Rumbler (G1)

This article is about the Autobot Action Master. For the Shattered Glass Decepticon tank, see Rumbler (SG).

Rumbler is an Autobot Action Master from the Generation 1 continuity family.

No, I CAN'T make earthquakes! Stop asking me that.

Rumbler is called on in times of major crisis to form a line of defense against the Decepticons. His massive heavily-armored Exo-suit roams the battlefield, impervious to enemy firepower, pounding and mauling all attackers who cross its path.

Fiction

"Wings of Honor"

Rumbler and his twin brother Sprocket were part of Powerflash's Elite Guard Stealth Team. They invaded and destroyed a Decepticon fortress in Gygax, among other exploits. Before another mission, Rumbler caught Sprocket talking to his imaginary friend Halogen again, something that regularly drove him nuts. Rumbler subsequently had to endure mockery from Tap-Out, which he responded to with threats of physical violence. The team was given their new mission by Sentinel Major, to prevent Gutcruncher's Decepticon faction from securing an asteroid with a mysterious power source on it.

Powerflash came up with a plan that first required Rumbler and Sprocket to disguise Powerflash and Tap-Out with paint. When Powerflash acquired the Darklon, Rumbler was skeptical about Sprocket's claims that he had made friends with the ship's computer. Rumbler and his brother concealed themselves in a storage bay on the ship while Powerflash and Tap-Out convinced the Decepticons that it was a ship for hire. Of course, once the Decepticons were on board, the deception quickly unraveled, and Powerflash let Rumbler out to cause some havoc. He managed to disable all three Decepticons, though Sprocket somehow managed to take half the credit.

After the ship reached the asteroid, Rumbler was not convinced it was a great place to visit. He and Powerflash disembarked, only to find that Gutcruncher's team had managed to free themselves. While Rumbler and Powerflash were held at gunpoint with their own F-249 Quantum Pulse Regulators, Sprocket emerged from the ship to join them, and confided in the others that he'd neglected to recharge the guns after their last battle. The Decepticons and Autobots found a crystal monolith in a nearby crater and were zapped unconscious by it. When they recovered, they found they were unable to transform and were forced to hike back to the Darklon. The Decepticons got there first, but Rumbler was able to force the exterior door open, and they two teams realized that the crystal had granted them enhanced power. The Autobots swiftly overcame the Decepticons while it was still sinking in, and Rumbler punched out Gutcruncher, despite Powerflash bagsying the Warlord. Back on Cybertron, they were given a clean bill of health and told they'd be able to transform again when the effects of the radiation wore off. A Team Effort

Rumbler and the rest of the Stealth Team defended Elite Guard headquarters with Sentinel Major when the Combaticons attacked it at the head of Deathsaurus's troops. The Coming Storm: Part 5 They were all wiped out when the Combaticons formed Bruticus. The Coming Storm: Part 6

Toys

Generation 1

No I'm not made of candy.

• Rumbler (Action Master, 1991)
  • Accessories: Exo-suit, 2 flail-weapons

Rumbler is a redeco of Sprocket, and therefore a non-transforming action figure that is compatible with all other Action Master vehicles and weapons. He comes with a 4WD All-Terrain Vehicle that can transform into an armoured Exo-suit, which itself is a redeco of the similar vehicle that comes with Slicer (who was released at the same time), albeit with remolded weaponry.

• More information on Rumbler at TFU.info

Notes

• Rumbler's design shows hints of a "tech jet" alternate mode.