Metroplex (G1)
| The name or term "Metroplex" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Metroplex (disambiguation). |
- Metroplex is an Autobot city-bot from the Generation 1 continuity family. In city mode, he is also known as Scramble City.
Metroplex’s poor, slow, and infrequent efforts to support his brave comrades and forward the Autobot cause are never enough. Sure, he's the Autobots' ultimate weapon, their greatest and final defense. Yes, he's a gigantic, towering warrior, capable of channeling awesome energies. Strong beyond belief, versatile, clever, brave and self-sacrificing, Metroplex is willing to give everything he has to the Autobot cause and defend it to his last astroseconds of life. Despite all this he’s wracked to the core of his being with the belief that he could and should be doing more. It’s a self-deprecating attitude that stuns many of his fellow Autobots, most of whom take immeasurable comfort in his very existence and the knowledge that regardless of what evil comes, Metroplex is out there to back them up.
This great modesty about his power and achievements together with a boundless patience necessitated by his size and alternate mode are apparent to anyone who pierces his normally less than talkative demeanor, and in the optics of many, these traits only raise his already high standing.
Metroplex’s might is equaled only by the gargantuan Decepticon, Trypticon, his long-standing nemesis. He has three "normal"-sized components: Six-Gun, Slammer and Scamper, to help patrol and defend his territory. The extent of that territory is sometimes unclear; sometimes Metroplex is an independent Autobot base, and other times he's part of (or all of) Autobot City.
| “ | Metroplex is my kind of town! | ” |
—Blaster on Metroplex, "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5" | ||
Fiction
Generation 1 cartoon continuity
The Transformers cartoon
- Voice actor: Bud Davis (English), Osamu Saka (Japanese), Héctor Vieyra (Latin American)
By the year 2005, Metroplex had been installed as a sub-section of the larger Autobot City, now the main base of operations for the Autobots on Earth. During the Decepticons' attack on the city, the transforming cog which allowed Metroplex to transform to robot mode was destroyed, preventing him from participating in the battle, although he was manually converted to battle station mode by the Autobots inhabiting him. The Transformers: The Movie
Following the defeat of Unicron and the Autobots' reclamation of Cybertron, Perceptor built a new transforming cog for Metroplex, and entrusted its delivery to Blurr and Wheelie. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1 While they were busy suffering numerous setbacks (including nearly getting killed by Galvatron and being stranded on Jupiter's moon Io), the immobile Metroplex was attacked by the Decepticons' new mobile battle station, Trypticon, who had been created expressly to serve as Metroplex's opposite number. Metroplex was again manually transformed to battle station mode by his inhabitants in hopes of mounting some form of a defence, but things were not looking hopeful. At the height of the battle, Blurr and Wheelie was safely brought to Earth by Sky Lynx, and quickly handed the transforming cog off to Pipes to install. Pipes carried out the task with all due haste, and Metroplex promptly transformed to robot mode, thrashed Trypticon, and hurled him into the ocean. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5
Although the Autobots figured this to be the end of Trypticon, in actuality, the saurian city survived and started stealing national monuments to pay off Octane's debt to Abdul Fakkadi. When dinosaur transform static was found at the crime scene, Metroplex and his subordinates questioned all the Autobots with dinosaur electrons in their circuits, but when Trypticon was finally revealed to be the culrpit, Metroplex battled him in Russia over the Kremlin. Unfortunately, Metroplex was then left holding the building, and the Soviets blamed the Autobots for the thefts and expelled them from the country. Fakkadi, however, summoned the Autobots to his country of Carbombya to help oust the Decepticons that had taken over, and Metroplex delivered another sound defeat to Trypticon, tossing him into the ocean yet again and returning the stolen buildings to their rightful place. Thief in the Night
