Stranglehold
<div id="title-factionicons" style="float: right; display: none;"><div style="position: relative;"><a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Decepticon" title="Decepticon"><img alt="" src="Stranglehold_files/28px-Symbol_decept_reg.jpg" border="0" height="30" width="28"></a></div><div style="position: relative;"><a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Decepticon" title="Decepticon"><img alt="" src="Stranglehold_files/30px-Con-g2.png" border="0" height="29" width="30"></a></div></div>
- Stranglehold is a <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Decepticon" title="Decepticon">Decepticon</a> <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Pretender" title="Pretender">Pretender</a> in the <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Generation_1" class="mw-redirect" title="Generation 1">Generation 1</a> <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Continuity_family" title="Continuity family">continuity family</a>.
[[Image:|right|250px|thumb|Must....Reach...Inner robot!]] A brainless brawler of a bot, Stranglehold is the <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Decepticon" title="Decepticon">Decepticon</a> equivalent of the stereotypical wrestler, which is rather appropriate, seeing as how he is the reigning Intergalactic Cybertronic Wrestling Federation Champ. Stranglehold has absolutely no qualms about cheating and will do anything to win. Stranglehold turns into a rhino, has a shell that resembles a giant human gladiator, and carries a gun that saps the strength of its targets, making them too weak to fight back. Just how he likes them.
- French-Canadian name: Prisegorge
- Italian name: Demon
<a name="Fiction"></a><h2><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Stranglehold&action=edit§ion=1" title="Edit section: Fiction">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Fiction</span></h2> <a name="Marvel_Comics_continuity"></a><h3><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Stranglehold&action=edit§ion=2" title="Edit section: Marvel Comics continuity">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Marvel Comics continuity</span></h3> <a name="Generation_1"></a><h4><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Stranglehold&action=edit§ion=3" title="Edit section: Generation 1">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Generation 1</span></h4> [[Image:|left|250px|thumb|For one shining moment, Stranglehold was modest enough to wear something.]] <i>After the <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Time_Wars" title="Time Wars">Time Wars</a>, Stranglehold was chosen to be part of the Decepticon elite and join the newly reformed <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Mayhem_Attack_Squad" title="Mayhem Attack Squad">Mayhem Attack Squad</a>, led by <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Snarler" title="Snarler">Snarler</a> and <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Spinister" title="Spinister">Spinister</a>. Their first mission: hunt down and execute the traitors <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Carnivac" title="Carnivac">Carnivac</a> and <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Catilla" title="Catilla">Catilla</a>, who had joined forces with the Autobot <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Wrecker" title="Wrecker">Wreckers</a> on Earth! <span style="border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-width: 0pt 1px; padding: 0pt 5px; font-size: 10px; background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" class="tt1_nowrap"><a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/The_Hunting_Party" title="The Hunting Party">The Hunting Party</a></span> They caught up with Carnivac in Texas, but the wolf scored first blood by clawing <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Bludgeon_%28G1%29" title="Bludgeon (G1)">Bludgeon</a>'s shoulder. Stranglehold and <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Octopunch" title="Octopunch">Octopunch</a> were about to step in for their turn when the National Guard arrived, giving Carnivac time to flee while the Mayhems were distracted. <span style="border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-width: 0pt 1px; padding: 0pt 5px; font-size: 10px; background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" class="tt1_nowrap"><a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Survival_Run" title="Survival Run">Survival Run</a></span> Eventually it was Catilla, not Carnivac, who fell before Stranglehold and the Mayhems, and the Decepticons chose to flee with one kill under their belts rather than confront all the <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Survivors" title="Survivors">Survivors</a> at once. <span style="border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-width: 0pt 1px; padding: 0pt 5px; font-size: 10px; background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" class="tt1_nowrap"><a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/A_Savage_Place%21" title="A Savage Place!">A Savage Place!</a></span></i>
Along with Octopunch, Stranglehold remained a part of the Mayhem Attack Squad when Bludgeon took command, when it was sent by <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Thunderwing_%28G1%29" title="Thunderwing (G1)">Thunderwing</a> to assassinate the <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Autobot" title="Autobot">Autobot</a> Pretenders; <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Bumblebee_%28G1%29" title="Bumblebee (G1)">Bumblebee</a>, <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Grimlock_%28G1%29" title="Grimlock (G1)">Grimlock</a> and <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Jazz_%28G1%29" title="Jazz (G1)">Jazz</a>. After tracking the Autobots to their secret base, the Mayhems interrupted the <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Classic_Pretenders" class="mw-redirect" title="Classic Pretenders">Classic Pretenders</a> and <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Micromaster" title="Micromaster">Micromaster</a> <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Rescue_Patrol" title="Rescue Patrol">Rescue Patrol</a>'s trip through the <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Trans-Time_Dimensional_Portal" title="Trans-Time Dimensional Portal">trans-time dimensional portal</a>, with all three groups transported to the core of <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Cybertron_%28planet%29" title="Cybertron (planet)">Cybertron</a>. Surprisingly, Cybertron's core contained none other than <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Primus" title="Primus">Primus</a> himself! <span style="border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-width: 0pt 1px; padding: 0pt 5px; font-size: 10px; background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" class="tt1_nowrap"><a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Yesterday%27s_Heroes%21" title="Yesterday's Heroes!">Yesterday's Heroes!</a></span>
