Chromedome (G1)
| This article is about the heroic Autobot. For his evil mirrorverse counterpart, see Chromedome (SG). |
- Chromedome is an Autobot Headmaster from the Generation 1 continuity family.
In most universal streams, Chromedome is a comparatively quiet academic. Originally a number-cruncher at Cybertron's Institute for Higher Programming working on ways to improve the processing power of the Transformers' computerized minds, Chromedome found himself forcibly dragged into the Great War when a Decepticon attack destroyed the facility. Chromedome put his work to use programming Autobots so they could outsmart their Decepticon foes, but alas, only wound up fostering an intellectual arms race of sorts, in which both sides competed to repurpose the newest advances in programming into military advantages. Ground down over the years by this inevitability, Chromedome has come to accept that war with the Decepticon cannot be prevented—but only won.
In many of these universes, Chromedome is binary bonded to the egotistical Nebulan Stylor, who is more concerned with the finer things life than intellectual or military pursuits. As such, the two occasionally clash, with Chromedome trying to get Stylor to be a little less superficial, and Stylor trying to bring out Chromedome's more social side, but generally speaking, they get along quite well despite their differences.
As a quiet 'bot of the mind, Chromedome has a tendency to fade into the background, but there also exist universal streams in which he has foregone science and taken to the front lines of battle to become a much more prominent figure. The Chromedome of these worlds is barely recognisable as the reserved scientist of those more well-known realities: instead, he is a hot-headed youth burning with an incredible passion for justice who even serves as Fortress Maximus's trusted, if impulsive and occasionally-irrational, second-in-command.
- Japanese name: Chrome/Chromedome (see below)
- Italian name: Duobot
- French-Canadian name: Chromedôme
- Hungarian name: Krómpáncél ("Chrome Armor")
Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
A long time ago, on Cybertron, Chromedome was part of an Autobot strike unit led by Fortress Maximus. This unit operated out of a cave dug into the Manganese Mountains, and often worked to foil the schemes of their primary nemesis, Scorponok. Their last major mission on Cybertron was to upset a slave march to the smelting pools. After that, however, Fortress Maximus revealed to the Autobots that he had grown sick of warfare, and planned to escape the endless ring of hate by immigrating to a new world altogether: Nebulos. At first, Chromedome was shocked, but eventually he and many others chose to join Fortress Maximus on his quest for peace.
Upon arrival on Nebulos, Chromedome chided Brainstorm for analyzing their new home with his digital readouts rather than just looking around. Indeed, Chromedome Nebulos was "a paradise." But when their attempts to forge an alliance with the native Nebulans failed (due to sabotage for political reasons), Chromedome suggested that they "talk some sense" into their new neighbors. Their unit was met with military force and Fortress Maximus ordered Chromedome and the others into the woods.
Despite these setbacks, Fortress Maximus was determined to wage peace, not war. He brought an envoy of Autobots, including Chromedome, to the Nebulan capitol of Koraja to once again plead for peace. When the Nebulans still were not totally swayed after he and his Autobots disarmed, Maximus removed his own head from his shoulders, leaving his body deactivated and inoperable in the Nebulans' care. Chromedome and three other Autobots joined their leader in his gesture. It was this gesture which finally ushered in a cease fire with the Nebulans. Ring of Hate!
Chromedome and the four others who had removed their heads were kept confined within Koraja while the Council of Peers, collateral for a peaceful Autobot settlement within the forest. Soon, however, Scorponok's Decepticons followed the Autobots to Nebulos and attacked Koraja. The peaceful Nebulan Galen refused to surrender the captive Autobots to the Decepticons, but the terms of the cease fire prohibited the Autobots' heads be returned to their bodies. Instead, a loophole was sought. At first Galen and a few like-minded Nebulans attempted to operate the Autobot bodies by remote control, but this was an awkward solution. The Nebulan scientist Arcana suggested something more elegant yet groundbreaking - the Nebulans should undergo the Headmaster process, surgically altering themselves to become the heads of the Autobots! Stylor volunteered to undergo the process to become Stylor's head, and the procedure commenced.
