Suiken

Suiken is an Autobot Trainbot from the Headmasters portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

What are you looking at?

Despite his rail-riding alternate mode, Suiken (スイケン) is an extremely capable warrior on even the most rugged and uneven terrain. He's a veteran of a great many battles, which has given him an incredible depth of knowledge. He can plan battle tactics or even stellar navigation routes for the Trainbots' combined space-traveling train mode.

Fiction

Cartoon continuity

The Headmasters cartoon

Voice actor: Kazumi Tanaka (Japanese)

In 2011, Suiken and the Trainbots were operating on Earth. After Galvatron invaded Cybertron, the robot trains assembled to transport their fellow Autobots to Cybertron across the Space Bridge. Shōki intervened on Ultra Magnus's first fight with Sixshot, knocking aside the ninja consultant long enough for the Autobots to roll out. The convoy was attacked along the way by the Constructicons, but Metroplex drove them off. Four Warriors Come out of the Sky The Trainbots formed Raiden and fought alongside Defensor and Superion against their Decepticon combiner counterparts. They were nearly crushed by falling debris when Bruticus collapsed a building on them using his sonic stun gun. The Mystery of Planet Master Suiken and the Trainbots returned to Earth just in time to shuttle Hot Rod and the Headmasters back to Cybertron, after their successful quest for the Matrix of Leadership. Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime In their train mode, Suiken and the Trainbots transported Rodimus Prime and the Monsterbots to planet Beast as reinforcements for the Headmasters. Rebellion on Planet Beast They also carried him into battle again on the planet Praum, where Scorponok had set a trap for Fortress and his team. The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery

Back on Earth, Suiken and the Trainbots took Danny and Wheelie on a sightseeing trip in Tokyo, Japan. When Sixshot a mysterious robot declared his intention to steal all of Japan's energy, Suiken and the Trainbots remained quietly alert, confident their combination form could handle any threat to their homeland. Their passive response to the danger angered the more action-oriented Headmaster team, especially Chromedome. After fruitlessly chasing behind the bandit in attacks on London and New York, Chromedome was incensed when he arrived back at Autobot headquarters to see Suiken and the Trainbots returning from a shopping spree with Danny. Shōki and Chromedome nearly came to blows with each other before Danny intervened.

When the robot finally made his attack on Japan, Shōki demanded that his team be allowed the first strike against their opponent. Flying to the rescue, Suiken and the Trainbots assembled as Raiden to fight Sixshot. Raiden's victory was prevented by the arrival of Trypticon, piloted by Scourge and Cyclonus. It turned into an all-out brawl after that, with the Headmasters arriving as reinforcements for their comrades. Sixshot was revealed, and he used his ninja training seemingly to duplicate himself, attacking Raiden as several winged wolves. As a demonstration of their newfound trust in each other, Raiden urged Chromedome to shoot at the holographic Sixshots swarming around him, knowing he would certainly be hit by some of the blasts. The Decepticons were eventually driven off, and Shōki and Chromedome shook hands back at headquarters, having forged a warrior's bond on the field of battle. Terror! The Six Shadows

Galvatron soon struck out against Cybertron again, this time seeking the new super-metal known as Cybertonuron. Suiken and the Trainbots were first in line on Earth to transport over the Space Bridge into combat with the Decepticons. They rushed straight into the fighting as soon as they arrived. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1 Suiken and the Trainbots confronted the Predacons in defense of their home planet. The battle was fierce but brief, as the Trainbots disabled their opponents. Suiken and Getsuei tricked Razorclaw and Tantrum into crashing into one another by leaping out of the way at just the right moment. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2

Suiken and the Trainbots defended the Sol 1 satellite during its launch cycle. When Scourge, Cyclonus and the Predacons arrived to steal the satellite, they flew out with the Headmasters to stop them. Shōki gave the command and the Trainbots assembled to form Raiden, grappling with Predaking and ultimately chasing off the Decepticons. The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok Next, Suiken's team joined the Protectobots on an emergency rescue mission to Peru, where an active volcano was threatening a small town. They were intercepted by the Predacons, and so Shōki asked Hot Spot to go on ahead and help the villagers while the Trainbots occupied the Preds. Soon, Raiden and Predaking were formed, and the battle was really joined. The Headmasters soon arrived and tagged out the Trainbots, allowing Suiken and his friends to journey to the village and escort the people to safety in their combined train mode. The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts In their next evil scheme, the Decepticons unleashed a giant carnivorous plant in downtown San Francisco, prompting the Autobots to respond. Suiken and the Trainbots arrived on the scene, but were confronted by Bruticus, who wished to duel with sabers made of light. The Trainbots formed Raiden and met Bruticus sword for sword. Head On!! Fortress Maximus

