Circuit (G1)
This article is a featured article, and considered to be one of the most informative on this wiki.
| The name or term "Circuit" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Circuit (disambiguation). |
- Circuit is an Autobot from the Generation 1 continuity family.
"What would it take to put Circuit on the battlefield delivering messages for Autobot Command here, today? Whatever it is, I'm willing to make a deal, just tell me what you need! I'm here to make you happy, after all, and making a deal is my middle name."
Circuit is the type of smooth-talking, easy-bantering used-car salesman who gives used-car salesmen a bad name. More, he hates to do anything without wheeling-and-dealing first, so even his commanding officers have to suffer through his constant "pitches." Many of his "deals," however, are actually scams, meaning Circuit has to constantly look over his shoulder for vengeful former marks back to take revenge. His Formula 1-style vehicle/Exo-suit was developed with high speed in mind (the kind needed to escape from an angry mob, say), a cloaking shield (the kind needed to hide from an angry mob, perhaps), and a decelerator cannon (the kind needed to slow that mob down till you're sure you've gotten away). These abilities, plus a devastating Gatling gun in its exo-suit mode, make him a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, which may be why the Autobots keep him around, despite it all.
Fiction
2005 IDW continuity
- First Appearance: Transformers: Robots in Disguise #9
Circuit could be seen propping up the bar at the Blurr-run Maccadam's Old Oil House. Night and the City Once Cybertron got a proper comm-net going in the form of the Iacon Communication Service, he became a news reporter, first interviewing Starscream and Omega Supreme over the matter of a Titan awakening in the former's presence and later reporting on an attack on Omega. The End of the Beginning of the World When Decepticons began rioting in the wake of Megatron's return, Circuit took to the streets to report on the chaos and was approached by Metalhawk, who wanted to use the comm-net to talk to the people of Iacon and quell the violence. The Verge Once Metalhawk was done with his speech, the reporter was pulled away to check out reports that Megatron had been broken out of prison. Before the Dawn
After an intense battle that ended with Megatron's defeat, Circuit witnessed Starscream declare himself leader of the NAIL population and banish all Autobots and Decepticons from Iacon. Heavy Is the Head Having left the Autobots, he and his cameraman Longtooth stayed in the city and continued their line of work, reporting the rise and fall of Scoop. Three Monologues When the population moved to Metroplex in the wake of Iacon's destruction, Circuit asked Starscream for a comment but didn't get much to work with. Hello Cruel World
Circuit interviewed Starscream while reporting on an explosion in the Acrolight District that killed three and injured Cityspeaker Windblade. A 'Bot and Her City Together with Longtooth he tried to investigate if it was truly an accident like Starscream claimed, but their snooping only got them thrown out of Maccadam's and almost assaulted by Chromia. Once Windblade found evidence of Starscream "mining" Metroplex for Regenesis ore, she went public with it by contacting Circuit and Longtooth and bringing them to Starscream's mine. A Long Way Down After a scuffle with the mine's Terrorcon guards, the group was arrested by Starscream and imprisoned, but were broken out soon enough by a group of rescuers rallied by Chromia. Windblade vol. 1 #3 As part of a deal struck between her and Starscream, Windblade later convinced Circuit to keep the mine a secret. Windblade vol. 1 #4
After official contact was made between Caminus and Cybertron, Circuit demonstrated the high standards of journalistic integrity expected from the ICS by following people around with a camera and shouting random questions he thought of to them while also reporting exaggerated astronomical distances. The Possible Light
When Starscream taped an official broadcast for the people of Cybertron declaring a special day in honor of himself, he handed it off to Circuit and Longtooth for airing. The intrepid reporters got loaded on cheap energon and only aired part of the speech, making it seem as if Starscream declared a special day to honor anyone. Hooray for journalistic professionalism! Choose Me Following the apparent murder of an unarmed Decepticon by the Badgeless, Circuit received footage of the crime and immediately aired it before reaching out to Starscream for a comment, unaware that Starscream hadn't even seen the footage. 07:00:00 He went on to report on the protests and rioting against Starscream's reign triggered by the incident. Applicable Skills While reporting on the aftermath of the battle with Bruticus, Circuit and Longtooth were approached by Chromia who confessed to the Acrolight District bombing live on camera. Taken aback, the only thing Circuit could think to say was "...why?" The Line Between Us
Soon after, Optimus annexed Earth as his personal protectorate and tried to have it added to the Council of Worlds. Starscream's sinister plot was to send Circuit and Longtooth to Earth to simply film what was going down, assuming it would turn people against him. The Medium and the Message As soon as they showed up, Optimus Prime heroically yelled that the press had "NO RIGHT" to be in a place he didn't want them, and then they evilly reported a human retaliatory attack on Optimus as a human retaliatory attack. It's Beginning To And Back Again Starscream's plan backfired when Circuit ended up with footage of Optimus raising a Titan on Earth, an act that served to solidify his right to be called Prime. As Above...So Below
Several months later, Longtooth and Circuit watched Optimus depart from the Spire following his unhelpful meeting with the Council of Worlds to discuss Earth's status. Behind My Bleeding Back
Circuit was on the scene at the induction of Earth into the Council of Worlds, reporting alongside the former G.I. Joe member Hashtag. His misunderstanding of Earth fashion led to him asking Marissa Faireborn how she had killed the "Barber original" she was now wearing. First Strike #1
When Windblade returned to her position as delegate for Caminus in the Council of Worlds, Starscream had Circuit and his partner on-hand to help deliver a little pomp and circumstance, taking a photo of her as she returned to work. And then Starscream had his goon squad shove the reporters out of the room when Windblade started mentioning something she shouldn't. As the two were sitting outside, grumbling about freedom of the press, the delegate caught up with them, and started telling them about the Liege Maximo.
With this knowledge, Circuit presented Cybertron with a definitely not overblown by any means report about how the Liege was coming back, and everyone was facing certain, horrible, terrible death. Unsurprisingly, this unbiased reporting led to an outbreak of panic and alarm. Afterward, Circuit reported on the snap election that followed, as well as moderating on the electoral debates. When Windblade ultimately won the election, Circuit held a broadcast informing everyone on the revelry that followed. The Chosen One
Beast Wars: Uprising
Circuit was female. When Rook protested Fever Dream's support for the blatant falsehoods of Builder propaganda during the Vehicon Apocalypse, the ICS director considered replacing him with Circuit. Derailment
Toys
The Transformers
- Supersonic Racing Car with Action Master Circuit (Action Master, 1991)
- Accessories: Supersonic Racing Car/exo-suit
- Circuit is a redeco of Axer, sold only in European markets. As an Action Master, he cannot transform, but does have evidence of an alternate mode, possibly some kind of offroad buggy. He comes with a Formula 1 vehicle that transforms into a battle exo-suit. Both Circuit and the exo-suit are compatible with other Action Masters, vehicles and accessories. Though completely undocumented in the instructions, the gun barrel is detachable and often lost. The gun barrel is attached via a 3mm post and can also peg in above Circuit's head in exo-suit mode or be held in his hand.
- The placement of the cannon on his exo-suit is really phallic.
Notes
- The head of Circuit's Action Master toy has partially reversed colours when compared to the packaging art - the art shows a red face and a yellow racing-style helmet, but the toy leaves the face unpainted and instead paints a chin detail red.
