Flak (G1)
| The name or term "Flak" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Flak (disambiguation). |
- Flak is an Autobot Micromaster from the Generation 1 continuity family.
Flak is the deep thinker of the Autobot Battle Patrol. A tactical expert, he has single-handedly crafted an enormous "playbook" of maneuvers and scenarios for the Patrol to use whenever in the field and, at Big Shot's discretion, instituted a rigorous training schedule to make sure the entire team is constantly up to date on all his latest plans. Flak is meticulous, some would say downright anal, in his planning, but only because he feels he has to be. Flak respects Big Shot's authority and decisiveness under fire, but recognizes that his commander's lack of lateral thinking can potentially get their Patrol into trouble. Because of this, Flak has taken on the burden of responsibility in making sure Big Shot's military precision always has a military strategy to back it up.
Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
Flak and the Battle Patrol were given the mission to break into a secure Decepticon complex by their commander, Emirate Xaaron, in order to learn of a new "secret weapon". To his credit, Flak DID ask the Decepticon nicely to step out of the way... before transforming and unleashing his full missile firepower on the hapless 'Con. The joke was ultimately on the Micros, however, as it turned out the secret weapon was them. Lord Thunderwing had leaked word of the new weapon in order to lure some Autobot Micromasters into his web and use their bodies to reverse-engineer the technology for the Decepticon cause. Flak and his teammates fought back bravely, but were ultimately captured. They were dissected by Thunderwing's scientists and, although Roadhandler and the other Micros managed to free them, the Micromaster technology was in fact reproduced by the Decepticons. A Small War!
Marvel UK future timelines
Flak and Sunrunner were among the Autobots under Rodimus Prime's command when he returned to the future after the Time Wars. Unfortunately, despite Galvatron's death in the timestorm in 1989, the timeline had rebooted itself so that Galvatron still existed in the present of 2009. While trying to rekindle an Autobot resistance movement on Cybertron, Flak and Sunrunner were caught by Galvatron and the Triggercons along with Rodimus, Kup and Arcee. As Rodimus Prime fought back against Galvatron, Flak and the others disabled the Triggercons, and the Autobots fled for safety. Aspects of Evil! The full Battle Patrol were among the 400+ Autobots who escaped to Earth with Rodimus. The Void!
Zone OVA, manga and story pages
When Victory Saber initiated the "Zone Project", the Battle Patrol helped rebuild planet Micro into planet Zone. To counter this threat, Violen Jiger began conquering planets in order to create his own Decepticon Zone. The Race Car Patrol and all other Micromaster teams were then sent on patrol across the galaxy, specifically to planets where their unique skills could do the most good. Zone Part 1
When Bruticus attacked the planet Feminia, the Battle Patrol were among several units of Micromasters deployed to stop him. Through teamwork, they proved triumphant. Zone Part 2
During the attack of the Nine Great Demon Generals on the Planet Zone Base, Flak (or rather, his Japanese incarnation, Powerbomb) could be seen firing his missiles at Abominus, who effortlessly fended them off with his shield, continuing his rampage. Despite Flak's effort, the Demon Generals succeeded in capturing the Energon Z energy source. As they retreated, Flak and his fellow comrades of the Battle Team Patrol boarded Moonradar’s rocket to pursue them to Earth. There, the Battle Team Patrol, among other Microtransformers, faced off against Trypticon and Predaking, only to find themselves again at the receiving end of the beating. Luckily, Sonic Bomber and Dai Atlas arrived just in time and saved the day.
Later on, Powerbomb could be seen amongst the crowd cheering and applauding the newly appointed Autobot Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas. Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas! Transformers: Zone
When the Powered Masters flew off to the Tenth Planet for their showdown with Violen Jiger, all the Micromaster teams took command of Zone and vowed to keep it safe in their Commander's absence. Zone Part 10
Dreamwave comics continuity
Flak was a member of the Battle Patrol under Big Shot's command, but wasn't nearly as loudmouthed as his comrades, Sidetrack and Sunrunner. Destined for Nothing He and Big Shot were guarding the entrance to Autobase at one point, while their fellow Patrol-mechs were shooing the Hot Rod Patrol away at another gate. Recipe for Hate
IDW comics continuity
Flak was one of the legions of Dead Universe Micromasters who pursued Hardhead and Nightbeat on Gorlam Prime. Spotlight: Hardhead
Wings of Honor
Flak began making his reputation as an "Alien Fighter" in the Cybertronian Revolution. Since then, he's fought space pirates, mutants, transorganics, and more. Above all else, he's practical. He doesn't relish battle; it just happens to be be what he's good at. Flak does have trouble adjusting his tactics accordingly when it comes to fighting his own species.
Just before the civil war began, Flak was a crewmember aboard the Eight Track under the command of Thunder Clash. Landshark and Flak played mentor to a young "protie" named Kup, though Landshark's lessons were a lot less practical than Flak's. After a solar cycle of scanning remote star systems, the Eight Track received a priority signal from Autobot High Command! Back home, the Decepticons had rallied around a new leader, and what once was a manageable group had suddenly become an army. Someone, possibly these Decepticons, shot down a freight hauler, the Van De Graaff, over the planet Beta-Nine, and its precious cargo could not fall into enemy hands. Flak and the others were ordered to retrieve the cargo and return it to Cybertron.
