Thundercracker (G1)

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

Thundercracker is a Decepticon from the Generation 1 continuity family.

The blue one. No, the other blue one.

Thundercracker claims the skies as his arena. He looks down in contempt on those who cannot leave the ground — he considers them lesser beings. He will often attack the flightless beings below him for no other reason than to satisfy his scorn.

His superiority in this realm is the only thing he is sure of. Thundercracker is not entirely committed to the Decepticon cause, and even has some seemingly contradictory sympathy for the humans they terrorize. Fear of retribution from Megatron and the influence of his peers is usually enough to bury these doubts. Regardless, he needs constant reassurance that he's where he needs to be. Sometimes, his heart's just not in the job.

French-Canadian name: Coup de Tonnerre (Thunderclap)

Chinese name (Taiwan): Lìeh Léi (裂雷, "Cracking Thunder") / Léi-gōng (雷公, "Duke of Thunder")

Hungarian name: Villámcsapás ("Lightning strike")

Italian name: Vampiro ("Vampire")

Portuguese name (Portugal comics): Grande Trovão

Portugese name (Brazil comics): Arrasador

Fiction

Marvel Comics continuity

Generation 1

Events from the UK-only comic stories are in italics.

File:Skywarpthundercrackerintroduction.jpg

Thundercracker is the one that is not Skywarp.

Thundercracker was one of Megatron's troops who attacked the Ark during its mission to clear a path for Cybertron through an asteroid field. He was deactivated when it crashed on Earth, and he lay dormant for four million years. When he and his fellow Decepticons awoke, Thundercracker was given a new alternate mode, that of an Earth jet. The Transformers He aided the Decepticons in their building of their new base constructed of parts from Harrison Nuclear Power Plant and joined in their attack on Sparkplug Witwicky's auto repair shop. After the successful abduction of Sparkplug Witwicky, Thundercracker, Skywarp, and Starscream defended their base from Autobots, though Gears and Spider-Man were able to sneak through and rescue Sparkplug. Prisoner of War!

On another occasion, he and Skywarp made a strafing run on two Autobot spies, Jazz and Sunstreaker. Jazz was deafened and blasted off the road, but Sunstreaker led them into a human military zone, prompting Megatron to call them back to base. Perchance to Dream

Though Sparkplug Witwicky was able to devise a way for the Decepticons to convert Earth fuel into a usable substance, he also poisoned the result, so Thundercracker and his fellow Decepticons were immobilized at the climax of their would-be final battle with the Autobots. The Last Stand The Decepticon Shockwave took command of the Decepticons and the Ark shortly thereafter, and nursed Thundercracker and his comrades back to full health. Thundercracker may have helped Shockwave attempt to capture and brainwash Bumblebee into a Decepticon, or it may have been Skywarp. It's hard to tell. Plight of the Bumblebee!

He served the Decepticon cause up until he was deactivated while battling Omega Supreme and placed in prison stasis at Autobot headquarters. Command Performances!

Like Starscream and Frenzy, he revived early and soon quickly escaped from the Ark. He, Frenzy and Shockwave were then temporarily displaced to Limbo when Hot Rod, Kup and Blurr time-jumped from 2006. Target 2006

During a massive battle between the Autobots and Decepticons on Earth's moon, Thundercracker and the other Decepticons held in stasis aboard the Ark were liberated by the Constructicons and subsequently brought back on-line. Totalled! Much later, Thundercracker attacked an Underbase-powered Starscream in Tokyo, but both he and Skywarp were destroyed by their former flying partner. Dark Star!

Generation 2

Thundercracker was active on Earth during the Decepticons' major offensive against the human population, and was present when Megatron stole the Creation Matrix from Optimus Prime. The Gathering Darkness He later served in the Tykos raid, albeit in a menial role.

Starscream thinks he's a moron. New Dawn

Classics

After being revived from a state of near death, Thundercracker couldn't bring himself to serve with Starscream, the bot who killed him, and so he joined Bludgeon's Decepticon faction instead of his old leader Megatron's group. Of course, he ended up unable to control himself due to the cerebro-shells of his latest maniacal boss, Bug Bite, so...tough break. To make matters worse, he had to listen to Weirdwolf. Even under Bug Bite's control, he threatened bodily harm if Weirdwolf didn't shut up.

