Saberback (BW)

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

I summon my Sabersaurus in attack mode!

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

Hihowareya! Hihowareya! Hihowareya!

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 comic continuity

Beast Wars Neo comic

Nice try, but by attacking my Sabersaurus, you've activated my trap card!

2006 IDW Beast Wars continuity

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 World

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

Feeeeed me, Seymour!

• Saberback (January 1999)
  • ID number: D-30
  • Accessories: "Triple Claw" tail-weapon

Part of the first wave of Beast Wars Neo products in the Japanese Beast Wars toyline, Saberback is a Deluxe-sized figure that transforms from an organic Stegosaurus into a robot with Plains Indian or Aztec-styled design. In robot mode, his tail detaches to become a hand-held, non-firing "Triple Claw" blaster. Also featured is a cow skull on his chest that, when lifted, reveals his Predacon spark crystal.

He also features a third "Claw Trap Mode", which is achieved by splaying out the dinosaur mode limbs, so that he is on his belly, then raising up his spine/ponytail section with his tail opened up into the Triple Claw configuration; thus making him look like a foreign-world flower.

This mold was also used to make Beast Machines Striker, and the Walmart-exclusive Dinobots Snarl.

• More information on Saberback at TFU.info

 

Left: Takara packaging pictured
Right: Sonokong packaging pictured

• Desert Showdown: Colada VS Saberback (Deluxe VS set, 1999)
  • Takara ID number: VS-30
  • Sonokong ID number: DX-02
  • Accessories: "Triple Claw" tail-weapon

Saberback was also available in a "Desert Showdown" (砂漠の対決 Sabaku no Taiketsu) two-pack with the Maximal Colada. Both toys were identical to their individual releases.

Sonokong also released this vs-pack in Korean Beast-War Neo markets. "Stegorat" features no differences with the Takara releases of Saberback, other than the packaging and Tech Spec cards.

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 Deluxe Class Bumblebee toy.

Foreign names

• Korean: Stegorat (스테고라트 Seutegorateu)