Punch (G1)

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

Counterpunch is a Decepticon from the Generation 1 continuity family. His Autobot counterpart, Punch, is nearby. Real nearby.

File:G1 PunchCounterpunc art.jpg

He takes his energon shaken, AND stirred.

Punch possesses a unique transformation ability that allows him to adopt a second robot mode—posing as a Decepticon named Counterpunch to spy on the 'Cons as a double agent.

On the surface, Punch is a stoic individual that can take charge and keep others calm in a crisis. However, this is an act that hides how paranoid he's become. His responsibilities as a spy, in addition to the things he's seen among the Decepticons, have made him a mess internally. Punch’s personality changes when he becomes Counterpunch—although still loyal to the Autobots, Counterpunch is a violent brute that other Decepticons prefer to avoid. Punch suffers blackouts while disguised, the Counterpunch personality taking on a life of its own. Punch also worries that a Decepticon spy is among the Autobots, hiding as easily as he does in the Decepticon ranks.

Punch is armed with a twin mortar launcher. Counterpunch wields a photon cannon which fires a circuit-scrambling energy stream. All Autobots are given an energy damper that protects them from the gun's effects but generates pyrotechnics to keep Punch's cover.

Fiction

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Transformers cartoon

Voice actor: John Moschitta (English), Katsuhisa Hōki (Japanese), Hans-Rainer Müller (German, The Rebirth, Part 1)

You deal with my Autobot counterpart then! I heard he's nearby...

In 2007, when the Decepticons attacked Autobot City after the end of a short-lived truce, Punch observed Pounce and Wingspan breaking into the city while the other Autobots were occupied with the battle. Seeking to discover their objective, he transformed into Counterpunch and caught up to them when they were breaking into a vault within the city. Informing them that Galvatron had told him to check up on them, Counterpunch's offer of help was rebuffed by the two clones, and Counterpunch departed, making a big noise about how he had heard his "Autobot counterpart" was "nearby... real nearby."

Look I found James Bond! Punch him!

Naturally, Counterpunch promptly transformed back to Punch as soon as he had stepped out of the clones' line of sight, and opened fire on them from behind. Wingspan was able to get behind Punch and grabbed him, holding him so that Pounce could savage him in puma mode. Punch collapsed, and the two clones made off with the contents of the vault – the key to the Plasma Energy Chamber. Optimus Prime soon discovered Punch's unconscious body and roused him, but Punch could only silently point to the empty vault, confirming Prime's worst fear.

Punch was subsequently part of an Autobot contingent led by Prime who pursued the Decepticons to Cybertron. At Prime's order, Punch, Cloudraker and Fastlane began searching the planet for the key, but unbeknownst to them, it had already been been used to briefly open the Plasma Energy Chamber. The resulting energy discharge blasted a group of Autobots led by Kup across the galaxy to the planet Nebulos, and the key with them. The Rebirth, Part 1 Punch and the Autobot clones soon reported back to Prime that there was no sign of Kup's team or the key, prompting Prime to consult Vector Sigma for answers. The Rebirth, Part 2

Japanese cartoon continuity

The Headmasters cartoon

Voice actor: Masaharu Satō (Japanese), John Culkin (English, Omni Productions dub)

Queens up front.

When Punch made his debut, he was already installed within the Decepticon ranks as Counterpunch and serving as Scorponok's closely-trusted informant. Among the true information Counterpunch fed the Decepticon leader in order to maintain his cover were details of the movements of the Autobot Headmasters when they attempted an impassioned attack on Chaar after the destruction of Mars. Using the information, Scorponok repelled their attack, much to the chagrin of Soundblaster, who was particularly infuriated that Counterpunch had "somehow" turned up information that his own spying had failed to. Soon thereafter, Punch returned to the Autobot base on Athenia, and informed Autobot Supreme Commander Fortress that Scorponok was about to hold a ceremony on Earth's moon to coronate himself emperor of the Decepticons. During the ceremony, Galvatron returned from his prior apparent demise, and retook leadership of the Decepticons from Scorponok. Return of the Immortal Emperor

When both the Autobots and Decepticons received an SOS signal from the energy-deprived planet Sandra, Fortress was unsure how to proceed. Punch arrived to with information to help him come to a decision, as he let him know that the Decepticons had chosen to ignore the signal. SOS from Planet Sandra

Brooklyn's in the back.

Later, Punch informed the Autobots on Athenia of the arrival of the newest Decepticon warriors, the Horrorcons, on Chaar. Not long after, when Galvatron departed for Earth to conduct potential peace talks with Spike Witwicky, Punch soon received a nasty surprise when he discovered that Spike was actually debating with a disguised Sixshot, and that the true Galvatron was still on Chaar, preparing to lead the Decepticons on an interplanetary energy raid while the Autobots were distracted. Punch snuck away from the crowd to radio the Autobots on Athenia and clue them in, but unfortunately, even with Punch's inside information, the Autobots were unable to stop the Decepticons from departing on their mission of evil. Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!