As part of his deal with Unicron to ensure their mutual resurrection, the ghost of Starscream was charged with stealing Metroplex's eyes in order to restore Unicron's sight. Possessing Scourge, Starscream invaded Metroplex and started removing the giant's optics, only to wind up breaking the first one when he was caught off-guard by Spike and Bumblebee. Just as he was successfully removing the second eye, Metroplex detected the presence of intruders within his brain vault and awoke. Scourge came crashing out of Metroplex just as he transformed to robot mode, and beat a hasty retreat as the giant discovered that he was blind and went into a maddened rage, firing upon all the Transformers in the vicinity. Metroplex landed a shot on Powerglide before his rampage was cut short by the detonation of a photon charge Scourge had placed in his head, and he fell unconscious, transforming back into city mode. After the villains' plan was foiled, new eyes were constructed for Metroplex. Ghost in the Machine
After coming under attack from a Eurythman sonic weapon, Carnage in C-Minor, transforming cog troubles returned to plague Metroplex when Swindle stole the component right out from under First Aid's nose. With Metroplex trapped in city mode, the Autobots retaliated by stealing Trypticon's cog and using it as a replacement; the Decepticons proceeded to use Metroplex's cog in place of Trypticon's, but the incompatibility of the cogs in each of the giant robots led to an unsteady battle with both combatants partially transforming back and forth constantly. First Aid proceeded to enter Metroplex's body during the fight and aligned the cog properly, allowing Metroplex to fully transform and, yet again, fling Trypticon into a body of water. The Ultimate Weapon
When the Hate Plague swept the universe, Rodimus Prime realized the danger that an infected Metroplex would pose, and reluctantly decided to deactivate him. Metroplex understood and agreed with his decision—it was not made clear if this action was temporary, or if it would permanently send Metroplex off-line. The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1
Japanese cartoon continuity
Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers comic
Metroplex was constructed in the late 1980s as part of the Autobots' "Scramble City" initiative to develop a powerful battle station. During the early stages of the project, however, when the Autobots were conducting an outdoor test of the unfinished city's transformation to mobile fortress mode, Astrotrain and Reflector were able to monitor the process. The information they acquired allowed Megatron to decipher whether or not Metroplex would be able to stand up to Trypticon. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #3
Trypticon was ultimately completed before Metroplex, and was successfully activated on a small island. The Autobots went into action to save the island and stop the giant, but without a city-bot of their own, they had to resort to some cunning: Perceptor magnified a hologram of Metroplex projected by Hound, creating a huge image of the giant Autobot that Trypticon charged at and passed through, crashing into the ocean below. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #6
Scramble City cartoon
To complete the Scramble City project, the Autobots moved their operation to a secret underground cavern, but the Decepticons' spy cassettes located the subterranean base, and an all-out Decepticon attack was initiated. Menasor and Bruticus had Superion outnumbered, but the heroic combiner was able to hold the line long enough until Metroplex's construction was finally completed.
Emerging fom his underground birthplace, Metroplex transformed from city to battle station mode and took off for the battleground. Crushing all in his path, the titanic Autobot transformed to robot mode and took out the Decepticon combiners with one colossal blast. However, as the Autobots celebrated their victory, the ocean nearby parted and Trypticon emerged for his first battle with Metroplex. Scramble City: Mobilization
Full Throttle Scramble Power!
Crafting a new diabolical scheme, Megatron began to threaten humanity with his latest weapon: the Omega Whip. After Jenny, Toru and Hound located the Decepticon base and disabled the super weapon, Optimus Prime ordered up reinforcements: every single Autobot. Carrying the entire army in his mobile battle station mode, Metoplex, er, hovered onto the scene and transformed to robot mode. Accepting defeat, Megatron and the Decepticons scurried off as fast as they could. Full Throttle Scramble Power!
The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers manga
On a bright and sunny day in the year 2010, the Autobots invited a group of human families to come take a tour of Metroplex. They were all very impressed and everything was going great... until Trypticon attacked. Preoccupied with keeping everyone inside him from dying, Metroplex was left to take all of Trypticon's attacks on the chin, including his Dual Plasma Cannons and Dino-Head Attack. With Scamper quickly taken out by Full-Tilt, it looked as though Metroplex would be felled by a blast from the Brunt tank.
