Gutcruncher (G1)
| The name or term "Gutcruncher" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Gutcruncher (disambiguation). |
- Gutcruncher is a Decepticon from the Generation 1 continuity family.
Gutcruncher is a very ambitious mechanoid. He's bartered a deal to sell Autobot remains as scrap metal on various interstellar markets (including to the Junkions!), and there are rumors that some of those parts were from fellow Decepticons who stood in Gutcruncher's way up the ranks. He's incredibly cold and calculating, and even without his Stratotronic Jet vehicle, he's got the muscle and firepower to back up his plans. Autobots fear him because he's a ruthless force of nature on the battlefield. Decepticons fear him because he may have already calculated their net worth to some shady black-market metal-monger, and is merely awaiting the right opportunity to cash in.
Fiction
IDW Generation 1 continuity
- First Appearance: Spotlight: Hot Rod
Prior to open hostilities breaking out on Cybertron, Gutcruncher worked as a bartender in a Decepticon only establishment. What It's Really Like
During the Great War, Gutcruncher and Stratotronic massacred Cybertronian refugees under the Wreckers' protection—just to prove nobody was safe. Forever Is a Long Time Coming
Later, Gutcruncher was monitoring the central security hub at the Decepticon Penal Colony Styx when Hot Rod introduced a virus to the system to cover his break-in. Eventually the virus popped all the cell doors, forcing Gutcruncher to call a "Code-Nine" alert, which instructed all officers (likely including himself) to immediately evacuate to an orbital platform to await a clean-up squad. Spotlight: Hot Rod
At some point afterwards, Gutcruncher served the Decepticon Secret Service aboard Banzai-Tron's flagship during the attack on the Autobot penitentiary of Garrus-9. Spotlight: Arcee He soon began to regret liberating the "gestalt" transformers when agents of the ancient scientist Jhiaxus razed Banzai-Tron's fortress in the Orcibe Cluster and activated Monstructor with predictable results. Spotlight: Hardhead
After a deal was worked out between Banzai-Tron and Arcee, Gutcruncher, Axer and the Combaticons attacked Monstructor with the intent of recapturing the rampaging monster. Spotlight: Sideswipe
Gutcruncher eventually made his way to the planet Earth. Isolated from his fellow Decepticons, he was relatively easy pickings for Bumblebee and his squad of Autobots once they allied themselves with Skywatch. The Hanging Sword
After the war ended, Gutcruncher joined his fellow Decepticons on Cybertron, returning to his old profession by opening a bar with a side engex bootlegging operation, with Heavy Barrel, Ransack, and Stratotronic as part of it. In the meantime, Sandstorm became a regular at the bar, befriending Gutcruncher and the other patrons. When all three bootlegging employees were killed while trying to steal an engex distiller, Optimus Prime informed Gutcruncher of the sad news, and the Decepticon swore vengeance. He didn't get much of a chance, as his bar exploded into flames Fight or Flee with himself inside. Quest for Fire Sandstorm had killed Gutcruncher for his crimes during the war. Forever Is a Long Time Coming
TransTech
A rabble-rouser and local big spender, Gutcruncher took Hubcap for a sizeable amount of money at The Blue Deployer's gambling tables. He was impressed by Hubcap and decided to invite him and Jackpot to a gathering of the city's various criminal gangs.
The rally was Gutcruncher's attempt at uniting the various gangs and offworlder criminals of Axiom Nexus against the TransTech. His assassination by Black Shadow prevented the uprising, and led to Jackpot and Hubcap's flight from both the law and the gangs as they had been set up to take the blame for the killing. Gone Too Far
Another Gutcruncher later debated Beachcomber on a television segment about internship practices on Axiom Nexus. Rook - Axiom Nexus News: Investigative Journalist
Classics
Gutcruncher was a member of Bludgeon's splinter faction at the time they were warring with Megatron. He was summoned by Crankcase to help cart away the "traitor" Abominus. At Fight's End
Wings Universe
Gutcruncher's life prior to the rise of the Decepticon movement is unknown, but he rose to prominence during the first decade of the Civil War, becoming one of fourteen Decepticon Warlords active on Cybertron. Although he had a seat at the Decepticon War Council, he found the meetings less than fulfilling as the other Warlords squabbled with one another. When one of his troopers, Charger, discovered a meteor of incalculable energy heading towards Cybertron, Gutcruncher saw fit to withhold the information from his fellow Warlords.