As Counterpunch, Punch stayed with the Decepticons as they hopped from planet to planet. He met up with his Autobot comrades again when the Decepticons set down on the planet Daros, informing them that Scorponok had sent the Decepticon Headmasters to kill a local Beastformer that knew of the location of Scorponok's secret weak spot. Punch informed the Autobot Headmasters that he believed the Beastformer, Tekna, to be hiding in the South-North Caves, and Chromedome and Hardhead set off to search for him. Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!!

Turn around! Your cover's blown!

Eventually, the Decepticons returned to Chaar with a huge stockpile of energon cubes, and it was Punch's duty to find out what Galvatron's master plan for the amassed energy was. Ultra Magnus Dies!! Punch had little luck at first, bluffing his way through a carelessly-worded conversation with Galvatron and failing to learn anything more about the Decepticon leader's plan, other than that he was about to depart for Earth. Despite his lack of information, Punch raced to Earth to report his finding to Fortress with such speed that he almost forgot to transform out of his Counterpunch form before entering Autobot City. Completing his report, he then headed for the Decepticons' Earth base, in hopes of listening in on the schemes Galvatron was cooking up there. Again, he bumbled his way through an altercation with Scourge, claiming that he had been kneeling by a door because he had dropped something and quickly crawling off around a corner in search of this phantom object. He even considered switching out of his Counterpunch disguise, before he realized how foolish he was being. Finally, Punch found success with the time-honored tradition of listening through an air-vent, and discovered that Galvatron's master plan was to use the energy to fuse himself with the Earth itself. In the course of the conversation, Galvatron revealed that his head was his weakest point, and Punch quickly returned to Autobot City to reveal all he had discovered to Fortress. Fortress flew Punch to Alaska, where a battle was currently raging between Galvatron and the Autobot Headmasters, and Punch called out to inform them of Galvatron's weak spot. Enraged to discover that Punch was a spy, Galvatron soon found insult added to injury, as the Headmasters used Punch's information to finally defeat him and entomb him beneath the polar ice. The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg

He's been caught red-handed!

With the demise of Galvatron, Scorponok once again seized Decepticon leadership, a fact which Punch quickly passed along to the other Autobots. I Risk My Life for Earth When Scorponok took the Decepticons back to planet Master, Punch, as Counterpunch, went with them, then returned to Earth after Scorponok successfully forged his Zarak Shield. Setting down in the Strait of Gibraltar, Scorponok instructed Counterpunch to observe the Autobots movements for him. Counterpunch leapt from Scorponok to the shore, but before he could even turn around, Scorponok had vanished beneath the waves, leaving Punch unable to inform Fortress of the evil emperor's whereabouts. Punch vowed to locate Scorponok for his commander. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1) Little could Punch have known that Scorponok was operating out of the sub-oceanic ruins of Lemuria, and was using the sunken continent's crysmagnetal to forge "Death Towers" that would rip the Earth apart. Punch soon discovered that Scorponok was planning to outfit the Death Towers with energy induction boosters that would magnify their destructive effects, and informed Fortress and the Autobots that the villain was on his way to Egypt to do so with the Death Tower there. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)

Super-God Masterforce manga

Years later, Punch was among the Autobots on Athenia when the Autobot Godmaster Ginrai was brought to the planet so that Fortress could pass the mantle of Supreme Commander on to him. Unfortunately, this led to an attack by the Decepticons under the command of Devil Z. The Battle Begins! The United Earth-Space Troops

Marvel Comics continuity

Regeneration One

After more than twenty years of peace between the Cybertronian factions, the restored Scorponok invaded Cybertron and began an assault against the Autobots by manipulating their CNA with a device he dubbed the Gene Key. He found Punch to be curiously immune to the key's personality-warping effects. Deeming therefore, that the Autobot was superfluous to his plan, Scorponok ordered Grimlock to execute him. Natural Selection, Part Three

Games

The Transformers (PS2)

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

The Transformers

Transformers: Battle Tactics

Big gun, little guy.

Punch participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! Transformers: Battle Tactics

Commercial appearances

Unfortunately for the Autobots, Counterpunch was TWICE as loyal to the Decepticons.

• Within a mechanical room, Rodimus Prime handed Punch an unknown device while Goldbug looked on. Saluting, Punch assured Rodimus that he could trust him. He then transformed and drove off, speeding to a rocky area where Cyclonus and Galvatron awaited him. Changing from vehicle mode into Counterpunch, he gave Galvatron the device. Saluting, Counterpunch assured Galvatron that he could trust him.

He's not a double agent, he just doesn't want to clash with his surroundings.

