Scavenger (G1)
| The name or term "Scavenger" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Scavenger (disambiguation). |
- Scavenger is a Decepticon Constructicon in the Generation 1 continuity family.
"C'mon guys, wait up..." You can't help but feel sorry for Scavenger. He wants so badly to be liked and needed, to feel like a useful and valuable member of his team. His self esteem is so low he'd do just about anything to get the approval of the others, but his simpering, doting eagerness to please just reinforces the other Decepticons' opinion of him as a worthless loser. He's constantly excavating everywhere he goes in the attempt to find something of worth to please everyone and prove his value, but it's invariably just some piece of garbage or scrap he excitedly finds, and that just reinforces their opinion of his worthlessness once again. If it wasn't for his shovel's unique ability to detect needed materials, Megatron and the others would likely have dumped the poor scrub long ago.
Scavenger combines with his fellow Constructicons to form Devastator, where he serves the useful function of right arm.
- Italian name: Braccio
- Hungarian name: Dögevő
- French-Canadian name: Excavo
- Portuguese name (Brazil comic): Predador
- Portuguese name (Portugal comic): Vingador
Fiction
Cartoon continuity
- Voice actor: Don Messick (English), Takurō Kitagawa (Japanese)
Millions of years ago, the evil Scavenger and the Constructicons built Megatron for the Decepticons. Out of gratitude, Megatron would later turn the Constructicons evil with his Robo-Smasher device, and eventually built them on Earth. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4 The Secret of Omega Supreme Heavy Metal War
For their first mission on Earth, the Constructicons raided an experiment power plant for the energy disc components and power converter on-site. The humans were using the components to tap into Earth's magnetic field for an infinite power supply and all the energy they'd ever need. Such a simple-minded (and straight-forward) scheme was too unimaginative for the mighty Megatron, however—he had the Constructicons (1) build a strength transfer machine so that he could (2) utilize the powers of his fellow Decepticons to (3) best Optimus Prime in personal combat and (4) force the Autobots into exile in deep space as a matter of honor, which would (5) leave Earth's resources open for plunder by the Decepticons in order to get (6) all the energy they'd ever need. An evil scheme without at least five unnecessary steps is fodder to Megatron.
To ensure his treachery went undetected, Megatron sent the Constructicons to destroy Teletraan I, and prevent the super-computer from alerting the Autobots to his strength transfer. While all the Autobots left the Ark to watch the combat, Scavenger and friends tunneled into the volcanic caverns underneat Mount St. Hilary. Using his shovel's sensors, Scavenger pinpointed Teletraan I's location so that Mixmaster could burn his way through the floor of Autobot headquarters. They thought the mission would be as simple as destroying a computer console...but nothing is simple when the Dinobots are on guard duty. The dim-witted but battle-hardened Dinobots forced the Constructicons outside and away from Teletraan I. To compensate, the Constructicons assumed their Devastator mode and turned the tide. With Teletraan I still active, though, the Autobots quickly uncovered Megatron's deception, and came to lend their dino-buddies a hand. Hound used his holograms to distract Devastator long enough for Optimus Prime to blast him to pieces. Fleeing from the Dinobots' wrath, Scavenger and his teammates tumbled into a lava fissure opened up earlier by Sludge's groundquakes, and were temporarily deactivated. Heavy Metal War
During a plan to turn New York City into New Cybertron, Megatron employed the Constructicons for...urban renewal. Several landmark buildings in Manhattan were loosened at their foundations and lowered into underground caverns by the Decepticons, allowing Cybertronian towers to be raised in their place. While Scrapper and Hook argued over whose creative contribution was greater to the overall plan, Scavenger dutifully used his shovel to break the foundation of the Empire State Building, and quickly jumped to safety as the building fell onto the lowering platform. When the Autobots arrived to stop the Decepticon plan, Megatron arranged to kidnap Optimus Prime with Scavenger's help. After Laserbeak reported the Autobots would be at a rendez-vous in Central Park, Megatron and Scavenger travelled to that location in their underground lair and, reviving the trick he used on Teletraan I earlier, Scavenger pinpointed when they were directly underneath Optimus Prime in the park above. Scavenger then slammed his shovel with enough force to shatter the ground under Prime's feet, causing the Autobot leader to fall into Megatron's awaiting arms. Later on, Scavenger and the Constructicons joined forces to form Devastator, but were once again taken down by a single shot from Optimus Prime's laser rifle. And his arm wasn't even attached this time! City of Steel
