Grapple (G1)
| The name or term "Grapple" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Grapple (disambiguation). |
- Grapple is an Autobot from the Generation 1 continuity family.
Grapple is technically an architect, but in his spark he is an artist. On Cybertron, before the war, his buildings were considered great works of art, but now his constructions are limited by the realities and needs of the war effort. It is a situation he often finds stifling. Grapple takes great pride in any work he constructs, and is prone to severe bouts of depression should his "masterworks" be destroyed in the course of combat. Grapple can usually be found hanging out with his close friend Hoist who does his best to cheer Grapple up when his artistic temperament has him down.
His name is regrettably sometimes spelled Grappel.
| “ | Someday I want to build something that doesn't get trashed! | ” |
—Grapple laments his creations' constant destruction, "Auto Berserk" | ||
Fiction
Generation 1 cartoon continuity
The Transformers cartoon
- Voice actor: Peter Renaday (English), Kenyū Horiuchi (Japanese), Chen Chun (Chinese), Ignacio Campero (American Spanish), Christoph Jablonka (German, Generation 2, "The Master Builders" and "Prime Target"), Tonio von der Meden (German, Generation 2, "Auto Berserk"), Gerd Wiedenhofen (German, Generation 2, "Masquerade")
Grapple was first seen on Earth hanging out inside the Ark on a typical day for the Autobots. This typical day included the discovery of a prehistoric island hidden inside a naturally-occurring time warp, and a rampage through the base by the Dinobots. Yup...typical day. Dinobot Island, Part 1
Grapple designed a Solar Power Tower to collect solar energy for the Autobots—even built a little model of it. When Optimus Prime wouldn't let him build it, Grapple ran off to sulk and encountered the Constructicons, and naturally told them all about his awesome tower idea that got nixed because Prime didn't want the Decepticons getting their hands on it. Brilliant.
They agreed to help Grapple and his buddy Hoist out, but then Megatron found out and decided to turn it into his latest evil plan. The Solar Power Tower was completed, but Devastator trapped Grapple and Hoist inside it, and the Autobots had to show up to save their skidplates. The Master Builders
When the Autobots' favorite mad scientist, Wheeljack, started showing off his latest super-weapon, Grapple begged him to please not point the Negavator at any of his buildings. It's like he didn't trust Wheeljack not to blow things up, or something. Inevitably, though, the Decepticons attacked and the beautiful bunker Grapple built to house the Negavator was reduced to rubble. While he worked in vehicle mode to clear away the debris, Grapple and the Autobots were caught napping by Megatron and his Seekers. They had Prime and the others in their sights but, when Red Alert caused a distraction, Grapple dropped the rubble he was carrying on top of the Decepticons, sending them scattering for cover. Auto Berserk
Like most of the Autobots, Grapple showed up in Central City for the first (and apparently last) Autobot Day celebration. Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1
After the Dinobots destroyed a sizeable portion of the airport battling Decepticons, Grapple and the Autobots lent a hand to repair what was damaged. After Ironhide and Powerglide reconstructed the walls of a building, Grapple was ready to add the piece de resistance by lowering the roof on top. His artistic pride took a serious blow when Grapple dropped the roof and collapsed the entire building underneath it. Mortified as he was, Grapple's mistake was only the first sign of cybertonium deficiency, which soon began to affect all the Autobots and their functions. Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1 He was later seen with Hoist, patching up Huffer and a group of Autobots after they tangled with the Insecticons. Quest for Survival
Grapple was also one of several Autobots captured by Lord Chumley's wildly-improbable traps; Grapple fell victim to a series of girders that magically fell into a cage configuration. Taken to Chumley's goofy-ass castle, he was used as bait to draw in Optimus Prime, "forced" to hold up a giant boulder—which did not seem to be actually supported by anything and therefore Grapple could have just dropped it or thrown it at one of the other devices keeping the Autobots prisoner.