On a geological expedition to Mars with Danny and Spike, Suiken and the Trainbots were present when a series of tremors rocked the landscape. Seeking to investigate, the group split up to locate the source of the phenomena. Suiken and his teammates ran into the Predacons, and soon they learned of a plot to blow up Mars. Passing off the investigation to Chromedome and the Headmasters, Suiken and the Trainbots flew back to Athenia in order to take Spike and Danny to safety. Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger They were almost immediately called back, however — the Decepticon Headmasters had used plasma energy to neutralize Fortress Maximus, leaving the Autobots on Mars in desperate need of reinforcements. Suiken and the trains reformed Raiden as they arrived, and fought against Abominus and the MegaZarak Transtector, scorpion mode. Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears

Suiken and the Trainbots served as military transportation for the Autobots when they attacked the Decepticon meeting on the moon. The strike was foiled by the arrival of Galvatron, and the Autobots fled back to Earth aboard the trains. Return of the Immortal Emperor Suiken and his teammates were next used for a relief mission. The planet Sandra was in desperate need of energon, and Ultra Magnus coordinated the Autobots of Earth in gathering some of their energon reserves aboard the Trainbots. Galvatron and the Decepticons wanted the energy for themselves, however, and interfered with the relief aid. Suiken and the Trainbots took off twice for Sandra, and they were twice shot down by the Decepticons before they could leave atmosphere. The Autobots of Earth finally gave up, sending energy reserves from Athenia instead. SOS from Planet Sandra Suiken and the Trainbots also ferryed the Witwickys and Headmasters to the mutual benefits talk with Galvatron. When the discussions went sour, they helped the Headmasters defeat the Horrorcons and make it to safety. Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!

After the talks failed, the Decepticons fled into space aboard Scorponok, planning to raid other planets in the universe for their energy. The Trainbots were part of a task force Fortress assembled to chase after their nefarious foes. After reaching the Twin Star planets, Suiken and the Trainbots ferryed Brainstorm and Arcee down to the barren world of Toruin. They then transformed into Raiden and flew to the sister planet, Sperity, to battle the Decepticon invaders. Battle for Defense of the False Planet On Daros, Suiken and the Trainbots transported the rescued prisoners from the northern hemisphere to safety. Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!! They also appeared on Paradise, escorting Highbrow on his scouting mission and later flying the Technobots and Monsterbots into battle. Head Formation of Friendship On Pirate Planet, Suiken and the Trainbots defended the pirates' pyramid from Galvatron, so that Highbrow and the Autobot Clones could unlock its secrets first. Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship

After returning to Earth, Suiken and the Trainbots re-entered Ultra Magnus's command at Autobot City. They were summoned to transport the Technobots to Miami, where an Autobot energy facility was under attack by the Decepticons. Suiken and his partners returned to Autobot City once it was attacked by Sixshot and Trypticon. They tried to enter the battle, assembling as Raiden, but were waylaid by Apeface and Snapdragon, who kept them busy long enough for Sixshot to murder Ultra Magnus on the battlefield. In the aftermath, Suiken and his comrades attended Magnus's funeral. Ultra Magnus Dies!!

When Spike and Chromedome needed to get to Earth for the volcano summit, Suiken and the trains popped over to Athenia to give them a ride. At Autobot City, Suiken and Shōki heard a commotion outside and investigated, finding Spike injured in a battle between Metroplex and Trypticon. As Shōki took Spike to safety, Suiken showed himself to be freakishly strong by flipping Trypticon off of Metroplex's back. Holy shit. I Risk My Life for Earth

After the Decepticons seemingly abandoned Earth, Suiken and the Trainbots assisted Spike in rebuilding the planet after the enemy's departure. On one occasion, they located Sixshot's old command base. By combining into Raiden, the Trainbots helped Defensor and Computron obliterate the base, wiping out all trace of the Decepticons' presence. Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)

