Pipes (G1)
| This article is about the Generation 1 Autobot Mini Vehicle. For the Animated Autobot, see Pipes (Animated). |
- Pipes is an Autobot from the Generation 1 continuity family.
Pipes is an excellent soldier—tough, brave, and very strong—and otherwise worthy of little note, except for his unusual ability and eccentric hobby. When he came to Earth, Pipes became enamored of the fleshlings' primitive and ingenious technology and could not resist taking home cast-off examples when on missions. Eventually, a previously disused area of the Ark became his own personal museum of nose hair trimmers, patent rulers, and other worthless but fascinating ephemera of the throwaway society. He will gladly talk for endless hours about each prized find.
Only Wreck-Gar can be said really to enjoy an extended tour of Pipes's little museum, but Pipes is a good soldier and a friendly soul, and his comrades generally allow him his little eccentricity.
Pipes's most notable ability, which he is not the most proficient at controlling, is to emit clouds of corrosive gases from his exhaust pipes. This is possible in both modes, but is more useful (except to annoy motorists) in robot mode, where the pipes are on his arms. If he stays at it for at least ten minutes, these noxious gases will eat through a 2" slab of ordinary steel. His own skin is well protected against these gases, but in battle, the coatings may flake off. If he does not notice this (as frequently occurs) he can become vulnerable to his own attack, with unpleasant results.
Fiction
Generation 1 cartoon continuity
The Transformers cartoon
- Voice actor: Hal Rayle (English), Kenyū Horiuchi (Japanese)
Pipes was present at the Ark when Trypticon came to destroy it. He and his fellow Autobots made a valiant effort to hold off the Decepticon city-robot, but failed, and the Ark and its volcano were reduced to rubble. When Sky Lynx, Blurr and Wheelie arrived with Metroplex's transformation cog, Pipes installed it, allowing the Autobot giant to transform and defeat Trypticon. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5
Later, he accompanied Rodimus Prime, Kup, and the Aerialbots on a rescue mission after Perceptor and friends disappeared while looking for a source of chronal energy. They found the Quintessons had constructed a Time Window on an asteroid for the purpose of undoing the original Autobot rebellion against the Quintessons on Cybertron. Perceptor was found alone, suffering serious injuries, and his team missing. Pipes's mechanical skills were put to work as a battlefield medic to try and patch up Perceptor, but Perceptor's incoherent mumblings about theoretical physics didn't do anyone much good. Forever Is a Long Time Coming
Japanese cartoon continuity
Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers manga
Pipes was part of a group who arrived to back up Powerglide, who was defending a dog that had been cruelly experimented on by the Decepticons from being hunted and captured by the Combaticons. He and the other Minibots combined with Powerglide in their vehicle modes thanks to the experimental energies within the dog, and spinning furiously, smashed through Bruticus's chest and out the other side in a flying drill attack.
No, seriously. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #8
Wars manga
While Pipes was stationed at Scramble City during its rebuilding following an attack from Metrotitan, the Decepticons attacked again. Pipes pleaded with Twincast to activate Metroplex, but Twincast was wary of the energy usage on their limited stocks. Nevertheless, Metroplex pressed through and helped send the Decepticons into retreat. Metrowars
Wings Universe
Pipes was present at the first "meeting" between Ultra Magnus and Optimus Prime. Battle Lines, Part 6
Marvel The Transformers comics
Pipes graduated from Autobot Military Academy, but nearly lost his friend Tailgate to a stupid initiation stunt when the hapless cadet accompanied some other Autobots into the Underworld to prove his courage. Fearing the worst, Pipes and Outback went in after him. When they found Tailgate battling a group of techno-mutants, though, Pipes convinced Outback to hang back and let Tailgate prove himself in combat. Tailgate successfully defeated all comers, and the three Autobots returned to the surface. Underworld!