When next employed by the Decepticons, Scavenger and the Constructicons built a transfixatron for Megatron to freeze the Autobots in vehicle mode. After rendering the Autobots helpless, a second (and elaborate) Constructicon device would crush the Autobots into chunks. In a turn of events no one could possibly see coming, the initial plan failed and Megatron was forced to rely on his back-up strategy: initiate Devastator and crush everything. This time, Wheeljack and Cliffjumper defeated Devastator by turning the transfixatron on its own creators, causing Scavenger and friends to lose their "transformation identity" and revert helplessly back to vehicle mode. The Autobot Run
In their next endeavor, the Constructicons were charged with building a drill to tunnel down to Earth's molten core, unleashing the energy for Megatron's use and consumption. Scavenger nearly upset the entire project, however, after a malfunction in his geological sensors guided the drill to an unstable part of the mantle—the resultant rock fracture nearly upset the entire drill site. What's worse, when Scavenger was having his circuits checked out by Mixmaster on the surface, they were spotted by a group of Autobots. This in part led to the Autobots temporarily gaining control over the Constructicons and Devastator, although Megatron would tell you that was part of his plan all along. In the end, Megatron's plan inevitably went wrong and threatened all life on Earth. Devastator was the only one who could fly to the center of the earth to stop the drilling in time. In their group huddle before combining, Scavenger actually started tearing up, telling his fellow Constructicons how great it was being part of the team. Bonecrusher essentially told him to stop being a robo-pussy, and then they saved the world. The Core
Sometime later, Scavenger and the Constructicons exploited Grapple's artistic nature for their own ends. Grapple had designed a solar power tower that could produce limitless energy, but couldn't get the plan approved by Optimus Prime without an explanation of how he'd keep it from the Decepticons. The Constructicons came upon Hoist and the distraught Grapple, and offered their services for the "greater glory of art." Scavenger was right there with the other Constructicons, manipulating Grapple's pride as an engineer. The Autobots eventually destroyed the tower and saved Grapple and Hoist after the Constructicons turned on them, but this outing proved that—despite his easy-to-please nature and team player attitude with his fellow Constructicons—Scavenger was ultimately a Decepticon at heart. The Master Builders
When searching for the Nemesis after it was unearthed in Central America, Scavenger and the Constructicons aided the Decepticons in clearing a path to the lost ship. Scavenger enjoyed some bonding time with Rumble, destroying the folliage and making fun of Starscream. Later, he used his sensors to track down the ship's stardrive by locating the Cybertroid alloy inside. Microbots
Nearly all the Autobots and Decepticons on Earth began suffering from a Cybertonium deficiency, losing their fine motor control and proper operating status without this necessary element. Scavenger and the Constructicons were among the few Transformers on Earth unaffected (which actually makes sense under any of their origins), and were awaiting a shipment of Cybertonium from Shockwave via the Space Bridge when the Dinobots attacked. Scavenger missed the call-to-arms to become Devastator, though, and was knocked aside by Sludge before he could merge with the others. This left Devastator a handicapped southpaw, and the Dinobots made their way through the Space Bridge to Cybertron. Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1
While mining an asteroid in low orbit for Megatron, Scavenger and the Constructicons confronted Omega Supreme for the first time since leaving Cybertron. They only managed to avoid his vengeance because Optimus Prime forced Omega Supreme to put his duty before revenge—it was clear that a mad Omega Supreme would easily outmatch Devastator in a fight any other day of the week. The Secret of Omega Supreme