Under Bug Bite's control, he fired a cerebro-shell at Skywarp, and was forced to help enslave Megatron and his forces. He was liberated by the interference of Grimlock and Ultra Magnus, but there is no proof that he survived the battle. Games of Deception

Dreadwind thinks he survived, and is probably being punished. Dreadwind was only able to bring Weirdwolf and Bug bite with him, so Thundercracker, Dirge and Thrust were out of luck. Withered Hope

Cartoon continuity

Generation 1 cartoon

Voice actor: John Stephenson, Wally Burr (English), Yutaka Shimaka (Japanese)

Cybertron alt-mode (on the right). Out of all the pre-earth alt modes, these pyramid jets seem to be the only ones anyone really cares about.

Thundercracker was one of Megatron's elite warriors, participating in the attack on the Ark and joining the rest of the Earth-bound Transformers in their several-million-year nap under an inactive volcano. He awoke when the rest of the Decepticons did, and took part in their attempts to gather energon and escape the planet Earth, which he loathed for being too "flat". It was he and Reflector who spotted the first "potential Autobot", when in fact they had discovered the planet's native inhabitants, two humans, in an unliving vehicle. More than Meets the Eye, Part 1

File:Thundercrackerg1.jpg

FLINTSTOOOOONE!!!

One of the few things he seemed to loathe even more than the world he was stranded on was the attitude of his commander, Starscream. Thundercracker often started fights with the Air Commander, usually over whether or not Megatron's latest plan was a waste of time (Thundercracker took Megatron's side). At one point, Thundercracker's distaste for "that geeky Starscream" became so strong that he was willing to let Skyfire destroy one of the Decepticons' greatest weapons, just in the hopes that Starscream would get blamed for it! Fire on the Mountain Despite these brushes with treachery, however, Thundercracker just never had it in him to do anything more than complain about his fellow Decepticons.

Thundercracker was present for the Decepticon assault on Autobot City in 2005. After the battle, the injured Thundercracker was tossed out of Astrotrain with the rest of the injured and weakened warriors, who were jettisoned for ballast in order to preserve fuel.

NAZGUUUUL!!

That was not, however, entirely the end of Thundercracker's story. Unicron was waiting in space for a chance like this, and when the newly reborn Galvatron needed some new troops to command, Thundercracker was among the old Decepticons chosen to use as raw materials. His body was used to create Scourge, and was thus given a new lease on life. The Transformers: The Movie (1986)

Later Octane would show concern when he ran into a Decepticon Crypt to hide from Cyclonus, the Sweeps and Scourge and found a statue of Thundercracker there. After paying his respects and apologizing for the intrusion, Octane decided it would be better to hide behind someone else's statue. It is funny to note he may have visited his own grave. Starscream's Ghost

S.T.A.R.S. pack-in flyers

Somebody told him the femmebots are all into vampires these days.

A series of recruitment messages sent by the Autobots to human allies featured Thundercracker as a recurrent bogeyman. He first appeared in the story of Johnny, a member of S.T.A.R.S. who spotted Thundercracker draining the energy from the boy's town. Despite all other power being knocked out, Johnny was able to activate his Command Center and summon an Autobot squad. Have the Decepticons defeated us once and for all? However, even they were somewhat affected by Thundercracker's siphoning, and just as Johnny was preparing to issue orders, his Command Center went dead and the walls around him began to shake. Can one boy, alone, hold back the evil Decepticons?

"Greatest battle of all time, and Reflector takes the picture when my damn wings are still down. Thanks, buddy."

The Autobot messages ended that story there, leaving the outcome unknown. But in later messages, Rodimus Prime would recall what he considered the Transformers' greatest battle on Earth, in which the only enemy combatants were Megatron and Thundercracker. The two Decepticons set up an ambush for an Autobot convoy searching for a site on which to build Autobot City. As the battle erupted, Thundercracker again employed his energy-draining attack (described here as a "force field"). Rodimus Prime remembers the Transformers greatest battle on Earth. Optimus Prime ordered Cliffjumper, Cosmos, and Warpath to retreat out of the weapon's range and get help, but as they left, Thundercracker pursued. Transformers Combat Data

The match-up no one demanded!

