Saberback (BW)
- Saberback is a Predacon from the Beast Wars Neo portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.
Saberback (セイバーバック Seibābakku) would have you believe that he's a powerful shaman or sorcerer or warlock or whatever. Sometimes he mixes his themes up, but the point is that he is one of the rare Transformers with a knack for channeling the ill-defined forces of magic. Saberback can cast spells, create deadly illusions and even divine the future by reading tarot cards. This ability has given him a dark and mysterious reputation amongst the other Predacons, who tread lightly around him in superstitious fear.
The reality, though, is that Saberback uses his reputation to mask his own insecurities and shortcomings. An absolute coward in the face of danger, Saberback relies on "magic" because it's something he can either cast from a safe distance, distract enemies with while running away or just plain ole use to conceal himself until it's safe to come out. Saberback tries to maintain his front as a creepy and unfathomable mystic, but the Predacons who know him best can see through the illusion. His true nature is most prominently on display when he "breaks character" to bully the downtrodden Sling, a scrawny nerd who is easy-pickings for the cruel stegosaurus.
Fiction
Beast Wars Neo cartoon
- Voice actor: Kazuki Yao (Japanese)
Saberback fought the Maximals in battle where he was commanded by Magmatron alongside Guiledart, Sling, and Dead End. He was defeated by Big Convoy's Big Cannon. Big Convoy, Move Out
Bom Bom manga continuity
Beast Wars II manga
Beast Wars Neo manga
IDW Beast Wars comics
Saberback is a compulsive liar, unable to trust anyone, not even himself. Beast Wars Sourcebook #3
During one of his astral journeys, Magmatron witnessed Saberback throttling Dirgegun, only for Killer Punch to clobber Saberback in turn. Moments later, Saberback was seen punching Killer Punch in retaliation. The Ascending #1
Beast Wars: Uprising
Saberback was a navigation specialist aboard the Dinosaur in the Cybertronian space fleet. He joined an away team responding to a distress call on the planet LGC-8803. While planetside, he responded to the siren call of Metascan Omega, the font of near-infinite knowledge once placed on the planet by the Logicons. He and his superior officer Apelinq entered a digital realm and performed a pilgrimage to the Eve of Providence. Once there, Saberback supplicated himself before Metascan Omega and became its avatar in communication with Apelinq. As Apelinq employed Metascan Omega to learn about the trials their crew faced on the planet's surface and in orbit, he asked it to intercede on their behalf. The Metascan Omega program intended to deny the request, in concordance with its programming directives, but Saberback managed to appeal to the program's desire for balance. The tractor beam of Metascan Omega had been misused by Lord Imperious Delirious to draw the Cybertronians to the planet; Saberback convinced the program to balance the equation by using the tractor beam to save his friends.
The Dinosaur crashed to the planet, never to fly again, but survived as a new colony dubbed Dinosaur City. Saberback remained behind at the colony while several members of the crew returned to Cybertron. Intersectionality In the years that followed Dinosaur City became a thriving mecca for Cybertronians and alien species. Saberback remained part of the city's people more than a decade after the Vehicon Apocalypse back home. The Inexorable March
Legends comic
Saberback of the Legends World was a teacher at the school where Magmatron was the principal. He attended a staff meeting where Big suggested changing the "HR" for "home room" to "TF" for "Transformers". Very Strange
2005 IDW continuity
Saberback was one of Onyx Prime's Maximals that fell under the command of Unicron. When Optimus Prime led a force against Unicron to prevent him from eating Caminus, Saberback was sent out to attack. Last Stand
Toys
Beast Wars Neo
- Saberback (Deluxe, 1999)
- Japanese ID number: D-30
- Accessories: Tail-weapon
- Saberback transforms into an organic Stegosaurus. He also has a dubious (well...okay, lame) third "Claw Trap Mode" that basically involves splaying out the dino-limbs so he's on his belly, then raising up the dino-spine and tail so the opening panels on the tail-claw face forward. His tail detaches to become a hand-held (non-firing) blaster/claw-weapon for robot mode. Saberback's robot mode has a rather Aztec feel to it, what with the headdress, loincloth, and skull chest decoration.
- This mold was also used to make the Beast MachinesStriker Universe Dinobot Striker and the Walmart-exclusive Dinobots Snarl.
- Showdown in the Desert: Corrada VS Saberback (Deluxe VS set, 1999)
- Japanese ID number: VS-30
- Accessories: Tail-weapon
- Saberback was also available in a two-pack with the Maximal Colada. The two toys were identical to their individual releases.
Merchandise
Beast Wars Gum
- Saberback (candy toy, 1999)
- A snap together model kit of Saberback was available as part of Kabaya's Beast Wars Gum, sculpted from blue and yellow plastic. He could transform from robot to beast mode by being broken down into his component parts, then rebuilt into a new mode. It came with a stick of gum.
Notes
- The Beast Wars: Uprising incarnation of Saberback is a "virtual redeco" of the Prime: Beast Hunters Bumblebee toy.
Foreign names
- Korean: Stegorat (스테고라트 Seutegorateu)