Grapple's kind of stupid. Prime Target
After Teletraan I located the Stunticons at large, Prime and the Autobots moved to intercept the wild Decepticons. Grapple, Hoist and Inferno confronted Breakdown and Wildrider on a deserted stretch of highway. When Breakdown dropped a line of oil behind him, Grapple took the opportunity to light him on fire. Geez, Grapple...he didn't even destroy one of your buildings. Why the hate? Masquerade When Starscream and the Combaticons kidnapped Jazz and Cliffjumper, Optimus Prime and the Autobots went after them. Powerglide located the missing 'Bots at a power plant, and alerted his comrades. Grapple and Ratchet freed the prisoners during the power struggle between Megatron and Starscream. Starscream's Brigade
Alongside Swoop's lower leg and Perceptor, Grapple valiantly defended Autobot City when it was attacked by Decepticons in the year 2005. The Transformers: The Movie
Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity
Scramble City
Unite Warriors
Grapple was tricked into helping the Constructicons again, this time for the sake of rebuilding the Crystal City on Earth. There seemed to be nothing nefarious about this project, which makes you wonder why they had to trick him to begin with. Crystal City Reconstruction Project
Rodimus vs. Cyclonus
During the battle for Autobot City, Grapple fought against Rumble. Afterwards, he escaped with Tracks in a science vessel and hid out in the Rayzor Nebula. They were contacted by Kup when the old Autobot's vessel had come under fire, and at his request came out of hiding. This drew the attention of Scourge and his Sweeps. When Scourge saw Cyclonus engaged with Kup's ship, Scourge attacked Cyclonus to ensure that he would get to destroy the Autobots... this only served to allow all the Autobots to escape. Rodimus vs. Cyclonus
Wings Universe
When the Autobots' current reserve of energies was dangerously low, Grapple joined his comrades still on Cybertron in stasis hibernation as an energy-saving measure. Battle Lines, Part 6
Marvel Comics continuity
Marvel The Transformers comics
Prior to the Ark leaving Cybertron, Grapple (along with Smokescreen, Tracks, Hoist, and Skids) had his memories recorded onto crystals in case Optimus Prime required more warriors during the Ark's mission. Four million years following the Ark's crash on Earth, Grapple and the others were revived in new bodies on Earth. While the other newly revived Autobots were sent out to learn more about their new home planet, Grapple was sidelined. Optimus Prime had a very special building project for Grapple. Rock and Roll-Out!
So Grapple built Omega Supreme. On his own.
With Omega Supreme guarding the base, the Autobots were finally able to leave the Ark in great numbers. Grapple accompanied Optimus Prime and all the rest of the available Autobots to the Decepticons' coal strip mine base in Wyoming. Here, Grapple fought the Decepticons long enough for Bumblebee to steal combiner technology from Devastator. Once this was achieved, the Autobots retreated. Command Performances!
Grapple, Hoist, and Inferno were sent to retrieve the missing Tracks after Cosmos located him in New York City. However, when they arrived they inadvertently exacerbated a hostage situation at a bank and a bomb went off. Grapple assisted by ferrying humans from the building's roof to safety with his crane. Missing in Action
When Optimus Prime, Ratchet, and Prowl disappeared due to time-jumping Decepticons, Grapple found himself in the position of Autobot medic, repairing a damaged Hound. Led into battle with Galvatron and his goons by the new leadership triumvirate of Ironhide, Smokescreen, and Jetfire, Grapple and his friends were sorely outmatched against the future Decepticons. Grapple was even part of a half-dozen or so Autobots who dogpiled on Scourge and barely managed to slow him down. In dire straits, the Autobots were actually forced to go to Megatron and forge an alliance against Galvatron. Megatron's strategy managed to capture one of the time travellers, Scourge, but not before the fiendish tracker hurled a razor bladed dart straight through Grapple's chest, putting him out of action for the remainder of the conflict. Once Ratchet returned, he managed to piece Grapple back together soon enough. Target: 2006
After Optimus Prime suffered terrible damage, Grapple and the other Autobots watched as Ratchet desperately tried to repair him before admitting defeat. Funeral for a Friend! Grapple remained with the Ark's crew for quite some time, and formed part of a security detail to apprehend the captured Blast Off, though they were stood down when it was discovered that the Decepticon was mode locked and only contained some human children. Spacehikers! Back on Earth, the human Ethan Zachary replayed some of Optimus Prime's memories of Grapple in an attempt to convince him that he was more than just a computer program. Pretender to the Throne!
