Reflector (G1)
Reflector is a Decepticon in Generation 1 continuity.
Reflector likes to watch. He lives to observe anything and everything, from scenery, to wildlife, to architecture. But above all else, Reflector likes to watch his commrades, learn their dark secrets, and profit from them. Reflector is also very impressed with his own abilities both in the fields of observation and blackmail.
Reflector is composed of three seperate robots - Spectro, Spyglass and Viewfinder - who combine into the single camera alt-mode that is Reflector.
Fiction
Animated continuity
Voice actor: Chris Latta (US), ? (Japan)
Reflector is unique among the Decepticons: he is three robots who talk and act in unison as a single mind in three (largely identical) bodies. He (they?) was with Megatron on the Nemesis during its assault on the Ark. He was thus among Megatron's troops after their reawakening on Earth. Reflector and Thundercracker did some scouting shortly after the Decepticons left the Ark. Reflector demonstrated his ability to zoom-focus and print pictures in camera mode.
Reflector becomes less active as the battle for Earth went on, almost disappearing entirely. He was last seen in 2005, participating in the initial Decepticon assault on Autobot City.
(The individual names Spectro, Spyglass, and Viewfinder are never used in the cartoon, he (all three of him) is simply "Reflector." In his cartoon design all three robots are based on the center (Viewfinder) section of the toy, though they're given a humanized face and only one of the three Reflectors would have the actual camera lens in his chest. The series story bible specifically discouraged writers from using Reflector, as apparently plans to include the toy in the regular toyline were, for some reason, scrapped after the series was developed.)
(Early on in the cartoon, the animators filled out the Decepticon ranks on Earth by adding numerous unnamed robots based on the main characters; extra Reflector units were frequently among these. The practice lessened and finally stopped as more actual Decepticon characters were introduced.)
Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Manga
While on a scouting mission, the Reflector trio and Astrotrain took photos of the then-in-construction Autobot City, allowing the Decepticons to utilize the stolen specs in order to build thier own titanic city, Trypticon.
Dreamwave Comics continuity
Dreamwave continuity is the only place in official fiction (so far) where the three Reflector components are portrayed as separate characters rather than the single composite being descriped by their tech spec and shown in the Cartoon. Here they were not part of Megatron's crew, but work for Shockwave on Cybertron, monitoring the planet and its inhabitants for him. They were seemingly destroyed by Starscream.
The Fusion novel set in Dreamwave continuity erroneously presented Reflector as being on Earth prior to this, and in compensation, its sequel, Annihilation, identified the Earthbound Reflector as the "true" Reflector, and the Cybertron-based one as a "copy" of some form.
Toys
Generation 1
- Reflector (Mail-away, 1986/1987; wide release in Japan, 1985)
- Japanese ID number: 21
- Reflector was available only as a mail away promotion in 1986-1987 (ironically after his character had long since disappeared from the cartoon). It is composed of three distinct robots that combine to form a camera. It includes a telephoto lens and old-style flashcube accessories as well as various guns. His role early in the cartoon makes it seem likely his toy was originally planned for inclusion in the original 1984 line. Why Hasbro decided not to release it so late in the game is unknown, as is what reversed the decision later to make it a viable mail-away. However, he was given a full release in Japan.
- Reflector Decoy
- A small plastic decoy of Reflector was part of the Decoy promotion and given away with many smaller TFs. It was based on the cartoon design of the central (lensed) Reflector unit.
External Links