Again, the story was cut short, but it would not be the last time Thundercracker was said to tangle with that particular group of Autobots. The final S.T.A.R.S. recruitment message told of Reflector discovering that the squad was out scouting for new energy sources, and Thundercracker was sent on a sneak-attack run. The message warned that if the recipient failed to help out by joining S.T.A.R.S., the Autobots might be destroyed. The Autobots Are Under Attack!

Thundercracker's consistent use of an energy-draining weapon is unique to this micro-continuity. It seems to make him an incredibly dangerous foe; however, given that all of this is literally Autobot propaganda, the "unreliable narrator" factor is worth consideration.

Machine Wars toy bio

The mysterious Machine Wars were a tumultuous time for Thundercracker. At long last he was convinced of and committed to the truth of the Decepticon cause, but Thundercracker now ironically found himself in open rebellion against Megatron's leadership of the faction. It is unknown what events lead to his reversal of heart about the Decepticons and his being branded a "Rebel Warrior."

Since no fictional backstory has ever been established for the Machine Wars line it is possible that it is set in some alternate reality where this was simply Thundercracker's nature, but given that the rest of the characters are clearly their classic G1-selves unrevealed events/character development seem more likely explanations.

Dreamwave comics continuity

Events from the Keepers Trilogy novels are in italics.

One of the first Decepticons recruited by Megatron. Early in Megatron's scheming, Thundercracker was sent to Sector Zero-Six with Skywarp and Starscream. On the way, Starscream unintelligently leaked the plan to Grimlock. DW Preview Special 2002 During the war, Thundercracker served under Shockwave during the Dark Ages, when Megatron was missing and believed dead. The War Within: The Dark Ages

Thundercracker was one of several Decepticon invaders on-board the Ark when it crashed into Earth four million years ago while the Autobot ship was clearing an asteroid in the path of Cybertron. He was reactivated in 1984 with the rest of the Transformers, and fought at Megatron's side until the Decepticons were ultimately defeated. In 2002, he was captured and reprogrammed by arms dealer Adam 'Lazarus' Rook alongside many other Cybertronians. Lazarus intended to rent out the services of the enslaved robots to various terrorist groups. In a demonstration of their power to a group of prospective clients, Thundercracker participated in an attack on the Arctic division of the Smitco Oil Refinery by blowing something up. Prime Directive issue 2

After Megatron reactivated himself, he freed his Decepticon subordinates in order to put forward his plans to infect Earth with a metallic virus of doom. To pass the time while this happened, Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp busied themselves by tearing apart the Autobot Mini Vehicle team. Prime Directive issue 3 Thundercracker later participated in Megatron's attack on San Francisco, where he followed Starscream's orders to maintain formation and drop cluster bombs on the Autobot giant Superion, forcing the Aerialbots to split into their separate component robots. Prime Directive issue 4 Thundercracker stood watch over the defeated Autobots while Megatron tried to persuade Optimus Prime to help the Decepticons conquer Earth. After some human firefighters distracted the Decepticons long enough for Optimus Prime to free the Autobots, Thundercracker was presumably beaten up and escaped when Superion sacrificed himself to stop a nuclear missile launched by rogue US General Robert Hallo. Prime Directive issue 6

Oddly enough, Thundercracker turned to weapons smuggling after Megatron vanished and the Decepticons were left leaderless, working with Mexican arms dealers south of the border. He was moored at Atahulpa Aeropuerto de Mesa Verde, getting his cargo hold loaded with guns, when Prowl and Bumblebee sieged the tiny airport. As his human allies scattered, Thundercracker transformed and engaged the Autobots with his drone missile launchers. One of the guided projectiles nearly blasted Prowl in the back, but Bumblebee knocked it off course...right into a tanker filled with jet fuel. The resulting explosion was catastrophic, and threw the Autobots for a loop. Thundercracker was prepared to finish off Prowl when the renegade Dinobot named Grimlock arrived on the scene. Fresh for battle, Grimlock easily defeated Thundercracker, battering him from head to toe before knocking him into the airport terminal. Hardwired

Thundercracker's smuggling operation may have been connected to Starscream supplying advanced weapons technology to his human servants in Las Vegas, but this was never made clear.

