Metalhawk (G1)

""Hawk"" redirects here. For the human G.I. Joe commander, see Hawk (G.I. Joe).

Metalhawk is an Autobot Pretender from the Super-God Masterforce portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

"Why does that fat guy insist on cosplaying as ME?!"

Metalhawk is the leader of the Autobot Pretenders. Like all great Autobot leaders, he's a warm, noble being with a great love of life, liberty and all of that, and like all those other great leaders, he also got his crew stranded on Earth when they pursued a group of Decepticons there during the Stone Age. Metalhawk was deeply moved by the burgeoning humanity: at first seeing only frail beings that needed defending, he soon came to realize their amazing potential for love, compassion and courage, and was so struck by them that he, and his fellow Autobots, used their Pretender powers to transform themselves into human beings. With the aid of these disguises, they defended early man against the Decepticon Pretenders, who had taken the forms of monsters. They eventually defeated and sealed away the villains, inspiring a few legends themselves in the process, and then went on to help guide the evolution of Earth's society and culture.

By the early 21st century, Metalhawk had adopted the simple human alias of Hawk, and now works as an astrophysicist at the observatory run by Professor Gō. He is close friends with both the professor, with whom he has entrusted the secret of his true identity, and with the professor's son Shūta, who looks up to him and aspires to be like him when he grows up.

Metalhawk transforms into a jet so fast that it can travel from Earth to the moon and back in only fifteen minutes. In robot mode, he has remarkable short-range leaping abilities, and is armed with the mighty Titanium Saber. His ultimate attack technique is the "Shining Arrow", which sees him leap into the air and charge his body with energy which he then rains down on his opponent in a hail of powerful bolts.

Russian TV dub name: Kogot' ("Claw")

Italian dub name: Optor (same as Fireflight)

Latin-American dub name: Hook

Fiction

Cartoon continuity

Super-God Masterforce cartoon

Voice actor: Katsuji Mori (Japan), Marco Balzarotti (Italian)

Pretenders HIDE the Transformer INSIDE... wait, what?

Having lived among humankind on Earth for epochs, Metalhawk was the natural choice to serve as protector of the planet when the Autobot forces operating in outer space received word of renewed Decepticon activity brewing on the planet from the former Decepticon, Sixshot. Unable to spare any troops to bolster Metalhawk's forces on Earth, the Autobots in space sent a cargo ship carrying six Transtectors to the planet instead, to which human beings could bond to become new Transformers themselves. Although three of the Transtectors were stolen en route by the Decepticons, Metalhawk safely received the rest, and stored them in the fortified base that Professor Gō had arranged the construction of. Birth! Headmaster Jrs

"It's Morphin' Time!"

Some time later, Metalhawk was returning to the observatory after attending one of Shūta's soccer games with Professor Gō when he received a communiqué from fellow Autobot Diver informing him of a Decepticon attack on a cruise ship. Realizing that the villains had escaped their imprisonment at last, Metalhawk knew that the time had come to fight once again. Concerned for Shūta's safety, he elected to at last reveal his true identity to the boy, and told him the full story of the Pretenders' history on Earth. The next day, news of another Decepticon attack on a city reached Metalhawk, and he at last dropped his Pretender disguise, transforming back into his robotic form again and flying to the scene in jet mode. The Tentakil Seacons which confronted him were not particularly impressive opponents, but things took a turn for the worse when Shūta, who had followed Metalhawk to the battlefield, was captured by one of the creatures. Metalhawk was able to destroy one of the drones with his Titanium Saber, but as he moved on the second, the Decepticon Pretenders entered the fray and attacked the outnumbered Autobot. Luckily, the other Autobot Pretenders arrived to save Metalhawk, allow him to rescue Shūta and destroy the Seacon, prompting the Decepticons to flee. Rise Up!! Pretenders

While investigating Decepticon activity in the Karin Islands, Metalhawk battled Dauros and a swarm of Lobclaw Seacons. The fight, however, was witnessed by the islands' prince, Cab, who fled from the Autobot, and was followed by Shūta, who hoped to explain the situation. Calmed by Shūta, Cab tracked the Decepticons to the nearby "Isle of the Gods," and Metalhawk and the Autobots followed him there and successfully dispatched the Decepticons. Unfortunately, during their absence, Blood had attacked Professor Gō's observatory, and Metalhawk's team returned too late to save the professor's life. With his last breath, the professor handed the key to the base he had created to Shūta, and the Autobots took up residence there. Terror! The Decepticons' Manhunt

