Micromaster

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

Micromasters are Transformers with small and extremely fuel-efficient bodies. Some were created that way, others were created as ordinary Transformers (or guzzlers, as Micromasters sometimes call normal-sized Transformers) and rebuilt into Micromasters. Transforming into (usually) tiny cars, planes, and other vehicles, they are depicted as roughly human-sized in robot mode in most continuities.

Some Micromasters are also Combiners. One kind are the Micromaster Combiners, who can each form either the front or back half of a combined vehicle. They are not constrained to joining only with their Combiner partner; they can join with any other as well as to the back of any Micro Trailer. In addition, there are the Combi-Micromasters, who combine together in another humanoid robot. No character has ever been specifically designated as one, but the description at least fits the members of the Multiforce.

Recently, the Multiforce members have been branded as DX Micromasters. What exactly a DX Micromaster is has not been explained. Perhaps it's a Micromaster who is no longer small and extremely fuel efficient?

Fiction

Marvel The Transformers comics

Events from the UK-only comic stories are in italics.
Makin' Micromasters!

The Micromasters were created by the Autobots as a downsizing means to increase fuel efficiency. Though at first the technology was created by the Autobots, the Decepticons were able to capture and study the Battle Patrol to learn the secrets themselves, and the first Decepticon Micromasters were born. A Small War!

The Micromasters served under Emirate Xaaron, with Fixit acting as one of the base's medics. Demons! Dawn of Darkness

Two of the Micromaster squads were deployed to Earth to assist Optimus Prime's forces, but they quickly went their own way. King Con! Soon they had all but integrated into New York City society, their small size allowing them to interact easily with humans. Only the arrival on Earth of the Decepticon Air Strike Patrol shook them loose from this position. The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!

The Air Strike Patrol soon proved to have ulterior motives for coming to Earth, as they, along with the Sports Car Patrol, were working for Megatron. Back from the Dead While the Air Strike Patrol manipulated Scorponok and Optimus Prime into a battle, the Sports Car Patrol kidnapped Ratchet and laid explosives aboard the Ark. The Resurrection Gambit! Blackjack wasn't able to maintain control of the Ark, however, and the rest of the patrol were defeated by Grimlock's Pretender team. All the Familiar Faces! Skin Deep

The Micromaster Autobots continued to play roles in the Autobot insurgency on Cybertron, though the Rescue Patrol prepared to leave for Earth. A teleportation accident transported them to the center of Cybertron, Yesterday's Heroes! where they nearly but not quite managed to defeat the Mayhem Attack Squad with help from their larger brethren. Primal Scream

On Earth, the Air Strike Patrol met their fate in Louisiana at the hands of a pissed-off mutant oil rig worker. The Human Factor!

Having arrived on Earth, Fixit served as the chief medic aboard the Ark, in the absence of Ratchet. Eye of the Storm The Pri¢e of Life!

A few of the Micromasters were still active many years later, when the Autobots followed the Dinobots to Hydrus Four to rescue them and prevent the resurrection of Megatron. Another Time & Place

Earthforce

These stories do not fit into the normal Marvel continuity. See Earthforce for details.

Grumpy old fogeys Prowl and Wheeljack moaned about all the confusing new types of Transformers in the war, Micromasters among them. Starting Over! One such Micromaster, Stakeout, was part of the "new age" who attended Optimus Prime's meeting with Grimlock about his old-school violent methods. Poor Stakeout was stuck under the table, unseen until Grimlock chucked it at the wall. Break-Away!

Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Liner Team make themselves at home on Earth.

"Micro" Cybertronians fall into three separate classifications: Micromasters (マイクロトランスフォーマー Micro Transformer), small but otherwise normal Transformers; Micromaster Sixteams (マイクロマスター Micromaster), who can combine in groups of six into larger robots; and Mini-Cons (マイクロン Micron), who convert into weapons and equipment for larger Transformers to wield.