Grapple was later seen on the moon during the grudge match between Blaster and Grimlock. When the Decepticons attacked, Grapple engaged Wildrider in some gunplay and they appeared to exchange hits. Totaled! Grapple was not too badly damaged and would be up and about again a short while later, training against Blaster. Club Con!
Marvel UK future timelines
In 2008, Grapple was operating out of one of the Autobot bases on Cybertron when Scourge and Cyclonus led the Decepticons into an all-out war on the base. (The base was a big honkin' mushroom in the middle of an empty field. One can only hope Grapple didn't design it himself.) Anyway, he did pretty well in battle, gunning down one Decepticon at pointblank range without looking while also firing on an approaching Blitzwing. The Legacy of Unicron!
Regeneration One
In 2012 Grapple was stationed on Cybertron under the command of Hot Rod, while Optimus Prime was away on Earth. When Soundwave put his plan to steal Thunderwing's remains from the Hall of Silence into action, Grapple suggested that they destroy the Matrix reservoir rather than allow it to fall into enemy hands. Loose Ends, Part 5 With no viable alternate plan Hot Rod went with Grapple's advice and destroyed the Hall of Silence, though neither of them realized Soundwave had already teleported himself and the Matrix reservoir away. Natural Selection, Part One
Following the return of the errant Grimlock to Cybertron, Hot Rod met with Grapple, Siren, Hosehead, and Perceptor at the Senate Forum, leaving them in charge of the "Grimlock situation" while he went below the surface to seek out the Primus chamber. Natural Selection, Part Two With the arrival of the resurrected Scorponok and his Gene Key the situation rapidly worsened; the device allowed Scorponok to forcibly convert Autobots into Decepticons! Grapple first learned of the situation when Landmine, already turned, tried to throw him off a balcony. He managed to escape, and made his way to the Senate Forum. There, he met with Grapple, Hosehead, Blurr, and Crosshairs: the only other uninfected Autobots remaining on the surface. Thanks to Grapple's knowledge on the building, the group found their way to a secret passage which allowed to bypass the chaos outside. Natural Selection, Part Three Investigating a disturbance at the Nursery, they arrived in time to team up with Grimlock and his Dinobots with a plan to stop Scorponok. Natural Selection, Part Four Together, they stormed the Civil Defense Hub and retook it from Wingspan and Pounce. After the Dinobots left to confront Scorponok in the Sonic Canyons, Grapple noticed that the Hub's missile silos had been set to target the returning Autobot hypercruiser Valiant and when the Clones hesitated in giving up the passkey, Grapple watched as Crosshairs shot Wingspan at point blank range. Pounce immediately gave up the passkey and the Valiant was saved. Natural Selection, Part Five
Grapple met with Hot Rod and other senior Autobots at the Presidium after the effects of the Gene Key had been reversed. Destiny, Part One Later, he assisted in the clean-up after the attack of Bludgeon's Warworld and the Blitz Engines. The War to End All Wars, Part 1
Marvel Storybooks continuity
When the Dinobots were effortlessly dismantling Devastator one Constructicon at a time, Grapple elbowed his way into the fun and used his rifle to fuse the last two Constructicons into a helpless mess. Battle for Earth
Marvel coloring books
When the Autobots on Earth received word from Cosmos that the Decepticons were razing a human village to build a fuel plant in its place, they assumed their vehicle forms to sneak upon their enemies as they were working. Once they were in close enough proximity to the Decepticons, the Autobots transformed and launched a surprise attack. Cosmos continued to observe the battlefield from his post in orbit, and warned Grapple and Gears when Ravage and Kickback attempted to flank the Autobots to attack them from behind. Grapple hooked Ravage from his crane arm, spoiling the cat's attempt to catch Sludge and Slag off-guard. The Autobots then beat up the rest of the Decepticons, shoved them down a pit, and covered them with quick-drying cement to keep them out of further trouble. The Autobot Spy in the Sky
Big Looker storybooks
While lamenting the fact that he couldn't build beautiful buildings like he did back on Cybertron because the Decepticons would destroy them, Grapple spotted a grasshopper and a beetle. He wished life were as simple for him as it was for those insects, who promptly violated his brain. Under Bombshell's control, Grapple attacked the resident Autobot hippie. Later, at their base, the Decepticons had fun bullying Grapple before they got him to use his knowledge for anything of use to them. That's when the Autobots broke into the base. After the Autobots removed his cerebro-shell, Grapple sucker-punched Megatron and they all celebrated. Hurray! Insecticon Attack!
