Starscream (WFC)
| The name or term "Starscream" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Starscream (disambiguation). |
- Starscream is a Decepticon from the Transformers: Prime continuity family.
Starscream was an Air Commander of the Seekers, Cybertron's finest air warriors. His dream was to recover the Matrix of Leadership and become the Prime that would return the Transformers to the Golden Age, and he saw opportunity with the rebel upstart Megatron. A patient and polite schemer, Starscream used to wish Megatron would drop the heroic anti-caste charade and be more honest about his lust for power.
These days, he alternatively wishes Megatron would stop being absolutely bugnuts with his lust for power and chafes under having to work for such a madman. While he serves as Megatron's right-hand man, he constantly looks for a way to become the commander himself and Megatron knows it: his expertise in patient planning is the only reason he's left alive. He is not a happy bunny when his careful, patient plans and operations are sacrificed by Megatron on whims.
He may be a scientist, but we're not quite sure.
Fiction
Exodus: The History of the War for Cybertron
Starscream may or may not have had a history as a scientist. Regardless of what he did prior, in the early days before the war began he was one of the leaders of the Cybertronian Air Command. When Cybertron fell into chaos following bombings by Megatron's Decepticon followers, Starscream was posted as Sentinel Prime's bodyguard. He was with the Prime at Altihex Casino during a performance by comedian Armorhide when the Decepticons attacked. Sentinel's attempt to flee rather than fight back made Starscream ashamed of his leader, so he had Skywarp and Thundercracker take him to Kaon Prison rather than the safety of Iacon. This earned him loyalty with Megatron, but wary of how sour a revolution could quickly turn Starscream opted not to be directly involved in the gladiator's operations, posting his Seekers at Moon Base One and Trypticon Station. Megatron was intrigued by why Starscream wanted to occupy "that semi-sentient pile of junk" but despite Orion Pax's research they found no clues, with information regarding the Station seemingly censored.
Whenever Starscream's Seekers were present, the Decepticons were victorious in battle against the Autobots. Starscream however, found Megatron's strategies overly convoluted. As the war devolved into a siege of Iacon, Megatron and Soundwave, by probing into forgotten areas of the DataNet, discovered Trypticon was a storage of Dark Energon, the life essence of Unicron. When questioned, Starscream explained since even the Air Command was not sure what Dark Energon was, he had forbidden its use, fearing the damage Megatron's gladiators would unleash. Megatron forgave Starscream, noting how he "was smart enough to be afraid of it", and was granted access.
Starscream sent a message to the Autobots proposing a meeting. Optimus only granted him a communication channel. Starscream stated if the Autobots did not know what Dark Energon was (they did) they would need to find out — and asked what would he could expect from them if something happened to Megatron. Optimus replied that he sought a just peace. Starscream said he understood, broke off the conversation and flew to Kaon Prison where Sentinel was held. Starscream offered Sentinel a chance to redeem his cowardly behavior at Altihex. The ultimate aim of this road to becoming Decepticon leader was to become Prime in a peace settlement with Optimus, and lead Cybertron back to its Golden Age. Starscream then flew to Moon Base One when Megatron ordered him to Trypticon, where he found the Decepticons had invaded the Station and slaughtered and maimed his scientists.
Megatron and Shockwave forced Starscream to select two survivors to absorb Dark Energon, for what was a successful experiment. Requiring more for the Decepticon war effort, Megatron ordered Starscream to capture the Geosynchronous Energon Bridge, below the ruins of Crystal City. Empowered by his first taste of Dark Energon, Starscream activated the device that transmitted Energon to the Station for it to be Darkened. But the Bridge still did not produce enough, and Starscream was ordered to find the Code Key of Power and Key of Justice to the Plasma Energy Chamber underneath the High Council Tower in Iacon. Starscream decided it was time to release Sentinel, renouncing Dark Energon after realizing Megatron had turned his soldiers into addicts. Starscream found the Key of Power within the Hall of Justice and flew underground to find his plan had failed, as Megatron had mortally wounded Sentinel. He could see within Sentinel's body was the Key of Justice, but was prevented from taking it by Blackout. Megatron fought Starscream to a standstill, sparing him because he realized he was a better soldier than a would-be example.