The new Headmaster Autobots met the Decepticons in battle, and the Decepticons were amazed at how powerful and agile their foes had suddenly become. Chromedome was able to leap out of the way of Scorponok's deadly stinger attack in car mode, to Scorponok's incredulity, though he did land up-side down. When the Decepticons realized how outclassed they were, they staged a panicked retreat, and the Autobots returned to the city streets victorious. Along with the others, Chromedome removed his head so that the Nebulans could see that the terms of the cease fire were not broken, and they were met as heroes. Broken Glass!
Love and Steel! Brothers in Armor!! Worlds Apart! Trial by Fire!
Chromedome was damaged during the battle with the Matrix-powered Thunderwing aboard the Ark at the end of the Matrix Quest. All Fall Down Afterwards, while being repaired by Fixit, he suggested going on a "Leg Quest" instead (since his own had been torn off). Funny, funny guy. Eye of the Storm
He was last seen fleeing in terror from Unicron. Whatever happened to him, it couldn't have been worse than what happened to Brainstorm, Hardhead, and Highbrow in the ensuing battle. On the Edge of Extinction!
The Transformers cartoon
- Voice actor: Frank Welker (English), Kunihiko Yasui (Japanese)
Chromedome was stationed on Cybertron in 2007 when the combined forces of the Decepticons attacked the planet with the intention of opening the Plasma Energy Chamber. Chromedome and his allies were able to steal back the key to the chamber, but not before a bolt of its energy was briefly released, hurling them and their shuttle across the galaxy. Eventually, the shuttle began to slow, as Chromedome noted its engines had finally burned out, but it still had enough momentum to lead it to crash on a nearby alien world. The Autobots survived the crash, but before long, they were captured by a cell of rebel natives, who mistook them for robotic agents of the planet's evil ruling council, the Hive. Imprisoned and facing execution by magnetic bombs, Chromedome kept his cool, calmly inquiring as to the name of the planet, and was given his answer by Duros: Nebulos. Before the rebels could destroy the Autobots, a squad of Decepticons arrived to steal back the Plasma Energy Chamber key, and although Chromedome helped repel them by hurling the magnetic bombs, the villains managed to abduct several of the Autobots. Chromedome, Brainstorm, Hardhead and Highbrow tried to give chase, but found their way barred by the Hive's machines. Returning to the rebels' base, they learned the story behind the Hive and their machines, and decided to employ a theory devised by Brainstorm that would see the Nebulans bond with the Autobots as "Headmasters" to help defeat by the Decepticons and the Hive. The enthusiastic Chromedome was the first to volunteer for the process, and was bonded to rebel strategist Stylor. The Rebirth, Part 1
Chromedome and his fellow new-born Headmasters proceeded to smash their way through the Hive's machines and rescue their friends from the Decepticons; during the battle, Chromedome personally shot down Scourge. This defeat prompted the Hive and the Decepticons to join forces to become Headmasters and Targetmasters themselves, and when they attacked once more, Chromedome and Crosshairs found themselves no match for the Horrorcons. The Rebirth, Part 2 With the key back in their hands, the Decepticons departed Nebulos and returned to Cybertron, which Galvatron then moved into Earth orbit, planning to destroy both worlds by opening the Plasma Energy Chamber and using its energy to explode the Sun. Chromedome and the Autobots followed them, but when Optimus Prime insisted that the Plasma Energy Chamber key not be destroyed (in accordance with the wishes of Vector Sigma), their Nebulan allies rebelled and ran off, leaving Chromedome and the other Headmasters stuck in vehicle form. Following their partners into the bowels of the Decepticon city-robot Scorponok, Chromedome and the Autobots were captured, but were thankfully saved by the arrival of Spike Witwicky and his new creation, Fortress Maximus. Subsequently, the Plasma Energy Chamber was deactivated and the Decepticons were exiled to deep space, and with the Golden Age of Cybertron restored, Chromedome returned to Nebulos with the Headmasters and Targetmasters to help to eradicate every last trace of the Hive's evil from the planet. The Rebirth, Part 3
Japanese cartoon continuity
The Great Transformer War
