Generic

What do any of us turn into?

A "generic" is the fan-coined, unofficial term for any unnamed background Transformer that is clearly not intended to represent any previously existing and named toy/character. Generics are frequently used to fill out crowd scenes and battles, and often (though not always) employ repeated standardized designs (especially in the older material such as the Generation 1 cartoon).

It is rare that a generic gets a speaking part, but it has happened from time to time. However, if the character is given a name he/she ceases to be a generic and becomes a regular old character (see Sunstorm for an example of such an apotheosis).

Notable generics

Generation 1 cartoon

I don't know how, but I'm pretty sure the Decepticons were cheating.

• Seekers - The comparatively low number of Decepticons in the early episodes of the cartoon led to the filling out of the ranks with numerous generics based on the existing cast, most notably the Seekers.

• Reflector - At times, there were more than three. Though to be fair, it's speculated that Reflector was just one guy who could clone himself...

• Junkions - Hordes of generic Junkions tended to appear whenever the cartoon visited that planet. Sometimes Lithone character models were repurposed as Junkions.

• Paradrons - The entire population of Paradron save for Sandstorm were generics, especially their medics.

Marvel comics

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

Optimus Prime? Who's that meant to be?

• The first issue of the Marvel comic featured a very high proportion of generic characters - probably more than any issue of a Transformers comic since. Many of these were recycled from existing character models and some may be simple coloring errors, though a generic that resembles a miscolored Optimus Prime leading the Decepticons' assault on the Ark may take more explaining. A number of the generics in battle scenes tote weapons like Ion blasters and Fusion cannons.

• A generic Decepticon technician of a standard design originally created by Will Simpson for issue #103 was forcibly upgraded into a clone of Megatron.

• Dan Reed drew hundreds of generic "zombie" Transformers for the stories "City of Fear!" and "Legion of the Lost!"

Beast Wars

• Numerous generic Predacons were seen being jostled within Predacon Command Outpost One when the station was struck by the transwarp wavefront. The Agenda (Part 1)

Beast Machines

• Generation 1 character models created for the Beast Wars episode "The Agenda (Part III)" were modified to represent various generic Cybertronian citizens who were infected with Megatron's transformation lock virus.
• A Soundwavey character model appears in Nightscream's flashback. Forbidden Fruit
• A Prowlish character model shows up as a corpse in a Vehicon factory. Revelations Part I: Discovery

Soundwave? Never heard of that guy.

And at long last we have found Bluestreak!

Armada

"I had a bigger role than Overload!"

• Autobot and Decepticon forces were filled out using Generation 1 cartoon character models, creating several odd instances of classic characters getting remarkably awkward (and often randomly-colored) cameos. (For example, Hound is on the side of the Decepticons. Not to mention a purple Powerglide)

• Depending on who was animating the episode, the masses of Mini-Cons combined toy-characters with either randomly-colored toy-based models or entirely-new designs... or, in one notable instance, Wheelie's character model!

Energon

"Absolutely, positively not made of the corpses of other more important characters, SIR!"

• Due to the computer generated nature of the graphics, both Autobot and Decepticon forces were filled out with generics assembled from parts of other existing or unused character models. Wing Saber's original "Wing Dagger" form is one such example of a mixed-and-matched generic character model.

Devil's Due comics

I don't know who I am, but apparently I'm awesome.

• After the events of G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers left the Decepticons short on troops, in G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II artist E. J. Su padded out Shockwave's Cybertronian forces with nameless, but intricately designed generics. Sadly the Dinobots arrived, and Dinobots vs. generic Decepticons is always going to end badly for the no-names.
• Also notable is the generic "future Decepticon" from the cover of #3 (as seen to the left) who did not, in fact appear in the issue at all. Instead his place was filled by hordes of generic Ravages, Sweeps and Insecticons. Though multiple Insecticons and Sweeps have been previously seen, this is the first time we have seen clones of Ravage.
• At the series' conclusion, Shockwave is tended by a generic Decepticon medic, who has a similar design to Soundwave.

Animated

"Please give us names." "For only Cyb$500, these fembots can be named. Please, think of the protoforms."

In Season 3, many Generics flesh out crowd scenes. Normally these Generics are just randomly colored characters, but sometimes they have new heads and posture, or sometimes even a new gender! This is especially noticeable in "Decepticon Air", "This Is Why I Hate Machines" and "Endgame, Part II".

Live-action movie continuity

Perhaps as an homage to the franchise's long history of generic background characters, or perhaps just to save time, ILM added many re-used and re-colored characters into the backgrounds of the larger battle scenes featured in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

• A protoform army with heads resembling Blackout.
• The Constructicons Long Haul, Rampage, Mixmaster and Scrapper appeared in more than one place simultaneously, creating generics.
• A Buffalo MPV Decepticon resembling Bonecrusher from the first movie.

Blackout was reused, but there is a new character toy using the same mold called Grindor, so he's not technically generic. Similarly, Demolishor and Scavenger just have the same body-type, as do The Fallen and the others in the Dynasty of Primes during 17,000 BC.

External links

• Generics at the Obscure Transformers Website
• Generic G1 Decepticons list
• Armada Background Characters at insecticons.com