Luckily, Ultra Magnus deployed Six-Gun just in time. Six-Gun took out Full-Tilt and then proceeded to turn the Brunt tank around on Trypticon, blasting the Decepticon with his own drone. The blast destroyed Trypticon's Head Controls, forcing Galvatron to call a retreat. With the day won, Metroplex returned to City mode. The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers #3
The Great Transformer War manga
After rescuing the alien scientist Doctor Dalton from the clutches of the Decepticons, the Autobots brought him to Metroplex for safe-keeping. There, he agreed to help upgrade the Technobots so they could counter the upgrades he was forced to install in the Terrorcons. Little did any of them know, Metroplex had been infiltrated by Ratbat, who observed the entire upgrading process in secret. The Great Transformer War #1
In 2011, as part of his massive assault to retake Cybertron, Galvatron unleashed Trypticon on Metroplex, the battle thoroughly occupying the Earth forces of the Autobots, keeping them from coming to Cybertron's defense. The Great Transformer War #3
The Headmasters cartoon
- Voice actor: Osamu Saka (Japanese)
In 2011, one year after the curing of the Hate Plague, the Decepticons launched a major offensive to take control of Cybertron. To prevent Autobot reinforcements reaching the planet, a large garrison of Decepticon troops were deployed to keep the Autobots on Earth occupied. As the battle moved to the vicinity of Autobot City, Metroplex flew into action and aided his comrades by blasting the Constructicons out of the sky. He then transformed into battle station mode and transported the Trainbots back to the city itself, where they took the space bridge to aid their allies on Cybertron. Four Warriors Come out of the Sky As the battle to control Cybertron continued to rage, Metroplex was among the Autobots deployed to help search Earth for the missing Matrix of Leadership. Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime
Observing Trypticon making his way towards an oil field, Ultra Magnus ordered Metroplex into action. The two city-bots engaged in another round of their endless dance, but Metroplex soon discovered that he had been lured into a trap when the Decepticons' newest invention, the Madmachine, burrowed its way out of the sand nearby. An electromagnetic blast from the Madmachine sent Metroplex's systems into chaos, and he was forced to retreat. The Great Cassette Operation Soon after, Metroplex joined the Autobot Headmasters in traveling to Britain and New York to investigate attacks by a mysterious blackmailer. Terror! The Six Shadows
A little later, the Technobots launched from Metroplex to back up a contingent of Autobots on Mars, but found their way barred by Trypticon. Metroplex immediately went into action against his perennial foe and kicked him into a mountainside, but then he had to deal with Sixshot. Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger
When the Autobots and Decepticons left Earth to go on an interplanetary energy quest, Metroplex (logically enough) did not go with them, and so disappeared off the radar for a while. When they returned to Earth, Sixshot launched an attack on Autobot City, leading to a violent battle between him and Ultra Magnus. Metroplex attempted to aid his commander, but was kept busy by Trypticon, and so, Ultra Magnus died by Sixshot's hand. After the Autobot Headmasters disposed of Sixshot, funeral arrangements were made for Magnus, and Metroplex requested that rather than launch his body into space, the Autobots should bury Ultra Magnus on Earth to symbolize the great love he had for the planet. Ultra Magnus Dies!!
Decepticon attacks only intensified in the wake of Magnus's death, and Metroplex, seeking revenge for the death of his commander, insisted that he be allowed to join in the fight. Fortress and the Autobot Headmasters encouraged him to remain at Autobot City, pointing out that his databanks contained all their collected information and that he was too valuable to lose, but reports began pouring in from different Autobot installations that only seemed to prove how necessary Metroplex entering the fray was. Fortress explained that all available Autobots had come to help, and Metroplex grudgingly agreed to stand down, with one condition: when Sixshot showed his face, he would be Metroplex's to deal with. This time came quite soon, as Metroplex accompanied the Autobot Headmasters to Alaska and engaged Sixshot in an aerial battle while the Headmasters dealt with Galvatron. When the young warriors destroyed the Decepticon leader with the power of their Head Formation, Sixshot retreated, depriving Metroplex of his revenge. The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg
It wasn't long before Metroplex got another shot at Sixshot when he and Trypticon attacked Autobot City again. Metroplex dealt with Trypticon quickly and focused his fury on Sixshot, but the revenge-hungry Autobot was mistaken in his belief that Trypticon had been defeated. As the saurian titan leapt at Metroplex from behind, Spike Witwicky moved into the open to shout a warning to the giant Autobot, and was hit by a stray laser blast. Seconds later, the Trainbots arrived to help Metroplex overpower Trypticon and send him packing, but Spike had been grievously wounded by the blast and had to be taken to Athenia for medical attention. I Risk My Life for Earth
When the Headmasters departed Earth to follow the Decepticons to planet Master, Metroplex was left in command on the Autobots on Earth. Some time later, just as the Headmasters were returning to Earth, Decepticons began springing up all over Earth, and Metroplex contacted the approaching Headmasters to let them know of the sudden change in the situation. He greeted them when they arrived on the planet, updated them, and was commended for the good job he had done in their absence. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1) Metroplex continued to help gather data on the Decepticons' activities on Earth, which involved raising mysterious "Death Towers" at strategic points around the globe, helping out where he could. After supervising the transportation of humans injured in a Decepticon attack, Metroplex sped to Egypt to aid Fortress Maximus after he was wounded battling Scorponok. Finally, Metroplex participated in the colossal climactic battle between the entire Autobot and Decepticon armies at the North Pole, which culminated in the Decepticons' defeat, and the withdrawal of all Transformers from Earth. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)
Marvel Comics continuity
Marvel UK future timelines
Metroplex is the largest Autobot on record at just under 700 feet in height. Entirely too large to wander Earth freely, Metroplex accepted without complaint the role he was assigned: that of the "living core" of Autobot City. Built into the very fabric of the city upon its creation in 2003, Metroplex lay dormant beneath its surface, endowing it with the ability to transform from city mode into a heavily-armed battle station.
