Laser Rod

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This article is about the subgroup. For the weapon, see Laser Rod (weapon){{#switch:{{#sub:Laser Rod (weapon)|-1}} != .= ?= .

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The Laser Rods are a cross-factional subgroup from the Generation 2 portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.
I've got a "laser rod"... in my pants.

The Laser Rods are a quartet of warriors armed with flaming, energized, glowing swords. Though two of them are Autobots and the other two are Decepticons, on the whole, they tend to be destructive, rampaging, turbo-revving punks who spend their time tearing up streets, redlining their engines, and chopping down telephone poles.

The Laser Rods consist of:

Autobots:

Decepticons:

Fiction

Marvel Generation 2 comic

The Laser Rods were part of a new era of Decepticon warriors, designed by Bludgeon and brought to fruition by Megatron, who stole the Creation Matrix from Optimus Prime. Volt, Jolt, and Sizzle made their debut alongside the Rotor Force on Tykos, third moon of E'Brutoc, where they liberated the density-enhancing gas rheanimum from its factory. New Dawn

They were present when Megatron forged an alliance with the Autobots, although Sizzle noted the Decepticons were bowing out of a mission of mercy Optimus Prime insisted on pursuing. Still, once Megatron learned the Generation 2 Cybertronians were the Autobots' opponents, the Decepticons soon arrived in force to aid their "comrades". Volt was seen chopping through the Cybertronians alongside Leadfoot and Manta Ray. Escalation!

After Jhiaxus and his forces found the Autobot base on Earth, the battle was joined anew. Electro and Volt took time to admire the combination ability of the Cybertronians as they blasted them out of the sky. Total War! Jolt was later seen helping arrange the defensive perimeter before the arrival of the Swarm. Electro worked with Hot Rod as a lookout for the entity's arrival, and Sizzle was seen among the defenders firing back in vain against the Swarm. A Rage in Heaven!

Although the Autobot Rotor Force toys, Leadfoot and Manta Ray, showed an inclination towards switching sides, Electro and Volt never demonstrated any wavering loyalties.

The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual

After the Decepticons arrived on Earth, Megatron created the Illuminator named Hotrod as a counter to Prime's Sparkabots. Hotrod's The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual profile

G-2 pack-in manga and story pages

As the Cybertron Alliance fell and the war between the Autobots and Decepticons entered a new generation, the Laser Rods Electro and Volt were among Optimus Prime's top soldiers in these new battles. Fighting with Megatron and his minions, Optimus Prime and the Laser Rods unleashed a tremendous amount of firepower on the Decepticons. G-2 #1 Overconfident in their abilities, Electro raced forward to finish the job, only to get face-palmed by Megatron. G-2 #2

Seeing his partner helpless in Megatron's grasp, Volt slipped behind Megatron's guard and stabbed him in the back with his laser-charged needle saber, forcing the Decepticon to drop Electro. G-2 #4 Furious, Megatron dispatched Jolt to herald his rage and cut through the fleeing Autobot Laser Rods. G-2 #5 With Volt laid low, Jolt and Sizzle attempted to gang up on Electro. His speed and patented Knee-Flash Kick(!!!) kept Electro out of their clutches, however. G-2 #3

As he recovered, Volt chased down Sizzle into a darkened cave. His reckless pursuit left him unprepared for Sizzle's stealth shield, and Volt suffered a serious shoulder wound. G-2 #6

Later(?), Volt and Optimus Prime were caught in another stealth attack by the Cyberjet, Skyjack. G-2 #7 Volt chased down another Cyberjet, Space Case, but was caught off-guard by the jet's maneuverability and took a laser blast to the backside. G-2 #8 Volt suffered further damage in Dreadwing's missile storm ('Bot just can't catch a break!). G-2 #10

The arrival of the Laser Cycles caused the tide of battle to shift back and forth, as the Laser Rods on both sides experienced victories and losses. G-2 #11

When Road Rocket attempted to infiltrate the Decepticon base, he was spotted by the Laser Rods and Road Pig. They chased him until Aero Raid appeared from the ventilation system to provide the Autobot some back-up. G-2 #14

Fighting alone against the Decepticons, Volt received some much needed support when Strafe swooped out of the sky and belted Megatron. G-2 #15

Electro was captured by the Decepticons, and Megatron attempted to make him an offer he couldn't refuse. Luckily, Jetfire arrived to rescue his comrade, fighting through the enemy Laser Rods. G-2 #16

Electro and Volt survived the final battle with the Decepticons. As Megatron and his horde were sent retreating into deep space, the Laser Rods were seen helping their injured leader Optimus Prime to safety. G-2 Part 6

G-2 Comics Bom Bom manga

Electro and Jolt did battle in the vacuum of space before crashing down on the surface of the moon. After a fierce duel with their laser swords, Electro stabbed Jolt through the chest with his blade. While the weapon was lodged in the Decepticon, though, Jolt turned on his exhaust pipes, melting Electro with super-heated flames. Electro managed to separate from his opponent, and cleaved him in twain with his shaft saber. Jolt died in a fiery explosion, crowing about Megatron's upcoming victory even as he died.

Down on planet Earth, Electro arrived just as the Cyberjets began their attack on a Japanese air show beneath Mount Fuji. Electro held his own against the three Decepticon flyers until Hooligan's missiles literally disarmed him. Still, he held out long enough for Optimus Prime to arrive and fend off the Decepticons. Volt arrived with his leader to help Electro seek repairs. The New Battle!!

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

Remember when we fought with lightning laser blades? Those were the days.

Electro and Volt were seen on Cybertron, residing in one of the Autobot complexes with the Brainmasters. Atonement

Toys

Generation 2

  • Known designers: Takio Ejima (TakaraTomy){{#if: |, {{{2}}}}}
Blazing in the dark / Laser Rod cars
Metamorphin' into WARRIORS!
Electro, VOLT / Sizzle, JOLT
Fighting with lightning LASER BLADES!
...that totally doesn't rhyme.
The Laser Rods were among the later new molds included in the Generation 2 toyline, sold individually carded. They transform into classic hot rods. They feature clear plastic swords and a small light that can peg into the bottom of the fist holding the sword to give the illusion that it is a "laser sword". In vehicle mode, the light serves to illuminate a transparent engine block.
Their packaging advertised them as "Super Posable!"; they are among the first fully poseable Transformers. They prefigured the soon-to-be-born Beast Wars line, though they lack the ball joints that gave most Beast Wars figures their articulation. The Laser Rods are built with an elastic-and-hook waist design similar to the Action Masters (or the 1980's GI Joe line) that unfortunately rendered them rather floppy from the waist down when in robot mode. (This style of articulation was never used again.)
The Laser Rods were particularly expensive for 1994, usually costing $15(US) each for a figure that sits between today's Scout and Deluxe scaled figures. This is likely due to the cost of electronics and the included batteries at the time.
Related toys from the subsequent year using the same basic gimmick were the Laser Cycles and Laser Optimus Prime, the latter of which is actually identified as a Laser Rod on his Real Action Pop-Ups 3-D Transformer Trading Card and two different versions of multilingual European packaging.

Notes

Foreign names

  • Japanese: Lazer Rod [sic] (レーザーロッド Rēzā Roddo)
  • European: Illuminators
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