Breakdown (ES)

The name or term "Breakdown" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Breakdown (disambiguation).

Breakdown is a Stunticon from the EarthSpark continuity family.

He's the fastest 'Con alive!

Breakdown lives up to his Stunticon heritage. He may be on the run from G.H.O.S.T. now that the war is over, but he won't let being a wanted criminal stop him from getting his thrills by joining any race he can. He's fortunate enough, however, to be joined by his old friend Bumblebee in these races; it's the only time the two wanted Cybertronians have a chance to catch up. They may have ended up on opposite sides of the war, but getting the chance to score another win over his old friend makes up for any bad blood they may have.

Fiction

EarthSpark cartoon

Voice actor: Roger Craig Smith (English), Último de Carvalho (Brazilian Portuguese), Denis Maréchal (French)

This section covers fiction that is ongoing. It will be added to as the story progresses. If it isn't current, you can help by updating it.

Gotta go fast!

Breakdown and Bumblebee were good friends back on Cybertron before the war and when war did come between between the Autobots and Decepticons broke out, the two remained on amicable terms. Stranded on Earth with the destruction of the Space bridge, Breakdown had to go on the run to evade capture by the forces of G.H.O.S.T. He often caught up with Bumblebee, also a fugitive of the law, in races across across the world which Breakdown as usual always won.

At Witwicky, Pennsylvania, things got serious when Bumblebee informed Breakdown that G.H.O.S.T. was hot on his trail and were scanning all vehicles partaking in the race for Cybertronian Energon signatures. Enticed, rather than alarmed, by the presence of G.H.O.S.T. Breakdown made a wager with his friend; if Bee could finally beat him in a race, Breakdown would stop partaking in races and lay low but if Breakdown won than he'd get Bumblebee's Energon suppressors that made it much easier for his friend to evade detection by G.H.O.S.T. With Breakdown not relenting, Bumblebee agreed.

Things seemed to first be going swimmingly when G.H.O.S.T. performed an Energon check on Bumblebee that turned up nothing and the human, Dot Malto pretending to be Bee's driver. However, when Agent Croft ordered a more thorough scan of all the vehicles, Breakdown realized the jig was up and began trying to fight his way out. He came to Bumblebee's aide, forced to reveal himself to save some humans, and two began trying to outrace the G.H.O.S.T. forces in a bid to escape. While making their way towards the closest exit, Breakdown was incapacitated by a shot from Agent Croft. Taking stock of the situation, Breakdown realized there was no getting out of this and offered his friend one last race. Bumblebee, still focused on getting the both of them out, was taken aback when his friend sped off straight into the direction of the G.H.O.S.T. forces blocking their exit. Taking as many shots as he could, Breakdown used his momentum to hurl Bumblebee over the race track's walls and thus getting his friend to safety. As Bee tried to reach out to get Breakdown, the Stunticon only chuckled and mocked his friend for still being the slow one as he crashed to the surface beneath him. Knocked out, Breakdown was taken into custody by G.H.O.S.T. Security Protocols

After their capture, Bumblebee and Schloder were put in the same cell as Breakdown, who watched them play card games. Nightshade and Twitch sprung the captives, and though the pair pleaded for the Decepticons' help in battling Mandroid, Breakdown and the other Decepticons had little interest in defending a planet that had locked them up and left them to it. The Last Hope, Part 1 Later, hearing of the struggle of the Maltobots and their allies, Breakdown joined other Decepticons in showing up to help. Breakdown lent Bumblebee and Schloder a hand in their battle against Mandroid-controlled Autobots until Mandroid ultimately activated his superweapon, deactivating Autobot and Decepticon alike. A few minutes later, Breakdown and the others came back online thanks to Robby and Mo reversing the effects of the device. The Last Hope, Part 2

Toys

EarthSpark

Breakjack.

• Breakdown (1-Step Flip Changer, 2023)

Part of the fourth wave of EarthSpark "1-Step Flip Changers", Breakdown is a redeco of the previously released 1-Step Flip Changer Wheeljack, converting from robot to vehicle and vice versa by being folded inside-out/outside-in, much like a switchblade. His vehicle mode can be arrived at much faster by letting him fall face up onto a solid surface. This releases a switch on his leg and lets him spring back into car mode instantly.

Unlike previous One Step Changers, Breakdown lacks any robot mode articulation beyond waggling his free-moving arms side to side. He is also much smaller than previous equivalent toys.

This figure was revealed on Walmart's website, prior to any official announcement by Hasbro.

Notes

• Breakdown's robot mode was designed by Nick Roche.
• Breakdown's alternate mode combines design cues of both a 1969 (rear) and 1973 (front) Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.

Foreign names

• Hungarian: Membrán ("Reed Valve" or "Membrane")