Recovering from his injuries, Thundercracker joined up with Starscream and his forces in "New Centurion" (formerly Las Vegas) some time before Megatron returned to Earth with the nigh-invincible aliens known as the Keepers in tow. He got another chance at Prowl and Bumblebee while fighting on the Strip, but the Autobots were better prepared this time and Thundercracker was brought down by Prowl's wire-guided missiles and crashed in front of Caesar's Palace. He revived in time to join Soundwave in double-teaming Grimlock, who had also come in the assault on Las Vegas. Unfortunately, Thundercracker once again fell before the Dinobot's superior might after only a few blows. He stayed under Starscream's command after Megatron returned, remaining in Las Vegas while the former Decepticon leader and those loyal to him quit the city. This only led to Thundercracker being captured with the rest of Starscream's Decepticons when their leader was killed by the Keepers and reanimated as a host body for their awesome power. Thundercracker, Skywarp and the others were trapped beneath a massive energy field, like mice in a cage to the god-like aliens.

The Constructicons eventually dug a tunnel to freedom, and Thundercracker's group of Decepticons reunited with Megatron, working with the Autobots against the Keepers. Thundercracker joined Laserbeak and the Autobot Wheeljack on air patrol during the fight with the Keepers, strafing the aliens and their puppets, Bluestreak and Starscream. He survived the battle with the Keepers (not to mention the nuclear missile launched by the American government) thanks to Optimus Prime super-charging the Matrix with a pool of newly discovered energon. Annihilation

Thundercracker began working for Megatron again, and was present in the Nevada desert when the Autobots and Decepticons confronted the United States military. Thanks to their airborne tactics, Thundercracker and Skywarp did significant injury to the troops and survived the deconstructionite assault virtually unscathed. Fusion

After Shockwave had defeated Megatron and brought the Decepticons back to Cybertron, Thundercracker and Skywarp spent their time relaxing and bathing, though Thundercracker was skeptical of Shockwave's new order, and compared its promised benefits to the benefits originally promised by Megatron. Cold War

Starscream eventually brought the Nemesis crew back to Earth and led them in a battle against the Autobots who had stayed behind there. Night of the Combaticons Thundercracker was among those captured by the Autobots, but was eventually freed in exchange for Starscream's assistance in fighting against Sunstorm. They were only given half-power, though, and had to stumble out of the Autobot camp in an extremely weakened condition. Skyfire Hardly the sort of leadership they had in mind, Thundercracker and the other Decepticons eagerly re-accepted Megatron as their leader when he returned to Earth and chastised Starscream for his incompetence and treachery. The Route of All Evil

IDW comics continuity

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.

"When I joined this murderous terrorist group, I wasn't ever intending to shoot at anyone!"

Thundercracker and his fellow Seekers were recruited into Megatron's underground fights when Soundwave was sent to recruit flight capable warriors. However, Megatron did not intend for them to be pit fighters, but his new warriors. After being given weapons systems by Hook, the Seekers went and kidnapped Senator Decimus, who was to be executed at Megatron's recruitment rally. However, the Sentinel Prime and the Autobots arrived and arrested the whole of them. Megatron Origin issue 3. After Starscream killed the Kaon Council and liberated them, Megatron launched his new "Decepticons" in an "Everything burns" offensive on Kaon. Thundercracker and Skywarp were sent to target a ship carrying the wealthy and elite. Thundercracker expressed some reservations about attacking the ship, but Skywarp gave him simple advice: "Don't think. Just do it." Megatron Origin issue 4

Tha-Boom, I want you in my room...

Millions of years later, Thundercracker operated as part of a Decepticon insurgent cell that had operated covertly on Earth for at least four years, working to destabilize Earth's governing organizations and create global anarchy. He was known to the Autobots as a professional soldier, in contrast to the likes of the Battlechargers.

