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 Chromedome'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!
Despite their newfound celebrity, the populace was still wary of Chromedome and the others, so the Council of Peers arranged an inspection. Chromedome's body stood by silently as the Council of Peers expressed concerns with the Autobots' Nebulan partners. They were interrupted by a distress call from Galen's political rival, Lord Zarak, who had been kidnapped by the Decepticons. Fortress Maximus led Chromedome and the other Headmasters into battle, but the kidnapping was a ruse. Zarak and his political cronies had undergone the Headmaster process themselves, but with the Decepticons! Now evenly matched, the battle turned against the Autobots when they were forced to come to the aid of the Council of Peers, after which the Decepticons shot the Autobots in the back. Scorponok and the Decepticons claimed Chromedome, his partner, and the other Autobots as prisoners. Love and Steel!
Here they remained until Lord Zarak, with the last remaining bits of his dwindling sanity, realized the destruction he'd wrought upon his own homeworld. He set the Autobot Headmasters free, hoping to follow the Autobots to another world so they could leave Nebulos in peace. On their way out of Koraja, Chromedome and the other Headmasters battled the new Decepticon Targetmasters. Once they escaped the Targetmasters, they returned to the Autobot camp in the forest, where the Headmasters learned of a distress signal from other Autobots on Earth and prepared to depart Nebulos. Brothers in Armor!!
Before they left, however, the Autobot Headmasters had another encounter with their Decepticon opposite numbers. After the Targetmasters were captured by the Decepticons for analysis and dissection, Chromedome and the Headmasters went out looking for them, only to run into the Decepticon Headmasters on the way. After Chromedome stared down Snapdragon, the Autobots regrouped to follow Mindwipe, the last of their attackers, who was apparently fleeing for safety. After entering the Decepticons' Fortress of Despair, however, Chromedome and the others realized they had been led into a trap, and were confronted by the might Scorponok and the Decepticon Targetmasters. In order to help even the odds, the Autobot Targetmasters were freed, but the Autobots weren't out of the woods yet. Chromedome singlehandedly fought Scorponok, lecturing his massive nemesis about how despite the differences between him and his partner Stylor, their shared purpose made them stronger than might alone. Ultimately, Scorponok was forced to withdraw. Worlds Apart!
During the long journey to Earth, the Autobot Headmasters had Fortress Maximus heavily upgraded into a larger, more powerful body. Once their construction was completed, Chromedome introduced Fortress Maximus's full arsenal of abilities to the others, including his battle station mode and Cerebros. Upon arrival, Fortress Maximus, Chromedome and the other Headmasters took a shuttle down to Earth's surface, and located the caves in Mount St. Hillary where the distress call had first been broadcast. They also found the broadcaster himself, an Autobot named Goldbug whose brain module had been retrofitted into a tiny electronic toy car. Long story. Scorponok and the Decepticon Headmasters had also come to Earth after the distress call, however, and a battle broke out. The battle proved costly, as Galen died protecting an Earthen from Scorponok. He passed on his control helmet to this boy, Spike Witwicky, leaving Fortress Maximus and the Autobots in his hands. Trial by Fire!
Fortress Maximus's group of Autobots inevitably met up with the group of Earthbound Autobots led by Grimlock. Unfortunately, Grimlock was difficult to deal with, and so their meetup somehow resulted in a battle for Autobot supremacy between Grimlock and Blaster on Earth's moon. Chromedome disembarked along with the rest of the Steelhaven crew to watch the fight. Totaled!
When the Micromaster Air Strike Patrol raided MacDill Air Force Base, returned Autobot leader Optimus Prime led nearly all of the Autobots' forces to its rescue, including Chromedome. But when Optimus began to suspect fowl play from a third party, he ordered the Autobots to retreat back to the Ark without him. At first they were hesitant to leave their leader behind, but Chromedome and the others eventually agreed. All the Familiar Faces!