Seeking to capture Professor Blanieux, the prize-winning biologist from the Republic of Mont Porte, the Decepticons attacked a jumbo jet, which crashed in Corsica. Metalhawk headed out with the Autobots to investigate, and posed as a government investigator in order to question Minerva, daughter of Mont Porte's ambassador to Japan. After learning what they could from her, Metalhawk and the Autobots sped to Rome to quell an attack by the Decepticons' Destroids there, and then accompanied Minerva's family and Professor Blanieux on the last leg of their trip to Japan. Metalhawk's suspicions proved right, as Blood and some Overbite Seacons attacked the craft, and he and Phoenix engaged them in battle and defeated them. The true threat, however, was a Destroid planted aboard the plane, which was bested by Cab and Shūta, but not before it sent the jet into a nosedive. Metalhawk and Phoenix saved the jet by lifting it to safety on their own backs. The Autobots apologized for lying to Minerva, and she decided to attend the International School alongside Cab and Shūta. Kidnapping!? The Targeted Jumbo Jet

Awl beh bawk.

Seeing Shūta, Cab and Minerva's determination to aid the Autobot cause and battle the Decepticons, Metalhawk made them an offer to become true Autobot warriors. The three kids accepted and were bonded to the Transtectors sent by the space-faring Autobots, becoming Headmaster Juniors. Alas, the Decepticons had created their own Headmaster Juniors with the Transtectors they had stolen, and Metalhawk had to teach the Autobot Juniors to put rescuing humans before fighting their villainous counterparts. Shūta, in particular, had some trouble living up to the promise when all three Decepticon Juniors ganged up on him when he was attempting to save a baby from a burning building, but Metalhawk arrived to dispatch the three punks. Birth! Headmaster Jrs To prepare the Juniors for combat situations, Metalhawk then sent them to America to train with Diver, Rage!! Little Devils with No Need for Rules and when they returned, he led them and the other Autobots in defending Africa's wildlife against another Decepticon plot. Panic! Protect the Wild Animals!!

Ooooh, so shiny!

When two new Decepticons, the Godmaster brothers Hydra and Buster, attacked the Mt Fuji Foothills Hang Gliding Competition Tournament in which the Autobot Headmaster Juniors were participating, Metalhawk and Lander raced to aid their young team-mates, but took a severe beating from the powerful new warriors. After the villains withdrew upon the arrival of Phoenix, Super Warriors - The Godmaster Brothers Metalhawk examined videotaped footage of the battle and realized that the two Decepticons had incredible, instantaneous healing powers, proving his suspicion that they were neither Transformer nor human, but some new kind of lifeform. This information didn't offer the Autobots much of an advantage in their next battle with the Godmasters in the Karin Islands, but during that fight, Metalhawk was able to use his Shining Arrow attack to distract Buster, allowing Diver to lodge his Sea Axe in the Decepticon's arm, forcing the brothers to retreat. A Fierce Battle!! The Autobots Are in Trouble

When Diver recruited the first Autobot Godmaster, a trucker named Ginrai, in America, Metalhawk invited him to the Autobots' base in Japan where they studied the three sets of Master-Braces Ginrai had found in his Transtector. A Strange Friendship: Cancer and Minerva After helping Minerva to reconcile her differences with Ginrai after she had an argument with him, Metalhawk joined in another battle against Hydra and Buster at Mount Yatsugatake Friend or Foe!? The True Form of the Monster!! and helped the other Autobots rescue a group of captive children from the Decepticons' clutches. Heroism!! The Birth of Super Ginrai

As summer settled in, Metalhawk permitted the Headmaster Juniors to take a vacation from their duties, but the two objectives soon dovetailed with the discovery of the next Autobot Godmaster, Lightfoot. Lightfoot: A Dramatic Encounter Metalhawk and the Juniors, together with Lander, Ginrai and Lightfoot went on a camping expedition into the Rocky Mountains to search for leads on the next Godmaster, ultimately discovering that he was a forest patrolman named Ranger. An Enemy? The Third Godmaster, Ranger Metalhawk thought the final Godmaster had been found when he misinterpreted a news report on Sixknight A Powerful Foe!! Sixknight the Wanderer but the true Godmaster, Road King, was soon found, at which point Metalhawk decided to step down as Autobot leader, and appointed Ginrai to command in his place. The Autobot Warrior, Sixknight?!