Ladybird Books continuity
- Voice actor: Peter Marinker (English)
The Autobots were low on valuable Cybertronian materials such as cybernite. When Kup suggested a salvage expedition to an old battle field near a mountain valley, Ultra Magnus assembled Wheeljack, Hoist, and Grapple to go with him. Their expedition was cut short by a Decepticon air raid, however. Grapple later helped with the construction of a radio transmitter that blinded the space stations responsible for informing the air raid. Galvatron's Air Attack
While storming a Decepticon hideout, Grapple used his job as a battering ram to force his way through the barricaded door. Decepticon Hideout
Grapple later assisted Optimus Prime in charting a planet-wide search for Decepticon activity on Nebulos. Decepticons Underground
Find Your Fate Junior
Decepticon Poison
Grapple was amongst the Autobots about to be topped up with their latest batch of fuel when Red Alert burst into Autobot headquarters, warning everyone about Ramjet being spotted nearby. Red Alert's warning came in just in time, as the Autobots’ fuel had been poisoned, and Grapple would have been left unable to transform had he ingested any of it.
In a later possible sequence of events, Grapple was part of the back-up squadron that charged into battle after the now recently cured Autobots were overpowered by the arrival of Megatron himself amidst a Decepticon attack. Grapple and the others soon depleted what little fuel they had left, and were forced to retreat. Grapple used his crane mode to retrieve all of the injured Autobots before heading back into Autobot headquarters. Thankfully, the Autobots had caused enough damage to the Decepticon ranks that they were forced to retreat as well.
In another possible scenario, where Optimus followed a plan courtesy of Prowl, the Autobot leader instructed his troops to transform into vehicle mode and play dead. The Decepticons, believing the Autobots’ ruse, disarmed themselves in order to carry out the Autobots’ “carcasses.” Now with the element of surprise against unarmed opponent, the Autobots Transformed and were able to easily defeat the evil robots.
In another possible turn of events, Perceptor gave out too much of his antidote to each Autobot. The Autobots who received the antidote soon found themselves falling apart, leaving Grapple and the rest outmatched against the greater number of Decepticons.
Alternatively, if Optimus decided to use the tainted fuel as a weapon against the Decepticons, Grapple was tasked with carry the large vat of liquid outside of Autobot headquarters. Grapple then carefully lowered the fuel container into a nearby pit, and returned to the safety of the Autobot base, while Jazz executed the next stage of the Autobots’ plan. Decepticon Poison
Autobot Alert!
Grapple was present at the Autobot city of Metroplex when an Autobot Alert sounded.
He and the other Autobots learned of two Decepticon plots simultaneously occurring. One of which was the theft of a coded message meant for Ultra Magnus's eyes only. If Ultra Magnus decided to prioritize theft of the coded message, Grapple was part of the captive audience that listened to Kup divulge information about an ancient Autobot formula. Grapple took off towards the Autobots’ desert research centre along with a number of other Autobots. Once there, they learned from Springer that the Cybertite sphere containing the formula was discovered by humans during the 16th century. If the Decepticons had decoded Springer's message, they would be searching off the coast of California, where the ship containing the sphere had sunk. If they hadn't decoded the message, the Decepticons would still be digging in the nearby crater.