Soon it was learned that the vengeful chaos god Unicron, their forgotten enemy, had learned the location of Cybertron and was headed there to destroy the Transformers' creator Primus. Since the Creation Matrix was the only thing that could destroy him, Optimus Prime sent teams to find it. However, the new Decepticon leader Thunderwing returned with it instead, and Chromedome and the other Autobots on board fought the Matrix-possessed Pretender. The corporeal form of the Matrix's increasing evil influences grabbed Chromedome and tried to throw him at Blurr, but missed. Good for Blurr, but not so great for Chromedome. All Fall Down After Thunderwing was defeated (and unfortunately the Matrix as well), Chromedome was sent to Fixit for repairs. He snarked to Hot Rod that he'd had enough of the Matrix Quest, and was ready for a "leg quest." Chromedome was still being repaired when Optimus Prime announced over the Ark's communications system that he was surrendering the Autobots to Scorponok's Decepticons in the desperate hope that it would encourage an alliance between them against Unicron. Eye of the Storm
Ultimately, the Transformers were transported to Cybertron to face Unicron. Like any very smart individual, he was last seen transforming into his car mode and driving away as fast as he absolutely could. 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 a shadowy ninja able to transform into six different modes attacked an energon mining facility on the planet. Abel tried to drive him off, only for the ninja to brutally murder 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 "Headmasters" (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, who 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
When the Decepticons unveiled their newest invention, the Madmachine, Chromedome's plan to attack Chaar directly was shot down. He and the Headmasters then acted like a bunch of insensitive pricks to the Autobot Cassettes, who were still mourning the loss of Blaster, but pulled their heads out of their butts when Blaster was resurrected as Twincast. They then helped the Throttlebots defend Cybertron against the Madmachine, destroying the evil device. The Great Cassette Operation A little later, Chromedome and Hardhead hunted down a stowaway on Battleship Maximus, only for it to turn out to be Daniel and Wheelie. With the two youngsters at their side, Chromedome and the Headmasters then went on to help liberate the planet Beast from Decepticon control. Rebellion on Planet Beast Daniel was also instrumental in destroying the Decepticons' metal-warping meteor Metamorpho, and Chromedome and the Headmasters helped hold the Decepticon forces off so the boy could complete his task. Approach of the Demon Meteorite
Investigating word of a Decepticon attack on the planet Praum, Chromedome and the Autobot Headmasters found themselves caught in a trap sprung by their old enemy Scorponok. Trapped in a subterranean chamber with the planet's endless desert sands pouring in on top of them, the Headmasters recalled their early days on Master, and decided to try their head-swapping "Cross-Head On" technique to boost their power and free themselves. Chromedome meant to switch heads with Highbrow, but accidentally wound up on top of Hardhead's Transtector instead. Nevertheless, the idea worked, and the freed Headmasters took the fight to the Decepticons, with Chromedome pummelling Galvatron himself. The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery
After a sextet of mysterious blackmailers threatened six nations on Earth, the Headmasters staked out New York City, where Chromedome took offense to his team-mates comparing the Statue of Liberty's looks to Arcee's. Hop-scotching around the globe trying and failing to keep up with the blackmailers, the Headmasters were at the end of their rope, and subsequently began fighting with the Trainbots when they found out they taken Daniel and Wheelie shopping in Japan. Chromedome had the decency to feel like a jerk when Daniel got upset at the fight, and calmed down long enough to apologise. Looking at a ninja star Daniel had bought in Japan, Chromedome was suddenly reminded of the shadowy ninja's visit to Master years beforehand. Realizing that they were not dealing with six blackmailers, but with that selfsame six-changing ninja, Chromedome and the Headmasters made peace with the Trainbots and worked together to stop the mysterious mech and uncover his true identity: the Decepticon ninja commander, Sixshot! Sixshot was able to escape justice, but the long-standing desire Chromedome had for revenge over Abel's murder had been reawakened in the Headmaster's heart. Terror! The Six Shadows
Chromedome and Hardhead were investigating the Decepticons' movements on Earth when the villains' assembled forces staged a massive attack on Cybertron in order to obtain the new alloy, cybertonuron, that had been developed by Vector Sigma. The duo headed straight to Cybertron and regrouped with their allies, launching into battle with the Decepticon Headmasters. During the fight, however, their enemies mysteriously pulled out, Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1 so the Headmasters split up to hunt them down. After locating the Decepticons, Chromedome used his Headmaster powers to telepathically summon his allies to his side so they could keep Weirdwolf and Skullcruncher busy while he chased Mindwipe through Cybertron's subterranean tunnels. Chromedome caught up to Mindwipe in Vector Sigma's chamber, where the Decepticon hypnotist revealed he was planting bombs that would destroy the planet. All attempts to remove the bombs failed, forcing Chromedome to return to the surface and sound the alarm. The Transformers all withdrew from Cybertron, which was then devastated when the bombs exploded. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2
