Strafe (G1)
| This article is about the Generation 1 Technobot. For the Japanese G2 Cyberjet, see Strafe (G2). |
- Strafe is an Autobot from the Generation 1 continuity family.
Strafe is a really nice guy, one of the kindest, gentlest mechanoids you could ever hope to meet, and he's a crack shot with his heat-ray rifle, too. It's said that Strafe can burn a hole in a screw head (size not specified) from two miles away. Too bad he can't tighten up the loose screws in his own cranial module, though. He's got a case of nerves that could very well cause Red Alert to fear for his job security, and when startled he tends to SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT FIRE FIRE BANG BANG BANG KILL KILL KILL IT DEAD DEAD DEAD without stopping to aim or analyze the threat, and doesn't quit until he's shot down or runs out of heat-ray charges. Sometimes, though, all is quiet...too quiet...and he doesn't like that, either. SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT FIRE FIRE BANG BANG KILL KILL KILL...
He can combine with the other Technobots to form Computron, and seems to make a rather calm limb.
| “ | It feels great to be a Technobot!! | ” |
—Strafe, always excitable, "Grimlock's New Brain" | ||
- French-Canadian name: Mitraille
- Italian name: Rocketbot
Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
Strafe was part of Fortress Maximus' group of Autobots on Cybertron. Ring of Hate! When Fortress Maximus decided to leave the war and head to Nebulos, Strafe and the other Technobots agreed to follow him on his quest for peace, which would have done the high-strung fellow a world of good. Alas, the Decepticons followed the Autobots to Nebulos and brought the war with them. Broken Glass! In the Nebulan resort city of Splendora, Strafe and the Technobots fought Abominus as the combined Computron. Love and Steel! Though Abominus (and its component Terrorcons were defeated, Splendora lay in ruins. The Autobots and Decepticons ultimately left Nebulos for Earth. Brothers in Armor!!
Strafe fell bravely (and rather instantly) in the defense of Buenos Aires against the Underbase-powered Starscream. Dark Star!
Marvel UK future timelines
In 2008, Strafe and several Autobots under the command of Ultra Magnus responded to a mysterious call for help on Cybertron. Astonishingly, the call came from the Decepticons. Even more astonishing, it was genuine. Strafe and the Autobots joined forces with their Decepticon counterparts in driving a marauding crew of Quintessons off the planet. Space Pirates!
After Time Wars rebooted future history, Strafe was next seen stationed at Autobot City in 2009. When the Autobot shuttle from Cybertron crashed down instead of landing safely, Strafe flew out to help alongside Blaster, Perceptor and Afterburner. Shadow of Evil What they found was Autobot commander Rodimus Prime, aglow with evil and possessed by the living malice of Unicron that had infected the Matrix a year earlier. Strafe was apparently killed in the resulting conflict before Rodimus regained control of his actions. White Fire
In another future, the last Decepticon was destroyed by Springer and the Wreckers in 2510. However, the Autobots soon came to blows over a misunderstanding, and war broke out again almost as soon as it ended. Strafe and the Technobots formed a new faction under Ultra Magnus against the Wreckers. Peace
Cartoon continuity
Generation 1 cartoon
- Voice actor: Steve Bulin (English), Kōji Totani (Japanese)
Strafe was created,like the other Technobots, by the temporarily super-intelligent Grimlock. Grimlock's New Brain Less than a week later, he and the other Technobots were sent to Earth to learn how to interact with humans, where they encountered the unscrupulous trader Dirk Manus and his business partners, the Quintessons. Money is Everything
Along with the other Technobots, Strafe attempted to drive away the Terrorcons away from Dr. Morgan's lab, but was unsuccessful in preventing them from retrieving a heat-resistant alloy. The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1
Strafe was at Autobot City with his fellow Technobots and the Throttlebots, talking about what a glorious day it was, and about how every day had been a glorious one ever since they ended the threat of the Decepticons once and for all, and the days would continue to be glorious as long as...okay, you know what's coming. The Rebirth, Part 1
The Headmasters cartoon
IDW comics continuity
Strafe and the other Technobots crew the Autobot vessel Calabi-Yau, under the command of Jetfire. Strafe was nervous about landing on the burnt our surface of Cybertron, but accompanied Jetfire, Scattershot and Lightspeed on a reconnaissance mission. Just as they were about to leave, they were captured by Bludgeon's group of Decepticon. Stormbringer issue 1 Strafe survived the techno-cannibalization being performed by the mad cultists and helped uncover the key to defeating the revenant Thunderwing. Stormbringer issue 4
S-Strafe had a n-noticeable s-stutter.
Toys
Generation 1
- Strafe (Technobot, 1987)
- Team ID number: TK3
- Japanese ID number: C-87
- Accessories: "Heat Ray Rifle", 2 "Light-Pulse Blasters"
- Strafe transforms into a Cybertronic "rocket plane" (according to his instructions) with twin front-mounted "light-pulse blasters". These cannons can also be used as hand-held weapons in robot mode, making him the only Technobot that can use his vehicle-mode weapons in that manner. As a Scramble City-style combiner, he can form the limb to any similar-construction super robot, though his nominal placement is as the left arm of Computron.
- Later individual releases of all five Technobots were retooled to remove their rubsign indents. There is also a packaging variant for all four small Technobots, which included a random bonus Autobot "Decoy" mini-figurine.
- Computron (Multi-pack, 1987)
- Japanese ID number: C-91
- Accessories: "Heat Ray Rifle", 2 "Light-Pulse Blasters"
- All five Technobots were also made available in a complete gift set in multiple markets. The gift set versions are identical to their individual releases.
Generation 2
- Strafe (Cyberjet, 1995)
- Accessories: 3 missiles
- For Generation 2, Strafe was given an altmode much more closely conforming to traditional aircraft designs. As a redeco of the Decepticon Cyberjet Space Case, the aircraft is a curious blend of features from the F-22, F-23, X-29, and countless other "cutting edge" aircraft. His right arm has a launcher that fires pressure-launch missiles. These missiles store on the undersides of his wings in vehicle mode.
- This toy was released with no deco changes (but with an extra decal sheet) in Japan as the former-Decepticon-turned-Autobot Strafe. This mold was also used for the 2004 Universe version of Space Case and Robot Masters X-Gunner.
Gentei!
The Man with the Golden Gun
- Strafe (Autobot, 2009)
- A redeco of the 2008 Universe series Cyclonus toy, Strafe transforms into a Cybertronic starfighter. He comes with a partner figure, Daystick, who transforms into a blaster that can be mounted on the vehicle mode's back or plugged into Strafe's wrist sockets to emulate the Headmasters style of Targetmaster connection.
- Strafe is an exclusive for members of the Transformers Basecamp web site in Japan, which is itself exclusive to those who own a Transformers-themed Visa credit card. The ordering period for Strafe will run from March 2nd through April 30th in 2009.
Trivia
- Strafe's Generation 1 toy is one of the few Transformer vehicles without a clearly-defined cockpit.
- In some printings of Stormbringer, Strafe's stutter occasionally pops up in Scattershot's lines. (Maybe it's contagious?)
