Decepticon Mini-Cassette

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The Decepticon Mini-Cassettes are a subgroup of Decepticons (and in a single case, a Predacon) from the Generation 1 continuity family.
Eject! Operation: Illustration.

The Decepticon Mini-Cassettes (also known as Spy Cassettes and Recordicons) are Decepticons (and in one case, a Predacon) who, on Earth, transform into analog audio cassettes. They can fit into Soundwave's chest compartment, though their apparent relationship to Soundwave varies depending on continuity.

Many of these troops have communication or espionage roles. Recycling of body designs is common among them as well.

“ In the days of Megatron, Decepticons developed the art of espionage using cassette technology. ”

—Teletraan II, Secret Files of Teletraan II

Japanese name: Cassettron

Fiction

Marvel comics

For the most part, the Decepticon Mini-Cassettes did not appear to have a particularly special or unique relationship with Soundwave. Soundwave occasionally carried Laserbeak within his chest compartment, releasing him for surprise attacks Warrior School!.

More often, the Mini-Cassette troops used their small alternate modes for stealth, disguise and transportation by other characters. Rumble and Frenzy frequently hitched rides in the cockpit of the Decepticon jets, for example. DIS-Integrated Circuits! Ravage used his cassette form on several occasions to spy on humans. Power Play! Three of the cassette troops were taken out of play by Omega Supreme, Command Performances! and remained inoperative for quite some time, while Ravage was dropped into a mine shaft by the Autobot Skids, Showdown! taking him out of play for even longer. Only Laserbeak remained operative, acting as a sort of totem of Decepticon leadership. Command Performances!

Ratbat assumed a cassette form upon traveling to Earth, and used this disguise to monitor his human accomplices. Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Mini-Cassettes acted as a sort of special-missions force, under the command of their host Soundwave. Soundwave could store numerous cassettes within his chest, at times ejecting as many as four at once. The Transformers: The Movie Call of the Primitives

Laserbeak was frequently sent to spy on the Autobots at Autobot Headquarters, once using his cassette form to sneak in. Divide and Conquer Ravage likewise used his cassette mode to infiltrate Teletraan I and steal information about Earth's resources. More than Meets the Eye, Part 2 Rumble was used more often to destroy stuff, though all three frequently engaged in battle.

The less-seen Buzzsaw and Frenzy also appeared on occasion, usually acting in conjunction with Laserbeak and Rumble, respectively. Countdown to Extinction Atlantis, Arise! The Immobilizer

Years later, Ratbat joined the cassette forces; like Laserbeak, he specialized in spy work and reconnaissance, particularly in tight quarters inaccessible to Laserbeak. Secret Files of Teletraan II

Some time after that, Overkill and Slugfest also joined Soundwave's troops. Call of the Primitives

The Headmasters cartoon

The Mystery of Planet Master Birth of the Fantastic Double PrimeThe Great Cassette Operation Terror! The Six ShadowsCybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears Return of the Immortal EmperorSOS from Planet SandraBattle for Defense of the False PlanetHead Formation of FriendshipThe Zarak Shield Turns the TideOperation: Destroy the Decepticons

Madman The Transformers comic

In the year 2001, Soundwave unleashed his army of new Mini-Cassettes to steal the Autobot Matrix of Leadership from a secure bunker at the construction site of Autobot City on Earth. The Transformers

Dreamwave comics continuity

The origin of the Mini-Cassettes as a whole is unknown. Warriors like Laserbeak and Ravage were seen working with Soundwave in their standard capacity since the beginning of the war. The War Within The sole exception is Ratbat, who was once a high-ranking Decepticon, and the leader of his own independent faction during the Dark Ages. The War Within: The Dark Ages At an unknown point in history, Ratbat was apparently converted into a Mini-Cassette as punishment for some unknown offense. Countdown to Extinction