The Eight Track was shot out of Beta-Nine's orbit by a Decepticon starship, and the Eight Track crashed hard in a swamp. The Decepticons were instantly upon them, and Kup was immediately separated from the rest. Landshark and Flak were ordered to divert the Decepticons away from the Van De Graaff, and so they headed deep into the jungle surrounding the swamp. Between the two of them, they were able to defeat Leozack and Hooligan.
Ultimately, the cargo was retrieved by Thunder Clash and Kup and returned to Cybertron when a rescue ship came for them all. For their bravery, Magnum of Autobot High Command assigned Flak and the others to a new unit, the Elite Guard, which had been established to counter the Decepticons in the Civil War. Wings of Honor
A few years later, Flak's team teamed up with Metalhawk's team to battle a horde of Virulent Clones, a task in which they were eventually victorious.
The two squads then relaxed for a bit, until a call bleeped over Thunder Clash's comm, with Magnum informing them that Metalhawk's squad had to ferry Thunder Clash's squad to Space Port Bravo straightaway. After everyone's gear was loaded onto the Hawk's Claw, they all disembarked.
Once at the spaceport, the two squads bid their goodbyes, then Thunderhawk's squad then walked off into the spaceport. Metalhawk's squad later learned that their compatriots had been given the Beast With Wings to take to Centry Quadrant for their next mission. The Coming Storm: Part 2
The Beast With Wings crew returned from a mission to find that an attack on Elite Guard HQ by Bruticus had wiped out most of the rest of the Guard. The Coming Storm: Part 6 The remainder of the Elite Guard, including Flak, gathered at the Autobot High Council Citadel with Magnum, to demonstrate that the Elite Guard was still functional, only to find the Council were appointing Optimus Prime as the leader of a new Autobot military. Battle Lines, Part 1
Magnum took the team out to find Deathsaurus's base, stopping off at the Auxiliary Weapons Locker, though Flak wasn't quite sure why they needed more guns. He was amused when Ricochet, Moonracer and Outback volunteered to join the mission, referring to them as "desk jockeys". Battle Lines, Part 2 When the team ran into Deathsaurus's troops, he put his missile launchers to work, blasting Starscream and a good deal of the Decepticons out of the air. In the middle of the chaos, Flak, Outback and Moonracer gathered around Ricochet, who had been shot down by Starscream and was dying. In response to Ricochet's question, Flak told him he'd done fine and called him "soldier". There was little time to mourn his death, as the trio were attacked by an enraged sword-wielding Lyzack. Battle Lines, Part 3
Toys
Generation 1
- Battle Patrol (Micromaster Patrol, 1989)
- Flak transforms into a self-propelled, artillery multiple rocket system similar to a TOS-1 Buratino . The missile battery, being his legs, can pivot up and down due to his transformation jointing, but cannot rotate.
- He was only available as part of the Battle Patrol, along with his teammates Big Shot, Sidetrack and Sunrunner.
Zone
- Battle Patrol Team (Micro Transformer team, 1990)
- Japanese ID number: C-332
- "Powerbomb" was redecoed for his Takara release, predominantly blue with white robot-mode bits. As with the Hasbro version, he was only available in a complete set with his teammates.
- Early versions of the entire Team also used yellow plastic instead of the medium-gray, giving Flak some very bright treads indeed. Later versions corrected this, and the yellow-plastic versions go for considerably more on the secondary market.
Return of Convoy
- Battle Patrol Team (Micro Trailer team, 1991)
- Japanese ID number: C-374
- Accessories: Micro Trailer #11
- The "corrected-color" version of the Battle Patrol Team was re-released in Return of Convoy with no alterations. It did come with an extra: Micro Trailer #11.
Timelines
- Wings of Honor (multipack, 2009)
- Accessories: 2 missiles, negative energy freeze rifle, key
- A retool of Cybertron Defense Scattorshot with a brand-new head sculpt based on the head of the original Flak, Timelines Flak transforms into a TOS-1 Buratino multiple-launch rocket system. The halves of the (non-firing) launcher end up on his arms in robot mode. In either mode, inserting a Cyber Planet Key in each half reveals a new weapon: one side has a pull-out double spring-loaded missile launcher, while the other has a flip-out non-firing blaster barrel. He also comes with an extra long hand-held rifle that can be mounted in tank mode thanks to his Mini-Con-compatible Powerlinx plugs.
- Flak was originally intended to be the same green, yellow, and red colors as his original toy, but the release of Universe Overload put the kibosh on that.
- Flak comes in the BotCon 2009 "Wings of Honor" box set along with Kup, Landshark, Thunder Clash, and a Decepticon foe, Scourge. The original version of this mold was also used to make Universe Dropshot and Overload.
Notes
- Flak is gang molded with his teammate Sunrunner, causing the two toys to share the same two plastic colors.
Foreign names
- Japanese: Powerbomb (パワーボム Pawābomu)
- French: Rafale (Canada)
