Soundwave (G1)
| The name or term "Soundwave" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Soundwave (disambiguation). |
Soundwave is a Decepticon in the Generation 1 continuity. In the Japanese series, he later took the name Soundblaster.
Soundwave is one of Megatron's most reliable troops, and has positioned himself comfortably and irreplaceably amongst Megatron's upper command structure. He stands at the Decepticon leader's side, his confidant. Soundwave guards his place in the hierarchy fiercely. Though loyal to Megatron, the other Decepticons see him as a two-faced snake. As Communications Officer, Soundwave sees and hears all, and will not hesitate to use blackmail to keep himself held high in Megatron's esteem. Bluntly, the other Decepticons hate him, and wouldn't mind abandoning him on the battlefield -- if they thought Megatron would let them get away with it.
Soundwave commands a legion of cassette troops to carry out tasks big and small.
French-Canadian name: Radar
Italian name: Memor
Fiction
Animated continuity
The Transformers
Voice Actor: Frank Welker (US), Issei Masamune (Japan)
Prior to his arrival on Earth, Soundwave had the questionably useful alt-mode of a space-age lamp-post. This allowed him to get as close to Autobot headquarters as the street leading into Iacon, but thankfully his chest-dwelling minion Laserbeak could snoop even closer. The loyal Laserbeak overheard of the Autobot mission to seek new energy sources off Cybertron, which prompted the fateful Decepticon interception mission that eventually landed both teams on Earth.
Immediately after the Transformers awakened on Earth in 1984, Soundwave played an essential role in the generation of Energon Cubes and the formation of plans for a new space cruiser to return the Decepticons to Cybertron. Soundwave was reformatted as a portable casette player, which allowed him to dupe a grabby and none-too-questioning Spike Witwicky into carrying his shrunken form into the Ark headquarters.
Later, he used his mind-reading talents to acquire an antimatter formula for the Decepticons from the brain of Chip Chase. One of Soundwave's most notable misadventures came in in 1985, when, operating a plan conceived by Starscream, he brainwashed humans with ultrasonic vibrations inside the Decepticon-built night club Dancitron in New York City, leading to a confrontation with his Autobot Communications Officer counterpart, Blaster, beginning a lasting rivalry between the two.
Although Soundwave rarely displayed much emotion, only infrequently exhibiting any traits that could be considers to be in line with his tech spec, which painted him as a cunning, self-serving blackmailer. He always came across as extremely loyal to Megatron, even going so far as to recover his body after being left for dead at the Battle of Autobot City in 2005. But while Soundwave was loyal, he was far from stupid, and kept his mouth shut when Megatron's body was subsequently ejected into space, and although he did suggest himself as a replacement leader, he again loyally served him when Megatron returned as Galvatron.
In the year 2006, although operating in a less prominent capacity for most of the time, Soundwave played a prominent role in Galvatron's attempt to learn the secret of a sonic weapon on the planet Eurythma, where sound and music were the way of life, leaving Soundwave entranced by the planet's perfect melodies. Recording each piece of the harmony that formed the devastating sonic effect, Soundwave was defeated when the Eurythmans countered the harmony with white noise, and was again pulled into a confrontation with Blaster, who erased his recordings.
The Transformers manga
Soundwave appeared most prominantly in the second issue of the "Fight! Super Robot Life Transformer" manga. Soundwave and his cassettes had stolen some top secret information and were being pursued through Tokyo by the Autobots. His chase eventually ended when Bumblebee got the drop on him with his patented "Bumble-Kick" and shattered his chest and the stolen information within. Maintaining something resembling continuity, during his appearance in the third issue of the Super Robot Life manga, Soundwave was shown to have bandages over his chest. Adorable.
Headmasters
In the early episodes of the Japanese Headmasters series, Soundwave and Blaster engaged in their final clash in the Arctic circle as the Autobots and Decepticons were in the process of searching for the missing Autobot Matrix of Leadership. The two opponents inflicted fatal damage to each other, and Soundwave's body exploded even as Blaster collapsed, but his fragments were recovered by his cassettes. Using reconstructive technology from the planet Master, the leader of the Decepticon Headmasters, Scorponok successfully rebuilt and resurrected Soundwave as Soundblaster - essentially identical to his former self, except for his predominantly black color scheme. As Soundblaster, Soundwave served the same role as he had ever done under the leadership of Galvatron and later Scorponok, frequently embarking on spying missions with Ratbat.
