Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger
| ||||||
 Fort Max binary bonds with Evel Knievel. | ||||||
| "Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger" (Kasei Bakuha!! Ayaushi Maximus) | ||||||
| Production company | Takara, Toei | |||||
| Airdate | 9 October 1987 | |||||
| Writer | Toyohiro Ando | |||||
| Director | Jōhei Matsūra | |||||
| Animation studio | Toei | |||||
| Continuity | Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity | |||||
The Autobots attempt to stop a Decepticon plot to destroy the entire planet Mars.
- English/Malay dub name: "Mars Explodes! Watch Out, Fortress Maximus!"
Synopsis
Scorponok unveils his latest plan to the gathered Decepticons; by planting a series of plasma energy bombs beneath the surface of Mars, and then triggering key explosions at the north and south poles, they can create a chain reaction that will destroy the planet, releasing more plasma energy for their devilish purposes.
As coincidence would have it, Spike, Daniel, Wheelie and the Trainbots are currently conducting a geological survey on Mars when unusual seismic activity on the planet attracts their attention. Separating to investigate, Daniel, Wheelie and Shōki watch as Hun-Gurrr and Rippersnapper emerge from a smoking crater, and they immediately radio a report to Athenia for help. The Headmasters depart for Mars in Broadside - Fortress, however, is still concerned with the mysterious Decepticon activity on planet Zarak.
On Earth, Ultra Magnus orders the Technobots to join the fight on Mars, but as they depart, they are intercepted by Trypticon and Sixshot. Although Metroplex comes to their aid, they are not able to make it to Mars.
Back on Mars, the Headmasters arrive in the midst of a firefight between the Trainbots and Predacons. As the battle rages, Wheelie and Daniel are captured by the Terrorcons and taken to the Decepticons' base in the tunnels beneath the planet's surface. There, once they are imprisoned behind energy bars, they learn of the villains' intent for Mars. Daniel has an emergency beacon hidden in the Autobot symbol on his exosuit, and to hide its activation, he and Wheelie stage a fight between themselves - much to the amusement of the Terrorcons - that allows Wheelie to grab it and alert Spike. The Headmasters rescue the two youths, and Fortress arrives as they attempt to force the bombing co-ordinates from the Decepticon Headmasters. They apparently succeed when Hardhead is able to trick Skullcruncher into becoming hypnotised by Mindwipe, but the co-ordinates that he gives the Headmasters turn out to be a trap - jumping into the crater that they pinpoint, the four Autobots are trapped into a series of explosive energy coils. Chromedome calls out to Fortress to use the Master Sword, but the commander is not mentally and physically prepared for the task, and the sword will not draw. As the explosions wrack the Headmasters below, a scream from Chromedome galvanizes Fortress, bringing the energies of his mind and body into harmony, and the Master Sword is unsheathed. However, as Fortress leaps from Battleship Maximus to initiate his transformation into Fortress Maximus, the Decepticon Headmasters launch a plasma energy bomb directly at him. A huge explosion follows, with the power of the Master Sword and the power of the plasma energy cancelling each other out. Drained of all his power, Fortress plummets back to the surface of Mars as the Headmasters watch in horror...!
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Notes
Animation or technical errors
- When Hun-Gurrr first leaves the crater on Mars, he is colored like Sinnertwin.
- When the Technobots are shot down by Trypticon, Strafe's head is red instead of white.
- Trypticon's black armor is colored purple after he initially collides with Metroplex.
- The Predaking transformation sequence has a number of coloring mistakes, as does the Autobot Headmasters "Head On" sequence immediately after.
- In the English dub, the opening narration helpfully explains that Mars is the fourth largest planet in the solar system, and is more than 50% bigger than Earth. This is stupid.
Transformers references
- Plasma energy, and Scorponok's plan for it, was introduced in "The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts".
- The mysterious Decepticon activity on planet Zarak was introduced back in "The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok". This plot thread culminates in the second installment of this two-parter.
Miscellaneous trivia
- Beginning with this episode and continuing throughout the series, the title sequence is modified as part of a tie-in promotion with the interactive Video Challenger light gun system. Henceforth, most of the Decepticons flicker white, essentially emiting a visual signal which could be picked up by the light gun that denoted them as targets to be fired on. The more Decepticons the kid with the gun shot, the more points they got!
- The Decepticon Headmasters defy animé tradition in the final moments of the episode by interrupting Fortress' Head-On transformation sequence by shooting a goddamn bomb in his face. This is both underhanded and hilarious.
Home video releases
- Laserdisc
1996 — Transformers: The Headmasters Set (Takara) — Japanese audio only.
- DVD
2002 — Transformers: The Headmasters — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only.
2005 — The Takara Collection Vol 1 — Transformers: Headmasters (Metrodome)
2007 — Transformers — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome)
2007 — The Transformers: Headmasters (Madman Entertainment)
2009 — The Transformers: Japan Generation 1 — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)