• When Megatron gathered Counterpunch and Breakdown to brainstorm ideas for ultimate weapons, Breakdown suggested they might find what they're looking for at BotCon 2010. Counterpunch brought this information to the Autobots as Punch, and the Autobots likewise made BotCon plans. BotCon 2010 Promo

Toys

Generation 1

One toy, twice the fun!

• Punch/Counterpunch (Doublespy, 1987)
  • Japanese ID number: C-111
  • Accessories: "Twin Mortar Launcher", "Photon Cannon"

Punch transforms into a blue Pontiac Fiero. He has two distinct robot modes, with separate guns and rubsigns for each. They have separate arms, but the backs of Punch's torso, legs, and even head are the fronts of Counterpunch's and vice versa. The top of their shared head tilts to disguise the face not currently being used.

The transformation for Punch's robot mode depicted in the toy's instructions and animation is, in fact, not the intended transformation for the toy. As illustrated in the inset of the image at right, rather than extend all the way, as they do for Counterpunch, the legs are supposed to fold back at the "knee" with Counterpunch's feet folded out 180 degrees to become Punch's own (this, then, gives a purpose to the otherwise-pointless ridges on his feet, which now serve to keep the robot stable). This transformation—depicted in the toy's box art and on the front of his instruction booklet (sans feet)—creates a much smaller robot mode for Punch, more in-line with the proportions of the 1984 and 85 Autobot Cars, that serves to further distinguish him from Counterpunch.

• More information on Punch at TFU.info

Timelines

Headlights are painted over for extra G1 accuracy!

• Punch/Counterpunch (Deluxe, 2010)
  • Accessories: Pistol, engine supercharger intakes

One of two Transformers Collectors' Club exclusive toys offered in 2010, Punch/Counterpunch is a retooling of the 2008 Universe series Sunstreaker/Sideswipe mold, transforming into a heavily modified Lamborghini Gallardo with customized engine supercharger intakes mounted just behind the roof. This supercharger can form a sort of "jetpack" by attaching to his back in Punch mode, chest armor in Counterpunch mode, or be attached to the pistol to make a larger gun. The pistol can also be mounted on a peg-hole in the robot-mode shoulder.

Punch/Counterpunch makes use of the mold's two robot-mode configurations as a single toy. His new head replicates the original toy's two-faced "flip-cap" head, hiding the eyes of whichever face he isn't using at the time. (The fists need to be physically swapped between the two if you really want to be super-accurate.) Punch's face now has a mouth as per his "The Rebirth" model, but retains the toy's separate eyes. His head is very very very tiny, likely to accommodate his fliptop forehead during transformation. Coincidentally, Fun Publications failed to release photos of his robot mode until after the toy was already in buyers' hands.

Punch went up for pre-order on the Club site on the evening of March 26, 2010 at a price of $59. Despite pictures of his robot modes remaining unseen throughout, all 1800 units sold out by the morning of March 29, the biggest and fastest sell out of a Club exclusive yet. Punch started shipping June 15. So great was the demand for Punch that a second run of only 300 figures was produced, which went on sale on August 11. These were limited to one-per-customer, and were only available to customers who had not purchased a Punch previously, but despite these restrictions, they were sold out within only a few hours.

This mold was also used to make Henkei! Henkei!/Generations Red Alert and the BotCon 2010 exclusive Breakdown.

Punch features the hole where the light bar would screw in on Henkei! Henkei! Red Alert on the top of his car mode roof, though it is covered with a rub symbol.

• More information on TFCC Punch at TFU.info

Notes

• The Doublespy concept seems to have been kicking around for a while before actually being executed:
  • A concept sketch exists that depicts Punch/Counterpunch as a hi-tech jet more in line with the 1986+ aesthetic which transforms in a way somewhat similar to the final car version.
  • Not one but two early patents were filed for a car Doublespy. The first patent depicts the car that can turn into a large robot or split straight across the middle, with the front and back ends of the car each transforming into a separate robot. It uses a car model identical to the final Punch/Counterpunch.
  • The second patent keeps the car as a single unit, however the car now folds along the center from the front bumper to the rear windshield. One robot mode is formed when the car is transformed normally, the other is formed when the car is transformed and folded to reveal a new head, chest, and arms. This model has an identical leg transformation to the final version.
• At the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con, a Punch/Counterpunch miniseries known as "Legacy of Rust" was announced. As of 2015, it has yet to come out, but it's been stated that Stuart Moore wrote all four issues.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Doublespy (ダブルスパイ Daburusupai), Spacepunch (スペースパンチ Supēsupanchi), Counterpunch (カウンターパンチ Kauntāpanchi)
• French: Pugilil, Contrecoup (Canada)
• Italian: Spy, Ultraspy
• Russian: Punch (Панч), Vyshibala (Вышибала, Bouncer)

External links

• Punch/Counterpunch's Universe profile at NTFA.net