Greaser
- Greaser is an Autobot Micromaster from the Generation 1 continuity family.
Greaser of the Hot Rod Patrol grew up on the streets of Cybertron, participating in back-alley do-or-die races against violent thugs and future Decepticons. He has a record of petty larceny, and gets defensive if anyone brings up his history.[1]
By the way, in this context, "Greaser" refers to the American street gangs of the 1950s, with their greased-back hair. Y'know, like the Fonz. It's not the ethnic slur.
Fiction
Dreamwave comics continuity
Greaser was created along with many new Transformers by the Micromaster process, a pooling of energon and technology by the Autobots and the Decepticons during hard times, in order to create a new generation of more fuel efficient warriors. The uneasy truce included shared "parental rights" by both factions, with the Micromasters receiving lectures and combat instruction from both sides in turn, until they chose a faction for themselves.
Many Micromasters didn't appreciate being drafted into a war the moment they were brought on-line, and began to rebel against authority in protest. Greaser was one of the most rebelious of the lot. A racer down to his spark-core, Greaser's record of petty larceny kept him from competing in the officially sanctioned tournaments, forcing him to find less reputable ones instead. These extreme street racing circuits only further tarnished his record, and his standing in the eyes of many Autobots. He eventually left the illegal circuit, apparently through the intervention and support of his new patrol leader, Big Daddy, and became an active member of the Autobots following the Meltdown Riots. When Big Daddy got fed up with the guzzlers and their rules, Greaser and the rest of the Hot Rod Patrol quit with him, heading out for Little Iacon. Destined for Nothing
After running into some trouble, the Patrol eventually made their way to the Burn-Outs for some R&R, hooking up with the Race Track Patrol. Ground Hog started chatting Greaser up about old times, looking to see if he was ready to start 'jacking Autobots for energon again, now that he was a free agent. Despite breaking ties with the army, though, Greaser wasn't interested in resuming his criminal lifestyle. The Gray Race When a Decepticon attack interrupted their reprieve at Little Iacon, Greaser and the Patrol prepared to eat their words and headed back to Autobot HQ for reinforcements. Unfortunately, Sidetrack and Sunrunner of the "Rank and File Brigade" had done a number on their reputations after the walkout, and refused to even let them back in the door. Stakeout managed to sneak out with some weapons so that they could arm themselves, but no more help was coming. Recipe for Hate
Running out of options, the Hot Rod Patrol went to see Countdown, a guzzler-turned-Micromaster who had recently returned from a long-term space mission, and had previously approached them about joining his cause. They managed to break into Decepticon HQ and free the Micros who had been captured in Little Iacon. Together, the Autobot and Decepticon Micromasters briefly aligned to stop the war between the guzzlers which had been initiated by Countdown's opposite number, Skystalker. Still, nothing really changed and the war...went on. Victims of the Revolution
Toys
Generation 1
- Hot Rod Patrol (Micromaster Patrol, 1990)
- Greaser transforms into a pale orange Ford "Deuce Coupe" hot rod with an enormous engine block that is taller than his roof. Though he has large rear wheels, he doesn't have a raised rear end like Big Daddy does, because of the vehicle's large wheelbays. In robot mode the front of the car forms a rather large backpack, but he does not have stability problems, partly due to his atypical leg formation that flips in a reserve direction to most other Micromaster figures, giving him large heels, but hollow shins with tiny feet.
Return of Convoy
- Hot Rod Patrol Team (Micro Trailer Team, 1991)
- Japanese ID number: C-362
- Accessories: Micro Trailer #2
- In Japan, the Hot Rod Patrol was sold in a box with a Micro Trailer. The individual Micromasters were identical to their Hasbro releases.
Footnotes
