Scuba (BW)
- Scuba is a Maximal from the Beast Wars II portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.
Scuba (スクーバ Sukūba) is definitely the "quiet type". A solitary, silent loner, he prefers to keep to himself and spend his hours meticulously perfecting the numerous disciplines he pursues. Martial arts, poetry, military history; Scuba can do it all... just as long as nobody breaks his concentration with annoying prattle. Though more-or-less a team-player on the battlefield, Scuba relishes his solitude and doesn't connect very well with his fellow Maximals on a personal level (Tasmania Kid, in particular, says he "just doesn't get him").
Unfortunately for Scuba's privacy, being "mysterious" and "the strong silent type" all rolled into one has made him an absolute chick magnet. While Artemis voyeuristically pines for him from afar, the Seacon Scylla is much more forward with her advances, aggressively chasing and romancing the uninterested Maximal squid... who would just like to be left alone!
About the only Maximal whom Scuba can get along with is his cousin Ikard, who shares in many of his interests. Scuba also pilots the Tako Tank, a powerful amphibious vehicle and maybe the only thing capable of fending off his fangirls. Seriously, this guy is a walking Axe Body Spray commercial.
Fiction
Cartoon continuity
Beast Wars II cartoon
- Voice actor: Yūji Kishi (Japanese)
Scuba was a member of the Maximals' Convoy unit. Like his fellow comrades, he felt the apparent loss of their commander Convoy quite keenly. When they responded to their first mission without their leader, the Convoy unit was shot down aboard the Yukikaze above the planet Gaea. Scuba and the others used escape pods to reach the planet's surface, and Scuba adopted a squid beast mode once he made his landing. He reunited with his fellow soldiers (unfortunately, given Tasmania Kid's penchant for squid puns), and they made their way to the Galvaburg II, a Predacon vessel harvesting Angolmois energy from the planet and harming the local wildlife. After a short battle with the Predacons, Scuba and the Maximals escaped with the help of a white lion. The New Forces Arrive!
The lion soon revealed itself as Lio Convoy, who had survived his own crash on the planet. He led them to the crash site of the Yukikaze, which would become their base of operations. Megastorm unleashed his Autorollers to cause mass deforestation and prepare the planet for energy harvesting, threatening all animal life in the environment. The Maximals did their best to contain the fires until Scuba saved the day, drilling through rock and earth in squid mode to cause geysers of water to shoot up from underground reservoirs, drenching the forests and putting out the fires. White Lion, Run!
Lio Convoy instructed his Maximal soldiers to search for the Galvaburg II. Outside the base, Bighorn and Tasmania Kid teamed up to go looking for the ship, leaving Diver to suggest partnering with Scuba. Or he WOULD have, if Scuba hadn't slid off to search on his own the moment Diver's back was turned. Bighorn's Rage When Kid was captured in a lake trap set by the Predacons, the other land-based Maximals were caught in a second trap on the shore. Lio Convoy instructed Diver to forge ahead to rescue Kid, and Scuba soon appeared on his own to assist Diver in reconnoitering the underwater base. Scuba got the drop on the Predacons and freed Kid before the self-destruct was set, leading all the Maximals to escape the base together. The Lake Trap
The Maximals were hard pressed to stop Megastorm's latest ploy to capture the planet's energy, dispatching an overwhelming quantity of autonomous robot drones to build fortresses for the Predacons. This became the least of their problems, however, when Galvatron emerged for the first time on Gaea. His drill tank mode proved virtually unstoppable, as Lio Convoy led him up the cliffside of a volcano. Scuba managed to temporarily up-end Galvatron by creating a geyser underneath him, and the Maximals' weapons fire then buried him in rubble. However, Galvatron then unleashed his dragon mode, prolonging the combat even further. In the end, it was a sneak attack by Megastorm that upset his brother's footing and sent him tumbling into an open volcano, leaving the Maximals confused over who their secret ally was.Galvatron Revived
Next, Scuba and the Maximals moved on to the Southern Continent to investigate a new string of energy readings. Mystery of the Ancient Ruins As the Maximals became aware of the Insectrons' presence on Gaea, Lio Convoy wanted to make peaceful contact and prove the Maximals weren't their enemies. Diver and Scuba were paired up to search the Insectrons' territory. The Insect Corps Arrive Later, Scuba was off searching alone when Diver, Kid, and Bighorn were tricked into a fight with the Insectrons by the Predacons. He helped Lio Convoy and Apache save their friends from an opportunistic Predacon attack after the Maximals were low on energy. Friend or Foe? The Insect Robos
When Tasmania Kid called in the Maximals for help saving the Insectrons from a Predacon trap, his transmission was cut off. Fortunately, Scuba was able to identify his location and bring the other Maximals to their aid. Lio Convoy told Kid he should thank Scuba for his rescue. Everyone should give thanks for Scuba. Always. The Strongest Tag Team?
