Roadhandler (G1)
| The name or term "Roadhandler" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Roadhandler (disambiguation). |
- Roadhandler is an Autobot Micromaster from the Generation 1 continuity family.
His name is Roadhandler, and he's the main spokesbot for the Micromaster Race Car Patrol, and he's here today to tell you that Micromasters are just as tough a bunch of Autobot warriors as any of the big boys. If any of you Decepticons aren't willing to believe that, then he's here to teach you a lesson, and what this lesson's going to be, is that Roadhandler's going to lay the smackdown on you. He's going to smack you down, and when he's done you'll know that his micro size has the power to surprise. He'll surprise you all, and any of you soft-hearted leaders can just go home to your momma-bots, because Roadhandler's in it to win it, and he's not going to pull punches just because you're threatening to cry about it. So go home and cry, and don't you tell Roadhandler to go back on his Micromaster buddies, either, because Roadhandler is a bot-pounding machine who knows who his friends are. Stay in school, kids, and don't do drugs!
Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
Marvel The Transformers comics
As leader of the Micromaster Race Car Patrol, Roadhandler was assigned to plant mines which would destroy a Decepticon installation. The purpose of this mission was to stop the Decepticons' experimentation on their fellow Autobot Micromasters in the Battle Patrol. Roadhandler's orders did not permit him to attempt to rescue the Battle Patrol, who were considered a lost cause. Roadhandler disobeyed his orders and liberated his comrades, earning the respect of and an apology from his commander, Xaaron. A Small War!
When the Race Car Patrol and Off Road Patrol were dispatched to Earth in response to Optimus Prime's request for reinforcements, Optimus was dismayed by their small size. Offended, Roadhandler explained that the Micromasters had downsized to conserve energy, and would be tough enough to face any Decepticon. For their first terrestrial mission, the Micromasters were assigned to investigate strange Decepticon activities; these proved to be part of an energy-collecting mission which would have destroyed most of New York City. Roadhandler prevented the Decepticon Iguanus from completing the vital final step of the procedure, befriending Cecilia Santiago in the process. King Con!
In repayment for Cecilia's help, Roadhandler was obliged to appear on her television talk show. In a brief interview, Roadhandler denounced Optimus Prime as out of touch, and noted that Prime had always failed to do what Roadhandler had accomplished in only a few weeks; earning the respect and trust of humans. Roadhandler's fellow guest Jake "The Jackhammer" Jackson, a professional wrestler, used the show to issue a challenge to Roadhandler to a wrestling match. Although this challenge was clearly meant as a publicity stunt, Roadhandler used the opportunity to grant himself a new forum with which to demonstrate Autobot virtues to a larger human audience. Roadhandler became an instant celebrity, complete with his own adoring fan club. Decepticon leader Lord Zarak decided to sully Roadhandler's image by forcing him to throw a fight with Storm Cloud, and held members of Roadhander's fan club hostage to ensure his compliance. Once the humans were freed by Roadhandler's fellow Autobots, Roadhandler's victory over Storm Cloud earned him even more adulation from the humans; but what had happened to his fans proved to him that no human who had befriended an Autobot could ever be safe. To distance the humans from himself, Roadhandler made a speech in which he seemed to denounce humanity. He and his fellow Micromasters then left for new adventures in parts unknown. The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!
Later, after Roadhandler and his Patrol accompanied Optimus Prime on a mission to retrieve vital battle plans from Chainclaw, who was serving as a courier. When Chainclaw was intercepted and captured by the Decepticon Doubledealer, Optimus Prime prevented Roadhandler from opening fire. Roadhandler argued that Chainclaw's situation was hopeless, meaning that his life could be forfeit to protect Autobot secrets; Optimus Prime disagreed, saying that an Autobot must always consider other options. (Double) Deal of the Century!
Roadhandler was invited to the Transformers' party for Christmas 1989, where he was seen nursing a sore head. The Transformers #250 cover
Another Time & Place
After the battle of Klo, Roadhandler joined the Autobots in a mission to Hydrus Four to rescue the errant Dinobots. He planned to quietly free Grimlock and the others before the major offensive started, but Crankcase walked in at the wrong time, so Grimlock ploughed him through a wall.
So much for subtlety. Another Time & Place
Transformers Comic-Magazin
Roadhandler and the Race Car Patrol arrived on Earth with the Autobots, and began to battle the Decepticons to protect Earth's energy resources. New York — A City Sinking in Terror
In a battle at Alaska, Roadhandler's team and the Off Road Patrol fought against the Decepticon Pretenders. The Transformers' Grand Hour: Headmaster of the Dimensions
Zone cartoon, manga, and story pages
When Victory Saber initiated the "Zone Project", the Race Car Patrol helped rebuild planet Micro into planet Zone. To counter this threat, Violen Jiger began conquering planets in order to create his own Decepticon Zone. The Race Car Patrol and all other Micromaster teams were then sent on patrol across the galaxy, specifically to planets where their unique skills could do the most good. Zone Part 1
When King Poseidon and Trypticon attacked the aquatic planet of Wall, the Race Car Patrol team were deployed to defend it. With the aid of Commanders Overload, Erector, Missile Bull, and Skywave, they emerged triumphant. Zone Part 3
Roadhandler was one of the numerous Micromasters who helped defend Planet Zone from the Nine Great Demon Generals. Unfortunately, they were not able to prevent Overlord from stealing the planet's Zodiac energy capsule. Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas! Zone
When the Powered Masters flew off to the Tenth Planet for their showdown with Violen Jiger, all the Micromaster teams took command of Zone and vowed to keep it safe in their Commander's absence. Zone Part 10
Dreamwave Generation One continuity
Apparently older and tougher than most Micromasters, Roadhandler enjoyed a certain position of authority thanks to his impressive driving skill and no-nonsense attitude. When Big Daddy threatened to lead a Micromaster exodus from the Autobots, Roadhandler refused to jump on the bandwagon with the Hot Rod Patrol. Destined for Nothing Later, Big Daddy confronted Roadhandler in Little Iacon about not steppin' up, so Roadhandler had to school him on the ways of the world. This, for some reason, involved a race. The Gray Race After being captured by the Decepticons, Roadhandler and the rest of the Autobot Micros were eventually set free by Countdown and Big Daddy. He then did some serious damage on their jailers, ripping Barrage's head right off of his shoulders. Victims of the Revolution
IDW Generation 1 continuity
Roadhandler and the rest of Jhiaxus's robotically-evolved Gorlamites swarmed Hardhead and Nightbeat on Gorlam Prime. He demonstrated some serious stunt-driving while taking pot-shots at Hardhead. Spotlight: Hardhead
Commercial appearances
Roadhandler was among the many Autobot Micromasters unleashed by Optimus Prime that managed to infiltrate the Decepticons' lair and muck up the place. Micromaster Patrols commercial
Toys
Generation 1
- Race Car Patrol (Micromaster Patrol, 1989)
- Japanese ID number: C-334
- Roadhandler transforms into a red Pontiac Firebird Trans Am sports car. He was only available in a four-pack with his teammates Free Wheeler, Swindler, and Tailspin.
Notes
- In Dreamwave's More than Meets the Eye encyclopedia, his name is parsed as "Road Handler", two words.
- Roadhandler is gang-molded with his teammate Free Wheeler, sharing the same plastic colors.
Foreign names
- Japanese: Roadhandler (ロードハンドラー Rōdohandorā)
- French: Grappin (Canada, "Grappling hook")
- Italian: Molecula
