Liftor
- Liftor is a Mini-Con from the Armada portion of the Unicron Trilogy continuity family.
Liftor is very much a tech-head, an avid tinkerer who is very mechanically inclined. It's what he's happiest doing, taking apart and re-assembling machinery. Unfortunately, he's stuck in the middle of a war, and Liftor isn't exactly the bravest 'bot out there. Battles rattle his nerves, and he's more prone to hide than fight. Still, he does occasionally summon up the courage to leap into the fray and help out when things get ugly, particularly when his partner Smokescreen is in trouble... with incredible reluctance, of course.
An alternate-universe incarnation is partnered with an alternate-universe incarnation of Smokescreen.
- Japanese name: Lift
Fiction
Cartoon continuity
Armada cartoon
Smokescreen activated Liftor's Mini-Con panel on the top of a steep mountain. Overmatch
He powerlinxed with Smokescreen to fire the Skyboom Shield. Tactician
After Smokescreen was transformed, Liftor still assisted the Autobots. He helped stop an angry Hot Shot from recklessly driving around. Remorse
Dreamwave Armada comics
When the Mini-Cons were activated on Earth, Liftor took refuge in the middle of a junkyard. As Rollbar did not return from a search for radio equipment, Liftor, Longarm, and Jolt went looking and discovered him in a trash compactor. Liftor turned the machine off while the others pulled their friend out, and they returned to their makeshift base. There, they managed to get a TV working, and spotted other Mini-Cons being chased by Megatron on the news. They made their way to the confrontation between the Autobots and the Decepticons. Liftor initially thought their coming there was crazy, but soon joined the fray, jumping down with Longarm to smash in Demolishor's eye. He then powerlixed with Smokescreen and helped chase away the Decepticons. Dreamwave Armada issue 5
Liftor later joined the other Mini-Cons and assembled on Earth for transport to Cybertron in an attempt to defeat Unicron. While the Autobots and Decepticons kept Unicron distracted, the Mini-Cons of this reality joined their power with those of Over-Run's universe, delivering an almighty blast that severely damaged the Chaos Bringer and forced him into retreat. The End
Panini Armada comics
In the early days of the Decepticons' hunt for Mini-Cons, Liftor was among the Mini-Cons who supported Dualor's plan to lure Megatron into a trap. Counter-Strike!
After the Mini-Cons' escape from Cybertron, Liftor ended up on Earth's moon, where he was later reactivated by a probe sent by Sparkplug. He soon found Smokescreen, who was losing a battle with Demolishor, and happily power-linked with him. Liftor's power boost allowed Smokescreen to punch Demolishor out of the way and force the Decepticons into a retreat. Between Two Worlds!
Toys
Armada
- Smokescreen w/ Liftor (Deluxe, 2003)
- Japanese ID number: MC-04
- Packaged only with the larger Autobot Smokescreen, Liftor transforms into a Cybertronic heavy-lifting vehicle. His forklift/ram-scoop assembly is jointed to lift up in vehicle mode.
- Grap & Lift w/ Race Microns (Multi-pack, 2003)
- Japanese ID number: MS-04
- In Japan, the Smokescreen/Liftor pairing was available both as a normal set, and in a multi-pack with the Race Mini-Con Team. All toys were identical to their normal releases.
- Smokescreen w/ Liftor (Built to Rule, 2003)
- As part of the smaller-sized Built to Rule sets, BTR Liftor could be rebuilt from a brick that resembles the original toy's vehicle mode to a brick that has the original toy's robot-mode head. Naturally, he came with Smokescreen.
- Grap Super Mode w/ Spark Lift (Deluxe, 2003)
- Japanese ID number: MC-11
- In Japan, the Mini-Con Refute was treated as a new-body "Spark" upgrade of Liftor. This release is largely identical to the Refute toy, save the shiny-silver tires.
- This mold was also used to make Clamp.
Universe
- Smokescreen w/ Liftor vs. Ransack w/ Refute (Battle in a Box, 2004)
- For Universe, Smokescreen was redecoed with a predominately black and yellow scheme. He was available in a "market six" Battle in a Box multi-pack with the Decepticons Ransack and Refute.
Notes
- Strangely enough, despite being a made-up non-word, there actually was a previous transforming robot toy by the name of Liftor. A late 1980's Robot Racer figure was the first to use the "Liftor" name. Of course, given that this Liftor was only available at one chain of gas stations in the United Kingdom over fifteen years earlier suggests the whole thing was probably a giant coincidence.