One afternoon on patrol, Scuba saw Tasmania Kid and Scissor Boy being held at gunpoint by the Autorollers. They were headed in the direction of the Maximal base, and so Scuba relayed his findings to the team. Lio Convoy reasoned that Kid and Boy intended to lead the Autorollers into an ambush, and ordered the Maximals to prepare. When the other Insectrons inadvertently foiled the plan by trying to rescue their friends with a rockslide, Scuba alerted the Maximals and they raced to back up their comrades at the Galvaburg II instead. Danger! Scissor Boy
During his meditations, Scuba detected a change in the Angolmois flow underneath the planet. He traced the anomaly to a cavern where the Autorollers were digging for Angolmois. Musing aloud that the Autorollers were clearly the most dangerous of the Predacons, Scuba missed the approach of Autojetter behind him. Scuba was captured and learned of the Autorollers' plan to unleash a wave of Angolmois energy over the Insectrons' lands to drive them out.
They were interrupted by the insane Galvatron, who drilled into the pipeline and caused a blockage. Scuba convinced the Autorollers to release him so that he could help man the pipes and prevent the destruction of their base. With Galvatron running wild, Scuba orchestrated a ceasefire between the Maximals and Autorollers, as the two groups worked together to overload Galvatron on Angolmois energy, casting him into the sea. Autojetter was still beaming from Scuba's earlier compliment of the Autorollers, and so they and the Maximals parted peacefully, knowing when next they met, it would be as enemies once more. Galvatron Rampages
When the Predacons launched a massive offensive on the Southern Continent, Scuba and the Maximals teamed up with the Insectrons to foil their plans once again. Predacon General Offensive!
One day, Scuba was sunning himself by the Yukikaze and apparently too "cool" to report in when a spacecraft crashed on the Eastern Continent containing the three Jointron brothers. Technically Maximals, the Jointrons were cocky and unpredictable, so Lio Convoy instructed Scuba to keep an eye on them. When the Jointrons tried to take on the Galvaburg II alone in their Tripledacus form, Scuba emerged dramatically from a water spout to save them from the Predacons. The Combined Giant, Tripledacus When the Jointrons overran the Maximal advance base, lured the Predacons in, got captured, freed themselves and captured the Predacons, then let them escape in the end, Scuba somehow managed to be on patrol and miss the whole fiasco. Somehow. The Festive Jointrons
While the Maximals were searching for the latest Predacon fortress, the Jointrons were exposed to a bacteria bomb that robbed them of their power. Scuba and the other Maximals saved the Jointrons by posing as the massive Jointron II. They compensated for Kid and Diver's exposure to the bacteria by sharing energy between one another, in a proud display of teamwork. A Fearsome Combination Plan?
