Gnaw (G1)

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

Gnaw is a Sharkticon from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Too cute for the Decepticons, too spikey for the Autobots, and expendable by Quintesson standards, a young Gnaw's sense of rejection gave way to overeating.

Though he originated as just another Sharkticon, Gnaw seems to be loyal only to the one who fed him last, be they Quintesson, Decepticon, or even Autobot. Much like his kin, he is insatiable in appetite and savage in combat. Gnaw's "masters" don't so much give him orders as they do unleash him like a caged tornado that promptly eats its way through the battlefield in a feeding frenzy.

And yet, Gnaw has on occasion shown glimpses of heart and devotion. He has been known to watch over the Autobot Wheelie and seems genuinely loyal to the youngster regardless of suppertime frequency. Gnaw tends to snap at the fingers of any other robot, however.

Fiction

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

"Oh, anyone get the number of that truck that ran me over?"

During the Great Shutdown, the Quintessons sent swarms of Sharkticons to Cybertron for an unknown purpose, possibly to infiltrate and reconquer the planet. Some of them encountered the revived Shockwave and Scourge, Unicron's chief agent. Cold War Gnaw was damaged, presumably in battle with these two, and was abandoned on Cybertron when the other Sharkticons were called home. Following the great revival, an amnesiac Gnaw came across the young Autobot named Wheelie, and the two formed a strong bond. Gnaw later followed Wheelie in joining the resistance movement alongside Hot Rod, Kup and several others. Passive Aggression

Down in one of the tunnels that make up the Old Slave Trails, he saved Optimus Prime from the Battlechargers in his own... unique style (Tastes great! Less filling!). Cold War Gnaw took Prime to his resistance group, but when Prime awoke, his first sight was Gnaw, who he thought was trying to eat him, and attacked. Wheelie took this poorly, and bit Prime's foot. Obviously the little guy and the Sharkticon had been hanging around each other for too long. Passive Aggression Once the misunderstanding had been dealt with, Gnaw was present to witness Optimus Prime unite the Autobot resistance and lead it against Shockwave. Countdown to Extinction He was last seen working with Wheelie under Ultra Magnus's command on Cybertron, being assigned perimeter guard duty in anticipation of whatever threat might endanger Cybertron next. The Route of All Evil

Due to Dreamwave's bankruptcy, its ongoing stories came to a halt. The following would have taken place in unpublished issues.

After accompanying Hot Rod to visit Optimus while he was still off-line and recovering, Gnaw and Wheelie witness their friend being accosted by a group of female Autobots. Gnaw leaped into action to help Hot Rod, but was quickly beaten down. Generation 1 #11

Games

Transformers Legends

Gnaw was among the Decepticons who aided Galvatron after his rebirth in Unicron's maw, but their assault on the Autobots failed when they were defeated by Rodimus's forces. All Hail Galvatron

Transformers Rising

Grimlock's New Brain

Toys

Generation 1

File:G1 Gnaw toy.jpg

Been hitting the energon goodies too much, have we?

• Gnaw (Decepticon, 1986)
  • Accessories: Tail, "Maceration Laser"

Gnaw transforms into something that looks like a cross between a shark and a frog. A frark, perhaps. His tail separates to become a mace for his robot mode. There is a minor variation to the toy. In some releases, his beast mode legs are held together by three screws, where others are held together by two.

Some releases of Gnaw also came with one of four pieces to a The Transformers: The Movie poster with glow-in-the-dark elements, advertising the Decipher the Decepticon contest.

• More information on Gnaw at TFU.info

Generations

File:TF-Generations-Titans-Return-Legends-Sharkticon-Gnaw.jpg

• Gnaw (Legends Class, 2016)
  • Accessories: Tail/Mace

Titans Return Gnaw is a new Legends Class mold who transforms into a squat-limbed, shark-like monster. He comes with a mace accessory, which can be wielded by his 5mm hands, or plug onto his back as a beast mode tail. Titan Masters can ride in his mouth. (Yes, you read that right.)

Notes

• Gnaw/Sharkticon was barely released in Japan. At first, he was a promotional item as part of a Beastformer giveaway. He was later made available in limited quantities, seemingly in US packaging, as a mail-away item during 1988's Super-God Masterforce series. He was sold as a member of the Animatron subgroup.

Foreign names

• French: Fringalo (Canada)