Soon thereafter, word came from the Autobots in space that the Decepticon super-weapon, BlackZarak, was headed for Earth. Metalhawk, Diver and Lander met with their old comrade Grand Maximus atop a mountain, and were given the plans and materials necessary to construct "Godbomber", a drone that would merge with Ginrai, endowing him with the ability to fly and fight in space, allowing him to best BlackZarak before he reached the Earth. Life? Death? Lightfoot Must Choose Metalhawk elected to keep the construction of Godbomber secret from the Headmaster Juniors at first, but once this "Bomber Project" began in a British Motors factory donated by Lightfoot's father, he soon summoned them to the facility and told them the whole story. Super Ginrai Gets Blown Away in the Desert!? The course of the Bomber Project did not run smoothly, as the Decepticons badly injured Ginrai and attacked the facility, but through it all, Metalhawk remained at the forefront of construction, speeding the project to completion while his fellow Autobots handled the Decepticon threat. Will the Bomber Project Be Destroyed!? Although Godbomber was soon successfully completed, Metalhawk was unwilling to let the injured Ginrai combine with the drone, telling him that he could not save the Earth on his own. The support of the Pretenders and Headmaster Juniors drowned Metalhawk out, however, and Ginrai fused with Godbomber, speeding into space to battle BlackZarak and Overlord. God Ginrai - Into the Sky!! Like the other Autobots, Metalhawk was helpless to do anything but wait for updates on the battle down on Earth, but with the aid of Grand Maximus, Ginrai was able to triumph. God Ginrai - Showdown on the Surface of the Moon

Buns of die-cast.

Subsequently, Metalhawk and his fellow took something of a back seat as Ginrai and the other Autobots battled the Decepticons across the Earth, but his wits were not dulled by this period of inactivity, and he was quick to suspect Clouder, the newly-discovered final Autobot Godmaster, when he discovered that the main computer in the Autobot base had been tampered with. Although Minerva took the blame, Metalhawk could tell she was covering for her new friend, and his suspicions were soon proved correct when he caught Clouder handing over information on the base to the Decepticon Headmaster Juniors. Unfortunately, exposing Clouder's true nature as a Decepticon spy did not prevent the information he had stolen from making its way into the hands of the Decepticons, who soon launched a full-scale assault on the Autobot base. Secret Orders! Destroy the Autobot Base!! A missile strike on the base's control room knocked Metalhawk unconscious, leaving the Headmaster Juniors alone in the base. After hooking Metalhawk up to some medical equipment, Minerva advocated abandoning the base, and ultimately, the Autobots were forced to do just that, as the Decepticons' attack destroyed their headquarters. Disaster! The Autobot Base Explodes

In the wake of this disaster, things only got worse for the Autobots, as BlackZarak returned and successfully landed on Earth. Metalhawk arrived too late to save New York from the villain's wrath, and soon received word from Diver of an attack on Paris by Overlord, relaying news of the devastation to Lightfoot. BlackZarak - Destroyer from Space The battle that ensued carried the Godmasters and Headmaster Juniors into space, where BlackZarak unleashed the unholy Death Para-Machine upon the Earth. Metalhawk was stationed in a human observatory at the time, where the staff quickly deduced that the evil device had drastically eroded Earth's ozone layer. Thankfully, Ginrai was able to destroy the Death Para-Machine before any further damage could be done. Crisis! The Day of the Downfall of Humanity

Following a battle with the Decepticon Pretenders in Latin America, God Ginrai - Save Cancer!? Metalhawk got a bit more proactive, positioning sonar probes across the world in hopes of locating the Decepticon base. Unfortunately, while on a mission to recover one of the probes, Shūta was kidnapped by the Decepticons, and Metalhawk had to triangulate the location of the Decepticon base in order for Ginrai to rescue him. God Ginrai: Showdown at the Decepticon Base With the location of the Decepticons' base now known to the Autobots, Metalhawk and the Pretenders hung back while the rest of their allies initiated an all-out attack on the villains' headquarters, which concluded with the base's destruction. The Ultimate Combination!! BlackZarak, the New Lifeform

With their headquarters destroyed, the Decepticons relocated to the Alps, and the Autobots pursued, splitting into teams to search for the villains. Metalhawk and the Headmaster Juniors were quickly attacked by King Poseidon, and Metalhawk was badly wounded saving Minerva from the Seacon combiner's blasts. Ginrai soon arrived to save them, but the injured quartet was forced to remain behind as Ginrai scaled the mountain to confront BlackZarak in final battle. Malevolent and Inhuman! The True Form of Devil Z After his wounds were tended to by Minerva, Metalhawk was insistent that he be allowed to accompany Grand Maximus and Shūta as they went to observe Ginrai's battle, but Grand talked him down and left him to recuperate. Ginrai's fight, meanwhile, culminated with the destruction of BlackZarak and the Decepticon emperor, Devil Z. The death of Devil Z caused the humans to become separated from their Transtectors, while the Transtectors themselves were brought to life as true super-robot lifeforms. The new-born Transformers all promptly departed the Earth to rejoin their respective factions in space, but Metalhawk elected to remain on Earth and continue his life there. A Battle... and Then...

