Thunderwing (G1)
Thunderwing was the leader of the Decepticon Pretenders in the Marvel G1 Comic continuity. Also, he is unique in that he is the only Decepticon to possess and use the Autobot Matrix. His alternate form is a massive gunship
The Matrix Quest
He first appeared in issue #60 (Yesterday's Heroes) when he orders Bludgeon's "Mayhem Attack Squad" (which consists of Bludgeon, Octopunch and Stranglehold) to find and kill the Autobot Pretenders.
It was at the beginning of the Matrix Quest that Thunderwing began to take things into his own hands. After learning of the Matrix from some captured Autobots, he realized that it was the key to power beyond comprehension. His obsession with finding the Creation Matrix caused some concerns for the Decepticons under his command (as they did not know of the Matrix's true power), he even attacked his own troops when accused of taking his personal quest too far.
It was at this time that Thunderwing revealed that he was one of the select few Transformers, and indeed, the only Decepticon, to possess a natural affinity for the Matrix. He was one of the very few who could actually use the powers of The Matrix.
After forming a psychic link with an immense whale-like alien called a Kludd whom had been restored from the brink of extinction by the Matrix's power, Thunderwing learned where the Matrix was last seen: The Third Moon of Cameron. Thunderwing immediately set out to retrieve it, much to the disapproval of his troops.
As it would happen, between the revival of the Kludd and the arrival of Thunderwing, The Creation Matrix had become warped. A dying alien "Deathbringer" touches The Matrix, and is fully healed and recreated by it's power. This malevolent entity gave The Matrix it's first taste of evil. Later, another creature finds the Matrix. This one, a parasitic insect which exists purely to kill and destroy. The Matrix, now quite fascinated by the nature of darkness, restored and improved the creature, considering it to be the single most evil creature it had ever seen. This new creature was referred to as the Matrix Spawn. Which would serve as its vessel.
Meanwhile, the Autobot Pretenders (who had escaped from the Mayhem Attack Squad arrived on Cameron, after hearing the reports of a research team on that moon, which discovered an incredible power source inside Optimus Prime's old body, alongside the Matrix Spawn creature. Which the autobots assumed to be Creation Matrix.
When Thunderwing arrived on Cameron, he met, and attacked, the Autobot Pretenders. The battle was pre-empted by the arrival of the Matrix Spawn however. Thunderwing, possessing a natural affinity for The Matrix, managed to catch The Spawn off guard, causing it to flee with Thunderwing in pursuit.
The Spawn fled straight to The Matrix, where it met Thunderwing in mortal combat. The Spawn was defeated, and The Matrix was Thunderwings prize.
All Fall Down
In the final issue of the Matrix Quest mini-series, Thunderwing, using his new found power as a result of having the Matrix, moved to the Ark with the intention of destroying the Autobots.
After nearly beating Optimus Prime to death with his bare hands, the other Decepticons under Thunderwings command realized how far their leader had fallen and turned against him. After being damaged by one of the Pretenders, the true nature of relationship between The Matrix and Thunderwing was revealed.
During the time of The Matrix Quest, the Matrix had come into contact with several evil beings, as a result it had become absolutely corrupted. The Now-Evil Matrix managed to establish a state of complete mental domination over the quite obsessed Thunderwing. It had driven Thunderwing to attack the autobots, for it wanted to see the death of goodness.
After Thunderwing (or "The Vessel" as the Matrix called him) was damaged, The Matrix manifested itself as an immense-spectral demon. The combined efforts of all Autobots and Decepticons couldn't as much as harm it. Thunderwing, realizing what was happening, tried to break away from The Matrix's control.
During the turmoil, the Autobots who had been captured by the Pretenders earliar in the Matrix Quest story-line had gotten free and managed to fire their ships grappling hook into Thunderwings shoulder. They then launched the ship out of the Ark, and detonated it. Apparently destroying both Thunderwing and the Matrix. Saving all the Transformers on board, but leaving no method for defending themselves from the coming threat of Unicron
The Unicron Battle
Only when Unicron finally arrived on Cybertron, did The Corrupted Matrix and Thunderwing reappear. Sensing it's ancient nemesis, The Matrix revived Thunderwing, who promptly sped to Cybertron.
Unfortunately, since the Matrix was now a product of evil, it had no effect upon Unicron, who then destroyed the decepticon completely, ending Thunderwings career permanently.