All Gutcruncher and his troops needed was a ship. Unfortunately, the task of retrieving a vessel was entrusted to Gutcruncher's catastrophically bumbling aid Take-Off. After scaring off one possible source with his complete lack of discretion, Take-Off managed to secure a second vessel for the journey...without bothering to inquire if the ship could even fly, much less if it contained the equipment Charger needed to work. Still, a ship was a ship, and Gutcruncher begrudgingly accepted Take-Off's acquisition.
As it turned out, Take-Off's work was even less satisfying that expected. In mid-flight, the presumably disreputable crew of the Darklon revealed themselves to be none other than Powerflash and Tap-Out of the Autobot Elite Guard's Stealth Team. Gutcruncher was taken prisoner by the Autobots, using old gen stasis cuffs which rendered him completely pacified. The rest of the Decepticons were soon captured as well, but Charger managed to free his lord and the others. They re-seized control of the ship, and Gutcruncher planted an explosive "failsafe" on board, just in case.
Out on the surface of the asteroid, Gutcruncher found his prize—a massive crystalline monolith jutting out from the rocky surface. He made contact with the crystal, waves of yellow energy racing up his superstructure as he did so. This contact triggered some kind of chain reaction, however, shooting out rays of energy that struck all Transformers present, Autobot and Decepticon alike. Seizing the opportunity, the Autobots struck back against the Decepticons, with each side discovering they possessed increased physical power, but could no longer transform. Gutcruncher's allies fell one by one, and he retreated into the ship in a vain attempt to activate the auto-defense turrets for help. Faced with defeat, he made a last ditch suicidal effort to detonate his explosives on the ship...only to discover Tap-Out had removed them earlier.
Gutcruncher was imprisoned by the Elite Guard, and one less Decepticon Warlord remained to vie for power. A Team Effort
Regeneration One
Gutcruncher was on Cybertron just before the rise of the Anti-Matrix's shadow-leeches. The War to End All Wars, Part 4
Ask Sideways
After hijacking Vector Prime's Axiom Nexus News column, known liar Sideways claimed to have lost a bet with Gutcruncher, ending up on prehistoric Earth and helping Primal Prime's team. Ask Sideways, 2015/07/06
Commercial appearances
- Voice actor: ??? (English)
Flying in his Stratotronic Jet on what may be Cybertron, Gutcruncher yelled "destroy them!" to no one in particular and proceeded to fly straight up.
When Wheeljack and Sprocket drove out of a tunnel in their own Action Master vehicles, Gutcruncher strafed them but did not seem to score any hits. Action Master vehicles commercial
Toys
Generation 1
- Gutcruncher w/ Stratotronic Jet (Action Master, 1990)
- Accessories: Stratotronic Jet, twin laser gun, 2 cannons, left & right rear stabilizer fins, 4 missiles
- As an Action Master, Gutcruncher is a non-transforming action figure, though his design shows vehicle mode parts: what he turned into is not exactly clear, but it's certainly some kind of tank. He is compatible with any Action Master weapon or vehicle, and was available only with the large Stratotronic Jet vehicle.
Notes
- Gutcruncher is one of very few Transformers to hold a rank of 10 without being a faction leader. (Possibly due to his status as an outside contractor.)
- Gutcruncher was given an homage in the character Sparkcrusher from the Revenge of the Fallen toyline.
Foreign names
- French: Fricoteur (Canada)
- Mandarin: Kǎn Jià Kè (China, 砍价客, "Haggle Man")
