Cosmic Rust (disease)

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

Ewwww...

Cosmic Rust is a microorganism that devours Cybertronian metals. An infected Transformer starts growing a rust-like substance all over their body. Eventually, the corrosion causes the Transformer to waste away to nothing.

If Cybertron be your home, far away never roam. Hear my message, listen and fear. Danger comes, the end is near! Just like us, you soon will rust. All shall be turned to dust.Warning hologram, "Cosmic Rust"

Fiction

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Transformers cartoon

I hope this is dirt...

Cosmic Rust was first discovered in the ruins of an ancient Autobot colony in deep space, on the planet Antilla; many years ago, the planet was struck by asteroids carrying the disease, which destroyed the entire colony. The Decepticons who visited the planet were accidentally infected by the rust courtesy of a stray meteor. The radiation provided from a weapon found on the planet (known as The Lightning Bug) caused the virus to accelerate substantially.

The only cure for Cosmic Rust was a substance called corrostop, invented by Perceptor to remove corrosion of any form and protect substances from future corrosion. Cosmic Rust

Wings Universe

The Star Seeker Ferak had some Cosmic Rust Nanites in stock and proposed to use it as a weapon for the Tidal Wave. Tornado - Decepticon Saboteur

Story of Binaltech

A new and improved 'Cosmic Rust' disease once again surfaced in the year 2003, thanks to Swindle's tampering. The Decepticons flooded the Earth with it, destroying the original bodies of most of the Autobot garrison stationed there—before it apparently backfired on the Decepticons once again. The bulk of both forces was unaffected as the majority of the war's fighting had shifted to the Cybertronian-Theater. The Rust itself was never cured, but thanks to a fusion of Cybertronian technology and human car manufacturers, new temporary bodies were built for the damaged Autobots. Story of Binaltech, Chapter 1 The Decepticons had to resort to mind control in order to trick the human engineers into building them bodies of their own. Arise! Evil Binaltechs

Shattered Glass

Nightbeat, head of the Autobot Secret Police, suffered from a chronic case of Cosmic Rust due to a failed assassination attempt. Though usually kept in check by an unspecified treatment, it could flare up and cause him to malfunction and become contagious if not monitored continually. Nightbeat's toy bio

Animated cartoon

Perhaps they will disassemble him to make bronze medals...

Events from IDW Publishing comics are in italics

During the War, Cosmic Rust (technically called "Cyber-Oxidant") was created by Oil Slick to infect both Autobots and Decepticons alike. Unfortunately for him, when he tried it out at the Hydrax Plateau, he unintentionally infected himself. He was found by the medical officer Ratchet, who helped him create an antidote for the Cosmic Rust, unaware Oil Slick was the disease's creator. This ignorance was remedied when Oil Slick showed gratitude the Decepticon way—by trying to kill him slowly with an infection of Cosmic Rust. Ratchet survived and managed to steal a sample of the cure for his faction. 'Bots of Science

As Rodimus Prime stood as the last line of defense between Team Chaar and the Autobot's space bridge, Oil Slick nonchalantly tossed a vial of Cosmic Rust at Rodimus' feet, infecting him. TransWarped

Dark of the Moon film

You should've paid for that sealant.

Sentinel Prime carried a cannon capable of delivering a payload of Cosmic Rust, and used it to slay Ironhide, whose body was reduced to oxidized dust. Sentinel also turned the cannon on Bumblebee, but he proved agile enough to evade the shots, which corroded away various metallic structures behind him. Sentinel then used the cannon on several NEST soldiers and the outside structure and later reused it on Optimus, but the Autobot leader was able to avoid his hits until Sentinel held Optimus at gun point and threatened to kill him with it if he interfered again. Sentinel then used the gun one last time against Bumblebee and Sideswipe with the scout avoiding the hits, but Sideswipe was caught in one blast but appeared to be able to resist getting hit just once. Dark of the Moon

The original script of the film called for Skids and Mudflap to also meet their ends courtesy of Sentinel's Cosmic Rust cannon. Their scenes remain in the novelization and comic book adaptation of the film. As well, Optimus would have turned the tables on Sentinel by killing him with his own cannon, as opposed to using Megatron's Fusion shotgun in the actual film.

Aligned

Upon arriving on the planet Junkion, Optimus Prime was worried about an infection of Cosmic Rust. However, his fears did not come to pass. Exiles

Oilslick was known to experiment with Cosmic Rust weapons, and may have been behind an attack which wiped out Outpost Thetarus. Timeless

Ask Vector Prime

Known liar Sideways claims to have used Cosmic Rust to destroy The Fallen's collection of priceless antique weapons hidden away in the Realm of the Primes. Ask Vector Prime

Games

Transformers Legends

Megatron and his men inadvertently became infected with Cosmic Rust on an old Autobot colony world. After curing themselves with stolen corrostop, they inflicted the disease on the Autobots, who had to scrape some of the compound off the Statue of Liberty. Cosmic Rust

Transformers Universe

Drive-By's Payload Laser Rifle could slow Autobots by infecting their articulation systems with Cosmic Rust, though the condition was only temporary. Drive-By's Transformers Universe profile

Notes

Foreign names

• Japanese: Uchū Sabi (宇宙サビ, "Cosmic Rust"), Cosmic Rust (コズミックルスト Kozumikku Rusuto, コスミックルスト Kosumikku Rusuto)
• Italian: Ruggine cosmica ("Cosmic Rust")
• Russian: Cosmicheskaya rzhavchina (Космическая ржавчина, "Cosmic Rust")