Despite this sad turn of events, punctuated by the departure of Rodimus Prime and the appointment of Fotress as leader in his place, the Autobots pressed on, and even held a party to announce the successful completion of the Solar 1 satellite, a joint venture between the Autobots and humanity, during which Chromedome danced with Arcee. It wasn't all good news, however: Chromedome and the Headmasters failed to prevent the Solar 1 from falling into Decepticon hands, and were forced to destroy it rather than let their enemies keep it. The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok Chromedome's team was at least able to get one in the win column when they helped saved a South American village from a Decepticon-instigated volcanic eruption. Chromedome was given a necklace by village girl Alyssa as thanks. The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts Later, Chromedome joined in the defence of San Francisco when the city was attacked by the Decepticons with a giant carnivorous plant. Head On!! Fortress Maximus
When Spike, Daniel, Wheelie and the Trainbots uncovered a Decepticon plot to destroy Mars, Chromedome and the Headmasters headed straight to the red planet to aid them. After defeating Predaking and rescuing Daniel and Wheelie, however, the Headmasters were caught in a trap and used as bait to lure Battleship Maximus into position so it could be immobilized. Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger Chromedome's team fought on against the Decepticon Headmasters and the Terrorcons, but when Scorponok arrived with his new ultimate weapon—a gigantic Transtector of his own—the fight was lost. Although Chromedome and the Autobots were able to escape, Mars was destroyed by Scorponok's plasma energy bombs. Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears
Furious after the destruction of Mars, Chromedome was determined to get revenge, despite Fortress's orders. He and Hardhead hid themselves in the Maximus's cargo hold in vehicle mode, and when the ship went on patrol on the fringes of Decepticon territory, the pair ejected and headed for Chaar on their own. Much to their irritation, however, Autobot deep-cover agent Punch had been given information on their movements, and fed it to Scorponok, who deployed the Decepticon Headmasters and Blitzwing to intercept the pair and see them off. Subsequently, Chromedome joined in the Autobot attack on Scorponok's coronation on Earth's moon. Return of the Immortal Emperor Later, Chromedome helped deliver energy to the stricken world of Sandra by abandoning his Transtector and leaving it to serve as a decoy while he and Hardhead took a small shuttlecraft to the planet. When the Decepticons attacked the planet, Chromedome and Hardhead, still in their small robot forms, used their diminutive size to win the battle by sneaking bombs onto Scorponok's Transtector. SOS from Planet Sandra
Chromedome joined the Headmasters and Trainbots in serving as bodyguards for Spike when he met with Galvatron to discuss the unlikely possibility of the Autobots and Decepticons working on energy research together. When a report from Punch revealed that the "Galvatron" Spike was talking with was actually an impostor, Chromedome had the Trainbots stage a diversion so he could burst in on the negotiations and reveal the deception. The false Galvatron was revealed to be Sixshot in disguise, and a fierce battle erupted between Chromedome and the ninja that ran all down the shoreline. Seeing through Sixshot's tricks, Chromedome wounded him and forced him to retreat. It was discovered that the Decepticons had staged the phoney negotiations to cover for their departure on an interplanetary energy quest, and Chromedome joined the Autobots in pursuing them aboard Battleship Maximus. Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!
On the Decepticons' trail through space, the Autobots discovered a ruined ship from Susei floating in space, victims of a Decepticon attack. Chromedome investigated the wreck and discovered a survivor, but the alien did not live long, clinging to life just enough to give Chromedome a medallion to pass down to his son. As they drew closer to Susei, Battleship Maximus came under fire from the suspicious natives, and while Fortress insisted on showing non-resistance, Chromedome's fiery temper flared, and he headed down to the planet's surface on his own to try and speak with Susei's queen. On Susei, he met the soldier's son, Makk, who helped him gain an audience with the queen and convince her that the Autobots were on their side. Of course, the Decepticons chose that moment to strike, and Chromedome was blasted into the energy moat around the queen's castle by Galvatron and Sixshot. Luckily, with Makk's help, Chromedome was able to absorb energy from the moat and leap back into the middle of the battle, joining with the other Headmasters in using the Maximus's "Master Shot" cannon to force the Decepticons off. Fight to the Death on Susei!!