Zone cartoon

Metalhawk was seen among the Autobots standing on stage when the injured Victory Saber passed the mantle of Supreme Commander on to Dai Atlas. Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!

Comic continuity

Super-God Masterforce comic

Spaaaaace Ghooooost!

After escaping their imprisonment, the Decepticon Pretenders made their first attack on the modern world by laying siege to the Karin Islands. Metalhawk and Shūta responded to the attack, and Metalhawk stunned the assembled islanders by transforming from human form to robot mode. Easily evading Blood's "Bloody Moon" attack, Metalhawk dispatched the Decepticons with his Shining Arrow, and island elder Donq proceeded to lead the islanders in praising Metalhawk, recognizing him as a god from Karin Island mythology. Metalhawk attempted to explain that he wasn't a god, merely a Pretender, but the islanders continued to chant "Pretender" despite his protests. Gods? Devils? The Pretenders

Metalhawk and Shūta were accompanied back to Japan by the islands' prince, Cab, and the two boys, along with their schoolmate Minerva, all requested that Metalhawk allow them to become formal members of the Autobots. Metalhawk eventually capitulated, and after a tough training regimen, transformed the three youngsters into Headmaster Juniors. Their first battle, against a Lobclaw, did not go so well, and Metalhawk had to arrive to bail them out, admonishing them for a lack of teamwork. Headmaster Jrs Are Born

Responding to an attack by Blood on Tokyo, Metalhawk called on the Headmaster Juniors to perform rescue operations in the surrounding area. Unfortunately, Metalhawk did not realize that this was a trap laid by the Decepticons, and his young charges ran afoul of the Decepticon Headmaster Juniors. Thankfully, they were able to defeat them, and Metalhawk arrived in time to see the punks fleeing the scene. As the sun began to rise, Shūta and Cab groaned that it would soon be time for school, but Metalhawk calmed them down by pointing out it was Sunday. Destined Confrontation: The Children of Good and Evil

News of the discovery of the first Autobot Godmaster, Ginrai, in America soon reached Metalhawk, and he and the Headmaster Juniors gathered at Harumi Wharf to greet their new comrade when he arrived. Concerned by Ginrai's late arrival, Metalhawk contacted Diver, but was assured that everything would be fine, because Ginrai resembled a "hero". The four Autobots were soon attacked by the Decepticon Godmasters Hydra and Buster and Metalhawk was quickly taken down, but at that moment, Ginrai arrived, and Metalhawk understood Diver's words—for Ginrai was the very image of the legendary Optimus Prime. After Ginrai sent Hydra and Buster packing, Metalhawk wondered if Ginrai could be Prime's reincarnation, but Ginrai dismissed the notion, explaining that he had chosen to do this specifically because he had only one life to live, and wanted to use it in service of the forces of good. Enter on the Stage! The Name of the Savior Is Ginrai!

Metalhawk wants YOU!

Later, Metalhawk joined with the other Autobots in charging out to investigate a mysterious Decepticon plot, only to be stunned by the sight of Galvatron and a legion of legendary Decepticons barring their way. Metalhawk could immediately tell that something was off, since he knew that Galvatron was supposed to be dead, but after a battle with King Poseidon, it was soon revealed that they had been duped with holographic images. Burn, Super Soul! The New Commander Super Ginrai!

Metalhawk and the Pretenders dropped off the radar after this battle, appearing only briefly to monitor a two-pronged attack by the Decepticons against Earth. God Ginrai's Amazing Super-God Combination! Fortunately for all concerned, they returned to the front lines during Ginrai's final battle with the Decepticons, during which the Decepticon emperor, Devil Z, turned on his subordinates, and attempted to absorb their Jinchōkon in order to transform himself into the ultimate lifeform. Metalhawk and the Pretenders hurled themselves into the path of the villain's Jinchōkon-absorbing beam, saving Ginrai and the Decepticons from its effects, and remaining unharmed themselves, since, as true robots, they possessed no Jinchōkon of their own. Metalhawk subsequently joined with all the other Autobots and Decepticons in combining their energies into the "Perfect Transform Attack", which destroyed Devil Z once and for all. With the alien's death, the humans were separated from their Transtectors, and the Transtectors themselves were brought to life as true super-robot lifeforms. While the new-born Transformers departed Earth to rejoin their respective factions in space, Metalhawk elected to remain on Earth and continue his life there. The Birth of the Super Lifeforms

Victory

This isn't what it looks like.

