Arcana

Revision as of 19:43, 31 July 2017 by Giggidy (talk | contribs) (→Toys)
Arcana is an Autobot-allied Nebulan Headmaster from the Generation 1 continuity family.
Tex Arcana

For a man whose work has had such a big effect on the lives of so many Nebulans and Transformers, very few people really know the distant and remote Arcana. Not even Brainstorm, who shares his psyche, can claim to truly fathom the workings of his partner's mind. But then, Arcana seems to cultivate an extremely anti-social persona unintentionally, training first as a medical doctor, only to grow bored and focus on long-forgotten and repudiated scientific lore of his planet, earning the ire of medical colleagues. Yet it was this combination of knowledge and skill, along with the combined input of his future partner, that allowed the creation of the binary bonding process.

Arcana's nature varies. In some universes he is an organic Nebulan; in others he is a robotic Cybertronian.

Sometimes he goes by the name Teslor; in one universe, Teslor is Arcana's twin.

Fiction

Marvel The Transformers comics

Events from the UK-only comic stories are in italics.
"MARTY! It's your kids!"
These genius types, they're just clueless when it comes to fashion.{{#if:|{{{quote2}}}}}{{#if:Stylor, regarding Arcana"Stylor's Story"|Stylor, regarding Arcana{{#if:"Stylor's Story"|, "Stylor's Story"|}}|}}

Arcana was once a medical doctor, but later turned to study the ancient, mystical sciences of Nebulos. This new career path cast him in a new light for many, such as Stylor, who viewed him as a sort of oddball. Stylor's Story

While Nebulos's capital city Koraja was under siege by the Decepticons, the Autobots were voluntary prisoners of the planet, refusing to act on their own in order to ensure the trust of the people. Galen called upon the services of Arcana, and his skills in bio-engineering, to work around these restrictions by placing the Autobots' bodies partially under the control of Nebulan partners. Inventing Headmaster technology on the spot, Arcana submitted himself as one of its test subjects, and became the Headmaster partner of Brainstorm. With Brainstorm and his fellow Autobots' new-found might, they easily beat back the Decepticon onslaught. In the aftermath, Arcana and the other test subjects revealed themselves as the heads of the robots, and he was thanked by the citizens of Koraja. Broken Glass!

Recalling the procedure, Stylor ranted at length about how absurdly dressed Arcana was for a man his age. Shoulder capes? Shoulder-length hair despite his male-pattern baldness? Those cyclops shades? As if! Stylor's Story

"One point twenty-one jigawatts!"

Soon after, the talents of Arcana/Brainstorm and Duros/Hardhead, along with the Technobots, were responsible for defeating the Terrorcons and Horrorcons at the resort city of Splendora. This time, the rescued citizens reacted in fear at the sight of their saviors, and Arcana's reveal did less to reassure them. Furthermore, Soriza and the Council of Peers questioned the violence being employed by the Autobots, even if it was in the name of peace. The Council sent its representatives at the Headmasters' base of operations to observe them while Arcana was working on ways to boost the firepower of six of the Autobots' weapons, and explained that the Headmasters would be monitored during their next mission. Said mission came immediately, as Lord Zarak sent the Autobots a plea for help; his entourage had been captured by Scorponok, and only Fortress Maximus's soldiers stood a chance in freeing them. This turned out to be a trap, as Zarak and the Decepticons had joined forces to create Headmasters of their own! The Decepticon Headmasters imperiled the council observers, leaving the Autobots open for attack as they turned their attention to protecting the Nebulans. A wave of Mindwipe's hypnotic gaze, and the council were left believing Zarak and the Decepticons had rescued them from the "renegade" Galen and the Autobots. Arcana and his fellow Autobot Headmasters were taken prisoner by Lord Zarak, who reassumed his position in the Nebulan hierarchy. Love and Steel! But Zarak realized, as he slowly succumbed to madness, that as long as the Autobots and Decepticons remained on Nebulos, it was doomed to war. In a moment of lucidity, he released Arcana and the others, who quickly rejoined with the Autobots' bodies. After a brief encounter with the newly-upgraded Decepticon Targemasters, the Autobot Headmasters fled and rejoined the rest of the Autobot forces. Brothers in Armor!!

Fortress Maximus once made a vid-phone call to Brainstorm and Arcana's workshop, and the two eggheads managed to invent a new, smaller, and more efficient vid-phone between the conversation's beginning and its end. They later worked together to design a fuel convertor to get the Autobots to Earth aboard Steelhaven. However, this device was stolen through Decepticon trickery. The Final Conflict

The events in this UK story differ in significant ways to the Headmasters mini-series.

The Autobots decided to flee the planet to another, Earth, from where an Autobot distress call was emanating. The Decepticons followed them into the inter-planetary void towards this new world. Brothers in Armor!!

Not the end I'd wish for, lad.

