Grimlock (G1)
| The name or term "Grimlock" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Grimlock (disambiguation). |
Grimlock is an Autobot in Generation 1 and a Maximal in the Beast Wars portion of the Generation 1 continuity.
Grimlock hates Optimus Prime. Optimus Prime is weak, friendly, and compassionate. Plus Prime's an intellectual, and Grimlock hates those types too, so much that he chooses to speak very poorly. Grimlock believes a leader should show his strength by attacking quickly and mercilessly. Optimus Prime will often reconsider or hesitate on a set of actions in the fear of possible casualties, both Transformer and human -- Grimlock sees this as cowardice. If Grimlock were in charge, he maintains, the war would have been over long ago.
Some Autobots wonder why Grimlock is even on their side. His disposition is much more suited towards the Decepticons. After all, he values power and strength over wisdom and compassion, and furthermore, he doesn't get along with any of the Autobots. (Especially Tracks.) It's been hypothesized that Grimlock just hates Megatron more than he hates Optimus.
Grimlock is the leader of the Dinobots, a small but very close team of misfits. It's been said that anyone who enters a battle with the Dinobots usually leaves it feet-first.
Fiction
Marvel Comics Continuity
Animated Continuity
Voice Actor: Greg Berger (US)
When mysterious tremors shook the Autobot base, Wheeljack's investigation revealed strange objects behind a rock wall. After removing the wall, the Autobots found a cave full of dinosaur bones. The Autobots decided the idea of dinosaurs was interesting and researched the prehistoric beasts. Wheeljack and Ratchet asked Optimus Prime if they could build robot dinosaurs, and Prime agreed this was a good idea. Grimlock, Slag, and Sludge were built and unveiled to the Autobots, but the Dinobots were dimwitted and violent, and they attacked their makers. Grimlock blasted Teletraan-I with his fire-breath, damaging it. Optimus Prime decreed that the Dinobots must be destroyed. However, Wheeljack convinced him instead to lock them away, and the trio were herded back into the cave and buried alive.
Later, the Decepticons took over a hydroelectric plant, but when the Autobots arrived to stop them, the Autobots were defeated and captured. Wheeljack, Ratchet, and Bumblebee, left behind at Autobot base to finish repairing Teletraan-I, decided to go against Optimus' orders and release the Dinobots, but not before upgrading their brains to be smarter and more obedient. After the Dinobots are reactivated, Wheeljack asks them to save their friends. Grimlock says he will obey... this time. They successfully attack the Decepticons and free the imprisoned Autobots. Optimus forgives Wheeljack, Ratchet, and Bumblebee for disobeying his orders and welcomes the victorious Dinobots back to the Autobots.
After a meteor surging with unknown energies struck the Earth, Optimus ordered the three Dinobots to guard it. He was so pleased with the Dinobots he asked Ratchet and Wheeljack to build two more. Meanwhile, Megatron was frustrated at the Dinobots' success, and sent Soundwave to probe them for potential weaknesses. Reading the Dinobots' minds, he discovered that Grimlock was arrogant and believed he would make a better leader than the weak Optimus Prime. Megatron decided to use this to his advantage, and approached them himself. He played to Grimlock's jealousy and agreed with him that the strongest should be leader. The Dinobots declared Optimus Prime their enemy.
Realizing the meteorite was due to explode, Optimus left to warn the Dinobots, but they attacked him. But instead of destroying him completely, Grimlock carried him to the Decepticons, who had stolen the meteorite during the battle. Megatron was angry that Optimus Prime was not destroyed, and Starscream suggested that despite Grimlock's arrogance, inside he was still compassionate. This enraged Grimlock. They were interrupted by the two new Dinobots, Snarl and Swoop, whom Megatron ordered the original three Dinobots to attack. At the climax of the battle, the meteorite exploded, but Optimus Prime pushed Grimlock out of the way, saving him. Grimlock realized the error of his ways and the Dinobots forced the Decepticons into retreat. Grimlock apologized for his jealousy.
The Decepticons joined forces with Sub-Atlantica and staged a full-scale attack on Washington, D.C.. The Autobots were overwhelmed, forcing Wheeljack to call for the Dinobots' assistance. Grimlock expressed his frustration at being called whenever the Autobots were in over their heads. With their help, the Autobots were able to overturn the Decepticons' advance and plunge the city of Sub-Atlantica, burning, into the sea. This pattern of the Autobots' dependence on the Dinobots repeated when the artificial intelligence TORQ III turned machines against mankind.
Dreamwave Continuity
Beast Wars
Universe
Toys
Generation 1
Generation 2
Grimlock outranked Optimus Prime in the G2 toyline! (Prime had a rank of 9.) This seems to reflect their initial status-quo of the comic book, with Grimlock leading the main Autobot force before Prime's return.
Beast Wars
Beast Machines
- T-Wrecks may have been intended to be a new form for Grimlock, based on the references in his tech spec bio to his Beast Wars "Attack Specialist" function and other hints. T-Wrecks' appearances in the Universe: The Wreckers comics seems to suggest he is a new character.
Universe
- The Grimlock toy released in Energon was originally created by Hasbro for release as a special new-mold addition for the Universe toyline and was intended to represent Generation 1 Grimlock. However, it wasn't and it didn't.
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