Mirage (RID)
| The name or term "Mirage" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Mirage (disambiguation). |
- Mirage is an Autobot from the 2001 Robots in Disguise continuity family.
Mirage is one of the elite Spy Changers, and is their best marksman. As a Spy Changer, he has the ability to drive on almost any surface, and can also cloak himself and thereby render himself invisible. Though he's generally a loner who prefers to work alone (which really grinds W.A.R.S.'s gears), he and his team-mate Ironhide go way back.
In the future, he'll be using the Genetronic Translink System and thus will be called Mirage GT!
Fiction
Cartoon continuity
2001 Robots in Disguise cartoon
- Voice actor: Wally Wingert (English), Ryō Naitō (Japanese), Mikhail Tihonov (Russian), Wan-gyeong Seong (Korean), Sérgio Stern (Portuguese)
When the Predacons stole a plutonium energy generator and attempted to escape along a beach, Mirage along with Ironhide and W.A.R.S. cut them off by driving across the water. He climbed into Ironhide's truck bed for some "cyber-jousting". The Predacons eventually escaped with a fake generator which the Spy Changers had swapped for the real one. Spychangers to the Rescue
After Optimus was captured and tortured by Megatron, the Spy Changers joined the Autobot Brothers in rescuing their leader and seeing off the Predacons. Sideburn's Obsession
Later, the team tried to protect a ruby from Predacon theft, but the mission failed–partly because of Mirage's unwillingness to fire at the Predacons and risk hitting a chemical tank. Mirage would not explain himself, and "left" the Spy Changers because he felt they should trust his motives, but when his friend Ironhide tried to convince him to come to his senses, he became aware that he was carrying a transmitter created by Gas Skunk. Mirage used this to his advantage, and deceptively alienated Ironhide, while at the same time deceiving the Predacons that he could be a potential ally. Ultimately, he carried the ruse to its full extent, leading his fellow Spy Changers to the laser weapon the Predacons had created. Using hand signals, he helped them to understand his plan, and they successfully destroyed the weapon with help from T-AI and the Global Space Bridge. Mirage's Betrayal
The Spy Changers also took part in the International Grand Prix in an attempt to find Skid-Z and were blinded by Megatron a short time into the race. Skid Z's Choice On another occasion, the Spy Changers were called back to base to watch footage of various battles, but had to wrap up a fight with the Predacons first. Mirage rode on Ironhide again. Hope for the Future
The Spy Changers accompanied Optimus Prime to Montrose Island where Predacon activity was causing the volcano to become violent. They attempted to keep Scourge and Sky-Byte busy while Optimus went to use his blizzard storm on the volcano. Hot Shot ordered Mirage to keep Scourge away from Optimus, but the Decepticon simply took a flying leap over the Spy Changer. When the volcano was ruptured and lava threatened the nearby resort, the Spy Changers used their Inferno Blast to divert its path. Mirage gave some encouraging words when Crosswise was concerned his engine was overheating. Volcano
In between all their adventures, the Autobots still had to perform some of the more menial tasks, such as regularly testing out the global space bridge. Lessons of the Past
Sent to stop the Decepticons from finding Fortress Maximus, the Spy Changers jumped out in front of the foe and were soundly trounced by Armorhide and Rollbar. Fortress Maximus
The Spy Changers took part in the ambush of the Decepticons after the Autobot base was discovered. They marveled at the firepower of the Megastar, and didn't really contribute much for the rest of the battle. Surprise Attack! After Galvatron's defeat, they celebrated by racing with Skid-Z. The Final Battle
Japanese cartoon continuity
Super Spy Changers catalog
With God Magnus having departed Earth aboard Brave Maximus, the Autobots were unable to call upon his power when a new menace, suddenly arose to challenge them. In order to combat this threat, a plan was put into motion to upgrade the Spy Changers with Spark Engines, granting them Super Modes.
Super Mirage gained immense speed, to the point of being able to produce "images" and nobody being able to match his quickslinging.[1][2]
Ask Vector Prime
The threat was Chainsaw and his Mutants. Super Mirage used his illusions to defeat Jackhammer when he attacked Antarctica. Later, when Chainsaw and the rest of his Mutants attempted to overrun the Autobot base, he helped repulse them. Using the power of teamwork, the Super Spy Changers defeated and captured the villains. Though the Go-Brillium which powered them was used up and they were no longer Super, they retained new color schemes. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/01
Legends comic
When Scourge and his Commandos attacked the Dimensional Patrol's Neo Brave Maximus to rescue Devil Gigatron, the Super Spy Changers were sent out to the front lines. Their damage to the Commando's ship led to it crashing into the base. LGEX Scourge Prologue
Ask Vector Prime
In the future of Viron 102.0 Beta, Mirage was a victim of the extradimensional criminal Megatron during the Spark War. However, he used the Genetronic Translink System to control a Vehicon body even with his spark in enemy hands! Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/30 He traveled back in time to guide the Protector against Cryotek and decided to serve in the Elite Guard as "Mirage GT" while he was at it.
