Shouki
- Shōki is an Autobot Trainbot from the Headmasters portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.
Shōki (ショウキ) is the Trainbots' leader, and elder brother to Yukikaze. He's among the fastest of the team, especially when he's linked to Yukikaze in train mode. Unfortunately, he's also occasionally brash and irresponsible in his duties.
Fiction
Cartoon continuity
The Headmasters cartoon
In 2011, Shōki and the Trainbots were operating on Earth. After Galvatron invaded Cybertron, the robot trains assembled to transport their fellow Autobots to Cybertron across the Space Bridge. Shōki intervened on Ultra Magnus's first fight with Sixshot, knocking aside the ninja consultant long enough for the Autobots to roll out. The convoy was attacked along the way by the Constructicons, but Metroplex drove them off. On Cybertron, Shōki saved Daniel Witwicky from Tantrum. Four Warriors Come out of the Sky The Trainbots formed Raiden and fought alongside Defensor and Superion against their Decepticon combiner counterparts. They were nearly crushed by falling debris when Bruticus collapsed a building on them using his sonic stun gun. The Mystery of Planet Master Shōki and the Trainbots returned to Earth just in time to shuttle Hot Rod and the Headmasters back to Cybertron, after their successful quest for the Matrix of Leadership. Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime In their train mode, Shōki and the Trainbots transported Rodimus Prime and the Monsterbots to planet Beast as reinforcements for the Headmasters. Rebellion on Planet Beast They also carried him into battle again on the planet Praum, where Scorponok had set a trap for Fortress and his team. The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery
Back on Earth, Shōki and the Trainbots took Danny and Wheelie on a sightseeing trip in Tokyo, Japan. Shōki was very proud of the country, which was his birthplace on Earth. When Sixshot a mysterious robot declared his intention to steal all of Japan's energy, Shōki and the Trainbots remained quietly alert, confident their combination form could handle any threat to their homeland. Their passive response to the danger angered the more action-oriented Headmaster team, especially Chromedome. After fruitlessly chasing behind Sixshot the mystery robot in attacks on London and New York, Chromedome was incensed when he arrived back at Autobot headquarters to see Shōki and the Trainbots returning from a shopping spree with Danny. Shōki and Chromedome nearly came to blows with each other before Danny intervened.
When Sixshot the mystery robot finally made his attack on Japan, Shōki demanded that his team be allowed the first strike against their opponent. Flying to the rescue, the Trainbots assembled as Raiden to fight Sixshot their mysterious opponent. Raiden's victory was prevented by the arrival of Trypticon, piloted by Scourge and Cyclonus. It turned into an all-out brawl after that, with the Headmasters arriving as reinforcements for their comrades. Sixshot was revealed, and he used his ninja training seemingly to duplicate himself, attacking Raiden as several winged wolves. As a demonstration of their newfound trust in each other, Raiden urged Chromedome to shoot at the holographic Sixshots swarming around him, knowing he would certainly be hit by some of the blasts. The Decepticons were eventually driven off and Shōki and Chromedome shook hands back at headquarters, having forged a warrior's bond on the field of battle. Terror! The Six Shadows
Galvatron soon struck out against Cybertron again, this time seeking the new super-metal known as Cybertonuron. Shōki and the Trainbots were first in line on Earth to transport over the Space Bridge into combat with the Decepticons. They rushed straight into the fighting as soon as they arrived. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1 Shōki and the Trainbots confronted the Predacons in defense of their home planet. Shōki clearly told Razorclaw what's what, warning him to leave the planet or suffer the consequences. As the fighting began, Shōki belted Divebomb hard across the mouth and flipped the bestial Razorclaw over his back, showing off his fighting skills. The battle was fierce but brief, as the Trainbots disabled their opponents. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2
Shōki and the Trainbots defended the Solar 1 satellite during its launch cycle. When Scourge, Cyclonus and the Predacons arrived to steal the satellite, they flew out with the Headmasters to stop them. Shōki gave the command and the Trainbots assembled to form Raiden, grappling with Predaking and ultimately chasing off the Decepticons. The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok Next, Shōki's team joined the Protectobots on an emergency rescue mission to Peru, where an active volcano was threatening a small town. They were intercepted by the Predacons, and so Shōki asked Hot Spot to go on ahead and help the villagers while the Trainbots occupied the Preds. Soon, Raiden and Predaking were formed, and the battle was really joined. The Headmasters soon arrived and tagged out the Trainbots, allowing Shōki and his friends to journey to the village and escort the people to safety in their combined train mode. The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts In their next evil scheme, the Decepticons unleashed a giant carnivorous plant in downtown San Francisco, prompting the Autobots to respond. Shōki and the Trainbots arrived on the scene, but were confronted by Bruticus, who wished to duel with sabers made of light. The Trainbots formed Raiden and met Bruticus sword for sword. Head On!! Fortress Maximus
