Omnibot (G1)
| This article is about the Generation 1 subgroup. For mass-produced Autobots from Revenge of the Fallen, see Omnibot (ROTF). |
- The Omnibots are an Autobot subgroup from the Generation 1 continuity family.
The Omnibots are a trio of Autobots whose distinctive feature is an advanced "armored car" mode involving the deploying of weapons and/or wings from their otherwise-nondescript automobile modes. They have been known to dimension-hop,[1][2] so it's unclear whether their appearances throughout the multiverse are separate entities or the same individuals.
The team consists of:
Fiction
S.T.A.R.S. pack-in flyers
The Omnibots were featured in several recruitment messages directed at human allies. The first message detailed the Omnibots' arrival on Earth: The Autobots marooned on that planet had sent an S.O.S. to Cybertron, despite not knowing if anyone would be there to receive it. Luckily, their plea was answered in the form of the Omnibots, Powerdashers, and Time Warriors. The Omnibots quickly adapted to Earth's highways, scouting for and attacking Decepticons. Reinforcements from Cybertron! This message was later repeated almost verbatim, with minor changes made to accomodate a recruitment drive for S.T.A.R.S. The battle is far from over!
The Omnibot Overdrive personally narrated the next message, describing how he and his comrades had turned the tide in the Autobots' favor and were gearing up to strike at hidden Decepticon bases. However, Optimus Prime was holding back until human allies had been mobilized. Overdrive seemed to be speaking specifically to military personnel, and his message segued into the activities of G.I. Joe and Cobra. Earthlings: THE S.T.A.R.S. need your help now!
The next pair of messages told the story of Johnny, a young S.T.A.R.S. member whose town came under Thundercracker's energy-draining attack. He summoned a squad of Autobot cars as well as the Omnibots, but it is unknown how the presumed battle unfolded. Have the Decepticons defeated us once and for all?Can one boy, alone, hold back the evil Decepticons?
The final message involving the Omnibots was delivered from Ultra Magnus to the potential new S.T.A.R.S. Commander. Magnus claimed that the Omnibots were "destined to fight a war in another universe on March 31, 1987" if the S.T.A.R.S. Commander did not requisition them. You Have Been Chosen. And, indeed, they were absent from all future messages.
The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers manga
During a massive battle on Feminia, Galvatron introduced his latest combining warrior, Predaking. Predaking simultaneously took out Defensor, Omega Supreme, and Superion with a single punch, causing much worry for the Autobots, as Sky Lynx was already engaged in battle on Earth.
From out of nowhere came Camshaft, Downshift and Overdrive. They swiftly shifted into their vehicle mode and circled Predaking, tying up his legs with cable. Predaking swatted at them to no avail!
Then the Omnibots transformed into their battle modes and...drove at Predaking, which caused him to topple backwards onto Bruticus, Devastator, and Menasor, taking them all out.
The assembled Autobots cheered for these three mighty warriors of great justice, who were subsequently never seen or heard of again. The Transformers issue 5
Dreamwave comics
The Omnibots were defeated by the rampaging Menasor, unleashed on Iacon by Shockwave. War and Peace
IDW comics continuity
Downshift and Overdrive were among the Autobots stationed on the Autobot Orbital Command Hub. Stormbringer issue 1
Toys
Generation 1
- The Omnibots were only available via mail-order, costing $5 USD and 4 Robot Points. They came with instructions, decals, some weapon attachments, but no proper bios or Tech Specs. This was "explained" in the instructions, which claimed that the characters were so new that they hadn't had a chance to be tested before shipping off to Earth.
- The toys were a set of Diaclone car models unused in the first run of the Transformers figures, and which kept their Diaclone colors and paints as opposed to the rest of the Autobot lineup. They are slightly smaller than the standard Autobot cars of the time, with a similar design style and aesthetic.
- Though not technically Triple Changers, the Omnibots were the first Transformers to feature "third" modes, in which panels folded out from their car modes to form wings and/or allow attachment of weapons and accessories.
Binaltech
- Overdrive (2004)
Alternators
- Autobot Camshaft (2006)
Universe
- Autobot Camshaft (Spy Changer, 2006)
Notes
- The road to having personalities has been a long and rocky one for the Omnibots.
- The bios included with their North American toys were buried in their instructions, and all they said was that the Omnibots were in the early stages of their evolution and had not yet been tested.[3]
- They were only given functions in the last mail-order flyer that offered them, just in time for them to venture off into "another dimension." That would be the long and short of their official English-language characterization for almost twenty years.
- In Japan, Takara did release bios with the toys, though their functions bore no relation to the American ones.[4]
- And none of this reflected the profiles found in the Marvel comic bible, which were written in both Transformers Universe form and in the pared-down style of on-package bios (with Tech Specs, even!)[5] These were never officially released to the public.
- The English-speaking public finally got official Omnibot profiles in Dreamwave's 2003 More Than Meets the Eye comic. These bore varying degrees of similarity to all of the sources preceding them.
Foreign names
- Japanese: Double Changer (ダブルチェンジャー Daburu Chenjā)
References
- ↑ Overdrive's Binaltech toy pack-in bio (scan with fan-translated English overlay on FanToFan.jp)
- ↑ "You Have Been Chosen." toy pack-in flyer
- ↑ The Omnibots' original English-language instructions, specifically the third panel (scan at BotchTheCrab.com)
- ↑ Takara bios for Camshaft, Downshift, and Overdrive (and gathered in fan-translated English; note that Camshaft and Downshift's names are switched)
- ↑ Marvel comic bible profiles of Camshaft, Downshift, and Overdrive
