Leadfoot (DOTM)
| The name or term "Leadfoot" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Leadfoot (disambiguation). |
- Leadfoot is an Autobot from the Dark of the Moon portion of the live-action film series continuity family.
Leadfoot is one of the Wreckers, a group of former engineers turned fighters who have turned their talents to kicking Decepticon tail across the galaxy. His specialty is building bigger and better weapons, WITH SCIENCE! Not terribly surprisingly this vocation has led him to strike up a friendship with the Autobots resident weapons-hound Ironhide. The way the two egg each other on towards bigger and better "boom-sticks" the other Autobots fear one day waking up to find a smoking crater where their workshop once stood.
Fiction
Dark of the Moon (film)
- Voice actor: John DiMaggio (English), Hiroshi Iwasaki (Japanese), Raul Solo (Latin American Spanish)
Leadfoot, Topspin and Roadbuster, collectively known as the Wreckers, by Charlotte Mearing, had arrived with the second wave of Autobots aboard the Autobot ship, the Xantium, and were rarely let off of the NASA base because of their attitude. They would spend most of their time working on repairing their ship along with some human engineers, including Robert Epps.
When Sentinel Prime announced that the current occupation force of Autobots was to be exiled or the Earth would face the wrath of hundreds of Decepticons, the three prepared the ship for launch and accompanied Optimus Prime and the others aboard, sending the ship into the atmosphere - where it was then targeted and blown to smithereens by Starscream, seemingly killing all the Autobots aboard. Undaunted by this, the Autobot's human allies nonetheless tried to launch an incursion into Decepticon-held Chicago.
Fortunately for them, the Autobots were not actually aboard the ship, and had only feigned their deaths in order to keep the Decepticons from following up on their global threat. Leadfoot and the other Wreckers swung into action immediately, rescuing Epps, Sam Witwicky and a group of soldiers from a Decepticon fighter and executing the pilot. Leadfoot revealed that they had hidden in the Xantium's booster rocket which had separated moments before the ship's destruction, stating that they weren't going anywhere.
While the Autobots were scouting a route to the building containing Sentinel's Space bridge pillars, Shockwave and his pet Driller separated Optimus from his weapons trailer. Optimus ordered Leadfoot and the other Wreckers to create a distraction so that he could retrieve it, and in their armored race car forms fired at Shockwave with their machine guns until being forced to retreat, leaving behind Wheelie and Brains, who had hitched a ride with them. After Optimus had become snared in a construction site's cables, the Wreckers set out to free him. After doing so they rejoined the battle, battling against a long-limbed Decepticon. After the battle Leadfoot stood with the other survivors, accepting that Cybertron was gone forever and that Earth was their new home. Dark of the Moon (film)
Toys
Dark of the Moon
Cyberverse
- Leadfoot (Cyberverse Legion, 2011)
- Series: 1
- Number: 007
- Japanese ID number: CV17
- Part of the second wave of Cyberverse Legion single-pack toys, Leadfoot is a Legends-scale figure that transforms into a NASCAR Sprint Cup Chevy Impala stock car, specifically Juan Pablo Montoya's Target-sponsored #42 car, albeit heavily modified with a ridiculous amount of exposed (non-firing) weaponry and all the various sponsor logos concealed by the modifications. Also, present on the both sides of the car doors is the Sprint Cup logo found on all the Wreckers.
- Leadfoot and Ironhide (Target exclusive Cyberverse 2-pack, 2011)
- Accessories: Cyberverse blaster
- Leadfoot comes as a Target-exclusive redeco of the legion figure. His entire hood is now painted red, with the Target Bulls-eye logo prominently displayed. The Sprint Cup logos are moved from his doors to the front fender, and his face and windshield lack the standard release's silver paint apps. He comes with Machine Wars Megaplex's two-piece rifle and a redeco of Ironhide.
Deluxe
- Twin Twist and Leadfoot (Target exclusive MechTech Deluxe 2-Pack, 2011)
- Accessories:
Human Alliance
- Leadfoot / Sergeant Detour & Steeljaw (Human Alliance, 2011)
- Japanese ID Number:
- Accessories:
- Human Alliance Leadfoot transforms into the same NASCAR Chevy Impala as the Cyberverse toy, although this one does not have any robotic bits showing in car mode, and the Target logos are perfectly visible, especially the one on his gut (see picture to the right). He comes with Sergeant Detour and Steeljaw, who turns into his arm cannon. There is some gimmickry; when Steeljaw is in mace mode, Leadfoot is unable to hold him, regardless of his hand position. There are also hundreds of ways that Leadfoot's beer-belly can be arranged.
Notes
- Leadfoot is the odd man out amongst the NASCAR trio in that his real-world counterpart is owned by Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, while Roadbuster and Topspin are based on Hendrick Motorsports racers.
- It sure is convenient that Leadfoot's Cyberverse toy conspicuously covers up those giant Target logos, isn't it? Much easier to sell toys at Walmart that way.
- Leadfoot appears to have a "beard" and a "beer gut," making him appear much like a stereotypical NASCAR fan.
- As part of the promotions for Dark of the Moon, the film prop versions of Leadfoot, Roadbuster, and Topspin made appearances at the 2011 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 20th. They appeared both off the track as display cars, and on the track, participating in the ceremonial first lap.
- Contrary to the image above, the headlights on real-world NASCAR racers don't work. They're actually just decals.
- Despite already sporting Chevrolet Impala kibble in robot mode, Leadfoot's concept art featured sponsor decals that were based on the 2008 season's Target-sponsored #41 Dodge Charger driven by Reed Sorenson, the concept art even featured him with the backlights of the Dodge Avenger.[1]
- Early working names for him included Flash.[1] In the movie's end credits, he's listed under two names, Leadfoot/Target, the latter referring to his NASCAR vehicle mode's primary sponsor.
Foreign names
- Japanese: Leadfoot (レッドフット Reddofutto)