After Wheelie was kidnapped by the Decepticons and ransomed for the secrets of the Master Sword, Suiken and the Trainbots flew Chromedome and Danny in close to the MegaZarak base for a rescue attempt. The Master Sword Is in Danger!! When Danny went missing in a space vortex, Suiken's team joined the Targetmasters in searching for him. My Friend Sixshot! They also transported the Headmasters to the Pallas asteroid in order to battle the Decepticons. Duel on the Asteroid

Upon returning to Earth, Suiken and the Trainbots ferryed Danny and the Headmasters to the Andes Mountains for a rescue mission, after Spike and Carly crashed their jet in the treacherous terrain. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1) As part of Raiden, Suiken participated in the Autobots final battle with Scorponok's Decepticons at the North Pole. He lent his energies to the Headmasters' Head Formation to revitalize Fortress Maximus at the critical moment. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)

The Headmasters comic

When the Headmasters were confronted by Predaking on the planet Beast, Suiken and the Trainbots arrived just in time to form Raiden and deliver a flying kick to their beastly foe. Great Decisive Battle of Planet Beast!

In their combined train mode, Suiken and the Trainbots transported Daniel and the Headmasters to Earth via Space Bridge. They faced a giant robot squid under the ocean, where the Decepticons were attempting to steal...suboceanic(?) energy. The squid tried to snag the robot train, but Suiken's team separated into individual robots then recombined into Raiden, demolishing the squid and the Decepticons. The Headmasters issue 3

During Christmas, Raiden assisted the Autobot Headmasters in bringing gifts and holiday cheer to a children's hospital. When the Decepticon Headmasters attacked, the Trainbots dismantled and Suiken and his comrades got the children to safety while the Headmasters battled. The Headmasters issue 6

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

Suiken was part of a big crowd of unhappy Cybertronians who made Prowl look really stupid when he tried to make a speech assuring them that everything would be okay after the collapse of Shockwave's supposedly-benevolent rule. Skyfire

Games

The Transformers (PS2)

Suiken is a non-playable character. He appears among the legion of Autobot duplicates in the Decepticon campaign.

The Transformers

Toys

The Headmasters

• Suiken (Trainbot, 1987)
  • Japanese ID number: C-128
  • Accessories: "Storm laser" pistol, 3 "joint parts" connectors, left Raiden fist

Suiken transforms into an Tokai-type 153 Express locomotive. He also forms the left arm of the team's combined mode Raiden... though he can also form the right arm if you're so inclined.

• Raiden (Gift set, 1987)

The entire Trainbot team was sold both as individuals and in a six-bot Raiden gift-set. All six toys in this set were identical to their individual releases.

• Raiden (TF Jr set, 1987)

An exceedingly simplified version of the entire Trainbot team was made available as part of the Transform Jr series. Each individual has a (stumpy) representation of their larger robot modes, and could combine to form a stumpy Raiden.

Zone

• Suiken (Trainbot, 1990)
  • Japanese ID number: C-357
  • Accessories: "Storm laser" pistol, 3 "joint parts" connectors, left Raiden fist

The Trainbots were re-released during Zone in new packaging, and only as individuals, never in a box set. The toys are identical to their original Headmasters incarnations, except for the fact that they no longer sport rubsigns.

Notes

• It is a difficult to tell the true meaning of Suiken's name, since it is "spelled" in phonetic katakana rather than kanji. However, "suiken" (酔拳, literally "water fist") is the Japanese transliteration for the Chinese "Zui Quan" style of kung-fu — known more commonly in the West as the "Drunken Fist" style. We've never seen Suiken down a swig and go all Drunken Master on anyone, but the possibilities are awesomely tantalizing.
• The Japanese term in his function that's normally translated "plains" or "wasteland" is the one used in the translation of the title "High Plains Drifter," so you could consider him to be a high plains warrior. Suiken does not, however, talk like Clint Eastwood.
• The Trainbots are all originally Diaclone toys, which came in two different color schemes. However, there are several mold differences between the Diaclone and Transformers versions. Suiken's most notable difference is that the connector-peg for his robot-mode backpack went from a long, detailed antenna (as seen on his box-art) to a shorter and far less breakable peg. The Transformers releases also lost the Diaclone pilots (of course) and the little plastic tracks for the trains to ride on.

External links

• Suiken at TFU.info
• Diaclone Suiken at Diaclone.net (Japanese-language site)