Shadowing the Decepticons on their way to their next target, the worlds of Twin Star, Chromedome suggested attacking the Decepticons in the void of space. Brainstorm chided him for not thinking his actions through, and the pair started arguing, until Brainstorm's brains helped win the fight on Twin Star. Battle for Defense of the False Planet On their next stop, the planet Darhos, Chromedome's team used the Master Shot again to force the Decepticon off, but sadly not before they killed a Beastformer named Tekna. In death, however, Tekna left them with a piece of microfilm supposedly containing coded information on Scorponok's weak spot. Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!!
While conducting exterior repairs on Battleship Maximus on the way to the planet Paradise, Chromedome goofed pretty badly when he punched the ship's hull in frustration, jostling loose a few important components and sending them floating off into space. Although he was able to fix his mistake, the delay necessitated that Highbrow go on ahead to Paradise, where he was captured by the Decepticons. Once they made it to Paradise, the worried Chromedome led the Headmasters to Highbrow's rescue, and they performed the Head Formation to power up their team-mate. Head Formation of Friendship Soon after, Chromedome helped battle the Decepticons on Pirate Planet. Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship
With the Decepticons' energy raids done, the Headmasters to Athenia. Sadly, Chromedome's team was unable to prevent Ultra Magnus's death at the hands of Sixshot on Earth, but they did arrive in time to deliver a ferocious Head Formation-powered beating to the six-changer. Chromedome's hatred of the ninja only grew. Ultra Magnus Dies!! Magnus's death only galvanized the Decepticons into more aggressive action, and the Autobots were spread thin fighting back. Chromedome and his team followed Galvatron to Alaska, where they used information from Punch to pinpoint his weak spot—his head—and defeat him, entombing him in ice using the power of the Head Formation. The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg
Galvatron's demise allowed Scorponok to take leadership of the Decepticons, and he initiated a plan to destroy the Earth by simultaneously erupting every volcano on the Pacific Ring of Fire. When Spike realized what they were planning, Chromedome escorted him to Earth to present his findings, only for Autobot City to come under attack by Trypticon and Sixshot. Consumed with rage, Chromedome rushed to engage Sixshot, and the unprotected Spike was wounded by Trypticon. The Trainbots and Metroplex forced the Decepticons off, but Chromedome was consumed with guilt and anger. He started blaming everyone else, including Fortress, claiming it never would have happened if he had allowed them to take out the Decepticons' Earth base, and in his frenzy, tried to leave for Earth to take care of it himself. Restrained by Hardhead, Chromedome was consigned to Athenia by Fortress, deemed incapable of leading due to his emotional statue. While the other Headmasters headed to Earth to engage the Decepticons on the Kamchatka Peninsula, Chromedome turned his attention to the coded information left to them by Tekna. With Daniel and Wheelie's help, Chromedome was finally able to decode the microfilm and identify Scorponok's weak spot, and raced to Earth to pass it on to Fortress. With Chromedome's information, Fortress was able to defeat Scorponok, and force him and the Decepticons off the Earth. I Risk My Life for Earth
With the Decepticons gone from Earth, the Autobots set about removing all traces of their evil from the planet. Chromedome and Hardhead were charged with removing the plasma bombs planted along the Ring of Fire, and things were going well until a volcanic tremor caused Chromedome to drop one of the bombs, setting off its timer. Switching heads with Hardhead to boost their strength and courage, the pair ran through the waves of magma and collapsing rock walls, successfully getting the bombs to the surface so Battleship Maximus could take them into space. The intention was to let the bombs detonate harmlessly in the void, but on the way to jettison them, the Maximus encountered a ship from Master containing a group of refugees, pursued by a team of Decepticons. A newly-arrived team of elite Autobots—Pointblank, Crosshairs and Sureshot—set out to rescue the Master refugees, when the bombs detonated, causing a plasma explosion that fused the refugees and the Autobots and Decepticons together, creating the Targetmasters. Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1) Chromedome took an immediate and strong dislike to Pointblank, who considered the Headmasters weak and undisciplined.
