Runabout (G1)
Runabout is a Decepticon in the Generation 1 continuity.
Runabout is not the brains of the Battlechargers (they're both pretty much dim-bulbs), but he is much calmer and certianly more articulate than his friend Runamuck, and his presence helps keep the latter's cross-wired mind on task. That said, Runabout usually joins in with whatever mad ideas Runamuck comes up with, just to keep from being bored. Runabout is very susceptible to boredom.
Besides, Runabout loves a good wreck just as well as his crazy comrade, but it's not because he craves to create wreckage -- he simply wishes to destroy, and enjoys the spectacle of chaos and big fiery explosions. To help create these he has a particle beam rifle that shoots a stream of heavy and energetic neutrons. Unfortunately, he craves destruction so much that it continually distracts him from his assigned duties.
Runabout is a little faster than Runamuck, with a 185 MPH top speed, but can only go about 550 miles. He is equally able to transform quickly, taking about .4 seconds to do so. Also like his partner, he is not averse to breaking windows or draping cylinder-wiping paper over the enemy base, or other puerile acts of vandalism.
French-Canadian name: Rôdo
Fiction
Generation 1 Cartoon
Voice actor: Roger Behr (US), Yoku Shioya (Japan)
Marvel Comics
Dreamwave Generation 1 Comics
IDW Generation 1 Comics
Runamuck is part of a Decepticon insurgent cell that has operated covertly on Earth for at least four years, working to destabilise Earth's governing organisations and create global anarchy. He, Runamuck and Thundercracker are assigned by Starscream to intercept the human Stoker and retrieve his SM-40 palmtop PC, containing data on their Nebraska operation. The team catches up with and kills Stoker outside Phoenix, AZ, by which time Verity Carlo hs already stolen the SM-40. The Battlechargers' attempts to retrieve it from Verity and Ratchet disregard their cover: They appear in full public view both in primary mode and in a secondary alternate mode, where the panels of their sports-car disguises split apart to reveal weapons and ram-plates. While pursuing Ratchet, both Battlechargers are run off the road by a semi-trailer.
Toys
Generation 1
- Runabout (Battlecharger, 1986)
- Runabout transforms into a Lotus Turbo Espirit sports car. An autotransformer, he uses a pull-back motor to propel him forward in both car and robot modes, though starting in car mode triggers his transformation to robot after he rolls forward a short distance. His mold is very similar to his partner Runamuck, but it is highly unlikely one is actually a retool of the other since they had simlutaneous production.
