Reflector (G1): Difference between revisions
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He later spied on the laboratory of [[Dr. Alcazar]], the mentor of boy genius [[Chip Chase]]. Using his zoom-focus and photographic powers once more, Reflector secretly obtained the entry-code for the laboratory's security system. {{storylink|Roll For It}} Reflector later gathered valuable intelligence prior to the Decepticon attack on the [[Great Falls]] hydroelectric power plant. | He later spied on the laboratory of [[Dr. Alcazar]], the mentor of boy genius [[Chip Chase]]. Using his zoom-focus and photographic powers once more, Reflector secretly obtained the entry-code for the laboratory's security system. {{storylink|Roll For It}} Reflector later gathered valuable intelligence prior to the Decepticon attack on the [[Great Falls]] hydroelectric power plant. | ||
[[image:GenericDecepticons_MTMTE.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Anything you need reflected? | [[image:GenericDecepticons_MTMTE.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Anything you need reflected? I (we?) gotcha covered.]] | ||
Useful though his reconnaissance abilities were, he also provided a less glamorous contribution to the Decepticons' early Earth campaigns: force of numbers. Many Reflector-bots were seen in robot mode among Megatron's initial forces - far more than the core three. And in one instance, a reverse effect occurred: Two Reflector-bots were ''absorbed'' into a third when they forcibly collided. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer}} This suggests that Reflector has some sort of body-duplication power. | Useful though his reconnaissance abilities were, he also provided a less glamorous contribution to the Decepticons' early Earth campaigns: force of numbers. Many Reflector-bots were seen in robot mode among Megatron's initial forces - far more than the core three. And in one instance, a reverse effect occurred: Two Reflector-bots were ''absorbed'' into a third when they forcibly collided. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer}} This suggests that Reflector has some sort of body-duplication power. | ||
Revision as of 14:10, 27 March 2008
- Reflector is a Decepticon in the Generation 1 continuity family.
Reflector likes to watch. He lives (they live?) to observe anything and everything, from scenery, to wildlife, to architecture. But above all else, Reflector likes to watch his (their?) comrades, learn their dark secrets, and profit from them. Reflector is also very impressed with his (their) own abilities both in the fields of observation and blackmail.
Reflector is generally composed of three separate robots - Spectro, Spyglass and Viewfinder - who combine into the single camera altmode that is Reflector.
Fiction
G1 cartoon continuity
Sunbow cartoon
- Voice actor: Chris Latta (US), Yoku Shioya (Japan)
Reflector is unique among the Decepticons: he is three robots who talk and act in unison as a single mind in three (give or take) bodies. His individual components are never named; they are all simply "Reflector."
He was with Megatron on the Nemesis during its assault on the Ark. He was thus among Megatron's troops after their reawakening on Earth. Reflector and Thundercracker did some scouting shortly after the Decepticons left the Ark. Reflector demonstrated his ability to zoom-focus and print pictures, Polaroid-style, in camera mode. More Than Meets the Eye, Part 1
He later spied on the laboratory of Dr. Alcazar, the mentor of boy genius Chip Chase. Using his zoom-focus and photographic powers once more, Reflector secretly obtained the entry-code for the laboratory's security system. Roll For It Reflector later gathered valuable intelligence prior to the Decepticon attack on the Great Falls hydroelectric power plant.
Useful though his reconnaissance abilities were, he also provided a less glamorous contribution to the Decepticons' early Earth campaigns: force of numbers. Many Reflector-bots were seen in robot mode among Megatron's initial forces - far more than the core three. And in one instance, a reverse effect occurred: Two Reflector-bots were absorbed into a third when they forcibly collided. Divide and Conquer This suggests that Reflector has some sort of body-duplication power.
The nature of the duplicates is unclear, though some may possess their own consciousness. When Megatron needed someone to test the then-experimental Space Bridge, he selected a lone Reflector-bot, who protested in panic. There was no implied connection to the other Reflector-bots, and his voice lacked the echoing modulation that Reflector usually possessed. Megatron seemed cavalier about the prospect of losing him to the experiment; however, as he survived the trip to Cybertron, it's unknown what effect his destruction could've had on the other Reflector-bots. Transport to Oblivion Later, two more of his kin were seen on that planet assisting Starscream in transporting an injured Doctor Arkeville. Countdown to Extinction
As time went on, Reflector-bots became scarcer and scarcer. Even the core three were seldom seen. The last, very brief sighting was during the Great Battle of Autobot City. The Transformers: The Movie
Fight! Super Robot Lifeform manga
Astrotrain photographed the incomplete Autobot City, with the aid of Reflector's camera mode, so that Megatron could decipher whether or not it was powerful enough to stand up to Trypticon. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 3
Dreamwave G1 continuity
DW G1 comic
Reflector was not part of Megatron's crew, but worked for Shockwave on Cybertron, monitoring the planet and its inhabitants for him from a central mainframe. Brothers' Burden They were seemingly destroyed by Starscream. Countdown to Extinction
Keepers Trilogy novels
While one set of Reflector-bots was on Cybertron, another was on Earth. Annihilation The Terran version was identified as the "true" Reflector, the Cybertronian version being a "copy." Fusion This echoes the body-duplication theme seen elsewhere in the multiverse.
IDW G1 comics continuity
Spectro and Spyglass were seen aboard the Decepticon Orbital Command Hub, terrified of walking down the same hallway as Sixshot. Spotlight: Sixshot
Toys
Generation 1
- Reflector (Mail-away, 1986/1987; wide release in Japan, 1985)
- Japanese ID number: 21
- Accessories: Spectro component, Viewfinder component, Spyglass component, 3 guns, flash cube/missile launcher, 3 missiles and camera lens.
- Reflector was available only as a mail away promotion in 1986-1987 (ironically after his character had long since disappeared from the cartoon), at a cost of $10 and two robot points. It is composed of three distinct robots that combine to form a camera, Viewfinder as the central part with the lens, Spectro as the right side component with the shutter button and Spyglass as the leftside component with the flash. It includes a telephoto lens and old-style flashcube (that doubles as a missile launcher) accessories as well as various guns.
- His role early in the cartoon makes it seem likely his toy was originally planned for inclusion in the original 1984 line. Why Hasbro decided not to release it so late in the game is unknown, as is what reversed the decision later to make it a viable mail-away. However, he was given a full release in Japan.
Merchandise
- Reflector (Decoy, 1986)
- A small plastic decoy of Reflector was part of the Decoy promotion and given away with many smaller TFs. It was based on the cartoon design of the central (lensed) Reflector unit. He came in either red or purple plastic: the red version is much rareer and goes for a lot more on the secondary market.
Trivia
- Reflector's original toy was used in the South Korean cartoon Solar Adventure (초 합금 로보트 쏠라 원, 투, 드리) as the "Canon Robo" in which he kills a bunch of North Koreans.
- Not so surprisingly, Reflector (or rather his Microchange counterpart, Microx) was first designed as a single unit. Apparently, the primary designer of the final toy, and possibly this initial design, was mecha designer Shinji Aramaki, who designed the robots for Megazone 23 and Genesis Climber Mospeada.