Headmasters manga
After the Decepticons had been vanquished from Earth in the last episode of the anime, Mega Zarak ordered Soundblaster to remain on Earth in secret to act as a spy for the Decepticons. Soundwave made his presence and intentions known almost instantly (not a very good spy) by kicking Wheelie square in the face and taking the Witwicky family hostage. Chromedome was left powerless to do anything but surrender, as Slugfest and Overkill brutalized Spike and threatened Carly. Daniel finally snapped and beat the living crap out of the two Cassette dinosaurs, leaving Soundblaster open to Chromedome's poorly named "Master-Chrome Hurricane Throw to the End of Hell!" Chromedome chucked Soundblaster over the horizon where he landed near the rogue Decepticon, Sixshot.
Cybertron
In an Episode of the Transformers Cybertron television series, Sideways is seen listening to music using a tape deck resembling Soundwave. It is unclear whether this is meant to actually be the same Soundwave that makes his appearance shortly afterwards, or just an easteregg for retro fans to spot.
Marvel Comics continuity
(Note: Events from the UK-only comic stories are in italics.)
In the Marvel Comics, Soundwave is slightly truer to his tech specs, and somewhat less loyal to Megatron, at one point working for both Shockwave and Megatron simultaneously when the two were at loggerheads over the leadership, and later becoming joint Decepticon leader with Starscream in the Earthforce strips.
Kid Stuff Talking Story Books continuity
Voice actor: Unknown
In When Continents Collide, Megatron calls Soundwave a "blundering tape-filled idiot." This is notable because it is hilarious. Also, Soundwave is really, really whiny in these stories.
Beast Wars
Soundwave is shown among the many Transformers strewn about the interior of the Ark when the Predacon Megatron infiltrates the ship on his mission to destroy Optimus Prime.
In the 3H Tales of the Beast Wars comics, Soundwave is one of the ancient warriors who appears from Jn'Wan to help battle the warlord Shokaract.
Dreamwave Generation 1 continuity
Soundwave was amongst the Decepticons who willingly joined Shockwave's side upon returning to Cybertron. In Soundwave's case, however, it seems clear that he had no loyalty to him, as he quickly joins up with Starscream when the seeker decides to return to Earth and take over. Though Soundwave feigned subservience to Starscream, it is later revealed that he had been serving Megatron the entire time in secret.
Devil's Due G.I.Joe vs. Transformers comics
IDW comics continuity
Toys
Generation 1
- Soundwave (Decepticon, 1984/1985)
- Japanese ID number: 17
- Came with Buzzsaw in the US and Rumble in Japan. Prior to his release as a Transformer, Soundwave was a Microchange Cassetteman Sony Walkman, which came with a set of non-functioning (duh) headphones.
- VS-Y Soundwave came with Rumble and Grimlock
- Soundblaster (Decepticon, 1987)
- Japanese ID number: D-101
- Came with Buzzsaw
- Soundwave with Wingthing (Action Master, 1990)
Generation 2
- Soundwave (Go-Bot, 1995)
- A redeco of the Go-Bot Gearhead, Soundwave transforms into a Ford Thunderbird stock car with through-axle tires, making him largely compatable with "Hot Wheels" and "Matchbox playsets and tracks.
Machine Wars
- Soundwave (Mega, 1997)
Universe
- Soundwave & Space Case (Ultra, 2004)
- The Machine Wars version of Soundwave was redecoed for release in the Universe line in an Ultra-level two-pack with Space Case. Due to the lack of fiction, it is possible that this incarnation is in fact an alternate-universe version of Soundwave, or possibly a new character altogether.
Titanium
- Soundwave
- A 6" Soundwave with Laserbeak was shown in Hasbro's booth at SDCC 2006.
Classics (2006)
- Soundwave
- A reissue version of the original toy, Soundwave is a Toys'R'Us exclusive, packaged with Laserbeak and Ravage.
Unreleased
In Generation 2, a redeco of the Laser Cycle Road Pig was planned as Soundwave, but ultimately never released, one of many planned redecos that never made it. Some packaged
Merchandise
External Links