He, Runabout and Runamuck were assigned by Starscream to intercept the human Stoker and retrieve his SM-40 palmtop PC, containing data on their Nebraska operation. The team caught up with and killed Stoker outside Phoenix, AZ, but the SM-40 was missing. Thundercracker tracked the device to Hunter O'Nion and Verity Carlo, but was driven off by Ratchet, Infiltration issue 0 who managed to temporarily lose him and the two Battlechargers. After picking Ratchet up again, Thundercracker was later shot down by Prowl, Sunstreaker and Ironhide. Infiltration issue 2 When Megatron arrived on Earth to take command of Starscream's infiltration team, Thundercracker, along with the other Decepticons, were unwilling to stand against him when the Decepticon leader ordered them to stand down. Infiltration issue 6

After Megatron trashed Starscream, Thundercracker and the other Decepticons were only all too willing to accept Megatron's leadership once again. Thundercracker and Skywarp were sent to destroy the El Jira power plant in the middle east to inflame global tensions and spark a global energy shortage. Escalation issue 2 During the battle of Brasnya, the sorely-pressed Skywarp teleported Thundercracker in to try and stop Hot Rod from escaping with the Georgi Koska facimile. Escalation issue 6

Megatron's lost it! It must be a Tuesday.

Thundercracker was among the concerned Decepticons who feared that Megatron had made a serious error in judgement by bringing the destructive Sixshot to Earth, and so conspired to bring Starscream back into the fold to talk some sense into their leader. Devastation issue 1 Though outnumbered and outgunned, the Decepticons fought valiantly when the Reapers attacked, and with a little help from a mysterious combatant, they managed to defeat the alien invaders. Devastation issue 6

Sometime after that (we think), Thundercracker was on Cybertron watching the experiments to create Insecticons. He was outraged by the existence of the Swarm, freakish monsters created as a side-effect, and demanded Megatron euthanised them rather than allowing fellow Decepticons to endure such torturous existence. Megatron, shockingly, didn't give a toss. All Hail Megatron issue 7

A year on from the Reaper battle, Thundercracker was part of the Decepticon attack on New York City. Unlike his comrades, he showed no enthusiasm for mindless slaughter and could be seen staring at the devastation Megatron left in his wake. All Hail Megatron issue 1 When Megatron later made his propaganda speech, Thundercracker looked unimpressed. (Having to stand outside when it was pissing down probably didn't help) All Hail Megatron issue 4

Thundercracker came to the aid of Skywarp when the latter was being threatened by Bombshell. While Skywarp enjoyed working with his pal Thundercracker again, he also noted that Thundercracker hadn't actually participated in any of the fighting since the initial strike. Thundercracker for his part looked about as depressed as a robot CAN look, suggesting he was unhappy about the invasion plan, or at least the gratuitous death and destruction some of the others had caused. All Hail Megatron issue 6

Toys

Generation 1

• Thundercracker (Decepticon Jet, 1984/1985/1986/2001/2003/2008)
• Japanese ID number: 24
• Accessories: Left & right fists, landing gear, 2 rocket launchers, 2 rockets, 2 "Incendiary Gun" missiles

For some reason, the stats on Skywarp's, Starscream's and Thundercracker's tech specs were switched around. Thundercracker was given Skywarp's numbers.

File:Redeco.jpg

Thundercracker is the cheap and lazy redeco on the right.

Originally a Diaclone "Jet Robo Acrobat-Type", Thundercracker transforms into an F-15 Eagle fighter jet, sharing his mold with his teammates Starscream and Skywarp. Many parts need to be removed completely from transformation from robot to jet and back, which nowadays is considered a major drawback of the toy. It is difficult to find it complete, as neither mode can hold all the pieces required. There are a few minor mold variations of this toy (common for the first two years of Transformers, really), the most immediately noticeable being that early versions did not have visible "clip-tabs" on the inner face of the gauntlets.

In 1986, he was made available as a mail-away item (as he was no longer shipping to retail shelves) in the "Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction" flier packed with most boxed Transformers toys. He cost $10 and two robot points.

