Lube
- Lube is an Autobot-allied Nebulan Powermaster from the Generation 1 continuity family.
Lube is a by-the-book, no-nonsense... okay, he's a temperamental tightass is what he is. As such, he's usually screaming at his Autobot partner Slapdash... though many times it's from a great distance. Even though Lube provides energy for the Powermaster, the slacking Slapdash often leaves Lube behind before charging off into battle, leaving the Autobot stuck in vehicle mode.
Lube's nature varies. In most universes he is an organic Nebulan; in others he is a robotic Cybertronian.
Fiction
Marvel The Transformers comics
After the first group of Transformer visitors left Nebulos, Hi-Q (working at the request of the Council of Peers) radiated the planet's fuel supply so that it was poisonous to robots. Lube was at Hi-Q's side when the project was implemented.
Some time after this had happened, Lube was working in the Hi-Q Industrial Research Complex with two more of Hi-Q's assistants, Hotwire and Kari. He was urging Hotwire to be careful with an electrostatic oscillator at the time, and getting annoyed over the latter gloating that he would be able to fix it blindfolded. Then, Goldbug, Getaway, Joyride, and Slapdash arrived to ask Hi-Q for help rebuilding Optimus Prime. The Autobots were warned that if they used Nebulon fuel they would freeze up and eventually die. Eventually Optimus Prime was rebuilt and Hi-Q decided to become his Powermaster partner in order to save his life and to defend Nebulos against Darkwing and Dreadwind (who were already Powermasters). Following his example, Lube quickly volunteered to be partnered to Slapdash.
The new Autobot Powermasters defeated Darkwing and Dreadwind. Hi-Test and Throttle were banished from Nebulos, so they took off with their partners.
The Powermaster process altered the circuitry of the Autobots to the point where they could not be separated from their partners. They had to stick together, but, for the sake of Nebulon peace, the Autobots could not remain there. So they all left on the Steelhaven to meet up with the other Autobots, leaving their friend Kari behind. People Power!
In transit to the Moon Optimus Prime filled the Nebulons in on the Autobot/Decepticon war. The Cosmic Carnival Shortly after arriving on Earth, Lube and the Powermasters got into a misunderstanding and fought with the Autobot Advance Surveillance Unit. Cold Comfort and Joy!
After Joyride's pursuit of Quake accidentally led to the fatal injury of an innocent human, Hi-Q and the Nebulans rigged up some advanced medical equipment to cure him. Unfortunately, Throttle stole the isotopic power cell that made the equipment functional and, to make matters worse, the Aerialbots shot him down in Dreadwing over the ocean while trying to retrieve it. Lube and the Nebulan Powermasters went along with their Autobot partners in order to protect them from the crushing depths. Despite the danger posed by the Seacons, Optimus Prime ordered Lube and the Nebulans separate from the Powermasters and retrieve the power cell for the injured man. Dreadwing Down!
The absent-minded (to be polite) Slapdash left Lube at home before a mission, leaving him unable to transform. Prime Bomb!
TransTech
One version of Lube was a Cyberdroid and Offworlder in Axiom Nexus. Lube worked at for Axiom Nexus News, often repairing cameras after Rook's tantrums. Just before an interview with General Hawk, Rook chatted with Lube about what Rook perceived as the ridiculousness of human names. Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 2016/05/01
Commercial appearances
Doot doot doot doot doot!
All you need is lube!
Lube! Lube!
Lube is all you need!
Lube accompanied Slapdash as the Autobot Powermasters went out for a drive. They were shocked to encounter the Decepticon Powermasters, and Lube assumed his engine mode to allow Slapdash to transform and fight back against their aggressors. Powermasters commercial
Toys
Generation 1
- Slapdash with Lube (Autobot Powermaster, 1988)
- Lube is an armored humanoid figure that converts into an engine block. In this form, he can fit into the engine socket of any Powermaster mold (without any added grease), unlocking its transformation from vehicle to robot mode. He was only available with his partner, Slapdash.
- Slapdash and Lube were sold in Japan without changes as the Godmaster Road King. The Lube figure was also redecoed to make the Masterforce Warrior Bullet.