As Megatron entered the Chamber, Teletraan-1 activated the legendary Omega Supreme to fly it away. Aware Starscream had a better chance of escaping Omega's awakening, Megatron ordered Starscream and his Seekers to down Omega, in exchange for more Dark Energon. Giving up on his attempt to give up his addiction, Starscream gleefully accepted and they successfully blew Omega out of the sky, allowing the Decepticons to retrieve the Chamber and corrupt the core. As Cybertron became uninhabitable, the Autobots left on the largest starship ever built - the Ark. Starscream left the planet with Megatron as they gave pursuit on Trypticon, now a Nemesis-class supercruiser. The two ships entered a space bridge, which separated the two ships to unknown parts of space... Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron
Transformers: Prime comics
Starscream had been on Earth at some point, but was assigned by Megatron to scour the galaxy for remnants of space bridge technology. Returning to their dead homeworld, Starscream built a weapons lab in Kaon and began building a space bridge. He was informed by his Eradicons elsewhere they had apprehended the Autobot spy Cliffjumper. Later, after basking in the glory of successfully activating the space bridge that would return them to Earth and its Energon, Starscream realized Cliffjumper was present. The Autobot claimed to be freed by his captors after defecting to the Decepticons, and warned them of Arcee: this ruse successfully distracted Starscream long enough for Arcee to activate and overload the space bridge, but he jumped in after them moments before the lab was blown sky high.
Falling to Earth, a dazed Starscream picked up a bunny rabbit, commenting that humans were smaller than he remembered. Scanning a fleet of jets flying overhead, he found Cliffjumper and Arcee driving on a road and launched a missile at them. He picked up Arcee's blown off arm and started battering Cliffjumper with it, but the Autobot blew up the rock formation above them and crushed Starscream with the rubble. Having received Starscream's signal, Breakdown came to his rescue, and the duo pursued and overwhelmed the Autobots. Just as Starscream was about to send them back to the AllSpark, Optimus jumped and landed on him, while gunning Breakdown away. As Starscream greeted his opponent, Bumblebee tapped him on the shoulder and sent him flying. Optimus opted not to finish the job, allowing Starscream to escape and fight another day as he got Cliffjumper and Arcee to base. Transformers: Prime (comic)
Prime cartoon
- Voice actor: Steve Blum (English)
Megatron had left Earth for the depths of space three years ago, leaving Starscream in charge. Starscream spent his time sending out Decepticon grunts to search for Energon deposits, and managed to set up a lucrative energon mine in secret. Darkness Rising, Part 2 One energon search was intercepted by the Autobot Cliffjumper. Once Cliffjumper was defeated, Starscream had him brought aboard his ship, where his captive asked where Megatron was. Assuring the defeated Autobot that he was his own master, he stabbed Cliffjumper with his fist, causing the Autobot to bleed out and finally succumb to his wounds. Soundwave played back a transmission of Cliffjumper and Arcee's last conversation, and Starscream declared she would be their next target, sending two drones after her.
Later, Soundwave picked up deep space transmissions, and a hesitant Starscream opened the space bridge for Megatron's return. Darkness Rising, Part 1 Welcoming him to his energon mine, Starscream asked (quite snarkily) whether Megatron had raised a new army in his three year absence. His leader replied he had recovered Dark Energon, the blood of Unicron himself, to the Seeker's concern; then he asked if Starscream were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, to test its abilities to raise the dead. Starscream declined his unhinged commander's request, offering Cliffjumper's corpse for the experiment. It resulted in a rabid zombie whose rampage was only stopped by Megatron slicing it in half: Starscream was left confused and unnerved by the idea Megatron intended to weaponise such things.