In 2008, when the Quintessons invaded and took control of Autobot City as a part of a complex, multi-pronged plan to take over Cybertron, only a few Autobots were able to avoid capture. Rodimus Prime, temporarily reverted back to Hot Rod, was one of the lucky few, and managed to activate Metroplex. The towering Autobot tore his way out from beneath the city and, already in a bad mood over being so rudely awakened, immediately began smashing and blasting the Quintessons that started attacking him. The fight was distinctly one-sided, and before long, Metroplex had successfully driven the invading aliens off. Alas, as Autobot City was largely gutted when Metroplex emerged, it was something of a pyrrhic victory for the Autobots. Space Pirates!
Dreamwave comics continuity
After deposing Shockwave on Cybertron, and leaving the planet in Ultra Magnus's command, Prowl and a large number of Autobots returned to Earth to begin construction on a vast complex known as Autobot City. Hound was seen projecting a hologram of Metroplex during construction, presumably as a blueprint. The Route of All Evil
IDW comics continuity
"They are ants, Michael! They are ants!"
Metroplex was charged with protecting an unidentified object of great value on the planet Salvvatan VIII. He remained hidden in plain sight in alternate mode, posing as merely another section of a sprawling mechanical complex on the planet's surface. His proximity to Orvus Base, the Autobot research facility orbiting Salvvatan VI, seems to be too convenient to be a coincidence, but any direct connection between Orvus Base and Metroplex or whatever he was guarding was unknown.
Metroplex's cover was compromised when Orvus Base was attacked by the devastatingly powerful Decepticon known as Sixshot. Nearly the entire crew was wiped out, except for six Throttlebots who escaped to Salvvatan VIII, with Sixshot hot on their heels. Their running battle at the complex led the combatants to Metroplex's hiding spot, and a sharp turn sent Rollbar and Sixshot through Metroplex's outermost wall. His defensive perimeter breached, Metroplex transformed to robot mode, taking the opportunity to squash Sixshot under his boot in the process. With his position compromised, Metroplex's first priority was immediate relocation of himself and, presumably, the object he protected. He directed the Throttlebots to where they could find an escape shuttle and medical supplies before transforming into a space-faring mode and rocketing out into the cosmos. Spotlight: Metroplex
Metroplex returned to Cybertron, where he served as a base of operations for the ancient Autobot Alpha Trion while he began his endeavours to restore the damaged planet to habitability. Despite his prodigious strength and size, Metroplex was of little use in battle against the Insecticon swarm that had overrun Cybertron (the swarm was simply too great in size, and would eat their way inside his systems before he could destroy them all), so instead, Alpha Trion resurrected the deceased Ironhide to carry out the task. Once Ironhide had reduced the swarm's numbers to a mere two hundred, Alpha Trion had Metroplex transform to robot mode and crush the remaining Insecticons beneath his massive palms. Subsequently, Alpha Trion and Metroplex left Cybertron for parts unknown, off to put into motion the next move in the great, enigmatic game Alpha Trion was playing. Any Old Iron
Games
Transformers G1: Awakening
Toys
Generation 1
- Metroplex (Autobot City, 1986/2008)
- Japanese ID number: C-70
- Accessories: Scamper, Scamper's arms/cannons (x2), Scamper's small laser pistol, Slammer, Slammer's turret, Sixgun's body/tower, Sixgun's chestplate/tower top 2 red cannons/Sixgun's legs, 2 black cannons/Sixgun's arms, Sixgun's laser pistol, double-barreled cannon, rear tower, shoulder antenna, 2 fists, 2 kneecaps, 3 missiles
- Metroplex transforms from a large robot to a multi-leveled "city" mainly for use with the smaller Generation 1 toys. This mode includes a service bay with launching mechanism, a helipad, and "parking" for four vehicles in whatever his legs fold out to be. He also has a third mobile battle station mode; a more compact wheeled form that incorporates his many weapons. Additionally, his weapons are all moulded with universal-sized pegs that allow them to attached in several different configurations and locations (for example, in the otherwise-pointless holes in his kneecaps in city mode). Metroplex came with Six-Gun, Slammer, and Scamper; the first two formed various parts of Metroplex's alternate modes. Metroplex's kneecaps also connect in various places in slots on his legs, both in mobile mode, and in city mode on the opposite side (near the knee joint).