Learning from the Master refugees that Scorponok's Decepticons had returned to Master and were causing chaos there, Chromedome returned to his adopted homeworld with the Autobots to help defend the natives. Soon after his arrival, he was reunited with his old friend Jack, who at first pretended like he did not know him: The sight of the successful Headmaster that Chromedome had become reminded him of how he had failed in the same pursuit. Chromedome wouldn't stand for his friend's guff, telling him that just because he was a Headmaster, it didn't mean he was better than Jack, whose incredible scientific mind had helped create Battleship Maximus and the Master Sword. Jack apologised and welcomed Chromedome properly, but after they parted ways, Sixshot struck, impersonating Chromedome and kidnapping Jack so that the Decepticons could torture information on the composition of the Master Sword out of him. Jack refused to give them any information, so instead, the villains planted a bomb in his body and Mindwipe hypnotised him to walk into Battleship Maximus. The horrified Chromedome was forced to shoot Jack to stop him, and the bomb detonated, taking his life. His hatred of Sixshot burning stronger than ever, Chromedome blasted off the ninja's arms, and was set to pursue him until Pointblank held him back. In the wake of the battle, Chromedome and Pointblank confronted each other, mutually concluding that they didn't like each other, but they respected one another, and would fight together in the future. Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 2)
Having failed to pry information on the Master Sword from Jack, the Decepticons kidnapped Wheelie in order to ransom him for the data they needed to construct a weapon to counter it. Although Chromedome and Daniel snuck into Scorponok's Transtector and rescued Wheelie, the fight broke out over the data disk, and the Decepticons were able to make off with it. Chromedome, Wheelie and Daniel were charged with cleaning Battleship Maximus for their breach of the rules. The Master Sword Is in Danger!! Using the stolen data, Scorponok created the Zarak Shield, despite Chromedome and his allies' attempts to stop them. The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide
While discussing what the Autobots' next step should be, Chromedome opposed the Targetmasters' plan of luring the Decepticons into space, believing that they might lose them, and advocating a hard strike now before they left Master. The Targetmaters dismissed his plan out of hand, prompting an angry Chromedome to go off on his own an set up a meeting with the young warriors of Master, led by Kirk. He soon brought the other Headmasters in to join the effort, and together, they formulated a plan that involved luring the Decepticons into the confines of a nearby cloudy mountain range. The plan went wrong, however, when Scorponok emerged from beneath the planet's surface right in the middle of a city, and many of the young warriors died in the disorganized response. Chromedome was forced to call the warriors off, and to make matters worse, Fortress's Master Sword was bested by the Zarak Shield. The victorious Decepticons departed Master, heading back to Earth, while Pointblank punched some sense into Chromedome, blaming him for the entire debacle. Operation: Destroy the Decepticons
The Autobots quickly gave chase, catching up to the Decepticons in space, but the battle that resulted led to Sixshot and Daniel being stranded on the barren planet Daira. The Autobots were able to track them down after a while, but Chromedome was unconvinced by Daniel's claims that Sixshot was a noble warrior who had protected him. My Friend Sixshot! Soon after, when Scorponok had to set down in the asteroid belt for repairs, the Autobots caught up another battle broke out. Sixshot decided to settle their rivalry once and for all, and challenged Chromedome to a climactic one-on-one duel on the asteroid Juno. Chromedome accepted the challenge, refusing to listen to the protestations of Fortress or Daniel, and even punching Brainstorm when he offered to fight as his second, taking it as a slight to his abilities. Ironically, it was Pointblank who supported Chromedome's decision, understanding his feelings because he had been brash and impassioned in his own youth. The pair's fated duel began, but before long, Daniel got in the middle of the fight and tried to stop his two friends from killing each other. A definite outcome was denied Chromedome, however, when bombs Scorponok had planted on the asteroid in an effort to destroy Sixshot began to detonate, forcing the combatants to break off their battle. Duel on the Asteroid
Thanks to the delay caused by Chromedome's duel, the Decepticons beat the Autobots back to Earth, and began causing chaos, erecting energy-discharging "Death Towers" composed from crysmag metal around the planet. Upon landing, Chromedome and the Autobots had to rush off to rescue the human victims of a plane crash caused by the Decepticons, which included Daniel's parents. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1) After trying and failing to stop the erection of another Death Tower in Egypt, Chromedome and the assembled Autobot army followed the Decepticons to the North Pole for a final mighty battle. During the fight, Chromedome and Hardhead were hit by Mindwipe's hypnotism, but were saved by Twincast and his cassettes. With the Death Towers creating a field of energy that was threatening to tear the Earth apart, Chromedome and the Headmasters joined in Head Formation, hoping to channel their energy into Fortress Maxius and give him the strength to destroy Scorponok and the crysmag metal. Their own energies were not enough, but at Daniel's suggestion, they expanded their formation to include the assembled Autobot forces. Thus combined in "Final Formation", they provided Fortress with the energy he needed, and the Earth was saved.