Besides Ratbat, the Mini-Cassettes were sent into stasis lock with Soundwave and the rest of the Nemesis' crew for four million years on the planet Earth. They reawakened in 1984 to battle Optimus Prime and the crew of the Ark. Prime Directive When the Transformers eventually returned to Cybertron, the Mini-Cassettes went with Soundwave under the new command of Shockwave. After Starscream made a proposal to strike out on their own, however, they turned against Shockwave. Part of the deal was Starscream reuniting Soundwave with Ratbat, whom he had apparently already used as a Mini-Cassette in the past. The Mini-Cassettes returned to Earth with Soundwave and the Seekers. War and Peace Megatron eventually returned, reclaiming leadership from Starscream, with the help of Soundwave and the Mini-Cassettes. The Route of All Evil

After returning to Earth, only Rumble and Frenzy made express appearances. Ravage, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw and Ratbat were presumably present inside Soundwave.

IDW comics continuity

Ravage, Laserbeak, and Buzzsaw worked with Soundwave from the beginning as his minions.

Frenzy and Rumble were originally energon miners like Megatron. They were the first pre-Decepticons to hitch their wagons to the rising star of Megatron. Megatron had them reformatted into the Cybertronian equivalent of mini-cassettes in order to participate in a surprise attack on the Senate. They weren't entirely happy about it, but agreed out of fear and loyalty to Megatron. Squawkbox also participated in that operation.

It is unclear if Squawkbox was already a minion of Soundwave or if he was also reformatted for that purpose.

Senator Ratbat was Soundwave's boss up until the Decepticon uprising, at which point, Soundwave slagged him but preserved his spark in a Cybertronian mini-cassette. Megatron Origin

Much later, Squawkbox served on the same space station as Sixshot. Spotlight: Sixshot

Ravage and Laserbeak traveled with Soundwave to Earth while keeping an eye on Bludgeon. Buzzsaw, Frenzy, and Rumble were not seen during this period, but the possibility that Soundwave was keeping one or more of them in reserve cannot be ruled out. (You never really know who he has hidden in there.) It was at this time that Soundwave and at least Ravage and Laserbeak picked up 1984-era Earth alternate modes. spotlight: Soundwave

Ratbat spent some time as a regular member of Earth's infiltration unit doing reconnaissance work. Devastation issue 1 He had a non-mini-cassete alternate mode.

Laserbeak, Ravage, Frenzy, Rumble, and Ratbat all participated in Megatron's full-scale invasion of Earth as Soundwave's mini-cassette minions. All Hail Megatron

Hearts of Steel

Soundwave, Ravage, Squawkbox, and Rumble and/or Frenzy were among the Decepticons who were awakened in eighteenth century Earth and took on alternate modes from that era. Hearts of Steel

It was not revealed what those alternate modes were, but textual notes in Squawkbox's concept art included in the trade paperback indicate that his "upper body transforms into a mechanical gorilla" and his "lower part transforms into mechanical eagle."

Toys

Frenzy mold

  • Frenzy
  • Rumble
  • Enemy, whose only transformable toy was permanently attached to a radio bigger than he was.
1984 cassette Laserbeak

Laserbeak mold

Ravage mold

Other molds

This is an entirely new-mold version of the character, still transforming from jaguar to a cassette compatible with G1 Soundwave / Blaster.

Fiction only

Trivia

  • This sub-group was called Decepticon Cassettes in the 1984 toy catalog, but Decepticon Mini-Cassettes in all subsequent catalogs.
  • The San Diego Comic-Con 2009 reissue of Soundwave refers to the cassettes as "Deployer" figures. The term Deployer had previously been used for the small animal-to-weapon figures from the Beast Machines toy line.
  • The term "Spy Cassettes" was used in advertisements featured in the Marvel UK comics and an organizational chart in the Transformers Annual 1987, while "Recordicon" was used in a 1986 Diamond Transformers: The Movie stickerbook to describe Laserbeak.
  • The term "Cassetticon" is an unofficial fan-term that crops up amongst the fanbase.
  • In "The Agenda", Ravage still has his cassette alternate mode, despite undergoing a complete rebuilding. He fits into a compartment on his ship.
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