Grimlock (WFC)

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

Grimlock is an Autobot from the Aligned continuity family.

Me Grimlock transform into blackboard eraser!

Grimlock is egomaniacal, impatient and dimwitted, but he is a powerful soldier. He likes when things go his way, including his craving to be the Autobot leader. He is good friends with Swoop and wields his prized energon sword in battle.

Fiction

Hall of Fame bios

Grimlock was a gladiator from Kaon, but chose to join the Autobots early on in the war. His dislike of Optimus Prime and shock and awe approach to combat meant he was not regarded as a great leader, but he has survived long enough to earn a high rank and command of the Lightning Strike Coalition. Captured by Shockwave, they were reformatted into the Dinobots. During a battle with Scorponok, Grimlock's vocal processors were damaged, causing his awkward manner of speaking. Transformers Hall of Fame

Games

Transformers: War for Cybertron (DS)

Voice actor: Crispin Freeman (English)

Me Grimlock too big to fit on screen.

Grimlock and Swoop were two powerful best friends who'd apparently taken no side in the war for the planet. Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, came to them to recruit them to the cause. Grimlock dismissed the Decepticon threat, claiming they were "too stupid" to mess with him and Swoop. The Autobots tried to explain that the Dark Energon could ravage Cybertron permanently, but Grimlock and Ironhide almost came to blows. Optimus began playing to Grimlock's self-centered ego, saying no one was stronger than Grimlock and Swoop, to the former's pleasure. Ironhide and Bumblebee joined in, but adding that with Dark Energon, Megatron and his forces could be stronger than Grimlock and Swoop.

Grimlock decided that he and Swoop would consider joining the Autobots, but just as negotiations were to begin, Grimlock noticed Swoop had been missing since the Autobots arrived. Grimlock said they would speak once Swoop was rescued from the Decepticons. Once Swoop was safe, he immediately joined the Autobots in gratitude. Grimlock declared he wouldn't join the Autobots yet, but tag along to protect his best friend.

Grimlock subsequently actively participated in the campaigns to save the Core of Cybertron. Grimlock said that even though the Decepticon army was waiting for them at the Core, all they'd wait for from him was a butt-kicking. Ironhide pondered aloud if it was a good idea to bring Grimlock along, but as Optimus put it, "Do you want to be the one to argue with them?"

Grimlock also participated in the battle against the massive Decepticon Trypticon, and presumably stayed behind with Optimus on Cybertron while the Autobot population evacuated the planet.

Grimlock was apparently wandering around an Energon purification station the Autobots had been using, and picked a fight with the Autobots. To his utter surprise, the Autobots beat Grimlock, and he finally joined them. Transformers: War for Cybertron

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron

Voice actor: Gregg Berger

Me Grimlock want to eat a lawyer.

Before the Great Exodus, Grimlock was captured by Shockwave, a Decepticon charged with seeking out new forms of power and destruction in the universe. His eye was drawn to Earth, where he spotted dinosaurs, inspiring him to change Grimlock's alternate form into that of a space t-rex, with the intention of creating a powerful new warrior. Although his processor was badly damaged by the process, Grimlock, using his new-found power, escaped the laboratory, and is now on the loose. Grimlock's team of soldiers, the Dinobots are being tracked down by Jazz and Cliffjumper, who follow the trail of destruction left behind by the hulking brutes.

Notes

• The gladiator aspect of Grimlock's Hall of Fame nomination bio is based on his Dreamwave and IDW incarnations, while his enmity with Scorponok has shades of the latter and Bumblebee's story.
• According to the "Binder of Revelation"'s map of Cybertron included in Transformers Vault, Grimlock comes from Simfur (from where he was presumably transferred to Kaon). This is a reference to Simon Furman, whose favourite character is Grimlock.
• Matt Tieger claimed Grimlock was not originally in the Binder of Revelation, and that he convinced them that a backstory for them had to be incorporated.
• Tieger also said Grimlock can only transform in Fall of Cybertron by gaining a number of kills in battle, likening him to the Hulk.
• Grimlock was used on the promotional image on the Valentine's Day of 2012 on Activision's Transformers Game Facebook.