Scuba was sent out on patrol shortly before the Jointrons started causing trouble again. Caught up in proving who among them was the best leader, the Jointrons stole a Maximal ship to attack a Predacon fortress, getting most of Lio Convoy's crew involved in a fight with the Combatrons and Autorollers. The Predacons had orders to capture the Jointrons so that Galvatron could study their combination sequence. Because the squabbling Jointrons refused to fight together as Tripledacus, they were captured separately by BB, Dirge, and Thrust. But never fear, Scuba's here! Launching out of a conveniently nearby waterfall, Scuba knocked BB out of the sky and severed his net, freeing Motorarm. Who Is the Leader!?
| “ | Yes, I saved you, and everybody else. | ” |
—Scuba | ||
One day, Tasmania Kid found a Copy Machine that scanned objects to create three-dimensional duplicates of the subject. He demonstrated the machine's power by copying Scuba's book of poetry so that both he and Bighorn could read at the same time. Somehow, the conversation jumped immediately to "Lets clone ourselves!", and Kid shined the Machine's ray on Lio Convoy, creating Black Lio Convoy. Unfortunately, the machine only created evil copies, and so Scuba and the Maximals were forced to deal with a malevolent usurper that had all of Lio Convoy's knowledge and skills. He even captured the Copy Machine and used it to create Black Scuba and other copy Maximals. Fortunately, Diver's Niagara Base enhancements turned the tide in favor of the original Maximals.
The evil book of poetry is still out there somewhere, though. Waiting. The Black Lio Convoy
When the Maximals detected a ship landing near the Sea continent, they took a ship to investigate. Since the energy readings came from underwater, Scuba and Diver were tapped for reconnaissance. They discovered the Space Pirate Seacons pillaging Angolmois energy from beneath the sea, but were sighted by the lady-pirate and squid, Scylla. Scylla was immediate taken with Scuba's good looks, but he blew his ink wad to cover his escape with Diver and reported back to Lio Convoy. The Maximals were confronted by Halfshell, the Seacons' captain, who proved to be a mighty opponent on his own. When he called in the rest of the Seacons to form God Neptune, Lio Convoy dispatched Scuba and Diver to seize the pirates' ship while the others kept God Neptune busy. The frog and the squid began sailing away with the Photon sailer, drawing God Neptune to chase them. Once he caught the vessel, Diver and Scuba abandoned ship and detonated the Angolmois canisters onboard, leaving the ship crippled and the Seacons in disarray. The Space Pirate Seacons!
While investigating the rise in Angolmois energy activity, Scuba was embarrassingly caught off-guard by the newly upgraded Dirgegun and Thrustor. The cyber-raptor's Trasher Horn froze Scuba on the spot in a block of solid ice. The Magnaboss team found the squid-cicle, and Lio Junior instructed Santon and Skywarp to thaw Scuba while he took the Tako Tank's bike to go help Lio Convoy. The Lio Convoy Assassination Plot
Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger! The Great Angolmois Freezing Tactic Knock Out Nemesis
Scuba, in the Tako Tank, brought Diver to the rescue when Magnaboss went berserk, but the two of them were overcome just as easily as the other Maximals. Only after Lio Convoy drained the evil Angolmois energy infecting Lio Junior's spark did the giant warrior settle down. Lio Junior's Revolt!?
Emissary of the Fourth Planet The Crisis of Planet Gaea Fly Out! Planet Gaea Assemble, Thirty-Nine Warriors Revenge of the Space Pirates Breaking into Nemesis Farewell! Lio Convoy
The Maximal Brainwashing Operation
Scuba helped Lio Convoy take down Dirge and Thrust when the two Predacons wandered near the Yukikaze. He was surprised to discover that the pair now sported Maximal faction symbols; the shock that the two jets had sustained during the fight had somehow switched their allegiance!