As part of the Guard, he helped face threats such as the Recyclons, Planet X in the Skeleton Nebula, Jhiaxus's Destructicons, and such bizarre threats as the Metabeasts of Zeotopia, the Intruder Empire, and the Elder Gods! Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/22
Toys
Robots in Disguise (2001)
- Counter Arrow (Spy Changer, 2000)
- ID number: C-010
- Accessories: Rifle
- Released in the first wave of Car Robots product, "Counter Arrow" is a redeco of the Generation 2 Go-Bot Double Clutch mold, transforming into a Lola T94 Indy car. He features a through-axle wheel construction that allows him to zip quickly along smooth surfaces in vehicle mode, and is compatible with many "Hot Wheels" and "Matchbox" racetracks. The black portion of his hood has heat-sensitive paint that reveals an Autobot insignia, in a method similar to the original rubsigns.
| Generation 2 mold: Double Clutch | ||
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- Spy Changer Deluxe 6 Piece Set (Multi-pack, 2000)
- ID number: C-011
- Accessories: Rifle
- All six Spy Changers were not only sold as individuals in Japan, but in a six-piece gift set as well. The toys are identical to their individual releases, including all six individual bio cards.
- Sonokong also released this gift set in Korean markets with no differences other than the packaging.
- Counter Arrow clear version (Spy Changer, 2000)
- Accessories: Rifle
- An exclusive redeco of Counter Arrow in clear-blue and clear-green plastics, this version was only available from JUSCO stores in Japan as a direct-mail premium to members of their "Peppy Kids Republic" (元気キッズ共和国, Genki Kidzu Kyōwakoku), a sort of subsidiary/offshoot for selling baby goods and children's clothing. Since membership was open only to kids 12 and under and this version was shipped blind-packed, getting the entire set of six was extremely difficult.
| Generation 2 mold: Double Clutch | ||
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- Ironhide / Mirage (Basic Class two-pack, 2001)
- Accessories: Rifle
- The Hasbro Robots in Disguise version of "Mirage" was available only in a two-pack with Ironhide, released in the first wave of "Basic" toys. This version replaces the heat-sensitive insignia was replaced with a normal Autobot insignia tampograph, and adds more paint operations, mainly red highlights. The red piping on his hood is also a brighter shade than the Takara vesion's.
- The initial releases of this set have Ironhide packaged in robot mode with Mirage in vehicle mode, pointed straight upward. Later releases have both toys in vehicle mode, tilted to a 1 o'clock position.
| Generation 2 mold: Double Clutch | ||
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- Mirage (Spy Changer, 2002)
- Accessories: Rifle
- All six original Spy Changers were redecoed in colorless-clear plastics (keeping their normal paint applications, though), and released on individual cards through KB Toys chains.
| Generation 2 mold: Double Clutch | ||
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- Mirage (Tiny Tins, 2002)
- Accessories: Rifle, collectors' tin
- The normal Hasbro version of Mirage was released as part of the first assortment of Tiny Tins Transformers, coming with a carrying tin.
- Nightcruz / Mirage GT / Scavenger (Mega Class 3-pack, 2002)
- A redeco of the Beast Machines Vehicon Mirage, Robots in Disguise "Mirage GT" transforms into a Cybertronic dragster similar in shape to an F-1 racer. In both modes he has pair of pressure-launch tailpipe-missiles; in car mode they attach to his spoiler, while in robot mode one is affixed to each arm. The small blaster-weapon attached to his head can also be removed and used as a hand-held weapon. He was available only in a 3-pack with Nightcruz and Scavenger.
- This set was released in Japan as a Toys"R"Us exclusive "USA Edition" set.
- This mold was planned for use as a convention-exclusive version of Devcon, which was ultimately never made.
- Mirage (Spy Changer, 2003)
- Accessories: Rifle
- A second round of KB Toys exclusive Spy Changers was released on individual cards. This time around, he was done in clear-green and clear-blue, a seeming reversal of the JUSCO exclusive deco.
| Generation 2 mold: Double Clutch | ||
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- Super Counter Arrow (Spy Changer, 2003)
- Accessories: Rifle
- Long after the Car Robots line ended in Japan, Takara put out individually-boxed redecoes of the Spy Changers. Counter Arrow was given a red and black deco.
- In each case of twelve Super Spy changers, two were all-clear-plastic versions (but keeping their paint applications). All six Spy Changers had a clear variant, but there was no way to tell which toys in the case were clear without opening the boxes and the opaque plastic baggies within.
| Generation 2 mold: Double Clutch | ||
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Notes
- Mirage GT usually features a minor assembly error in that his legs are swapped. This is easily fixable by popping the legs off at the hip and switching them.
- It is possible that Robots in Disguise chose "Mirage" as Counter Arrow's English market name due to the similarity between the G1 episode "Traitor", which featured Mirage being suspected of betraying the Autobots, and the Car Robots episode "Counter Arrow's Betrayal!?", which featured a nearly identical plot involving saboteur Autobots that transformed into Formula 1 race cars.
- Until a 2015 entry of the Facebook edition of "Ask Vector Prime", nothing said if Mirage and Mirage GT were the same guy or different dudes. His depiction pays homage to GT's nature as a repaint of the Beast Machines Vehicon Mirage (and that Mirage's accidental timewarping in "Apelinq's War Journals"), as well as using the GT System from Binaltech that was itself inspired by... Mirage GT! Gotta love fans turned pro.
Foreign names
- Japanese: Counter Arrow (カウンターアロー Kauntāarō), Mirage GT (ミラージュGT Mirāju GT)
- Korean: Countarrow (카운트아로 Kaunteuaro)
