Introdump
An introdump (also known as name-dropping, name-checking, forced introduction, or "really awkward self-exposition") is a scene in which new characters are introduced, and the dialog goes out of its way to give each character's name. Sometimes the characters give their own names (referring to themselves in the third person). On other occasions, the characters will work each other's names into the dialog. The classic G1 Marvel Comic was particularly guilty of this, not least because they introduced on the order of 200 characters across only 84 issues (counting Headmasters). Presumably, Hasbro required the writers of the comic to make sure every new character was explicitly named, so the readers could then go out and ask the toy store employee for 'em by name. However, introdumps pop up across the whole spectrum of Transformers fiction. In particularly egregious examples, the characters also describe their "selling points" (weapons, etc.).
Here are four examples, from most graceful to least:
Transformers Animated
- Here, the Decepticons bicker, giving their names and at least one important fact per character:
- Lugnut: Megatron is wise! Megatron is bold! Megatron will return the Decepticons to Cyberton and...
- Blackarachnia: ...and wipe our homeland clean of the stench of Autobot tyranny, blah-dee blah blah blah! Did you memorize that speech, Lugnut? Or is it just hardwired into that thick, one-track processor of yours?
- Blitzwing: As usual, Blackarachnia, your demeanor is as unpleasant as that accursed organic mode of yours.
- Blackarachnia: Blow it out your actuator, three-face.
- Blitzwing: De name is Blitzving, insect!
Beast Wars
| Painful Introductions
The Maximals introduce themselves. — 350 KB
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- In the sound clip at right, from the first episode of Beast Wars, the writers at least have the justification that the characters are adopting new names at that moment.
Marvel Comics G1
- At right, the Stunticons introduce themselves in "Heavy Traffic!".
- A particularly heavy example, from the first issue of the US comic. (Note Rumble's ironic comment of "Can the speeches.")