Scavenger's sensing abilities enabled the Decepticons to precisely locate and excavate the Pearl of Bahoudin. His digging uncovered the Pearl and its weather-altering powers for Megatron. Shortly afterward, he joined almost a dozen of his teammates in surrounding and firing on three Autobots who had captured the Pearl. Trans-Europe Express
After Starscream finally engaged in open rebellion against Megatron, the Decepticon commander gathered Scavenger and the other Constructicons to his side in order to battle the traitor and his brigade. Megatron considered Devastator his ultimate weapon to use against Starscream, but Screamer had prepared his Combaticons with a combined form of their own: Bruticus. Bruticus made remarkably short work of the Mighty Devastator. Starscream's Brigade
In preparation of the Decepticon assault on Autobot City, the Constructicons helped Megatron and Starscream board an Autobot shuttle. Prowl, one of the crew members, attacked Scavenger, who returned fire and killed him with a single shot. And he still gets no respect. The Decepticons subsequently flew the shuttle to Autobot City, where the Constructicons wrecked things both separately and as Devastator until Megatron was defeated and Starscream called for a retreat. On the train ride home, a fight for leadership broke out, but the Constructicons didn't win. Instead the victory went to Starscream, and Scavenger and his comrades were content with playing horns at his coronation. However, Starscream was soon killed by Galvatron, a reborn Megatron who immediately took back control of his troops. Scavenger followed Galvatron to the planet of Junk to hunt down Ultra Magnus, but ended up being knocked over by Daniel Witwicky alongside Shrapnel. The Transformers: The Movie
Following Galvatron's defeat, the Decepticon army was forced to live on the barren world of Chaar, where they fought eachother over the small scraps of energon they could find. When Astrotrain arrived with a shipment of three or four energon cubes, Scavenger punched Bonecrusher in the back and grabbed his share, despite Bonecrusher calling dibs on it. Scavenger doesn't care for the rule of dibs. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1 Oddly enough, Scavenger was not present when the other Constructicons built and activated Trypticon. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4
Scavenger and the Constructicons later constructed a giant engine on an asteroid, in order to send the giant rock crashing into Metroplex. When a group of Autobots came to destroy the engine, Scavenger formed the right leg of Devastator, which should not be possible. Regardless, Devastator was immediately defeated by Broadside, and the Constructicons soon crashed onto the planet Eurythma. There, Scavenger stole Scrapper's position on the combiner again, and Devastator was defeated by a single blast from Perceptor. Perceptor. Carnage in C-Minor
When the rest of the Constructicons participated in the attack on Paradron, Scavenger was again nowhere to be seen. They must really not like him. Fight or Flee As part of Devastator, he later helped Predaking fight Broadside in the sea of Japan. The Burden Hardest to Bear Alongside the other Constructicons, Scavenger was very briefly seen joining in on the attack on the Plasma Energy Chamber. The Rebirth, Part 1
Marvel Comics continuity
Generation 1
(Additional note: In the Constructicons' origin story, Scavenger seems to be in charge, even though Scrapper is technically Constructicon Leader.)
Early in the Transformers' war on Earth, Shockwave used the stolen power of the Creation Matrix to give life to the first of a new generation of Decepticon warriors, the Constructicons. Scavenger and his Constructicons were immediately given a mission upon their coming online: Construct a communications tower to transmit a message to Cybertron. A truck stop was raided for raw materials, which attracted the ire of trucker Bomber Bill, who, with the aid of the Autobots, managed to destroy the tower Scavenger and the other Constructicons had built. The Next Best Thing to Being There!
Scavenger and the Constructicons, after troubleshooting their union as Devastator, were sent by Shockwave to abduct Buster Witwicky. Their attack was called off to regroup when Soundwave discovered Buster held the rest of the Creation Matrix in his head. Devastation Derby!
