Pretender Monster
- The Pretender Monsters are a Decepticon subgroup from the Generation 1 continuity family.
The Pretender Monsters consist of:
They can combine to form Monstructor.
Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
In a post-appocalyptic alternate future where Galvatron killed Rodimus Prime and devastated Earth, they serve as some of his troops there.
DDP G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers continuity
Some time prior to 1978, in the Himalayan Mountain region of Tibet, Bludgeon led the soon-to-be Pretender Monsters to meet with Cobra-La, seeking power and a ringside seat at the death of a planet. En route they were shot down and damaged by the Chinese Air Force, however, forcing Bludgeon to make a deal with Cobra-La: in exchange for defending Cobra-La's underground kingdom, Cobra-La provided them with life-supporting organic Pretender shells.
At Globulus's behest, the Pretender Monsters used their shells to slip past the sensors of the submerged Autobot ship Arc II, where they made quick work of Skids, Sideswipe and Prowl.
Later, when GI Joe sent an invasion force against Cobra-La, they merged into Monstructor to repel the invaders. Monstructor wreaked havoc on the Joes but was defeated when the laser squad blew up his head, leaving his component members in an unconscious heap. Black Horizon, Part 2.
IDW Comics
Long milenia ago, Monstructor was the first gestalt ever, constructed out of the individual Pretender Monsters (though they aren't Pretenders in IDW's new universe). Created by Jhiaxus under the direction of Nova Prime, they were intended to be the ultimate fusion of mind and body: a vast amount of intellect combined with unparalleled strength. Unfortunately, they were driven into insanity by the merging process, and became monsters. After Nova Prime departed Cybertron in the Ark, Omega Supreme locked them in a dimensionally-displaced prison to live out the rest of their horrid existence. Eventually they escaped and tracked down and attacked Omega Supreme, but were defeated by Optimus Prime. Despite Omega Supreme's protestations about the dangers of gestalt technology falling into Decepticon hands, Prime had them taken into custody in an attempt to repair their shattered minds.
Toys
Generation 1
The Pretender Monsters were each sold separately in cardback packages. Each came with the inner robot, the outer shell, a shell backing plate, a small hand gun, and a Monstructor component.
The inner robots are tiny, standing only slightly taller than the Micromasters which were soon to dominate the G1 toyline at the time. The transformations are likewise simplified to the point that it's difficult to tell exactly what some of them turn into. Icepick and Scowl share a transformation scheme, as do Bristleback and Birdbrain.
Their outer shells are unique in several regards. Instead of splitting in half like most other Pretenders, the shells have a small backing plate that is removed to allow the inner robot to be inserted. This plate can also hold all of the accessories for each robot -- including the kibble for Monstructor. No other combiner team featured storage for all the accessories that came with them.
The monstrous outer shells are composed of a malleable rubbery substance. This material does not tend to age well, unfortunately, and there have been reports of Pretender Monster shells showing mold-like spotting or secreting an oily residue [1]. Gross!