Interrupting again as the <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Keeper" title="Keeper">Keeper</a> told the assembled Autobots of the origin of their race, the Mayhems attacked the Autobots, who were reluctant to return fire in case of awakening Primus. Emerging from his shell, Stranglehold rampaged through the Autobots in his rhino alt-mode, until Jazz set up a meeting between him and a wall. <span style="border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-width: 0pt 1px; padding: 0pt 5px; font-size: 10px; background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" class="tt1_nowrap"><a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Primal_Scream" title="Primal Scream">Primal Scream</a></span>
Stranglehold and the other Mayhems ended up on Earth, and joined forces with <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Scorponok_%28G1%29" title="Scorponok (G1)">Scorponok</a>. They worked for him until the war against Unicron was successfully won, and Scorponok killed. <span style="border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-width: 0pt 1px; padding: 0pt 5px; font-size: 10px; background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" class="tt1_nowrap"><a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/On_the_Edge_of_Extinction%21" title="On the Edge of Extinction!">On the Edge of Extinction!</a></span>
At this point, Stranglehold's comrade Bludgeon assumed command of the Decepticons, and arranged to leave the Autobots stranded on the dying planet of Cybertron while he and the Decepticons began conquering anew. They basically levelled the planet <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Klo" title="Klo">Klo</a> before the Autobots managed to catch a ride and track them down, flying right into a Decepticon ambush. Grimlock and his surviving warriors fought back though and, with the arrival of <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Optimus_Prime_%28G1%29" title="Optimus Prime (G1)">Optimus Prime</a> and the <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Last_Autobot" title="Last Autobot">Last Autobot</a>, the fight turned against the Decepticons. Stranglehold stood next to his leader as he swore vengeance and then slunk away into exile. <span style="border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-width: 0pt 1px; padding: 0pt 5px; font-size: 10px; background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" class="tt1_nowrap"><a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/End_of_the_Road%21_%28US%29" title="End of the Road! (US)">End of the Road!</a></span>
<a name="Marvel_UK_future_timelines"></a><h5><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Stranglehold&action=edit§ion=4" title="Edit section: Marvel UK future timelines">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Marvel UK future timelines</span></h5>
<i>In 1990, <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Megatron_%28G1%29" title="Megatron (G1)">Megatron</a>
accused Bludgeon of being a traitor to the Decepticon cause. Allowing
him a trial by combat, the Decepticon leader sent Stranglehold,
Octopunch, and <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Warmonger" title="Warmonger">Warmonger</a>
out to face him in battle. After Octopunch struck first, Stranglehold
attempted to ram Bludgeon in his rhino mode, but ended up knocking
himself out when Bludgeon nimbly stepped aside. Eventually, Megatron
identified Warmonger as the true traitor, and executed him instead of
Bludgeon. <span style="border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-width: 0pt 1px; padding: 0pt 5px; font-size: 10px; background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" class="tt1_nowrap"><a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Aspects_of_Evil%21" title="Aspects of Evil!">Aspects of Evil!</a></span></i>
<div style="border: 2px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); margin: 0pt auto 0.2em; padding: 2px; width: 90%; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239); text-align: left;">Note: <i>The
above story is the earliest known account from the Marvel UK alternate
"Movie" timeline. The split between the main comic and the future
stories almost certainly took place in 1989, either due to the Time
Wars, the events of <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Primal_Scream" title="Primal Scream">Primal Scream</a> where Primus alerted Unicron to his location 15 years early, or both.</i></div>
<a name="Earthforce"></a><h5><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Stranglehold&action=edit§ion=5" title="Edit section: Earthforce">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Earthforce</span></h5>
<div style="border: 2px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); margin: 0pt auto 0.2em; padding: 2px; width: 90%; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239); text-align: left;">Note: These stories do not fit into the normal Marvel continuity. See <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Earthforce" title="Earthforce">Earthforce</a> for details.</div>
<i>Expecting Carnivac to make an ill-conceived attempt at
retribution, the Mayhem Attack Squad bunkered down on a small tropical
island to wait for their prey to come to them. Carnivac turned the
tables on them, however, and managed to kill half the Mayhems before it
was all over. To add insult to injury, Stranglehold, Bludgeon and
Octopunch were taken into custody by the Autobot Earthforce at
Carnivac's insistance, instead of being allowed to die gloriously in
battle. <span style="border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-width: 0pt 1px; padding: 0pt 5px; font-size: 10px; background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" class="tt1_nowrap"><a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Where_Wolf%3F" title="Where Wolf?">Where Wolf?</a></span> Guarded over by the Autobot <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Inferno_%28G1%29" title="Inferno (G1)">Inferno</a>,
Stranglehold staged a distraction in their cell which gave Bludgeon