After Megatron's retaking of Decepticon command, Scavenger and the other Constructicons were charged with building perimeter defenses around their headquarters located at the base of a coal strip mine in eastern Wyoming. Devastator's services were again required when the Autobots staged a surprise attack, but they retreated once they had what they needed. Command Performances!
During Ratbat's command, an attack was ordered on the combined Autobot forces on Earth's moon while Blaster and Grimlock dueled for leadership. Under cover of battle, Scavenger and the other Constructicons retrieved the remains of several fallen and captured Decepticons. Totaled!
Earthforce
Scavenger, like most of the Constructicons, served under Megatron's command during the Earthforce saga. He was first seen talking to Rampage from Shockwave's camp during the Enclave. The Bad Guy's Ball! Later, he was present when Soundwave and Starscream successfully took over the factions and united the Decepticons. Internal Affairs! Scavenger joined the majority of the Decepticon forces in a major attack on Autobot Earthbase under Soundwave's command, hoping to draw attention away from Starscream's raid on an off-shore oil tanker... and maybe kill a 'Bot or two. Instead, they ended up with no oil, and Scavenger got roasted by Slag's flame breath. Divide and Conquer!
Generation 2
Scavenger was seen on board the Warworld among the Decepticons rallied by Megatron against Jhiaxus's Cybertronian Empire. New Dawn
Classics
Dreamwave comics continuity
Nine million years ago, Scavenger was involved in the early days of the Decepticons, and specifically Megatron's plan to turn the planet into a cosmic dreadnought. He eagerly defended the project from Autobot invaders... right up until the point Ironhide shot him in the face. Without looking. The War Within He and the other Constructicons later created the gestalt process, giving them the power to merge into Devastator. After the technology was widely distributed, however, the Crisis Intervention Accords came down banning the use of Special Teams as too dangerous. The Constructicons were the first to break the Accords during the Dark Ages, joining up with Ratbat and his Ultracons. They attempted to seize control of the Tagan Heights from the Wreckers, and also had an epic battle with Defensor before ultimately being taken down by his individual components, the Protectobots. The War Within: The Dark Ages
Although they were apparently not part of the crew of the Nemesis, Scavenger and the Constructicons did somehow wind up on Earth in the 1980s, fighting alongside Megatron and his crew against the Autobots. In 1998, Scavenger was captured and deactivated along with the rest of the Decepticons following Operation: Liberation. Roughly a year later, after the explosion of the Ark II, Scavenger's body was recovered by the mercenary known as Lazarus, who attempted to reprogram many of the Transformers into controllable soldiers. Once Megatron overcame this programming, however, he freed his fellow Decepticons and they began to terrorize the Earth once more. Scavenger and the Constructicons attacked a city in California shortly after being freed, using their Devastator form to cause horrendous amounts of property damage. It took some daredevil maneuvering by Optimus Prime himself to bring them down. Prime Directive
Scavenger and the Constructicons were later reactivated by Starscream, during a time when Megatron was missing and Decepticon leadership was changing hands. They took up residence in Las Vegas, converting the city for Decepticon use. Needless to say there was some resistance, and a small army of humans and Autobots led by Grimlock soon invaded the territory. Scavenger did not personally engage in battle, although he may have been responsible for pulling four of his deactivated teammates to safety while Long Haul distracted the Autobots. Hardwired
Megatron eventually returned to Earth, but Scavenger and the Constructicons owed Starscream for reconstructing them, and so remained loyal to him when the Decepticons split into two factions. Of course, this only meant they were among the first to be captured by the Keepers when those aliens took over Las Vegas and turned Starscream into their puppet. Trapped behind an impenetrable force dome, Scavenger and the Constructicons attempted to batter their way out as Devastator using sheer brute force, until Skywarp offered a better idea. Reconverting into their separate modes, Bonecrusher dug a tunnel out beneath the force field and Scavenger excavated it, enabling Starscream's faction to join the final battle against the Keepers. Acting as Devastator, they were too far away from Optimus Prime and his Matrix-induced force shield when the American nuclear assault was dropped on the Keepers, and were blasted into pieces. Annihilation