The story of these tiny Transformers began during the four-million-year period that followed Optimus Prime and Megatron's departure from Cybertron. A large number of the planet's non-transforming Autobot "Cyberdroid" population, unable to contribute to the war effort in any meaningful way due to their diminutive height and lack of conversion capabilities, decided instead to leave their homeworld and search for Optimus and the lost Matrix of Leadership. Most of their number were placed in hibernation capsules for the long space voyage, but this did not protect them from what was to come: partway into their journey, the Cyberdroids' ship was stuck by a dimensional shockwave, which catapulted them across the galaxy to the planet Earth in the early 1980s. The shockwave mutated and evolved their tiny bodies, granting them the ability to transform, but it also corrupted the minds of several of the crew, turning them into Decepticons. Adopting Earthly vehicular forms to hide on the strange new planet they now found themselves on, the Autobot Micromaster Liner Team and Turbo Team searched Earth for any sign of Optimus Prime, while simultaneously working to awaken the still-hibernating forms of their brethren before the Decepticon Micromaster Wing Team could seize the capsules and convert the tiny 'bots within to the side of evil. The Transformers: Micromaster Precisely how the Micromasters' conflict on Earth played out is unknown; Optimus and Megatron's forces awoke a few years after they arrived, and no information has been divulged about what happened to the Micromasters during this time. In the year 2035, however, the teams seen active during the early 80s conflict were still operative on Earth, defending it against the forces of Decepticon High Regent Scrash. Operation Combination

In the intervening years, former Autobot commander Hot Rod took the other Micromasters under his command, becoming a Micromaster himself. Together, they decamped to another planet and built their own civilization, naming it after themselves: Planet Micro. Some elected to remain with the Autobots to help them continue the war, adopting weapon and equipment alternate modes and partnering up with larger 'bots: known examples of these "Mini-Cons" include Phaser and Groundshaker, partnered with Swerve and Tailgate, respectively. Tailgate/G1 Micron Chapter

By the year 2025, Micro had become a thriving, technologically advanced world overseen by Governor Riker, and even had representatives Holi, Pīpō, Fire and Boater serving in the Autobot army under Star Saber. Transformers: Victory

The development of Energon Z on Micro led to a military reinforcement program that saw the planet overhauled, refitted with a variety of new defense systems, and re-named "Zone". With the planet's new strategic importance in the renewed war against supernatural enemies like Violen Jiger and Dark Nova, many high-ranking Autobots adopted alternate forms that could be used by Micromasters, like the Powered Masters and the Battlestars, who each also took on a personal Micromaster partner. Transformers: Zone Return of Convoy The Micromaster' primary role was to make contact with other planets and races for the betterment of all; presumably their small, non-threatening forms were important in this task. Zone story page #5

Following Dark Nova's defeat, the Autobot Sky Patrol Team were chosen for the Autobots' Power Core Combination process. Three of their number were upgraded into full-size "Master Class" Transformer bodies able to combine with drone units to form even larger, more powerful robots. Unfortunately, while he did not undergo the process, team leader Eagle Eye defected to the Decepticons and took knowledge of the new technology with him, enabling the villains to create their own "Master Chaos" warriors, who were then used by Scrash in his 2035 campaign. Transformers United EX

Having begun life as Autobots, this is the allegiance most "Micro" 'bots retain. Aside from those turned into Decepticons by the dimensional shockwave, and the teams that those converts then themselves converted (who would all apparently regain their original Autobot allegiance by 2035 anyway), and the defector Eagle Eye, there is only one known Decepticon Micromaster team: the Race Track Patrol Team, who were known to have willingly betrayed their Autobot comrades and joined Violen Jiger's forces. Zone story page #9

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

Micromaster technology was developed over 3.5 million years ago in response to the dwindling energy resources on Cybertron. With Autobot and Decepticon soldiers shutting down across the planet, both sides got to work developing smaller, energy-efficient bodies for the sake of continuing the war. More than Meets the Eye #8 Data on a Golden Disk discovered on Paradron had predicted this development, causing Countdown to wonder if becoming Micromasters to better interact with the universe's smaller beings was the Transformers' destiny. Recipe for Hate