In the closing days of 2010, while significant Transformer battles were being waged on Earth and across space, Chromedome and his fellow Autobot Headmasters were active on the planet Master, battling their Decepticon counterparts. It seemed that their foes were able to escape them by leaping into a crevasse, but moments later, they came bursting out of the ground beneath the Autobots' feet. Chromedome and company, however, were able to use this to their advantage by sneaking away under cover of the dust cloud the villains' emergence had created. When the cloud cleared, the Decepticons realized they had been beating up each other, and were then promptly flattened as Chromedome and the Autobots ran them over in vehicle mode. The tide of battle turned suddenly with the arrival of the Decepticon ninja Sixshot, who blasted Chromedome's team to cover the Decepticon Headmasters' escape. Informed by their leader Fortress that the Decepticons were heading for Cybertron, Chromedome and the other Headmasters set out after them aboard Fortress's Battleship Maximus, with Chromedome particularly excited at the prospect of meeting Optimus Prime. The Great Transformer War #3
The Headmasters cartoon
- Voice actor: Hideyuki Hori (Japanese)
Four million years ago, Chromedome and his friends Jack and Abel were among a group of diminutive Cybertronians who departed Cybertron under the leadership of Fortress, seeking to escape the eternal war that had consumed the planet. The Mystery of Planet Master Alas, engine trouble caused their craft to crash-land on the planet Master, an inhospitable world whose murderous environments and wildly changeable atmospheric conditions threatened the lives of the Cybertronians almost as soon as they stepped off their ship and were caught in a desert of sinking sands. The need for survival fostered several technological advances, and the Cybertronians fought against the odds to make a life for themselves on the planet. The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery This relative peace was eventually disrupted, however, when the Decepticon ninja Sixshot attacked an energon mining facility on the planet and Abel tried to drive him off. Sixshot annihilated Abel and his militia group in front of Chromedome's eyes. As he cradled his friend's dead body, Chromedome felt hatred towards evil-doers for the first time in his life and vowed vengeance against the Decepticon. Terror! The Six Shadows
When the scientists of Master made their next quantum leap of technology with the creation of larger, lifeless Transformer bodies called Transtectors, Chromedome and many of his comrades underwent rigorous physical and mental training to master the art of transformation, learning to transform into heads that connected to the Transtectors, placing them under their control. While Jack unfortunately washed out of the program, Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 2) Chromedome was one of ten warriors who became one of these elite "Headmaster" warriors (even if he did have a little trouble getting his Transtector to transform the first time out). Unfortunately, half their number soon rebelled against Fortress's leadership, siding against him with a traitor named Scorponok. With the aid of Sixshot, Scorponok soon forged an alliance with the Decepticon leader, Galvatron. The Mystery of Planet Master
In the year 2011, when Galvatron launched his latest attack on Cybertron with the added power of his new Decepticon Headmasters, Chromedome and his fellow Autobot Headmasters traveled to the planet to help their comrades defend their homeworld. Four Warriors Come out of the Sky Making a dramatic entrance in the middle of the conflict, Chromedome grappled with Weirdwolf and helped Brainstorm thwart Mindwipe's hypnotism, before Fortress's Battleship Maximus forced the Decepticon off. The Autobot Headmasters then formally introduced themselves to Cybertron's Autobots, and Chromedome proposed that they accompany Hot Rod to Earth to help him search for the missing Matrix of Leadership, needed to stabilize the malfunctioning Vector Sigma. Wheelie argued against the notion, and he and Chromedome immediately started fighting, so Hot Rod sidelined them for the moment and headed to Earth with Blaster instead. Blaster perished during the search, and the emotionally shaken Wheelie told Chromedome they were now counting on him and the Headmasters. The Mystery of Planet Master Chromedome's team quickly joined Hot Rod on Earth and held off the Decepticon Headmasters while Hot Rod recovered the Matrix. Together, the group returned to Cybertron, where Hot Rod used the Matrix to become Rodimus Prime once more, but he was unable to stabilize Vector Sigma in time, forcing Optimus Prime to sacrifice his life to do so. Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime
Chromedome had a long history of animosity with Sixshot, dating back to when Sixshot killed his friend Abel before Chromedome became a Headmaster. Things got worse when Sixshot killed Ultra Magnus. The final straw came when Chromedome was forced to shoot his friend Jack after Sixshot planted a bomb in Jack and reprogrammed him to blow up the Battleship Maximus. He was finally challenged to a one-on-one fight to the death with Sixshot, but they were stopped by Daniel Witwicky, who had managed to open up Sixshot to the idea of aiding the Autobots.