If Ultra Magnus decided to assume that the Decepticons had already decrypted the message, he ordered his forces to split up to more efficiently address the situation. Grapple was part of the main group of Autobot forces led by Ultra Magnus towards the California coast. Arriving at the scene, Ultra Magnus's troops were informed by Powerglide (who had flown ahead of the land-bound group) that he had discovered the location of the sunken ship containing the cybertite sphere. Simultaneously, Blurr caught up with the group to inform them that the Decepticons were quickly approaching. The Autobots then needed to decide whether they would raise the ship themselves, or try and ambush the Decepticons after they had done so.
In one of the possible plans Ultra Magnus had settled upon to execute, Grapple was to raise the sunken ship through the use of his crane, while Hot Rod searched the vessel for the sphere once it was un-submerged. Partway through the plan, Grapple's crane had a mechanical breakdown. Though Ratchet was able to fix it, this setback had cost the Autobots valuable time, and before they could retrieve the sphere, the Decepticons were upon them. Galvatron and his troops destroyed both the ship and the sphere within. This left the Autobots fighting on the defensive, as superior Decepticon rained down upon them.
If Ultra Magnus decided to have his Autobots hide while the Decepticons raised the ship, Grapple found himself in a cave with Ironhide and Brawn. The three Autobots spied Devastator retrieving the sunken ship from the water, and decided that the three of them would snatch the sphere away from the Decepticons.
If Grapple and his team executed their plan before any other Autobots, he attempted to reel the ship away from the Decepticons with his crane hook, only for the Decepticons to open fire onto them. The Decepticons destroyed both the ship and the cybertite sphere contained within, and then began pummelling the Autobots with their superior firepower. Trapped in their caves, the Autobts were left at the Decepticons’ mercy. Autobot Alert!
Dreamwave Generation One continuity
When Optimus Prime followed Sentinel Prime as Autobot leader, he ordered a mass evacuation of the planet to avoid further loss of life against the Decepticons. Grapple was among the Autobots seen preparing for departure as Grimlock...debated the merits of the proposal. The War Within #2
After the Great Shutdown ended, Grapple was among a group of Autobots chosen to serve as a High Councillor, ruling jointly with the Decepticon Shockwave over the newly unified Cybertron. However, the Decepticon easily manipulated the council into giving him more and more power, until they were functionally impotent. Cold War Grapple and his fellow council members were among the last Autobots to truly recognize Shockwave's deceits, but did eventually join their fellow soldiers in bringing down the Decepticon's control of Cybertron. Revelation Afterwards, Grapple decided to accompany Prowl and the Ark's crew back to Earth, where he could put his skills to work on the construction of Autobot City. The Route of All Evil
2005 IDW continuity
- First Appearance: Megatron Origin #4; Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #2 (modern era)
While Inferno was running an emergency rescue operation in Kaon during the first major outbreak of Decepticon violence, Grapple was at his side to presumably offer engineering advice on safely evacuating trapped civilians. Their efforts became moot when a hovering elite pleasure cruiser was shot down and landed right on top of them. Megatron Origin #4
In modern times, Grapple was among the Autobots who volunteered to join Rodimus in search of the Knights of Cybertron. He was on board the Lost Light when its launch turned into a spectacular failure, blasting the crew to a far distant corner of the galaxy. Hangers On The Chaos of Warm Things Grapple later had the grim job of fishing a decapitated Red Alert out of the oil reservoir. Post Hoc He was injured during Overlord's rampage aboard the ship and laid out in Swerve's, though he later recovered. No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases He stood with the rest of the crew as Rodimus announced his discovery of—and intention to investigate—Luna 1. The Fecund Moon After the crew had defeated Tyrest and his universal killswitch, Grapple, Inferno, and Brainstorm examined the remains of the former Chief Justice's space bridge. The Sound of Breaking Glass
Grapple continued to serve on the Lost Light after Megatron was installed as "co-captain", even attending the former Decepticon's classes on the Knights of Cybertron. However, at some point he was approached by Getaway and Atomizer and vouched that he would support them in the event of a mutiny against Megatron and his supporters. When the time came, Grapple stood by as Getaway stranded Megatron, Rodimus, and the others on the Necrobot's planet. How Bright Their Frail Deeds
After accepting Getaway as their new captain, Grapple and the crew were unwillingly subjected to mnemosurgery by Sunder. Their memories were altered to believe Rodimus and the others left the Lost Light of their own accord, abandoning the rest of the crew. Filling in the Blanks Grapple was socializing at "Visages" when First Aid and the Protectobots caught up with the Lost Light. Full Circle
United
Grapple was a participant of the Autobots' battles against the Decepticons throughout the ages, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Blurr and Optimus Prime himself. A New Battle!
