Blackjack (G1)

Blackjack is a Decepticon Micromaster from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Just like a blackjack dealer, he'll be more than happy to hit you.

Blackjack leads the rambunctious Sports Car Patrol not by being the strongest, but by being the cleverest. He always has a plan to extract his hide from a sticky situation... oh, and his teammates too, time permitting. He calculates the odds before going in and always has an ace up his sleeve just in case.

Fiction

Marvel comics continuity

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

After studying the captive Autobot Battle Patrol, Thunderwing and his scientists managed to replicate Emirate Xaaron's Micromaster process and create a new era of Decepticon Micromasters, including Blackjack and his cohorts. A Small War!

While traveling solo in the Dead End, Blackjack was jumped by two Autobots, when a disorientated and damaged Megatron stumbled upon them. Blackjack crying out his name and the sight of the Autobrand returned Megatron to his senses, and he blasted the Micromasters' attackers. The Sports Car Patrol became Megatron's first recruits in his plans to rebuild his power base on Cybertron and gain revenge against Decepticon and Autobot alike on Earth. The Resurrection Gambit! Using the trans-time dimensional portal, the patrol infiltrated the Ark, and Blackjack attempted to destabilize Ratchet mentally by remote-controlling the remains of the deactivated Autobots on which the medic was working. When this failed, Blackjack attempted Plan B, coming out into the open with fake Autobot insignia and trying to convince Ratchet that they were Autobots on their way back to Cybertron, leading him not to advanced medical equipment but into Megatron's clutches. Back from the Dead

While his team traveled back to Cybertron, Blackjack stayed behind to dispatch the skeleton crew aboard the Ark and rig explosives to blow it up. The Resurrection Gambit! He didn't do a good enough job of blasting the crew, as Kup reactivated and startled him, causing the Micromaster to drop the triggering mechanism for the explosives, starting the countdown. All the Familiar Faces! While Kup and the others attempted to disable the bombs, Blackjack frantically insisted that they couldn't be disabled and that their best course of action was to abandon ship. Ratchet, however, used the trans-time dimensional portal to transport the explosives to Megatron's base on Cybertron, saving the Ark and Blackjack. Skin Deep

The Sports Car Patrol was never seen again, so there is no indication if Blackjack was ever returned to the Decepticons.

Dreamwave comics continuity

A little over four million years ago, Blackjack was one of many new Micromaster Transformers created by the Autobots and Decepticons in a joint venture to bolster their forces. Recruited as a Decepticon, Blackjack still seemed rather easygoing and cordial with the Autobot Micros, at least while hanging out in Little Iacon. He was planning to race with Roadhandler for championship of the Micros, but had no problem putting their friendly competition on hold so that Road Handler could 'school the load-mouthed Big Daddy on the "rules of the road". He even refereed the race for the two Autobots, although the fracas that followed with the guzzlers probably means he didn't get the chance to race Road Handler himself. The Gray Race

IDW comics continuity

Blackjack and the Sports Car Patrol are highly advanced warriors, apparently in the service of the Dead Universe. They ran afoul of Nightbeat on Gorlam Prime while protecting the "hole in the world". Blackjack and his compatriots captured the inquisitive Autobot and subjected him to an unknown procedure before letting him go. Spotlight: Nightbeat Later, Blackjack was among the hordes of Micromasters on Gorlam Prime that assaulted Nightbeat and Hardhead. Spotlight: Hardhead Blackjack attempted to stop Arcee from pursuing Jhiaxus and probably got killed. Spotlight: Sideswipe

Games

3D Battle-Card Game

Blackjack serves under Megatron as one of his Decepticon soldiers, battling Optimus Primal's many Autobot allies in what might possibly have been an inter-universe battle. Energon Wars Expansion Set

Toys

Generation 1

"This guy split fives! And the whole table got up and beat him up."

• Sports Car Patrol (Micromaster Patrol, 1989)

Blackjack transforms into a 1988 Ford Probe GT Turbo sports car. He was only available in a four-pack with his teammates Detour, Hyperdrive and Road Hugger. Blackjack is gang-molded with his teammate Road Hugger and the two share plastic colors.

This mold was also used to make Black Heat.

• More information on Blackjack at TFU.info

Merchandise

3D Battle-Card

• Blackjack (3D Battle-Card, 2007)

A 24-point "common" character in the 3D Battle-Card Game's "Energon Wars" expansion, Blackjack "transforms" into a black coupe of indeterminate make. He uses the same parts layout as "Classic" Bumblebee and Side Swipe.

Foreign names

• French: Assommeur (Canada, "Slaughterman")
• Italian: Illusion