Dreamwave Generation One continuity
When Shockwave pumped out anti-Autobot propaganda to discourage public sentiment for the newly returned Ark crew, Pipes was among the Autobot civilians seen watching Optimus Prime's "rampage" through San Francisco. Cold War Later, after the insurrection against Shockwave, Pipes was seen training alongside Red Alert and several other Autobots, under Ironhide's supervision. Black Sunshine
IDW Generation 1 continuity
Pipes of Pescus Hex The Not Knowing (sometimes Pipes of Helex) was good friends with Riptide and Hubcap. He also had a "type" he looked for in, cough, partners: aquatic-mode triple changers with "minimal kibble [and a] big chest plate". Whether boat-changer Riptide knew this is unknown. No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases
When Rodimus was planning his quest to find the legendary Knights of Cybertron, Pipes of and Riptide accompanied Drift to Iacon's religious quarter with the intention of buying a starship. Seeing that Drift was carrying a gold currency card, Pipes tried to get the former Decepticon to guess how much he'd saved up in his travel fund but Drift was more interested in finding the owners of a certain quantum spaceship. After buying the U1 for a billion shanix, it was decided that it needed renaming. Pipes suggested that they hold a competition, while Drift was content to wait for a sign... as they realised that they were attending the Festival of Lost Light. Twenty Plus One
Subsequently Pipes joined up as a crew member on the newly christened Lost Light to take part in Rodimus' quest. How to Say Goodbye and Mean It He was dismayed that Hubcap wouldn't leave Debris for the trip and that Riptide hadn't bothered to turn up (and would never learn Riptide had been attacked). No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases Following its failed launch, he was sucked out into space and crashed on a nearby planetoid, where he was retrieved by Rodimus and Ultra Magnus and taken back to the ship. Hangers On
An alternate Pipes was created when the Lost Light's quantum engines malfunctioned. If you thought the regular Pipes had had it bad, this duplicate Pipes was killed by Helex, who ripped him in half when the Decepticon Justice Division boarded the ship and slaughtered the crew. The Road Not Taken
Anticipating his first outing on an alien world, Pipes joined Ratchet and Drift to investigate an outbreak in Delphi. On arrival at the medical facility, and before Ratchet could explain the symbol on the door was the universal plague symbol, Pipes used his alternate mode to bust in and found himself hip-deep in dead bots. He was infected with the Red Rust virus by Dent. He menaced Drift while succumbing to the virus, and the other Autobot knocked him out, though he had already passed on the infection. Ratchet took him to be treated. Life After the Big Bang Later, Pipes was cured from the virus by Ratchet's newly acquired vaccine and returned with the group to the Lost Light. How Ratchet Got His Hands Back
Pipes was the official grand opening of Swerve's bar with Drift, lamenting his lack of luck with making friends. And, for that matter, finding a romantic partner. Drift offered to do him a solid and introduce him to Tailgate No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases and the two did end up socialising.Who's Afraid of the DJD?
Soon afterwards, Pipes was hanging out with some other Autobots at Swerve's bar when Fortress Maximus went on a shooting rampage. Pipes was Maximus's first victim, but survived and ended up on a bed in the medical bay. Interiors He eventually recovered, and joined a few other Autobots for movie night in Rewind's hab-suite, watching "Proteus's Promise". Who's Afraid of the DJD?
Pipes volunteered to go on a mission to Temptoria to see if a group of Decepticons were holding the Circle of Light there. On the way, he discussed Red Alert's recent decapitation with Hound. The mission presumably didn't go well for Pipes, as he spent the journey back lying on the floor of the Leading Light. Before & After After recovering, he was accidentally shot by Brainstorm's new invention, a gun that fired ennui, and almost shrugged himself to death as a result. Cybertronian Homesick Blues
Pipes visited Blaster to check if the subspace communicator was working so he could send Hubcap a message. He passed the message on, then made his way to Tailgate's room for a movie night...before bumping into Overlord's foot. He attempted to apologize, but was cut off by the Phase-Sixer stomping him to bits. Barely functional and holding his open chest to keep his spark from falling out he crawled to an alarm and set it off before his spark extinguished. Under Cold Blue Stars
Following the battle against Tyrest on Luna 1, Rodimus returned to his office and vowed to redecorate it with less garish colours and a small memorial to Pipes and the crewmembers he had lost. The Sound of Breaking Glass
A 'time fissure' at Swerve's was discovered years later and allowed people to look back at their departed friends. Tailgate chose to look at Pipes and Drift. It was then that Tailgate finally learned what Pipes had been looking for. No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases
TransTech
Pipes was one of many residents of Axiom Nexus. He was seen in the company of Signal Lancer. Transcendent: Part 4
Games
The Transformers: Battle to Save the Earth
Along with his fellow Autobots, Pipes protected Earth from the menace of the Decepticons. He was ostensibly under the command of Rodimus Prime. The Transformers: Battle to Save the Earth
Transformers Legends
Optimus Prime put Pipes in charge of his own team, which was assigned to protect researchers at a seaside town. The team subsequently had to see off an attack by Overbite and Nautilator. The B-Team Part Deux
Transformers: Earth Wars
Pipes arrived on Earth at the same time as Offroad to stop him and help clear the Autobots' name. War Games After Pipes came through the space bridge, the stench of his corrosive fumes put off the ladies Arcee and Windblade, and they excused themselves.
