Hydra (BW)

This article is about the Japanese Predacon. For his nigh-visually-identical American counterpart, see Lazorbeak. For a list of other meanings, see Hydra (disambiguation).

Hydra is a Predacon from the Beast Wars Neo portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

We'll have lots of friendly fun!

Hydra (ハイドラー Haidorā) is what you'd call a "people Predacon". This guy just wants to socialize, to mingle, to hang, to chill, to please, please, please don't go; he's so lonely! Primus, he's so lonely...

Unfortunately for the extroverted Hydra, his commanding officers have stationed him on the distant planet Porcupine. In the middle of nowhere. All by himself. Alone. This isolation has left him with a case of cabin fever so frightfully advanced that his closest friend is the base's maid droid (whom he is very, very protective toward). When company does drop by, Hydra's enthusiasm can get a little creepy... A little really creepy. Visiting Predacons are often so unsettled by his awkward, desperate chumminess that they find themselves encouraged to leave as quickly as possible and never, ever come back.

Leaving Hydra alone. So very, very alone...

Fiction

Beast Wars Neo cartoon

Voice actor: Ryō Naitō (Japanese)

No, I'm not Lazorbeak. Check out the fangs!

Beast Wars Neo manga

Working with Hardhead, Hydra placed a bomb in the Angolmois capsule room of the Gung Ho, later planning to steal the Angolmois. When the two crashed into the bridge to finish off the Maximals, one of Hardhead's careless gestures with his sword slashed open Hydra's chest. The fatally injured Predacon demanded an apology from Hardhead; in response and to atone for his mistake, the dim-witted Predacon committed seppuku, despite Hydra's protests that there would be nobody left to steal the Angolmois. Bleeding out on the floor, Hydra, with his dying breaths, noted that they were at least able to complete their mission of planting the bomb. His death was ultimately in vain as Longrack and Heinrad later deactivated the bomb. A Battle Fought Alone

IDW Beast Wars comics

Hydra was a born underachiever, which was at odds with his attempts to overachieve at everything. Fortunately for him, he didn't let his constant failures get the better of him, and continued to strive so that one day, he might actually accomplish something. Beast Wars Sourcebook #2

Beast Wars: Uprising

Hydra was communications specialist aboard the Dinosaur, one of the few Cybertronian ships allowed to patrol the spaceways by the Human Confederacy. A friendly and likable 'con, Hydra lamented his past assignments manning remote outposts solo, and appreciated the post aboard a ship. He often passed the time playing cards with his fellow enlisted Predacons, remaining a tense distance from the Maximal officers.

The Dinosaur picked up a garbled Cybertronian distress call from the planet LGC-8803, which Hydra cleaned up for first officer Longrack. Learning of the presence of potentially valuable marooned prisoners on the planet, the Captain ordered an excursion to the planet. Meanwhile, Hydra's equipment picked up a second unknown Cybertronian signal, this one emanating from Cybertron. Longrack dismissed it, as any official word from home would come through the Captain or their Builder political officer, Synapse, but Hydra and Killer Punch managed to convince him to let Hydra spend time cleaning up the signal before they reached LGC-8803.

What Hydra discovered was astonishing. The Games had fallen, and the Proto-races had begun an outright rebellion against the Builder Assembly. Hydra felt the need to share this information with someone, but was discovered by Synapse before he could reach anyone else. The Builder used a magnetic disruptor coil to kill Hydra and destroy his memory tapes all in one strike. Intersectionality

2005 IDW continuity

Hydra was one of Onyx Prime's Maximals. He and a horde of beasts who the Throttlebots while they were marooned on the backwater planet of Regalis V. The Dead Come Home, Part 1 When Prowl's reinforcements arrived, he battled Stardrive and was subsequently blown to bits when she unleashed her Dire Wraith powers. The Dead Come Home, Part 2

Toys

Beast Wars Neo

Wishes he would transform into an actual hydra. That way, the extra heads could keep him company!

• Hydra (Basic, 1999)
  • Japanese ID number: D-33
  • Accessories: "Wing Shot" gun

This figure is a repaint of Lazorbeak, who was a redeco of the original Terrorsaur toy, adding silver to his face, wings, and legs. He transforms from a sort-of Pteranodon thing to robot via a one-step spring-loaded autotransformation. His "Wing Shot" pistol stores in a little space behind his robot head in beast mode.

The mold was used to make the BotCon exclusive Fractyl, the Walmart exclusive Terranotron, and Age of Extinction Strafe.

• More information on Hydra at TFU.info

• Back to the Wall Showdown: Rockbuster VS Hydra (Basic vs pack, 1999)
  • Japanese ID number: VS-33
  • Accessories: "Wing Shot" gun

The Hydra toy was available in a multipack with Rockbuster. The figure is unchanged from the single release version.

Notes

• Hydra is depicted as a highly effeminate sissy in the Beast Wars Neo manga, diverging from his portrayal in the Beast Wars Neo cartoon as a pathetic, lonely shut-in.
• The Beast Wars: Uprising incarnation of Hydra is a "virtual redeco" of the Combiner Wars Terrorsaur toy.