The Headmasters comic
The Headmasters #1 Great Decisive Battle of Planet Beast! The Headmasters #2 The Headmasters #3 The Headmasters #4 The Headmasters #5 The Headmasters #6 The Headmasters #7 The Headmasters #8
TV Magazine Master File
Following the expulsion of the Decepticons from Earth after the battle at the North Pole, the Transformers' war shifted into a series of space-based exchanges between the planet Athenia and Chaar. Chromedome and his fellow Headmasters had further training under the tutelage of Pointblank and the Targetmasters, and grew into mature warriors, who went on to help train the next generation of Headmaster Warriors.
With the space bridge destroyed, travel between Athenia and Earth became severely limited, and so, when news of a new Decepticon threat rising on Earth reached the Autobots in space from Metalhawk on Earth, it proved difficult to spare any troops. This need fostered another scientific leap: the scientists of Master developed the Masterforce system, which would allow human beings to bond with Transtectors and defend Earth while the Autobots continued to fight in space. Chromedome participated in the project, and arranged for six Transtectors and six sets of Master-Braces to be sent to Earth on a transport ship. Unfortunately, the ship was intercepted by the Decepticons in transit, and half its cargo was stolen, leading to the birth of Headmaster Juniors on both the Autobot and Decepticon side.[1]
Super-God Masterforce cartoon
- Voice actor: Hideyuki Hori (Japanese)
After giving the Transtectors to the three human children, Shūta, Cab and Minerva, transforming them into the Autobots' new Headmaster Junior warriors, Metalhawk informed them of Chromedome's role in their new powers. Shūta had heard his father speak of Chromedome before and expressed a desire to meet him, so Metalhawk played a recorded message that Chromedome had sent them. Evidently recorded in the middle of battle, the short but sweet missive had Chromedome inform them that fighting was only worsening out in space, and that he hoped they would all fight their hardest on Earth as well. The Headmasters Juniors all thought Chromedome was cool, and vowed not to let him down. Birth! Headmaster Jrs
Super-God Masterforce comic
Cajoled by Shūta, Cab and Minerva into allowing them to become Headmaster Juniors, Metalhawk explained to them the origins of the Transtectors and Master-Braces, and Chromedome's role in the process, before giving them to the kids. Headmaster Jrs Are Born
The Headmaster Juniors later got a chance to meet Chromedome in person when they and Ginrai were brought by the Trainbots to Athenia, so that Ginrai could be appointed Supreme Commander of all Autobots. After the ceremony, Fortress headed back to Master, and Chromedome was left in charge of Athenia, only for the Decepticons to attack during the night. Chromedome was quick into battle, but he and Raiden were cut down by a blast from the Decepticon combiner Scramble 7 even quicker. Ginrai was able to end the threat, but the battle only proved that the Decepticons on Earth had joined forces with the Decepticons in space, and so the Autobots elected to do the same to better combat their enemies. The Battle Begins! The United Earth-Space Troops Soon after, when the space-based Decepticon commander BlackZarak began heading for Earth, Chromedome, his fellow Headmasters, Raiden and Grand Maximus all gave chase. Chromedome was no match for the mighty Decepticon, however, and was beaten back, unable to stop his advance on the planet. As soon as BlackZarak reached Earth, however, Ginrai was able to trick both him and the Earth-based Decepticon leader Overlord into injuring each other, and Chromedome and his allies cheered for Ginrai's success. God Ginrai's Amazing Super-God Combination!