When Shūta and Cab befriended Jean Minakaze, the adopted human son of the new Autobot Supreme Commander Star Saber, they introduced him to Metalhawk as well.

Timelines: Wings of Honor

In the early days of the war, Metalhawk led a team within the newly-formed Elite Guard that included Dion. Dion's "Wings of Honor" profile During one of the Guard's battles, Metalhawk's squad found themselves facing a horde of Virulent Clones along with Thunderclash's squad. He was just a little peeved when his subordinate Ironfist's explosives nearly took them out along with the Clones. When it turned out that the Clones could also fly, Metalhawk ordered another squadmate, Over-Run, to provide them with some aerial support.

Landshark hoped to see the two "upgrades" show off their new flying abilities, but Over-Run took out the Clones with his personal remotely-controlled helicopter instead. The two squads then relaxed for a moment, with Metalhawk removing his helmet and chest armor while chit-chatting with Thunderclash.

Their chit-chat was soon interrupted, however, by a call from Magnum ordering Metalhawk to escort Thunderclash's squad to Space Port Bravo. After giving Thunderclash a bit of friendly teasing, the two squads loaded up their gear onto the Hawk's Claw and disembarked. Once they arrived at the spaceport, the two squads' leaders bid their goodbyes to each other, and Thunderclash's squad headed inside.

Upon being asked by Over-Run what he thought their next assignment would be, Metalhawk expressed a hope for something quiet. He was amused by Dion's teasing about how he would be happy to beat up some Decepticons, but was displeased by Over-Run's snide question about whether Dion had ever seen a Decepticon up-close, and troubled by Dion stalking off in response.

They eventually headed over to Elite Guard HQ. There they were greeted by Magnum, who noted that he thought Metalhawk's squad was performing above expectations, and sometimes even better than Thunderclash's squad at that—which Metalhawk was all too happy to note for his and Thunderclash's "boasting contest". Magnum then explained that, as a result, he was sending Metalhawk's squad on a special mission—one that would involve a new special ops group Magnum had formed. The Coming Storm: Part 2

Toys

Super-God Masterforce

Who needs feet when you can stand on sticks?

• Metalhawk (Pretender, 1988)
  • Japanese ID number: C-201
  • Accessories: 2-piece Pretender shell, helmet, "Titanium Saber", "Jet Rifle," left & right "Rifle Wings"

Available exclusively in Japan, Metalhawk is the only Pretender made from die-cast metal (a lost art, nowadays). The figure transforms into a blue, gold, red and gray Cybertronic jet (something like a souped up F-15 Eagle), the gray tailfins of which double as two hand-held "Rifle Wing" blasters for his robot mode.

Metalhawk's outer Pretender shell resembles a human in a red, white and blue armoured space suit, distinguished from other 1988 Pretenders by the presence of a full human face, unobscured by armor like the other Autobots of the year. The shell's helmet is removable and is used to help "lock" the two shell-halves together. The shell is armed with the Titanium Saber and Jet Rifle; the Rifle Wings can also plug into the sides of the Jet Rifle when the robot is stored within the shell, transforming it into the "Wing Blaster".

• More information on Metalhawk at TFU.info

Merchandise

Transformers Gum

• Metalhawk (1988)
  • Accessories: 2-piece Pretender shell, 2 shell arms, helmet, "Titanium Saber", "Jet Rifle," left & right "Rifle Wings"

Released in the eighth wave of Kabaya's Transformers Gum line of snap-together "candy toy" model kits, this version of Metalhawk stands at about four inches tall in robot mode, and is cast in red, white and blue plastic. He includes all the accessories and features of his larger figure, save one difference: the arms of his Pretender shell are removable, and used to hold the shell closed. As a Transformers Gum kit, he featured no paint applications, but came with stickers for detail, and a piece of terrible gum.

• More information on Transformer Gum Metalhawk at a Japanese fansite

Super Collection Figure

File:Metalhawk scf pvc.jpg

Hold it right there!

• Metalhawk and Minerva (2001)

A PVC figurine of Metalhawk, in his Pretender armor, was available in the fifth, Masterforce-centric act of Takara's Super Collection Figure line. He came packaged with a figurine of Minerva in her human form; the pair were available in both full color and metallic silver "pewter" versions, at a ratio of one per each case of twelve blindpacked figures. In eight out of every ten cases, the pewter version of the figures came with the right arm of the wave's collectable BlackZarak "Build-A-Figure".

Notes

File:MetalhawkArmored TheComingStorm2.jpg

• In the "Wings of Honor" continuity, though he's not (yet, at least) a Pretender, Metalhawk still has removable armor reminiscent of the armor his Pretender shell sports.