Hardtop (Movie)
| The name or term "Hardtop" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Hardtop (disambiguation). |
- Hardtop is a Decepticon from the 2007 movie franchise of the live-action film continuity family.
Hardtop is a crack shot, a dedicated hunter, and an expert in espionage. He considers the Autobot Bumblebee his greatest rival and worst enemy. What started as professional rivalry has turned into a bloody personal vendetta. Hardtop is less interested now in the hunt for the AllSpark than he is in tracking down his foe across the cosmos and finishing the job once and for all.
Fiction
Robo-Vision bio
Hardtop followed his rival Bumblebee to Earth, and was the first Decepticon to arrive on the planet. Like Bumblebee, he too managed to uncover the connection between Sam Witwicky and the AllSpark, but never had time to act on it. This is probably because Bumblebee managed to bury him under tons of rubble somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. Movie Hardtop Robo-Vision bio
IDW movie comics
Many years ago, Hardtop was a member of Cybertron's defense forces under Protector Megatron. After a strange relic was uncovered and aliens from the Eshems Nebula attacked, Megatron declared a military dictatorship and led the aerial forces in vengeful counter-attack against the invaders. Hardtop was one of the soldiers left behind, and apparently he did something that caused some consternation to science division leader Optimus. Defiance #2 He later joined Megatron's "Decepticon" faction. Defiance #3
Years later, Hardtop was a member of Starscream's crew as they searched for the missing AllSpark and Megatron. Thundercracker's only company on Mars bar his drones, Hardtop was scouting when he happened on a group of Autobots making a move on their undermanned ship. Starscream ordered him back, or he'd miss out on the fun. The Reign of Starscream #2
Hardtop managed to get a bead on the Autobot Smokescreen, but was fatally sniped by Arcee before he could make the kill. The Reign of Starscream #3 His lifeless body was later found by Soundwave. Convergence chapter 4
Titan movie comics
In an alternate timeline where Megatron won the battle of Mission City, Hardtop was one of Starscream's generals, leading an army of Payloads. When Stockade barred his way, a very unimpressed Hardtop shot him in the chest.
A very scared Hardtop defected after Stockade took control of all the drones and was about to crush his head. Revolution Part Two
Toys
Transformers (2007)
- Hardtop (Scout, 2007)
- Accessories: Rifle, Key
- A redeco of the Cybertron Hardtop toy, Hardtop transforms into a dune buggy of indeterminate model. Plugging a Cyber Planet Key into the butt of his rifle flips out an extended barrel for a "sniper" mode. He comes with a Planet X-style Key with a Sector Seven logo on it.
- Hardtop (and the rest of the Scout wave) are exclusive to Target stores, where they are all part of a Robo-Vision promotion. Hardtop comes with a Robo-Vision Decoder which allows you to see the Robo-Vision Code printed on his cardback. Starting June 2, 2007, Target's website allowed users to input those codes to access exclusive content.
- Later releases of this toy did not include the Robo-Vision promotion.
- This mold was also used to make Cybertron Swindle. He was also repurposed as Shattered Glass Beachcomber, and the toy was later re-released in the Universe toyline as... Cybertron Hardtop again.
Notes
- Hardtop's bio notes that it was a shot from him that wrecked Bumblebee's vocal processors. This contradicts the events of the IDW Movie Prequel comics, where it's Megatron who does the throat-crushy. Alternate timeline, or does Bumblebee just have Cybertron's unluckiest neck? The expanded bio from the Target.com site removes any mention of Hardtop causing the injury.
- Speaking of odd possible contradictions, Hardtop's bio pegs him as a Decepticon, where his toy's only "faction" marking is for Sector Seven. It's possible Hardtop is hiding out among the Sector Seven motor pool disguised as one of their standard-issue assault jeeps. (And that his bio was written without knowledge of the deco.)
- The packaging the toy comes in depicts the key used for the toy as a Cybertron-style key, unlike the Planet X key that actually comes with it.