On a geological expedition to Mars with Danny and Spike, Shōki and the Trainbots were present when a series of tremors rocked the landscape. Seeking to investigate, the group split up to locate the source of the phenomena. Shōki took Danny and Wheelie with him, and they happened across Hun-Grrr and Rippersnapper of the Terrorcons. Although they informed Spike of what they had seen, they were then captured by Sinnertwin on sentry duty. After they were rescued by the Headmasters and uncovered the Decepticons' plan to blow up Mars, Shōki and the Trainbots flew back to Athenia in order to take Spike and Danny to safety. Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger They were almost immediately called back, however -- the Decepticon Headmasters had used plasma energy to neutralize Fortress Maximus, leaving the Autobots on Mars in desperate need of reinforcements. Shōki and the trains reformed Raiden as they arrived, and fought against Abominus and the MegaZarak Transtector, scorpion mode. Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears
Shōki and the Trainbots served as military transportation for the Autobots when they attacked the Decepticon meeting on the moon. The strike was foiled by the arrival of Galvatron, and the Autobots fled back to Earth aboard the trains. Return of the Immortal Emperor Shōki and his team were next used for a relief mission. The planet Sandra was in desperate need of energon, and Ultra Magnus coordinated the Autobots of Earth in gathering some of their energon reserves aboard the Trainbots. Shōki worked with Magnus to make sure his soldiers were properly packed with energon. Galvatron and the Decepticons wanted the energy for themselves, however, and interfered with the relief aid. When the firefight started, Ultra Magnus told Shōki to forget about them and get the energon to Sandra. But Shōki and the Trainbots took off twice for Sandra, and they were twice shot down by the Decepticons before they could leave atmosphere. After being shot out of the air by Sixshot, Shōki bravely challenged the much larger Decepticon to battle. He later joined Magnus and the Technobots in using his large vehicle mode teammates as cover to fire back upon the Decepticons. The Autobots of Earth finally gave up, sending energy reserves from Athenia instead. SOS from Planet Sandra
Shōki and the Trainbots also ferryed the Witwickys and Headmasters to the mutual benefits talk with Galvatron. When the Autobots learned Galvatron was actually a fake, Shōki and his brother Yukikaze distracted the Decepticons by sumo wrestling each other, giving their comrades a chance to secure the Witwickys safety. Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!! After the talks failed, the Decepticons fled into space aboard Scorponok, planning to raid other planets in the universe for their energy. The Trainbots were part of a task force Fortress assembled to chase after their nefarious foes. After reaching the Twin Star planets, Shōki and the Trainbots ferryed Brainstorm and Arcee down to the barren world of Toruin. They then transformed into Raiden and flew to the sister planet, Sperity, to battle the Decepticon invaders. Battle for Defense of the False Planet On Daros, Shōki and the Trainbots transported the rescued prisoners from the northern hemisphere to safety. Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!! They also appeared on Paradise, escorting Highbrow on his scouting mission and later flying the Technobots and Monsterbots into battle. Head Formation of Friendship
On Pirate Planet, Shōki and Yukikaze helped Highbrow unlock the secret of the proton energy. They transported him to an abandoned pirate ship in space, where they recovered a signal transmitting skull that served as a key to the pirates' pyramid hiding place. They were almost caught flatfooted by Soundblaster, but Danny Witwicky managed to surprise the Decepticon and give them a chance to escape. At the pyramid, the train brothers reunited with their fellow Trainbots and formed Raiden to keep Galvatron from interfering. Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship
After returning to Earth, the Trainbots re-entered Ultra Magnus's command at Autobot City. They were summoned to transport the Technobots to Miami, where an Autobot energy facility was under attack by the Decepticons. Shōki believed Ultra Magnus should alert Fortress to the attack, but Magnus wanted to handle things on his own without bothering the commander. The conflict escalated, however, as Sixshot and Trypticon besieged Autobot City itself. Shōki and the Trainbots returned to the city, and Shōki again pleaded for Ultra Magnus to ask for help. Magnus relented this time, and Shōki sent word to Athenia. The Trainbots returned to the battle, assembling as Raiden, but were waylaid by Apeface and Snapdragon, who kept them busy long enough for Sixshot to murder Ultra Magnus on the battlefield. In the aftermath, Shōki and his comrades attended Magnus's funeral. Ultra Magnus Dies!!