The zombie's activation made the Autobots think Cliffjumper was alive and they raided Starscream's energon mine to find it. Starscream reported this to Megatron, upset about losing the place, and was ordered to his annoyance to bomb the mine: Megatron believed Optimus survived, however. Feeling he had not spent enough time exploring Dark Energon's secrets, he promptly stabbed a shard into his spark, and Starscream looked in horror as a purple light infused Megatron's body... Darkness Rising, Part 2
With the success of the experiment, Megatron took off for parts unknown, leaving Starscream in charge once more. Starscream confided in Soundwave that he thought Megatron had gone a bit batty, and Soundwave responded by playing a sound byte of their master's last order. When Soundwave later picked up Agent Fowler's transmissions, Starscream ordered the human be brought to him. This done, he attempted to interrogate Fowler, who responded not only responded with sarcasm but demanded to see the "manager". Starscream, enraged, called for an energon prod. He offered Fowler one last chance, and when it was thrown back in his face, Starscream began jabbing Fowler with the prod, noting that energon and the human nervous system shouldn't mix.Darkness Rising, Part 3
The torture eventually weakened Fowler' to the point where he almost gave the location of the Autobot's base. However, the sound of battle outside brought about a bout of sarcasm. An annoyed Starscream shocked Fowler into unconsciousness before ordering a pair of Eradicons to find the source of the commotion. After Fowler regained consciousness, he proved to be dazed and incapable of answering anything. When Bulkhead and Bumblebee arrived and aimed their guns at Starscream, the 'Con in turn threatened to kill Fowler, only to discover that Arcee was perched above him, aiming her gun at his head. A stand off ensued, until another outburst by Fowler distracted Starscream, allowing the Autobots to fire on him. Realizing his disadvantage, Starscream fled. Once Megatron returned to the ship, he was outraged at Starscream's actions and proceeded to beat his subordinate for "delaying his plans". Starscream managed to quell his master's anger by announcing he had a way to get their plans back on course. Darkness Rising, Part 4
As it turned out, his plan was to send Soundwave down to use a radio dish array on Earth to set the space bridge's target. He kept a close eye on the team of Autobots who had appeared on the space bridge, confiding in Megatron that he thought they were up to something. When the space bridge appeared to veer off course, he contacted Soundwave to find out what was going on. Once the technical difficulties were sorted, Starscream opened the space bridge so that Megatron could throw the chunk of Dark Energon though. Starscream moved the ship back to a safe distance when the fighting on the rim of the space bridge became more intense, while imploring his master to withdraw as well. Alas, the space bridge exploded, apparently taking Megatron with it, and Starscream gave a brief eulogy before declaring himself leader. Darkness Rising, Part 5
Games
Transformers: War for Cybertron (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)
- Voice actor: Sam Riegel (English), Gianluca Iacono (Italian)
For the last thousand years of the Great War, Starscream was in charge of an orbital facility that had the capability of producing Dark Energon, though they maintained only a small stockpile because of its unpredictable and uncontrollable nature. The station's force of neutral soldiers were no match for Megatron's invading forces, while Starscream and Jetfire's repeated warnings that no one could control Dark Energon had no effect on Megatron's determination. Instead, Megatron tempted Starscream with knowledge of his past, reminding him of his demotion from Sky Commander to a mere guard over an all-but-derelict station, and offered to let him join the Decepticons, something Starscream scoffed at--at least, at first. Starscream attempted to destroy the station's stock of Dark Energon before the Decepticon leader could reach it, but failed, and watched, first with amusement as Megatron entered the storage chamber...and then with shock as Megatron infused himself with the substance and bent it to his will within moments. Starscream quickly volunteered his services for the Decepticon cause, causing Jetfire to label him a traitor and leave to warn Zeta Prime. Megatron sent him with Thundercracker and Skywarp to Cybertron to reactivate the Energon Bridge. Starscream performed the mission successfully using his trademark style, flair, and modesty, never mind Megatron's taunting and unreasonable impatience, or Thundercracker's warning him of the danger of certain courses of action, or even Skywarp's cluing in to his constant insults...