Grapple was amongst the victims of a deadly nano-virus. Thankfully, a team of Autobots were successfully in retrieving a cure for the disease from the planet Nebulon. Fully recovered, Grapple attended the ceremony that commended the Autobots responsible for saving his life. The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos
Transformers (2010) toy bios
Before the war, Grappel was known for remarkable architecture dotting the skyline of every city on Cybertron. With the outbreak of war, he turned his specialty to constructing temporary buildings for battle planning. Solar Storm Grappel toy bio
Kre-O online manga
Grapple was building something with Hoist when Optimus Prime received a call from Megatron imploring the Autobots to attack the Decepticon Base. A Reliable Warrior!? Vortex the Lookout from Hell Grapple and Hoist later accompanied Optimus Prime to investigate the Decepticons' solar tower construction project. Megatron's Ambition!? The Solar Tower Is Built!
Of Masters and Mayhem
Grapple was among the Autobots fleeing the launch facility of the Ark when Toxitron attacked. The Toxic Transformer
Beast Wars: Uprising
Grapple was presuambly the namesake of the Grapple Boulevard, the main road in 24th century Proximax. Cultural Appropriation
Commercial appearances
During a battle against Megatron, Optimus summoned Smokescreen, Tracks, Hoist, Inferno, Red Alert, and Grapple to his side. Megatron responded by calling down Thrust and Dirge. Autobot cars plus Thrust and Dirge commercial
Games
Transformers Legends
Grapple and Hoist were showing off their model Solar Power Tower when they were called away with Huffer to tend to a stricken Powerglide. The three engineers ran into the Constructicons, but instead of fighting instead bonded over their love of building. The truce was short-lived, as Shockwave and Deluge turned up to remind Scrapper which side he was on, but the Autobot trio still managed to rescue Powerglide. The Master Builders
Toys
Generation 1
- Grapple (Autobot Car, 1985/1986)
- Japanese ID number: 47
- Accessories: Left & right fists, "Arc-Welder Rifle", 3 rockets
- Grapple transforms into an orange crane based upon the same Diaclone truck design that Inferno uses, the Mitsubishi Fuso. Each of his forearms contains a spring-loaded missile launcher, so he can fire his own fists or silver missiles (though the mechanism was severely neutered in the original US releases). He is also armed with a small black Arc-Welder rifle.
- This version of this mold was also used to make e-HOBBY RoadHauler. The fire engine version of the mold was released as Inferno and Headmasters Artfire.
Commemorative Series
- Autobot Grapple (Commemorative Series VI, 2004)
- Accessories: Left & right fists, "Arc-Welder Rifle", 3 rockets
- Grapple was reissued by Hasbro in 2004 as part of the Generation One Commemorative Series VI. The spring-loaded firing mechanisms in his arms were completely removed due to safety reasons.
- Additionally, the hook on his crane as well as the hydraulics in the crane arm were changed to plastic painted silver, rather than using the more brittle (but authentic to the original release) vacuum-metalized plastic. He also gained a new Autobot logo tampograph on his chest/cab, and his eyes were changed from yellow to blue.
- Interestingly enough, Grapple was not released as part of Takara's The Transformers Collection reissue series.