While some full-sized Autobots and Decepticons took on Micromaster bodies, the majority of Micromasters were newly created as neutrals. As part of a cross-factional experiment, both sides put the new 'bots through a joint training program during which they learned about both factions, allowing them to choose which one to join. Victims of the Revolution

Destined for Nothing The Gray Race Recipe for Hate Victims of the Revolution



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IDW Generation 1 continuity

The Micromasters (never identified as such) are the results of Jhiaxus modifying the organic inhabitants of Gorlam Prime to be able to exist in both the universe and Dead Universe. Spotlight: Hardhead The Sports Car Patrol confronted Nightbeat beneath Gorlam Prime. Spotlight: Nightbeat Nightbeat and Hardhead returned to find the population frozen in a transitional, technorganic state. They were pursued by many Micromasters. Spotlight: Hardhead Jhiaxus' Micromaster lackeys were last seen being dismembered by Arcee. The inhabitants of Gorlam Prime eventually emerged from their chrysalis state in new, apparently wholly mechanical, bodies. They renamed their planet Cybertron. Spotlight: Sideswipe

Then a few years later, the entire population of "Cybertron" was lured into the Dead Universe and eaten by D-Void. Oh well. Heart of Darkness issue 2

Meanwhile, the inhabitants of an unspecified Cybertronian colony world evolved into a civilization of Micromaster Combiners. While linked to Metroplex's mind, Windblade caught a glimpse of Fireshot and Vanquish separating from each other on their homeworld. Windblade issue 4

Full-Sized Micromasters

For various reasons, Micromaster characters have occasionally shown up in Transformers fiction as full-sized robots in scale with regular Cybertronians.

Toys

Generation 1

The Micromasters were first released in the US and European markets in the two final years of the Generation 1 toyline, 1989 and 1990, as a market response to the growing popularity of Micro Machines. The Generation 1 Micromasters were packaged as Patrols, Squads, Transports, Stations or Bases.
Each Micromaster stands about two inches (5 cm) high in robot mode, making them the smallest Transformers released to that point (since surpassed by a few members of the Smallest Transforming Transformers line). Many share a standardized transformation scheme of "flip out rear of vehicle to form legs; swing up arms from side." Articulation is generally limited to swiveling shoulders and knee joints (the latter limited by conjoined uni-feet).
  • Micromaster Patrols (1989)
The Rescue Patrol
The Sports Car Patrol
Autobots
Decepticons
  • Micromaster Patrols (1990)
Autobots
Decepticons
The Patrols came carded in four-packs beginning in 1989, with a couple following in 1990. All were sold at the $5 price point. Each patrol's alternate modes generally have a recurring common theme—for example, military vehicles in the case of the Military Patrol, or planes and helicopters in the case of the Air Patrol.


  • Micromaster Combiner Squads
The First Combinental Congress
Autobots
Decepticons
Main article: Micromaster Combiner
The Combiner Squads were sold in carded six-packs in 1990. Each Squad consist of six Micromaster Combiners, thus making three vehicles in their alt mode. Micromaster Combiners transform into half of a vehicle form, which can use standardized connection plugs to combine with any other Micromaster Combiner to form a complete vehicle. Not all combinations make a lot of sense—the rear half of a dump truck connected to the front half of a space shuttle isn't anything you can win a war with, eh?


  • Micromaster Transports (1989)
Erector? I hardly knew 'er!
Autobots
Decepticons
Main article: Micromaster Transport
The Micromaster Transports are single Micromasters that come with a transforming vehicle with which they can interact in some way. Flattop transforms into a jet and comes with an aircraft carrier, whereas the other three transform into trucks and pull transforming trailers. Except for Erector's trailer, all the additional vehicles transform into jets. They were released in 1989.


