Tailgate (G1)
- Tailgate is an Autobot from the Generation 1 continuity family.
Tailgate is an Autobot scout, not so much for his skill (for he is mediocre at best) but for two unrelated reasons. First, his hood conceals a ridiculously powerful iron-cobalt magnet, which he can use to tailgate closely beside other vehicles and travel far into enemy territory without fuel. Second, his bizarre idees fixes make him extremely poor company for other Autobots.
Nobody knows where Tailgate got his screws knocked loose. Some say he was traumatized in a hazing ritual that went terribly wrong; others think it's simply the length of the war taking its toll. At any rate, he began causing problems soon after arriving on Earth, proclaiming speed limits to be an affront to liberty, and attempting to liberate "enslaved" household appliances from their alleged slavemasters. Nothing the veteran Autobots could do would dissuade him from his mad quest, or convince him of non-sentient machines on Earth. Eventually, it was decided to make him a scout, with strict orders not to break cover for any reason.
Still, every time he sees a bicycle chained to a pole, his spark burns hot with righteous anger. "Some day, my brothers will wear no chains," he thinks. "Some day, we shall break free!"
- French-Canadian name: Hayon
Fiction
Cartoon continuity
- Voice actor: Ted Schwartz (English), Ken Shiroyama (Japanese)
Tailgate was one of a group of Minibots stationed at the Ark in 2006. When the Constructicons built Trypticon out of a human city, Mount St. Hilary and the Ark were the first stop on his journey to destroy Metroplex. Tailgate and the other Autobots on duty rolled out to defend the Ark with all the firepower at their disposal. It didn't go very well. The Ark was left devastated in Trypticon's mighty wake, and Tailgate's troops were beaten and scattered by the colossal dinosaur. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5
Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers manga
With the Autobots being framed by the Decepticon Trailer Brigade for numerous crimes, Kenji was feeling a bit dejected at how his schoolyard chums were suddenly turning on them. Tailgate appeared to give him a lift home from school and attempted to cheer him up, reminding him that as an Honorary Autobot he had nothing to worry about. Their drive was interrupted by a crowd gathering around a display put on by a pair of robed figures (secretly Rumble and Frenzy), decrying the Autobots and preaching the heroism of the Decepticons. The rest of the Autobots soon arrived to straighten things out. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 7
Tailgate later responded to a distress signal sent from Powerglide, who was fighting to rescue a puppy that was brimming over with Decepticon super science from the Combaticons. Dying from its wounds, the dog transferred the super science into Powerglide, giving him brief access to Scramble Power. Along with the other Minibots, Tailgate merged with Powerglide into a Minibot combiner and swiftly defeated Bructicus. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 8
Marvel Comics continuity
Tailgate was one of the Autobots working with Emirate Xaaron and Ultra Magnus's covert cell on Cybertron, and was briefly seen when Optimus Prime came to Cybertron and rallied the troops for an assault on Darkmount. Resurrection!
He eventually finished his training at the Autobot Military Academy, but upon graduation was provoked into joining Flattop and Subsea in venturing underground, in order to prove his courage. When a group of Cybertronian mutants attacked and slaughtered his fellow cadets, Tailgate stood his ground and successfully fought off the sewer-dwellers, thus proving he was neither a coward... nor very good at watching his friends' backs in a fight. Underworld!
Dreamwave comics continuity
Tailgate was among the Autobot civilians who watched Shockwave's anti-Optimus Prime propaganda broadcasts. Cold War Didn't seem to do the trick, though, as he was later seen training alongside several Autobot recruits against combat drones. Black Sunshine
Toys
Generation 1
- Tailgate (Mini Vehicle, 1986)
- Japanese ID number: C-61
- Tailgate is a white-and-blue retooling of the 1984 Autobot Windcharger, transforming into a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am sports car. His head sculpt is much more elaborate than the earlier toy's (which shared the Microchange sculpt), and his chest sticker bears an odd resemblance to a portable radio.
- The original version of this mold is used by Camaro and Rook as well as the Mexican versions (yes, plural) of Tailgate—i.e. regular Windcharger redecoed only and not retooled. Tailgate was used as the model for the non-toy comic character Wipe-Out.
- Bumble & Minibots (Multi-pack, 2008)
- Encore number: 10
- In 2008, Tailgate was reissued in the Transformers Encore line, bundled with Bumblebee, Pipes, Swerve and Outback. This version of Tailgate has extra paint details on his face.