- Metroplex was apparently designed as part of the aborted Diaclone line, Jizai Gattai ("Free Combination"), given the high degree of interactivity he has with other toys confirmed as part of it—namely, the Aerialbots, Stunticons, Protectobots and Combaticons. Each of the smaller "limb" robot from these four groups (and those that came after using their basic design, like the Technobots, Terrorcons and Seacons) can plug into ports in Metroplex's shoulders and knees in robot mode, while the base modes of the four leaders—Silverbolt, Hot Spot, Motormaster, and Onslaught—can connect to him in city mode. While the former feature was included in the Hasbro instructions, the latter was omitted. The peg-size of Metroplex's weapons also allows them to be wielded by the leaders and super-robots these teams create.
- As a third-year piece, Metroplex was one of several items to undergo "materials changing". Initial versions of Metroplex used rubber tires, and the fronts of his upper legs were fully-chromed silver. After a time, though, the tires were replaced with single-piece hard-plastic tires, and his legs changed to white plastic with a silver factory-applied sticker at the top. However, the plastic tire version also possessed a waist reinforced with two screw points instead of one, in an effort to prevent Metroplex literally snapping in half as so many of the original versions did due to a weak spot on the waist.
- Metroplex suffers from a large number of weak and breakable points. Apart from the aforementioned waist, the launcher inside his chest, the peg on his back, his extendable shoulder antenna, Scamper's shoulder hinges and Scamper's arm pegs are all very fragile and break or fail in various ways.
- This mold was also used to make Metrotitan, with some retooling for ramps compatible with the various Micromaster/Micro Transformer bases.
Transform Jr
- Metroflex (1987)
- Japanese ID number: C-70
- Accessories: Black gun
- The Transform Jr version of Metroplex shrinks and simplifies the original toy, omitting his city mode, all of his partners, his antennae, and his entire armament save for one black rifle. Toy be plaaaaain.
Encore
- Metroflex (2008)
- Encore number: 12
- In September 2008, Metroplex was reissued in Japan in Takara's Encore line. This version features a minor retool to allow Slammer's gun turret to become the top of a building in city mode. The Encore version also has the chrome upper legs and rubber wheels of the initial releases.
Merchandise
Transformers Gum
- Metroflex (1986)
- Accessories: 2 red cannons, 2 black cannons, double-barreled cannon, rear tower, 2 shoulder antennae, 2 fists, 2 kneecaps
- A snap-together model kit of Metroplex was available as part of the fifth wave of Kabaya's Transformers Gum candy toy series. A much-shrunken version of the original Metroplex toy, the kit can only transform into battle station mode, and does not come with any of Metroplex's partners, but does retain some of the features of the larger figure, such the opening garage door and flip-down missile rack. Moulded from black, red and grey plastic, Metroplex has stickers for detail rather than paint operations, and came with a stick of gum.
Transformers Ramune
- Metroflex (1986)
- While no figure of Metroplex was released by Hasbro as part of their 1987 Decoy promotion, a soft rubber figure crafted in his image was released as part of the second series of wave of figures released by Kabaya exclusively in Japan as part of the Transformers Ramune line. Like the other figures in this series, Metroplex was sold in a blindpacked box and was available in red, blue and yellow colors. Unusually, the figure was based more upon preproduction artwork for the Metroplex toy than on the character's finalized appearance, lacking the distinctive shoulder and "ear" antennae that give Metroplex his unique silhouette and instead sporting an over-the-shoulder double-barreled cannon.