Following their defeat at the North Pole, the Decepticons were finally expelled from Earth, and the Autobots prepared to follow them. Chromedome assured Daniel that although the Autobots were leaving, the peace they had brought to the Earth was here to stay. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)
Kiss Players/15 Go! Go!
Slumped miserably on the barren surface of Master in their smallest robot forms, Chromedome, Fortress and Highbrow's attention was caught when a time-travelling spaceship materialized over their heads and crashed nearby. By studying and reverse-engineering the technology found in this spaceship, Fortress and the scientists of Master invented Transtectors and the Headmaster process. Kiss Players radio drama #48/15 Go! Go! Sparkbot Chapter 3
The Headmasters comic
Shortly after Optimus Prime gave up his life to stabilize Vector Sigma, Chromedome and the Headmasters attended the unveiling of a bronze statue dedicated to Prime's memory on Athenia. Chromedome spoke for the Headmasters, proclaiming Prime the greatest warrior that ever lived. The ceremony was then interrupted by the arrival of the Decepticons in Athenian space, and the Headmasters rocketed off in Battleship Maximus to intercept them. This, it turned out, was part of the Decepticons' plans, as they intended to hurl a bomb into the Maximus when the Headmasters exited it, but Chromedome moved too fast for the Decepticons, disconnecting from his Transtector and snatching the bomb out of Mindwipe's hands. The Headmasters #1
Responding to an SOS from their Beastformer comrades, Chromedome and the Autobot Headmasters headed to planet Beast and split up into two teams to search. Chromedome and Hardhead had the misfortune to stumble into the clutches of some energy-draining vines, but were cut free by Kane, the Beastformers' human ally. Kane led them to the Decepticon camp, where Brainstorm and Highbrow had been taken prisoner, and proceeded to create a distraction that allowed the two captive Autobots to break free. Kane was then pursued by the Decepticon Headmasters, but Chromedome's team followed them, and took the villains out. Great Decisive Battle of Planet Beast!