During the Battle of Iacon City, Starscream led the Decepticons aerial squadrons and Brawl led the Decepticons' ground assault, while Megatron, Soundwave, and Breakdown went behind enemy lines and tried to secure the Omega Key. When Megatron's group met up with Brawl, Starscream refused to send Dark Energon bombers, saying that he wouldn't let Brawl waste anymore of "his ships". Megatron took issue with Starscream dubbing the bombers his, and overrode Starscream's refusal. Later that evening, while looking for the "real" Omega Key, they ran into it: Omega Supreme. Starscream assumed Megatron was killed when Omega attacked a dropship Megatron was heading for and declared himself Decepticon commander. Shortly afterward, Megatron managed to communicate with Starscream and ordered him to attack Omega Supreme, getting the massive Autobot off of Megatron's back. By the time Megatron's group were heading for the Ion turrets, Starscream was ready to sound a retreat, which Megatron overrode with the threat of marking any retreating Decepticon as "kill on sight". Fortunately, Megatron arrived moments later and managed to defeat Omega Supreme, making the retreat unnecessary.
As the Battle of Iacon continued, Starscream fought through Jetfire and Silverbolt, and attacked Optimus's group in the Decagon. However, the Air Commander was injured by Optimus's Energon-axe and forced to retreat. The wound was apparently bad enough to cause him to sit out the remainder of the conflict. Transformers: War for Cybertron
Transformers: War for Cybertron (DS)
- Voice actor: Sam Riegel (English), Gianluca Iacono (Italian)
Starscream had been in control of Trypticon Space Station for years, until Megatron and his forces invaded. Megatron wished to revive the Dark Energon project to aid him in his conquest of Cybertron, but Starscream would have none of it. Megatron was able to fight his way to Starscream himself, and after a brief battle, Starscream had lost. He begged for mercy, and Megatrons spared Starscream in exchange for loyalty to the Decepticons. Starscream obliged and Megatron was taken to the core of the station.
After a test run of the Dark Energon's effects on Decepticons in Kaon Prison, Soundwave deduced the element would only destroy the host. A furious Megatron set Starscream to work on fixing the problem, with Starscream continuously bickering with Barricade over his usefullness. The problem was eventually solved in time for an attack on Iacon City. When Megatron felled Zeta Prime and found the Omega Key, the titanic Autobot Omega Supreme was unleashed upon the Decepticons, quickly crushing them with ease.
Megatron was downright furious with Starscream, declaring he had brought Omega Supreme's rampage upon them all. Starscream retorted that if it wasn't for Megatron and his blind troops, none of this would've happened. Starscream invited Megatron to kill him, but warned him it wouldn't do a thing about Omega Supreme out for their blood. Megatron for the moment let it go, and finally felled Omega Supreme, gaining total dominance over Cybertron.
Sometime later, Starscream ambushed an Autobot recruit-in-training, and would've killed him if it wasn't for Optimus charging to the rescue. He wasn't seen again after that.
Transformers: War for Cybertron
Transformers: Cybertron Adventures
- Voice actor: Sam Riegel (English), Gianluca Iacono (Italian)
Transformers: Cybertron Adventures
Toys
War for Cybertron
- Starscream (Legends Class, 2010)
- In the United Kingdom, a redeco of Legends Class Cybertron Starscream was offered as a promotional giveaway to those who purchased the Transformers: War for Cybertron video game. He transforms into a Cybertronic jet fighter and features hidden weapons in his wing-sections/biceps: the right arm hides a blade, while the left arm has a non-firing cannon.
- This toy was later offered as a gift to attendees at the Animation-Comic-Game Hong Kong fair 2010 if they made a combined purchase of Transformers toys amounting to more than HK$400.
- This mold was also used the make Cybertron Ramjet, Skywarp and Sunstorm, along with Universe Ramjet and Thrust.
Notes
- Starscream's backstory in Exodus is self-contradictory:
- "Not even Starscream, who had spent much of his scientific career in the labs contained within these refracting walls..." (p. 78).
- "See what?" Starscream asked. Neither Starscream nor Megatron were scientists." (p. 158).
- Starscream's thin body recalls Animated Starscream, but his voice, colour scheme, Igor-like posture and subservience to Megatron recalls the live-action incarnation. The game design has the movie bulk but with a G1 head and colours.
- Starscream's chest design is basically his live-action incarnation's head design. Now that's a visual homage.