Toys
Generation 1
- Chromedome w/ Stylor (1987)
- Japanese ID number: C-101
- Accessories: "Stylor" Headmaster driver, 2 laser guns
- Chromedome transforms into a brown, cream and red Cybertronic sports car. He is armed with two non-firing laser rifles which mount on his roof in vehicle mode, although the rifles must be removed in order to open the figure's hinged cockpit, in which his Headmaster partner Stylor can sit.
- In robot mode, like all Headmasters, Chromedome features a flip-down panel on his chest that covers a mini Tech Spec meter displaying ratings for Speed, Strength and Intelligence. The tumblers of this meter are activated when Stylor is transformed into head mode and inserted into Chromedome's neck socket. Chromedome's body can accommodate other Headmaster heads, and his meter will display different stats accordingly.
Transform Jr
- Chromedome (1987)
- Japanese ID number: C-101
- Accessories: 2-piece "Chrome" Headmaster unit, laser gun
- The Transform Jr version of Chromedome simplifies the original toy to quite an extent. The transformation scheme remains the same, but Chromedome's cockpit no longer opens, so his Headmaster unit has nowhere to store. Additionally, the Headmaster unit does not really transform into a head; you simply remove its legs and set them aside. Chromedome's Tech Spec meter lacks the functionality of the larger toy, featuring only a permanent, non-moving readout, and he also has only one gun instead of two. But on the very cool plus side, his hood is now made of die-cast metal!
- 3 Hero Set (1987)
- Accessories: 2-piece Headmaster unit, laser gun
- The Transform Jr version of Chromedome was also available in a "Hero Set" alongside the Jr versions of Optimus Prime and Fortress Maximus.
Merchandise
Transformers Gum
- Chromedome (1987)
- Accessories: "Chrome" Headmaster unit, 2 laser guns
- Released in the sixth wave of Kabaya's Transformers Gum line of snap-together "candy toy" model kits, this version of Chromedome is virtually identical to the original toy in all but height and color. Standing at about four inches tall and cast in cream, black and red plastic, Chromedome retains all the features of the larger figure, including his transforming Headmaster unit, opening cockpit, and functioning Tech Spec meter. As a Transformers Gum kit, he featured no paint applications, but came with stickers for detail, and a piece of terrible gum.
TV Magazine coloring contest
- Chromedome trophy (1988)
- 100 chromed silver Chromedome trophies, made out of Chromedome toys, were available as prizes in a coloring contest held by TV Magazine in their February 1988 issue. Entrants had to color in lineart of Pointblank, but rather than operate on a simple first- and second-place system, the prizes were meted out using different criteria: entries displaying the "most skill" won a gold-chromed Optimus Prime trophy, while those entries showing off the "most imaginative" color schemes would win a Chromedome trophy.
Super Collection Figure
- Chromedome (2001)
- Accessories: Display stand
- A three-inch tall PVC figurine of Chromedome was available in the third Headmasters-centric wave of Takara's Super Collection Figure line. Like all the figures in the wave, it was available in both standard full color figure and colorless clear plastic versions, one of each of which was available in a standard case of twelve blindpacked figures. Additionally, in two out of every ten cases, the colored version of Chromedome came packaged with the left arm of the wave's collectable Fortress Maximus "build-a-figure".
Notes
- In the television commercial for Marvel Comics' Headmasters limited series, the Autobot and Decepticon Headmasters are shown having different head designs than the ones their Nebulan partners would later turn into. These designs were seemingly never used in any other piece of Transformers media. The models for most of them, however, turned up in the excellent Transformers Generations guidebook.
References
External links