Investigating news of a Decepticon attack on an energy plant in Alaska, Chromedome and the Headmasters were caught by surprise by the Decepticon Headmasters, and prevented from combining with their Transtectors. At first they were forced to flee from the Decepticons' bestial Transtectors, but soon, they were able to execute a "Southern Cross Jump" that carried them over the Decepticons' heads and allowed them to reconnect with their bodies. The Headmasters #2 Later, Chromedome's team went to Earth with the Trainbots to look into reports of the Decepticons stealing energy under the sea, and foiled their plan by destroying their robot squid through teamwork. The Headmasters #3 Unfortunately, they had less success when they tried to stop Sixshot from stealing a capsule of emergency food rations, as the Decepticon ninja disappeared in a flash of smoke. The Headmasters #4
On an unknown alien world, Chromedome and Daniel discovered the legendary weapon known as the "Charge Arrow", and Chromedome felt that with its power in his hands, he could become the greatest warrior in the universe. Apeface and Snapdragon then attacked, and when Chromedome attempted to use the Charge Arrow on them, he discovered he was not worthy enough to control its fabled energies. Knocked unconscious by the Horrorcons' attack, Chromedome had a vision of his Transtector telling him that he was worthy, if only he believed it. Awakening to see the two Decepticons' advancing on Daniel, Chromedome sprang into action, and, fuelled by the need to save his friend, successfully fired the Charge Arrow, frying the Horrocons. When Daniel inquired if he regretted using up the one-shot weapon, Chromedome replied that a warrior is not defined by his weapon. The Headmasters #5
Chromedome and the Headmasters were handing out Christmas presents at a Japanese children's hospital when the Decepticon Headmasters attacked. Chromedome had the Trainbots get as many patients to safety as possible before he and the Headmasters unleashed their "Hell's Great Wheel" attack, sending their enemies whirling off into the sky. The Headmasters #6 Not long after, on New Year's Day, Chromedome, Daniel and the Autobots' two newest Targetmasters, Ricochet and Artfire, responded to a raging fire in Shinjuku. They were suddenly attacked by the Decepticon Targetmasters, who had started the fire, and were unable to fight back because they were focused on saving lives. Once Fortress Maximus put out the fire by dumping water on it from above, however, Chromedome and his allies were freed up to turn all their firepower on the Decepticons, sending them packing. The Headmasters #7
Soon after the Decepticons' defeat at the North Pole, but before the Autobots' departed the planet, Chromedome gathered with Wheelie, Spike, Daniel and Carly to say goodbye. The tearful farewell was interrupted by the arrival of Soundblaster, who had been ordered to stay behind on the planet by Scorponok. Chromedome attempted to attack him, but Soundblaster deployed Slugfest and Overkill to hold the Witwickys hostage and prevent Chromedome from making a move. It was Daniel who saved the day by leaping on Slugfest and covering his eyes, causing him to run into Overkill, and freeing up Chromedome to hurl Soundblaster over the horizon with his "Master Chrome Hurricane" technique. 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 known as the Master Wars. 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!
Commercial appearances
- In the commercial for the Headmasters comic book, Chromedome is seen arriving on Nebulos with the other Autobots and surrendering to the native Nebulons, before removing his head (see notes) and allowing one to fuse with it. In-keeping with Western fiction's tendency to overlook Chromedome, he then proceeds to vanish from the commercial, as the other three Autobot Headmasters get all the screen time.
- In the Autobot Headmasters commercial, Stylor boards Chromedome, and along with the other Headmasters, they speed out of their hangar onto a roadway, where the Decepticon Headmasters are running straight for them. Chromedome gets the spotlight as he transforms to robot mode, and a fight breaks out, during which Chromedome grapples with Weirdwolf.
- A stone sculpture of Chromedome appeared in the Decepticon Headmasters commercial, where it was savaged by Weirdwolf as part of his training.
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!
- Cybertron Leader Set (1987)
- Accessories: 2-piece Headmaster unit, laser gun
- The Transform Jr version of Chromedome was also sold in a two-pack with a vinyl figurine of Rodimus Prime. The set also included a small, die-cast metal figure of Fortress Maximus.
- 3 Hero Set (1987)
- Accessories: 2-piece Headmaster unit, laser gun
- Transform Jr Chromedome was also available in a "Hero Set" alongside the Jr versions of Optimus Prime and Fortress Maximus.
Merchandise
Transformers Choco
- Chromedome (1987)
- Accessories: Head, "Chrome" Headmaster figure, laser gun
- Released as part of the Headmasters assortment of Kabaya's Transformers Choco line of small snap-together "candy toy" model kits, this solid-color Chromedome figure is a simplified version of the larger Chromedome toy, featuring only one laser gun, and lacking the Headmaster gimmick. His head does disconnect, but it doesn't transform; instead, he came with a small, non-poseable Chrome Headmaster figure. As with all the Transformers Choco figures, he was packaged with small candies similar to M&Ms called "Chocolate Dots".
Transformers Gum
- Chromedome (1987)
- Accessories: "Chrome" Headmaster unit, 2 laser guns
- Chromedome also had a presence in Kabaya's line of larger model kits, Transformers Gum. Gum 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 plasti. He 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.