After Brainstorm oversaw the reconstruction of Fortress Maximus into a larger form, Arcana (with some dubious assistance from Stylor) was able to triangulate the source of the Autobot distress call. Again Arcana formed Brainstorm's head, and the Headmasters traveled to the planet's surface. Trial by Fire!

Brainstorm appeared several times after this, but Arcana was not mentioned or featured, though any appearance of Brainstorm in robot mode is technically an appearance of Arcana. For the further merely-as-a-head adventures of Arcana, see Brainstorm's article.

During the Transformers' battle against Unicron, Brainstorm, still partnered with Arcana, was among the first victims. On the Edge of Extinction!

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Transformers cartoon

Voice actor: Jack Angel (English), Kenichi Sakaguchi (Japanese){{#if: Walter Reichelt (German)|, Walter Reichelt (German)}}
Instead of Doc Brown captions, the cartoon version of Arcana gets Karl Malden captions.

The oldest and wisest of the Nebulan rebels, he and Firebolt attempted to treat Daniel Witwicky when the youngster was injured by Snapdragon during a fight. They were able to stabilise Daniel, but not enough that he could survive without life support machinery. The Rebirth, Part 1 When the Headmaster project was put into action, he selected Brainstorm as his bonding partner, finding the Autobot to have refreshing ideas despite his undisciplined mind. The Headmasters tested themselves against Hive machines, with Arcana and Brainstorm successfully taking one out. Once the machines had all been destroyed, he worried that the Hive would swiftly discover their actions, but Gort was too exhilarated to care.

After the Autobot Headmasters easily bested the Decepticons in battle, the Decepticons teamed up with the Hive as Headmasters and Targetmasters in order to tip the odds in their favour. Though the Autobots and rebels soon found themselves outclassed, Arcana and Brainstorm were able to scan Nightstick and steal the Targetmaster technology for Autobot use. The Rebirth, Part 2 Traveling to Cybertron with the Autobots, there Arcana and Gort modified Galvatron's rocket engine, reversing its polarity so that a new Golden Age could dawn on the world. After the victory, Arcana and the other Nebulans returned to Nebulos to clean up the rest of the Hive machines. The Rebirth, Part 3

Transformers Legends comic

Arcana, Duros and Stylor followed Zarak to the Legends Universe, where they targeted the local versions of Brainstorm, Hardhead and Chromedome, who relied on unliving Transtectors to be Headmasters. Since their own form of Headmasters relied on the bodies being controlled separately, Arcana and the others locked the Autobots in their Transtectors and convinced them to pilot the bodies while the Nebulans formed the heads. The combination of two different types of Headmaster was powerful enough to defeat Scorponok, and the three Nebulans returned to their own universe. LGEX Headmaster Set Chapter

Ladybird Books continuity

When the Decepticons build an energy interceptor atop the north pole of Nebulos, Arcana and Brainstorm studied the area and came up with a plan to foil the Decepticons' plot. They arranged for a group of Targetmasters to use thermal lasers, Scorponok's vast bulk, and the solid ice underneath the Decepticon base to send the Cons tumbling into melted slush. Decepticons at the Pole

Swamp of the Scorpion

The following summarizes one or more multipath adventures. Details vary depending on the paths taken in-story. See the book's page for information on alternate paths.

Arcana built a spare head for Highbrow, which came in handy when his Headmaster partner stayed behind with Brainstorm as he underwent repairs while Highbrow investigated some Decepticon activity. Swamp of the Scorpion

Ask Vector Prime

In Aurex 503.01 Gamma, Arcana and Hi-Q were treating the mode-locked nucleon-addict Rollout. The arrival of a new Cybertronian patient, the dying Overload, offered them the opportunity to save both patients using the ancient Autobot Headmaster procedure, merging the two into a single body. Complications required them to hand their patients over to Rhinox, who rebuilt the combined form. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/18

Beast Wars: Uprising

Arcana and his twin, Teslor, were scientists with the World Watcher organization on Nebulos. They reverse-engineered the Hive-Decepticon invention of Headmaster technology, and later expanded upon it to create the Targetmaster innovation as well. A Brush With Infamy–Prologue

Titans Return marketing material

The Titan Master Teslor partnered up with Brainstorm, enhancing Brainstorm's intelligence to advance the development of his inventions. Titans Return Teslor/Brainstorm toy bio

Commercial appearances

  • After several Transformers blasted their way to the planet Nebulon, they were forced to surrender to the locals. Arcana was one of several Nebulons who fused with a Cybertronian partner, so that the war between Autobots and Decepticons could resume on their world. Headmaster comic book commercial
  • After Hot Rod broadcast a Decepticon alert, Arcana boarded Brainstorm. They sped off together to battle against the Decepticon Headmasters who were invading a Nebulan city. Headmasters commercial

Toys

Generation 1

Kids, buy this toy of an old man!
  • Brainstorm with Arcana (Headmaster, 1987)
Arcana transforms from an armored humanoid into a robot head. Though he only came with his partner, Brainstorm, in head mode, he is compatible with any other Headmaster body. On the larger Headmasters, he gives three of Brainstorm's Tech Spec stats in their display window, but the smaller ones still display their normal heads' stats due to their construction.