When Spike and Chromedome needed to get to Earth for the volcano summit, Shōki and the trains popped over to Athenia to give them a ride. At Autobot City, Shōki and Suiken heard a commotion outside and investigated, finding Spike injured in a battle between Metroplex and Trypticon. Shōki rushed him back to Athenia for treatment. He then went BACK to Earth to defend the Pacific Ring of Fire from the Decepticons. Shōki's Cybertronian frequent flier miles must have been massive after the Space Bridge broke down. I Risk My Life for Earth After the Decepticons seemingly abandoned Earth, Shōki and the Trainbots assisted Spike in rebuilding the planet after the enemy's departure. On one occasion, they located Sixshot's old command base. By combining into Raiden, the Trainbots helped Defensor and Computron obliterate the base, wiping out all trace of the Decepticons' presence. Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)
After Wheelie was kidnapped by the Decepticons and ransomed for the secrets of the Master Sword, Shōki and the Trainbots flew Chromedome and Danny in close to the MegaZarak base for a rescue attempt. The Master Sword Is in Danger!! When Danny went missing in a space vortex, Shōki's team joined the Targetmasters in searching for him. My Friend Sixshot! They also transported the Headmasters to the Pallas asteroid in order to battle the Decepticons. Duel on the Asteroid
Upon returning to Earth, Shōki and the Trainbots ferryed Danny and the Headmasters to the Andes Mountains for a rescue mission, after Spike and Carly crashed their jet in the treacherous terrain. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1) As part of Raiden, Shōki participated in the Autobots final battle with Scorponok's Decepticons at the North Pole. He lent his energies to the Headmasters' Head Formation to revitalize Fortress Maximus at the critical moment. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)
The Headmasters comic
Dreamwave comics continuity
Shōki was part of a big crowd of unhappy Cybertronians who made Prowl look really stupid when he tried to make a speech assuring them that everything would be okay after the collapse of Shockwave's supposedly-benevolent rule. Skyfire
Toys
The Headmasters
- Shōki (Trainbot, 1987)
- Japanese ID number: C-126
- Accessories: "Mach laser" pistol, 3 "joint parts" connectors, Raiden breast panel, Raiden waist panel
- Getsuei transforms into a Type 0 Shinkansen bullet train. He also forms the upper torso of the team's combined mode Raiden.
- Raiden (Gift set, 1987)
- The entire Trainbot team was sold both as individuals and in a six-bot Raiden gift-set. All six toys in this set were identical to their individual releases.
Transform Jr
- Raiden (1987)
- An exceedingly simplified version of the entire Trainbot team was made available as part of the Transform Jr series. Each individual has a (stumpy) representation of their larger robot modes, and could combine to form a stumpy Raiden.
Zone
- Shōki (Trainbot, 1990)
- Japanese ID number: C-355
- Accessories: "Mach laser" pistol, 3 "joint parts" connectors, Raiden breast panel, Raiden waist panel
- The Trainbots were re-released during Zone in new packaging, and only as individuals, never in a box set. The toys are identical to their original Headmasters incarnations.
Notes
- Though it is a little tricky to tell the true meaning of Shōki's name since it is "spelled" in phonetic katakana rather than kanji, it most likely comes from a type of Japanese WWII fighter plane of the same name. 'Shōki', loosely translated, means 'Devil-Queller'.
- The Trainbots are all originally Diaclone toys, which came in two different color schemes. However, there are several mold differences between the Diaclone and Transformers versions. Shōki is the most changed of all, though it's by the addition of the "waist plate" accessory for Raiden, which was not present in the Diaclone versions. The Transformers releases also lost the Diaclone pilots (of course) and the little plastic tracks for the trains to ride on.