enough time to telekinetically retrieve his katana, stabbing the guard
in the back and gaining them their freedom. <span style="border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-width: 0pt 1px; padding: 0pt 5px; font-size: 10px; background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" class="tt1_nowrap"><a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Shut_Up%21" title="Shut Up!">Shut Up!</a></span> The Mayhems were then hired by <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Megatron_%28G1%29" title="Megatron (G1)">Megatron</a> and <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Shockwave_%28G1%29" title="Shockwave (G1)">Shockwave</a> to assassinate their usurpers, <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Starscream_%28G1%29" title="Starscream (G1)">Starscream</a> and <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Soundwave_%28G1%29" title="Soundwave (G1)">Soundwave</a>. They ultimately failed when <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Swoop_%28G1%29" title="Swoop (G1)">Swoop</a> and <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Sludge_%28G1%29" title="Sludge (G1)">Sludge</a> of the <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Dinobot_%28G1%29" title="Dinobot (G1)">Dinobots</a> joined forces with the Decepticons because they needed Starscream alive for their own reasons. <span style="border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-width: 0pt 1px; padding: 0pt 5px; font-size: 10px; background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" class="tt1_nowrap"><a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/The_Lesser_Evil%21" class="mw-redirect" title="The Lesser Evil!">The Lesser Evil!</a></span></i>
<a name="Another_Time_and_Place"></a><h5><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Stranglehold&action=edit§ion=6" title="Edit section: Another Time and Place">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Another Time and Place</span></h5>
In the Decepticons' next venture, Stranglehold joined Bludgeon in an attempt to bring Megatron back to life. Tracking the <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Dinobot_%28G1%29" title="Dinobot (G1)">Dinobots</a> to <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Hydrus_Four" title="Hydrus Four">Hydrus Four</a>, and the miraculous energy source known as <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Nucleon" title="Nucleon">Nucleon</a>,
Stranglehold and the Decepticons captured the Autobots and made ready
to restore Megatron to his full glory. Stranglehold was seen
worshipping on bended knee before Megatron's slowly recuperating body.
When the Autobots attacked, Stranglehold charged into battle in
rhinocerous mode (he's really the only Mayhem who LIKES transforming,
isn't he?). However he fared personally, though, the Decepticons were
defeated. <span style="border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-width: 0pt 1px; padding: 0pt 5px; font-size: 10px; background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" class="tt1_nowrap"><a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Another_Time_and_Place" title="Another Time and Place">Another Time and Place</a></span>
<a name="Generation_2"></a><h4><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Stranglehold&action=edit§ion=7" title="Edit section: Generation 2">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Generation 2</span></h4>
Stranglehold joined Bludgeon and his troops in raining destruction
on Earth, hoping to draw out Optimus Prime and the Autobots. <span style="border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-width: 0pt 1px; padding: 0pt 5px; font-size: 10px; background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" class="tt1_nowrap"><a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Devices_and_Desires%21" class="mw-redirect" title="Devices and Desires!">Devices and Desires!</a></span> He was later ordered by the revamped Megatron to attack <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Jhiaxus" title="Jhiaxus">Jhiaxus</a>'s troops, which resulted in the Pretender being reduced to a puddle of <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Slag_%28slang%29" title="Slag (slang)">slag</a> by acid bombs. <span style="border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-width: 0pt 1px; padding: 0pt 5px; font-size: 10px; background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" class="tt1_nowrap"><a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/New_Dawn" title="New Dawn">New Dawn</a></span>
<a name="Toys"></a><h2><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Stranglehold&action=edit§ion=8" title="Edit section: Toys">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Toys</span></h2>
<a name="Generation_1_2"></a><h3><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Stranglehold&action=edit§ion=9" title="Edit section: Generation 1">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Generation 1</span></h3>
- Stranglehold (Pretender, 1989)
- Accessories: Gun, large gun, helmet, backpack
[[Image:|right|150px|thumb|Insert leather-daddy joke here.]]
- Stranglehold's inner-robot transforms into a rhino with an
orange body and green limbs, while his shell resembles an intergalactic sci-fi wrestler/barbarian. Like the other smaller humanoid 1989 Pretenders, Stranglehold's shell includes an accessory that is an integral part of his inner robot: the combined back and tail of his rhino alt-mode (in a delightful shade of lavender), which attaches to the upper left arm of his outer shell as a small shield. Stranglehold also includes a small orange gun for his inner-robot to hold or plug into his alt-mode backpiece, and a large white rifle and helmet for his shell.
- At least according to <a href="http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Cybertronian:_The_Unofficial_Transformers_Recognition_Guide" title="Cybertronian: The Unofficial Transformers Recognition Guide">Cybertronian: The Unofficial Transformers Recognition Guide</a>, Stranglehold's shell resembles Welcome Back Kotter star <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabe_Kaplan" class="extiw" title="wikipedia:Gabe_Kaplan">Gabe Kaplan</a>. Stranglehold's shell is also one of the few overtly human instead of monster/inhuman themed Decepticon shells.
<a name="External_Links"></a><h2><span class="editsection">[<a href="http://tfwiki.net/w2/index.php?title=Stranglehold&action=edit§ion=10" title="Edit section: External Links">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">External Links</span></h2>