- Class: Warrior
- Lowest Star Rating: 2 stars
- Weapons: Pipes sprays some corrosive fumes from his hand on a target before engaging and attacking it with his fists.
- Ability: Defensive Rush: Puts a protective shield that blocks 80% damage for several seconds, then charges the target and attracts defenses!
- Cost: 4 ability points +1 cost increase.
Pipes at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki
Toys
Generation 1
- Pipes (Mini Vehicle, 1986)
- Japanese ID number: C-60
- Pipes is a blue extensive retool of the 1984 Autobot Mini Vehicle Huffer. Like Huffer, Pipes transforms into an "American truck," which is supposed to be either a terminal tractor (also called a "yard truck," a "mule" and several other things) or a single-axle semi truck of indeterminate, probably made-up model. He is changed quite a lot; his front is Huffer's back and vice-versa, and his cab transforms differently. Whereas Huffer simply moves the truck cab up to reveal his head and then flips over the smokestacks for arms, Pipes flips the cab over, repositioning it behind his head instead of shelling it like a hood, and his arms just pull out from their truck position. Amusingly, the tabs that hold the truck cab in place, sticking out of his robot mode chest, are detailed to look like seats. The grille, headlamp and bumper detailing on the front of his cab has also changed, and the tips of his smokestacks are cylindrical rather than flattened-out like Huffer's claw-hand-things.
- In some European markets and Mexico, the toy released for Pipes was not a remolded Huffer toy, but rather a straight redeco (with an unaltered transformation) affectionately known amongst fans as "Puffer".
Encore
- Bumble & Minibots (Multi-pack, 2008)
- Encore number: 10
- In 2008, Pipes was reissued in the Encore line, bundled with Bumblebee, Swerve, Tailgate, and Outback. In addition to painted headlights, the reissue tampographs his previously decaled Autobot insignia.
Generations
- Autobot Pipes (Legends, 2015)
- Accessories: Gun
- Part of the fifth wave of the Generations Combiner Wars subline imprint, Autobot Pipes is a redeco of Huffer (Which is coincidentally, a nod to the Mexican G1 "Puffer" toy), and is about the size of a Cyberverse Commander Class toy. He transforms from robot to generic cab-over truck and features 5mm-compatible hands and roof.
- His left shoulder features a sticker of an Autobot insignia, due to his shoulder parts being made with unpaintable plastic.
| Generations mold: Optimus Prime (Legends Class) | ||
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Notes
- Pipes's profile picture in Dreamwave's More than Meets the Eye series is very... interesting. Apparently he was originally drawn (likely by Pat Lee) with no hands, as per the toy, then hands (drawn by Don Figueroa) were edited onto the picture at a later point. Pipes's right hand comes from Big Daddy's profile picture, while the left comes from Wildfly's.
- Pipes received a movieverse homage in the form of Revenge of the Fallen Blowpipe.
Foreign names
- Japanese: Pipes (パイプス Paipusu)
- French: Tuyo (Canada)
- Hungarian: Csőtörő
- Italian: Roccia
- Mandarin: Guǎnzi (管子, "Pipe"), Pipes (Taiwan, 拍普斯 Pāipǔsī)
- Russian: Gudok (Гудок, "Hooter")