Transformers (2010)
- Solar Storm Grappel (Voyager, 2011)
- Transformers "Grappel" (likely named such due to trademark reasons) is a redeco/retool of Universe Inferno, transforming into a fictional crane truck, a hybrid of a 2002–2007 Pierce Contender "pumper" and 2008 Pierce Velocity "Heavy Rescue". It also has some characteristics from the Pierce Dash 2000 "midmount" with a crane arm instead of a "bucket/cherry-picker" (see Pierce Manufacturing). Similar to Inferno's cannon, the crane cannot be removed from the robot mode's arm. He is fairly extensively retooled, with new parts for the crane, head, forearms, hands and feet, with the new hands now being molded with the forearms, as well as lacking wrist joints and peg-holes. The bars on top of his shoulders have also been enlarged so that they work with C joint weaponry. As part of the "Reveal the Shield" subline imprint, he has a rubsign on his left shoulder pad.
- This toy and all Reveal the Shield Voyager Class toys saw very limited distribution in the USA. Even though they were sold by US-based online retailers in early 2011 and showed up in various international Hasbro markets around the same time, top toy sellers such as Walmart, Toys"R"Us, Target, or Kmart never stocked them. Instead, they only showed up at stores such as Ross, T.J. Maxx, and Marshalls several months after first being made available online.
- Grappel was redecoed into 2014 Transformers Protectobot Hot Spot. The original version of this sculpt was also used to make Timelines Spark, and it was separately retooled to make Generations Protectobot Hot Spot. It was then redecoed into United Artfire, using tooling from both the original Inferno version and this version of the sculpt.
| Universe (2008) mold: Inferno | ||
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Version 1:
Version 2:
Version 3 (hybrid of versions 1 & 2):
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United
- Autobot Grapple (Voyager, 2011-01-29)
- Japanese ID number: UN-11
- This Japanese version of Solar Storm Grappel is sold as part of the United toyline. It features several changes in color layout and details, such as an orange head to better resemble most of Grapple's appearances in the Generation 1 cartoon.
- Unlike most United figures, the United version of Grapple was released weeks before Solar Storm Grappel was first made available via US-based online retailers.
| Universe (2008) mold: Inferno | ||
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Version 1:
Version 2:
Version 3 (hybrid of versions 1 & 2):
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Kre-O
- Kreon Class of 1985 (Kreon figure set, 2015)
- Set number B5152
- Voted: Most Artistic
- Accessories: Small pistol
- Kre-O "Autobot Grapple" is a small brick-built Kreon figure, using the 2015-style construction with raised hands and the sturdier "peg-in-peg" torso/waist connection. His left hand has been replaced with a silver wrist-socket blaster piece.
- He was only available as part of the San Diego Comic-Con-exclusive "Kreon Class of '85" 30-Kreon set. This set was also sold online through Hasbro Toy Shop after the show.
Masterpiece
- Grapple (2017-02-25)
- ID number: MP-35
- Accessories: Arc-welder rifle, 2 headpieces, 4 faces, 2 wrist barrel attachments, 2 chestplates, Solar Power Tower model, Solar Power Tower blueprint, screwdriver, shovel attachment, claw attachment, Die-cast Ultra Magnus Figure (Asia release)
- Masterpiece Grapple is a retool of Inferno, as usual. He comes with many accessories, some of which are shared with Masterpiece Inferno: a pair of extra faces, two swappable chest plates (one cartoon-accurate, one more detailed and chromed to resemble his original toy), and two wrist-barrels for his left arm (one black to go with his cartoon chest, one chromed to go with this toy-accurate chest). Additionally, he comes with the model and the blueprint for the Solar Power Tower, a new handgun, and the screwdriver to build it, all from "The Master Builders," and two extra crane arm attachments seen in "Auto Berserk". He also comes with an alternate helmet based on his more toy-accurate early head design, seen in both "Auto Berserk" and the original 1985 Autobot Cars commercial (see "Notes", below).