In 2001, Thundercracker was given a short-run re-issue by Takara as a convention-exclusive item. The toy would later be more extensively released as part of the Hasbro Commemorative Series line, though due to US toy-safety regulations, his missiles were made extra-long.

In August, 2008, Thundercracker was reissued with Skywarp as number 11 in Takara's Transformers Encore line. This version used a slightly different shade of blue and had painted stripes and symbols instead of using stickers.

This mold is also used by Dirge, Ramjet, Sunstorm and Thrust.

• Thundercracker (Action Master) (Action Master Exo-suit, 1991)
• Accessories: "Solo Mission Jet Plane", 2 missiles

File:Thundercrackeram.jpg

Do not look directly at him, unless you have sunglasses and/or Pepto Bismol handy.

Released only in European and Australasian markets, once again Thundercracker was a redeco of Starscream, a non-transforming action figure that combined elements of both the character's cartoon model and toy-form. Like all Action Masters, Thundercracker was a non-transformable action figure with a transformable accessory — in his case, a Solo Mission Jet Plane vehicle that converted into Exo-suit battle armor. However, unlike most of Thundercracker's appearances, Action Master Thundercracker is not in his traditional blue and silver colors, but rather in magenta, purple, blue, gold, and two shades of green. (Oy.)

Machine Wars

• Thundercracker (Basic, 1996)
• Accessories: Two-part rifle

File:MWThundercracker toy.jpg

No, seriously, this guy is Thundercracker.

Sharing a mold once again with Skywarp, Thundercracker transforms into a green Dassault Rafale fighter jet with spring-loaded one-step transformation from jet to robot. The two halves of his rifle store in his lower legs. Like all Machine Wars toys, Thundercracker was an exclusive to Kay-Bee stores and related stores like Toy Liquidators.

This mold was also used to make Beast Wars II Dirge, Robots in Disguise Skyfire, Robot Masters Wing Stun, and the "Dawn of Future's Past" version of Waspinator.

Smallest Transforming Transformers

• Thundercracker (2004)

Part of the third wave of Smallest Transforming Transformers product (dubbed wave "2.5" and available only at CVS stores in Japan), Thundercracker is again a redeco of Starscream. Like all toys in the line, Thundercracker is a tiny, even more simplified version of the original toy, transforming into an F-15 fighter jet. These toys were sold in "blind-packed" boxes, so you could not know which one you had until you actually opened the box. To complicate matters further, Thundercracker was a chase figure, one of two in his wave (the other was a cartoon-colored version of Optimus Prime's trailer).

The same mold is used by Smallest Transforming Transformers Skywarp and Thrust.

Robot Masters

• Skywarp & Thundercracker (Multi-pack, 2005)
• Accessories: 2 rifles, 2 missile pods

File:RobotMastersThundercracker.jpg

Light blue? Totally neon.

Robot Masters Thundercracker is a redeco of Starscream from the same series, a smaller yet more advanced version of the original toy, adding more articulation and reducing the amount of part-forming required. He was available only in a two-pack with Skywarp, which also came with a Decepticon sigil pin and chromed missile pods. This set was the very last product released in the Robot Masters line, and wasn't even strictly sold in a box from that series; instead, it used an e-Hobby Generation 1 reissue box, with a small "Robot Masters" sticker in the corner tab noting its origin from the front.

Titanium Series

I don't think I have enough little wings on my shoulders.

• Thundercracker (6" Cybertron Heroes, 2006)

Titanium Series Thundercracker is based upon his appearance in Dreamwave's The War Within. He transforms into a Cybertronian 'tetrajet', as reimagined by Don Figueroa. As with all 6-inch Titanium Cybertron Heroes, he is constructed mostly of fully painted die-cast metal.

This mold was redecoed into War Within Starscream, Sunstorm and Skywarp.

Yes. Thundercracker was here first.

• Starscream (3" Robot Masters, 2006)
• Accessories: Display stand

A redeco of "Robot Masters" Starscream, Thundercracker is a small, non-transforming die-cast metal figurine based on his cartoon character model. He is sculpted holding a gun in his left hand and stretching out his right arm, while using his feet-jets to fly up.