The nuclear blast left Devastator fused into his singular robot mode, leaving him unable to split back into Scavenger and his other components. Eventually, Devastator fell into the Void along with Omega Sentinel in the final conflict with the Keepers, and was left in stasis lock, drifting in the vacuum of space, after the Sentinel destroyed the Keepers' power source and shattered the Void back into real space-time. The starship Bounty, on a secret space mission from Earth, came across Devastator's remains and planned to tow him back to Earth. Fusion
The pieces of Scavenger and the Constructicons fell under the control of Earth Defense Command, and were held in their Roswell facility for study. Generation One issue 0
IDW comics continuity
After getting laid off due to the Senate "reforms" being championed by Ratbat, Scavenger and the other Constructicons sought out new work -- with Megatron. The secrecy necessary for operating the underground gladiator sports of Kaon meant that the combat arena needed to be mobile. As a result, the Constructicons were given the unique and challenging job of building a new arena from scratch before every battle, using only the scrap and other materials on-site. Megatron Origin issue 2
In modern times, Scavenger and the Constructicons came to Earth for Megatron's major offensive against the planet. They were involved in the opening strike on New York City, bringing down buildings and causing massive civilian casualties. All Hail Megatron issue 1 Later, using the newly-acquired gestalt technology, the Constructicons merged to form Devastator and destroyed all the underground tunnels leading in and out of the city, cutting it off from the outside world. All Hail Megatron issue 2 He later joins Starscream's side in the revolution, combining with the other Constructicons to form Devastator and attacking Megatron. Megs puts up a good fight, but eventually is defeated. He is only saved by the arrival of the EU jets...
Toys
Generation 1
- Scavenger (1985)
- Team ID number: 2
- Japanese ID number: 35
- Accessories: Laser pistol, "Target Shooter", Devastator's right fist, "Rotor Blade" projectile
- Scavenger transforms into a bright green and purple steam shovel. He can become an "Attack Shovel" by attaching the "Target Shooter" projectile launcher (with the "Rotor Blade" loaded) onto the pegs on the right side of his green vehicle chassis. He can combine with his fellow Constructicons to form Devastator, functioning as the right arm. His "Target Shooter" becomes Devastator's lower right arm.
- Constructicon (1992)
- Accessories: Laser pistol
- This European-exclusive version of Scavenger was yellow, but with the darker purple from the original toy instead of the lighter Generation 2 shade, came with no Devastator parts, and also lacked the tab on his chest. This toy was also not officially named, as he came on a card shared by the other Constructicons.
Generation 2
- Scavenger (Constructicon, 1993)
- Accessories: Laser pistol, "Target Shooter" missile launcher, Devastator's right fist, "Rotor Blade" missile
- For Generation 2 the old Constructicon toys were brought out again, this time in two different sets of colors; the initial releases were yellow with bright purple parts, later releases replaced the yellow with orange. Scavenger's "Target Shooter" missile launcher was retooled to remove the spring-loaded missile-launcher gimmick, and both "missiles" were similarly adjusted to be solid posts rather than notched.
Classics
- Constructicon Devastator (Multi-pack, 2007)
- Scavenger is one of the toys included in this gift pack, a redeco of Energon Steamhammer. This makes him the central component (head module included) of Devastator this time.
- Scary, huh?
Merchandise
- Scavenger (Decoy, 1986)
Trivia
- Scavenger's animation model gives him Hook's pistol. Hook's animation model uses a different take on Hook's pistol, so Scavenger's gun design seems to go unused. Scavenger doesn't mind though; his pistol kills in ONE SHOT.