Later, the bulk of the Predacon forces launched an assault against the Maximal base. Throughout the battle, Scuba stayed hidden in an underground river. Just as Megastorm was readying a devastating turret-blast, Scuba emerged from his hiding place and caused the terrain beneath the Predacon's treads to collapse. Megastorm's shot missed its mark and badly damaged the rest of the Predacon combatants. Scuba then allowed Megatorm to be swept away by the river's current while the rest of the Predacons retreated. The Maximal Brainwashing Operation
Beast Wars Neo cartoon
Later, after Big Convoy, Lio Convoy and Magmatron defeated Unicron, all the Maximals, Scuba included, were freed from the wormhole and invited back to Cybertron to help repair their devastated planet and take part in a new Maximal-Predacon alliance. Graduation Ceremony!!
Bom Bom manga continuity
Beast Wars II comic
Beast Wars Neo manga
After the destruction of the Nemesis, Scuba arrived the planet Jörmungandr with an Angolmois energy capsule. There, he transformed the native cobras into Transformers, possibly using the Angolmois. The cobras worshipped Scuba as a god, called Scuba Geso Mongō (スクーバ ゲソ モンゴー), and the capsule was encased in a statue in his image. Scuba eventually left Jörmungandr for reasons unknown; native myths claimed that "the god was enraged, so he had to leave". A Battle Fought Alone
IDW Beast Wars comics
Ikard, Scuba's elder sibling, taught him the Surumerang attack, a technique that involves throwing his claw-weapon to disable several opponents at once. Beast Wars Sourcebook
Scuba was one of many crazed Transformers participating in an Angolmois-induced riot on Cybertron. He followed the Tako Tank after it broke down a wall, so apparently he wasn't the driver this time. The Ascending #4
Transformers Legends comic
Scuba borne witness to Windblade's declaration that the Legends Universe would come to an end. Bonus Edition Vol. 12 During Megatron's inauguration ceremony as chairman of Tera-Kura Co., Scuba asked about the claims that he sought to conquer the universe, to which Megatron responded that was a fictional version of him. Presidential Inauguration! Lord Megatron When Tera-Kura announced their latest product, the ninja maid robot Nightbird Shadow, Scuba asked if being a ninja made it dangerous. President Megatron explained to him it was fine since Nightbird was programmed to be clumsy. Bonus Edition Vol. 15
Scuba later tried to claim Armada Megatron's discarded Unicron of Light toy for himself, Bonus Edition Vol. 18 and watched Deadlock pay a visit to a local internet cafe. Bonus Edition Vol. EX
Games
Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars
Scuba wound up in a series of one-on-one battles when a super-power Energon crystal was discovered on Earth.
Scuba could also partake in various other tasks, such as a mission to break a boulder to reveal an energon crystal hidden within before sundown, using a block in a mission to defend himself against various incoming projectiles, and missions to run across a pit-riddled field, sometimes involving hideously large bacteria he had to fend off.
After defeating Megatron, his final opponent, and obtaining the crystal, Scuba used its power to reverse the damage the Predacons caused to the planet's environment. Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars
Toys
Beast Wars
- Scuba (Basic, 1998)
- ID number: C-15
- Accessories: Boomerang
- Largely identical to the Hasbro Maximal Claw Jaw (there are some very slight differences in plastic and paint hues), Scuba transforms into a maroon and orange squid. Pushing a plunger on his back opens his beast mode jaws. This gimmick also works in robot mode. A piece of the plunger pops off to become a hand-held boomerang weapon.
- Scuba vs Thrust (Multi-pack, 1998)
- ID number: VS-15
- Accessories: Boomerang
- Scuba was also available in a "Vs" pack with the Predacon Thrust. Both toys were identical to their individual releases.
Notes
- Scuba's name was derived from both "squid" and "scuba".[1] With this in mind, his name could be written "Squba".
- Although he possesses an aquatic alternate form, Scuba is capable of moving freely on land while in his beast mode, something that real squids are absolutely incapable of doing.
- Even more impressive is his ability to quickly burrow underground, through even solid rock, by spinning rapidly while in beast mode.
- Scuba's statue in Beast Wars Neo manga depicts him dressing like a Hindu monk.