  • Micromaster Combiner Transports (1990)
The Tanker Truck. THE Tanker Truck. Apparently it's the only tanker truck in the whole Transformers universe.
Autobots
Decepticons
Main article: Micromaster Combiner Transport
The Combiner Transports consist of a pair of Micromaster Combiners and a big transforming trailer. Each trailer can optionally transform into a big battle station or into two separate fighting vehicles, each manned by one of the Combiners.


  • Micromaster Stations (1989)
The Airport, featuring the largest plane length to runway length ratio of any airport in the universe.
Autobots
Decepticons
The stations are big bases commanded by a single Transformer and disguised as human buildings. Hot House's station stands out a bit, as it is mobile in its alternate mode instead of being a stationary base.


  • Micromaster Bases (1989)
The Rocket Base is one hundred and forty kilometers due west of the Autobot camp.
Autobots
Decepticons
The Micromaster Bases are huge fighting vehicles that transform into even bigger battle stations. They are commanded by a single Micromaster. Countdown's and Skystalker's vehicles are a big chunk taller than those of Groundshaker and Skyhopper, indicating that these two should be seen as the respective leaders of their Micromaster factions.


  • Micromaster Combiner Bases (1990)
The Anti-Aircraft Base, operated by two guys who become an aircraft. Self-loathing, much?
Autobots
Decepticons
The Combiner bases are large vehicles commanded by a combiner duo. While the Decepticon Anti-Aircraft Base is pretty similar in concept to the previous year's Bases (transforming from a tank into a battle station), the Battlefield Headquarters lacks a base mode, instead transforming from an earthbound vehicle (a truck) into two airborne ones (a space shuttle and an attack jet).
  • Micromaster Bases (Unreleased)
A resin prototype for a base akin to the Rocket Base was produced at some point, but the toy was never taken into production.

Generation 1 (Japan)

Japan as well released lots of Micromasters during their Zone, Return of Convoy and Operation Combination toylines (and later rereleases during Micromaster). Most of them were identical to their western releases, but some were recolored or renamed and most Decepticons were depicted as Autobots. Next to this, the characterization they received in fiction differed heavily from their Western appearances, depiciting them as childish, young and inexperienced compared to the bigger Transformers.

Micro Trailer

File:Microtrailer.jpg

Micromaster Sixteams

Apart from releasing US-made Micromasters, Takara also developed the Micromaster concept further on their own, resulting in the Micromaster Sixteams, Micromasters that combined to form a bigger robot similar to the full-size Transformer combiners.

Autobots
Decepticon

Powered Master partners

other

Armada

Universe (2003)

The Micromasters returned to North American markets in 2004 under the Universe label as KB Toys exclusives. Inspired by Takara's slightly-redecoed Sixteam reissues, Hasbro decided to sell them as well. Sixturbo, Sixwing, and Sixbuilder were further redecoed and renamed to evoke the Generation 1 Protectobots, Aerialbots, and Constructicons, respectively. Sixtrain was not redecoed, but he was renamed according to the 2001 Robots in Disguise franchise Team Bullet Train (with a few additions).

In Europe, the Micromasters were available as mass retail releases, but in Energon (Protectobots, Constructicons) and Cybertron (Railbots, Aerialbots) instead of Universe packaging.

Autobots
Decepticons

Timelines

Autobots
Decepticons

Notes

Absolutely, positively not inspired by Micro Machines. No sir. Not at all.
  • An early name for the original Micromasters line was simply "Micro Transformers", having been featured on the packaging of the late 1988 Micromaster Patrols. The name was quickly dropped in favor of the now more common "Micromasters", possibly due to its similarity to Galoob's "Micro Machines".
  • All four Micromaster Station molds were reused sans Micromasters in Takara's Brave Police series a few years later, under the subline name "Distortion Machines".
  • While the first Universe franchise redecoed a number of Micromaster molds as non-Micromaster characters, the newer Universe toyline used several Micromaster characters as the basis of redecoes of non-Micromaster toys.

Foreign names

  • Japanese: Microtransformer (マイクロトランスフォーマー Maikurotoransufōmā), Micromaster (マイクロマスター Maikuromasutā)
  • Italian: Microtransformers
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