Timelines

• Games of Deception! (Multi-pack, 2007)
• Accessories: Left & right launchers, 2 missiles

You want me, but you can't have me!

Thundercracker is part of the Classics-themed BotCon 2007 box set, along with Bugbite, Dirge, Dreadwind, and Thrust. Thundercracker is a redeco of the Classics Starscream toy using the modified version first seen with Skywarp.

Classics Thundercracker is a faithful reproduction of his original toy, but with modern standards of toy engineering, transformation, sculpting detail and articulation. He transforms into an F-15 Eagle, but has the nose of an F-14 Tomcat fighter jet. His color scheme is inspired by the original figure released in 1984, but with a shade of blue closer to that of the original Diaclone version.

In robot mode, Thundercracker is essentially a very detailed version of his cartoon robot mode. He is armed with two null-ray missile launchers which are so large that they restrict his arm movement due to them bumping into his wings.

There were only 1500 Classics Thundercracker figures produced.

This mold was used for Henkei! Thundercracker.

Henkei! Henkei!

Rejoice! Oh no wait, complain.

• Thundercracker (Deluxe, 2008)
• Accessories: 2 missile launchers (left and right), 2 missiles

Henkei Thundercracker is a redeco of Henkei Starscream. He features a metallic flake blue version of his cartoon clour scheme, rather than his darker blue Generation 1 toy colour scheme. Henkei Thundercracker and his fellow Seeker Henkei Skywarp was released in September 2008 as an exclusive through Ganbo Store.

Soon after release, there were numerous complaints from both Japanese and Western collectors about the poor quality control for both Thundercracker and Skywarp. Thundercracker in particular suffered from a widespread issue where his missile launchers did not fit into the holes in his shoulders, due to the holes being too big. Some reported both toys suffering misassembly issues such as having two left or two right thighs.

Masterpiece

Hey, at least I'm meant to be blue.

• Thundercracker (2008)
• Japanese ID number: MP-7

A redeco of Masterpiece Starscream, Masterpiece Thundercracker was released in Japan in November 2008. He comes with all the accessories of the previous Seekers including the display stand, Doctor Arkeville, stickers and the clip to hold gun-mode Megatron that came with Masterpiece Convoy while in jet-mode. Also like Starscream and Skywarp, Thundercracker features two swappable faces; the normal emotionless face which is retooled from Starscream's original one, and a new growling one which appears to be an attempt to make him seem very angry... very angry indeed. Unfortunately the effect leaves him looking like he's on a trip to the dentist. He is covered with a glossy finish just like Skywarp.

Masterpiece Thundercracker features an assembly error: His left and right pectorals are flipped. This misassembly does not affect transformation at all, and is really only noticeable when compared to prior Masterpiece Seekers. The 2008 pressing of Masterpiece Skywarp also features this part swap.

Merchandise

Robot Heroes

Now who's geeky?

• Jazz Vs Thundercracker (2007)

A redeco of Robot Heroes Starscream, Thundercracker is a two inch high figure sculpted in a super deformed style and articulated at the shoulders. He was available in a two-pack with Jazz. This mold was later redecoed as Skywarp in the "Decepticon Sneak Attack" set.

Palisades

• Thundercracker (Palisades, 2007)

A redeco of the Starscream statue, Thundercracker is a six inches tall statue with articulated head and arms. He could stand normally or use a stand to take on a "hovering" pose.

Transformers - Mini Bust

• Thundercracker (Diamond Select, 2008)

An NYCC exclusive, Thundercracker was sculpted by Mark Wong of Art Asylum and limited to 400 pieces.

Notes

• The mold for Machine Wars Thundercracker was originally developed for Generation 2, but was canceled when that line went under. It is unknown if it was intended to be a new character or a recurring one, though odds are it would have been later redecoed into a recurring character if the former was true.
• Despite his profile data, there are no documented cases of Thundercracker being sympathetic towards humans. Unless this counts.

External links

• Thundercracker at TFU.info

• Thundercracker's Universe profile at NTFA.net

• ToyBin Thundercracker Toy Gallery