net