Yokuryu
- Yokuryu is a Decepticon from the Victory portion of Generation 1 continuity family.
The only flier among the Dinoforce, Yokuryu (ヨクリュウ Yokuryū) often seems above it all, both literally and figuratively. While the other Dinoforcers are hard-working team players, Yokuryu is disinterested in effort and isn't particularly friendly with his fellows. Oh, he'll do what he's told (after all, Goryu's club hurts), but he won't do it with any real enthusiasm, and he'll only do just enough to consider the job "done". The easy life, that's what he's after.
If he weren't such a slacker, he'd be an ideal aerial combatant. He can nearly achieve light speed in flight, and his semi-autonomous Pteranodon shell's wings are capable of generating magnetic "nets" that can halt any foe in their tracks. This sets them up perfectly for his "Yoku-Pterano Fire" attack, a high-speed ramming attack where his shell becomes engulfed in high-heat flames.
But, well... effort. No thanks. Someone else'll cover for him, right?
Fiction
Victory cartoon
- Voice actor: Hirohiko Kakegawa (Japanese)
Years ago, Dinoforce raided on a Mars research ship, robbing it of as much energon as they could carry. The sheer amount of destruction they inflicted on the ship caused it to explode, resulting in the deaths of nearly all on board, including Jan's parents. The Dinoforce made their escape before Star Saber arrived, too late to save anyone but the infant Jan, who had been put into an escape pod. Attack! Leozack
When Deathsaurus revived the Decepticon campaign to take Earth, he unleashed the Dinoforce to steal energon from the humans' lunar operations. After tearing through a floating space station under construction, they descended on the Moon and attacked the lunar base, running rampant until the Brainmasters arrived. After Goryu was able to drop Braver a crevasse, the remaining two Autobots soon found themselves on the ropes until Star Saber arrived, who sent them to help evacuate the base while he took care of Dinoforce. Goryu tried to rally his troops into attacking the Autobot leader, and they almost did, but chickened out at the last moment before Star Saber flattened them anyway. When even Emperor Deathsaurus proved unable to stop Star Saber, the Decepticons all fled aboard the Thunder Arrow. The Brave Hero of the Universe - Star Saber
They barely had any time to recuperate, as Dinoforce was loudly (and violently) roused from their post-battle nap by Goryu, who had been tasked with destroying the Autobot Galaxy Base, where the lunar base refugees were waiting for transport back to Earth. They stopped at some floating wreckage, spotting the lone Autobot Wingwaver on his way from Planet V to the Galaxy Base, and Goryu decided that ambushing and killing the Autobot would be a good warmup. Wingwaver put up a good fight, but the sheer numbers were against him, and soon he found himself struggling to fend off all six of them. The Brainmasters intervened once again, giving Wingwaver the chance to escape. As the rest of the Dinoforce exited their shells to take on the Autobots, Goryu enacted a fairly savvy (for him) plan, sending the dino shells ahead to destroy the Galaxy Base while the Decepticons finished the fight with the Brainmasters. Unable to take the trio out even with superior numbers, Goryu called for combination, and to the Brainmasters' shock, the team merged into the gigantic Dinoking, who proved more than a match for the Autobots. Star Saber left the Galaxy Base to tackle Dinoking and send the Brainmasters back to defend the Galaxy Base. After taking several shots from Saber's "V-Star" weapon, Dinoking engaged the Autobot Supreme Commander in melee combat, but ended up getting absolutely trounced, and the team de-combined and fled for their lives.
Meanwhile, the dino shells used the absence of Star Saber to close the gap and begin wrecking the Galaxy Base. While they were able to do a massive amount of damage to the space station, their rampage was cut short as the shuttle at the top of Galaxy Base revealed itself to be the giant Autobot Galaxy Shuttle, who used the rocket thrusters in his feet to send the shells flying uncontrollably into the void of space. Sneak Attack! Dinoking
Yokuryu is just as foolish as his compatriots, though on at least one occasion he had the wit to realize a flight of birds was evidence of a sneak attack. Presumably his brain cells had actually bounced into contact that day. Explosion!! The Energy Base
Victory comic
Yokuryu and the Dinoforce rode their shells into battle, ransacking the planet Earth. They attempted to escalate the devastation by forming Dinoking, but were stopped cold by the power of Landcross. So Cool! Our Ally, Star Saber!
Yokuryu stood watch as Kakuryu went through his daily fitness routine. Star Saber, Warrior of Love!
When Emperor Deathsaurus wanted to assemble a team of young boys for...um...anyway, he sent Yokuryu to Earth to kidnap Jan Minakaze. Interrupting the first meeting of the Autobot boy sidekicks, the Victories, Yokuryu scooped Jan up into his mouth and flew him back to the Thunder Arrow. Danger, Jan! Hurry, Star Saber!
As the Autobots infiltrated the Decepticon Space Stronghold, their sudden appearance scattered Yokuryu and the Dinoforce. The fighting soon ceased as the Decepticons revealed they only sought energy for their families, including the adorable Dinobabies. The Grand Victory War
2005 IDW continuity
Yokuryu was part of Deathsaurus's contingent of Decepticons stationed in their Warworld. In agreement with Tarn, Deathsaurus and his forces joined with the Decepticon Justice Division to continue the Decepticon dream and eliminate Megatron. The Permanent Revolution
Toys
Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers
- Yokuryu (Dinoforce, 1989)
- ID number: D-326
- Accessories: Pteranodon shell, shell back, "Pterano Gun", right Dinoking fist
- A redeco of the Pretender Monster Wildfly, Yokuryu transforms into a gargoyle-like creature. He can also form either arm to the team's combined mode, Dinoking, though his nominal placement is as the giant's right arm.
- He comes with a rubbery, cyborg Pteranodon shell he hides inside. The back of the shell can also store his rifle and the Dinoking fist. This shell, like all the Dinoforce shells, has a pair of QC flaws that appear nearly universal: the shell has a nasty tendency to "sweat" an oily residue, plus the metallic paints age poorly, with the gold famously developing a green patina, while the silver just gets uneven and grody-looking. While some water and a little bit of hand-soap should take care of the slime, there's not much to be done about the green discoloration.
- Dinoking (Gift set, 1989)
- ID number: D-328
- Accessories: Pteranodon shell, shell back, "Pterano Gun", right Dinoking fist
- All six members of Dinoforce were available both in individual boxes, and in a complete six-piece gift set. While there are no differences in the toys themselves, the gift set lacks any bio or Tech Spec cards for the individual components, only having cards for the combined mode.
Notes
- Yokuryū corresponds with 翼竜, meaning "Wing Dinosaur". The term is used to refer to the pterosaurs.
- Of the not-Goryu-or-Kakuryu members of Dinoforce, Yokuryu has the most screen time and lines as an individual in the Victory cartoon. Likely this is just by virtue of being the only flier and therefore easier to have him, you know, do things the rest of the team can't, typically recon. Though like the other three, he definitely lacks any noteworthy personality other than "kind of stupid".
- The Victory anime depicted the Dinoforce members as carrying melee weapons, rather than the blasters the toys actually came with. Yokuryu carries a scythe, though he can also shoot energy from the spike at the top like it was a gun.
Foreign names
- English: Wildfly (Omni Productions dub)
- Mandarin: Chángzuǐguài (China, 长嘴怪, "Long-mouthed Monster")