Generations

And then we're gonna go on even MORE adventures after that, Brainstorm... and you're gonna keep your MOUTH SHUT about it, Brainstorm, because the world is full of idiots that don't understand what's important. And they'll TEAR us apart, Brainstorm!
  • Brainstorm (Voyager, 2014)
    • Series / Number: 02 / #009
Part of the eighth wave of 2012-onwards Generations Voyager Class toys, Thrilling 30 Brainstorm's head transforms into an unnamed robot that is almost certainly Arcana, and can be inserted inside the cockpit to be used as a pilot. Putting him into Brainstorm's neck socket will reveal Tech Specs like the G1 toy. The Tech Specs are based off the original figure, not the Tech Specs on the box. Arcana's robot mode design is based on the Dreamwave art at the top of this page, which itself is actually Monzo's character model in Arcana's colors.
Exercise caution while using the Headmaster gimmick, as Brainstorm's neck socket is painted, making Arcana rather difficult to remove. Too much force could separate the small figure's own head from his body.
Please take note that Arcana cannot connect to Brainstorm's Deluxe Class counterpart due to having different connectors.
This mold was also used to make Legends Cana.


But if you stick with me, I'm gonna accomplish great things, Brainstorm! And you're gonna be a part of 'em. And together we're gonna run around, Brainstorm, we're gonna do all kinds of wonderful things, Brainstorm! Just you and me, Brainstorm! The universe is our enemy, Brainstorm! We're the only *belch* friends we've got, Brainstorm!
  • Titan Force (gift set, 2016)
    • Accessories: Gun, "Autobot Teslor" Titan Master
A retool of Titans Return Hyperfire, "Autobot Teslor" (seriously, who trademarks "Arcana"?!) is part of the "Titan Force" giftset, exclusive to the Hasbro Toy Shop website and the Hasbro Toy Shop booth at San Diego Comic-Con 2016. He transforms from a robot based on Stylor into a head for the set's Brainstorm figure, based on the character's IDW More than Meets the Eye design. As with all Titan Masters, he can pilot any Titans Return vehicle and form the head of any Deluxe-or-larger figure. Specific to Brainstorm, he can also pilot the detached nosecone as a sort of battle-sled thing.
As with Arcana, Teslor (or any Titan Master) cannot plug to his Voyager Class counterpart's body.
Teslor and Brainstorm are packaged together with a translucent plastic redeco of Titans Return Sentinel Prime and a Fortress Maximus-themed redeco of Windblade (using her Robots in Disguise Warrior mold).
{{#if:Titans Return|Titans Return mold:|}} Hyperfire

{{#if:*Hasbro:

  • TakaraTomy:
 style="text-align:{{{align}}};"|}}|
  • Hasbro:
  • TakaraTomy:

{{#if:||-

{{{designer}}}|}}


"You know, me and Brainstorm are having a blast. We just discovered a store called Walgreen's. I mean, I don't wanna rub it in or anything, but you guys clearly backed the wrong conceptual horse."
  • Autobot Teslor & Brainstorm (Deluxe, 2016)
    • Accessories: Gun, "Autobot Teslor" Titan Master
The Titans Return Brainstorm figure is also available individually as a U.S. exclusive. The differences between the San Diego Comic-Con and the individual release is the yellow canopy and the toy's deco, inspired by the original Generation 1 toy. Strangely, Teslor's visor is only painted at the bottom section.
This toy also doubles as the independent Beast Wars: Uprising character Teslor.
{{#if:Titans Return|Titans Return mold:|}} Hyperfire

{{#if:*Hasbro:

  • TakaraTomy:
 style="text-align:{{{align}}};"|}}|
  • Hasbro:
  • TakaraTomy:

{{#if:||-

{{{designer}}}|}}


Legends

Guess Cana decided to give up his Voyager-sized body for a scale-accurate Deluxe body now.
Released as a Wonder Festival 2017 exclusive, this Headmaster version of "Brainstorm" is a redeco of the Titans Return Titan Force Teslor mold, and features extensive paint apps. He is compatible to his Legends Deluxe Class figure if you want a toy/IDW-accurate Brainstorm to boot.
Brainstorm is included with Grimlock, "Chromedome", "Hardhead", Flywheel, and Gong.
{{#if:Titans Return|Titans Return mold:|}} Hyperfire

{{#if:*Hasbro:

  • TakaraTomy:
 style="text-align:{{{align}}};"|}}|
  • Hasbro:
  • TakaraTomy:

{{#if:||-

{{{designer}}}|}}


Notes

  • Vector Prime specifically mentioned the Arcana of the Aurex Cluster as being a manifestation of the same individual as the Primax version, though he expressed some confusion over his skin color.

Foreign names

  • Japanese: Arcana (アルカナ Arukana)
  • Italian: Arcan
Retrieved from "https://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=Arcana&oldid=1197426"