- The Hasbro Asia release of the figure comes with a die-cast Ultra Magnus mini figure.
| Masterpiece mold: Mitsubishi Fuso F-Series FT | ||
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Generations
War for Cybertron: Earthrise
- Autobot Grapple (Voyager Class, 2020)
- ID number: WFC-E11
- Accessories: Blaster, Claw, Nozzle
- Released as part of the Earthrise Voyager Class lineup, this version of Grapple is an all-new cartoon-accurate mold featuring multiple elements of his Masterpiece figure. He transforms into a crane based on his traditional alternate mode, and features a handgun and a claw. The crane's hook can fold back to reveal a 5mm port for the claw to attach. The same can also be done with his hands. As part of the new play pattern, the claw has an "A.I.R. System" connection point which allows him to connect to bases. While it was not shown in promotional stock renders, the display table at New York Comic Con and his description on Hasbro Pulse revealed that Grapple will also come with a nozzle that can plug into his hands the same way as the aforementioned claw.
Merchandise
Decoy Collection
- Grapple (Decoy, 1986)
- Decoy Grapple is a tiny red soft-rubber figurine randomly packaged with various carded toys in 1986.
Attacktix
- Grapple (2007)
| ID number: | Unknown |
| Rarity: | |
| Faction: | Autobot |
| Class: | Warrior |
| Special: | Unknown |
| Point Cost: | 30 |
| Base Speed: | Unknown |
| Attack Type: | Rammer |
- One of many Generation 1 characters slated to appear in Attacktix, Grapple would have been a "rammer"-type piece, with a spring-loaded boom-crane attack. A presumed wave-3 Booster, this piece was ultimately never released.
 Game over. |
Notes
- Following the lead of his toy, which could swap its fists out of for projectile rockets, Grapple's bio describes how he can shoot missiles from his wrist sockets. His character model, however, was drawn based on an image of the toy with a missile loaded into his left wrist, resulting in a permanently one-handed Grapple. Further, it was reminagined not as a missile, but as a cylindrical gun barrel, similar to Shockwave's, also sometimes used by Grapple as an arc welder.
- Like most of the new 1985 product line, Grapple's character model appears to have been created with only a front-facing photograph of the toy for reference, resulting in a rear-view that was made up by the designers. His robot mode is missing the crane arm that ought to hang down his back, and details from it that were visible in the source image (specifically the part with the hazard stripe, as can be seen in our main image above) were misinterpreted as being part of his legs.
- In the original cartoon, Grapple's helmet is colored solid orange. "Auto Berserk", however, uses an outdated color model that makes it black like the toy (with a pair of orange horns), a design that can also be seen in the original commercial advertising the new 1985 Autobot cars. This early model also colors his wrist-barrel white; episodes animated using his finalized model, on the other hand, constantly fluctuate between coloring the barrel white and black, with no clear "correct" option.
- An Autobot vehicle matching Grapple's vehicle mode and referred to as "Hauler" appears in a quick scene in the three-part mini-series pilot for the original cartoon series. Though later retconned into a unique character via an e-HOBBY-exclusive redeco, it is likely that this was originally intended as the toy and character that eventually became Grapple.
- As with all the non-toy Transformer Kreons in the Kre-O manga, Grapple uses existing toy parts... mostly. See, he uses the Inferno-style helmet, which is entirely appropriate... but we're not 100% sure what's in his left wrist socket. There is a "blaster" piece that fits in there, but it's much bigger than that. In his second appearance he's got two hands and is further kitted out with Hook's crane parts on his back.
Foreign names
- Japanese: Grapple (グラップル Gurappuru)
- French: Grappin (Canada)
- Hungarian: Csáklya
- Italian: Gancio
- Mandarin: Diàochē (吊车, "Crane")
- Portuguese: Lutador (Portugal comic), Chave (Brazil comic)
- Russian: Granit (Гранит, "Granite")
- Pages with image sizes containing extra px
- Character stubs missing fiction
- Upcoming toy releases
- Unreleased Attacktix
- Artists
- Attacktix
- Beast Wars: Uprising Autobots
- Council members
- Decoys
- Dreamwave Generation 1 Autobots
- Generation 1 Autobots
- IDW (2005) Autobots
- Kre-O Autobots
- Kreons
- Lost Light crew
- Masterpiece
- Regeneration One Autobots
- SDCC exclusives
- Transformers (2010) Autobots
- Unite Warriors Autobots
- United Autobots
- War for Cybertron: Earthrise Autobots
- Wings Universe Autobots