Forms Robo
- Metroflex (1987)
- Metroplex was also part of the small Forms Robo collection of larger "Decoy"-style figures, with this version of the character standing at around twice the height of a regular Decoy. Like the other figures in this wave, Metroplex was packaged in an individual baggie and was available in red, blue, green and yellow versions.
Soft Robo
- Metroflex (1987)
- This large, vinyl figurine of Metroplex was packaged with an Autobot insignia badge.
- Water Gun Set (1987)
- The large vinyl figure of Metroplex was also avaialble in a "VS" figurine set, along with a Decepticon insignia badge, a water pistol and two randomly-packed peach-colored Autobot Decoys.
Collegeville Costumes
- Metroplex Halloween costume (1986)
- Given the small number of Transformers costumes produced by Collegeville Costumes, it was perhaps an odd choice to base one on a comparatively lesser-known character like Metroplex. Nonetheless, this two-piece costume adhered to the crappy time-worn tradition of consisting of a sculpted thin plastic mask held over the wearer's face with elastic, and a smock with a picture of Metroplex and his name on it.
- Metroplex mask (1986)
- Collegeville evidently liked Metroplex, as they also immortalized him in their line of Transformers masks. Made from flat styrofoam, the mask featured a hinge that allowed the wearer to lift it up and down, transforming from kid to robot in the blink of an eye!
Super Collection Figure
- Metroflex (2001)
- Metroplex was the "Build-A-Figure" in fourth wave of Takara's Super Collection Figure line of non-transformable PVC figurines. Available in eight out of every ten cases, Metroplex was divided into six parts, each one packaged mostly with one of the silver metallic "pewter" versions of the other six figurines in the line. His head and guns came with Ultra Magnus, his body with Arcee and Daniel, his left arm with Optimus Prime, his right arm with Megatron, his left leg with Thundercracker and his right leg with Rodimus Prime. Metroplex's parts were available in two versions, at an equal ratio: full-color and clear plastic, making two versions of the figure to collect.
Heroes of Cybertron
- Metroplex (2003)
- Super Collection Figure Metroplex was later made available as part of Heroes of Cybertron line, again packaged as a "Build-A-Figure" for the line's fifth wave. As the Heroes of Cybertron figures did not feature variants and were not blindpacked, it was a lot easier to assemble a Metroplex figure; the head and guns came with Optimus Prime, his body with Omega Supreme, his left arm with Devastator, his right arm with Megatron and Laserbeak, his left leg with Starscream and his right leg with Ratchet.
- Like all of the initial releases of the Heroes of Cybertron line, Metroplex's parts were cast in a transparent plastic with the colour based upon their faction (blue in Metroplex's case). He was almost completely painted, leaving his eyes and the back of his head unpainted for a light-piping effect.
MyClone
- Metroplex (2003)
- ID number: MTF015
- Accessories: White display stand
- Released in the third wave of the MyClone line of Transformers PVC figures, this adorable little Metroplex comes with a hexagonal white display stand, which can link up with the identical stands included with other MyClone figures. His modular design allows his parts to be mixed and matched with those of any other MyClone figure.
Notes
- Metroplex's relationship to Autobot City in The Transformers: The Movie and the cartoon series is ill-defined at best. He is not actually mentioned by name in the movie, while Five Faces of Darkness uses the terms "Autobot City" and "Metroplex" interchangeably, suggesting they are the same thing. The confusion seems to originate with the design history behind Autobot City: designer Floro Dery has described how he created his own concept for the city, but was then instructed to redesign it, adding elements of the Metroplex toy (evidenced in the film itself by the city's shift from orange to white as it transforms and the appearance of a turret that is quite blatantly Slammer). The series would very rarely show Metroplex and Autobot City onscreen at the same time, using only one or the other as the episode demanded; the closest it would usually come to unifying the two would be to show the occasional leftover orange building remaining at Metroplex's feet when he transforms to robot mode. The episode "Thief in the Night" offered the best answer to the conundrum, by clearly presenting Metroplex to be a smaller sub-section of the city (see right).
- Scramble City features a different character model for Metroplex compared to the one used for his appearances in the Generation 1 cartoon. The Scramble City model is more toy-accurate, featuring individual eyes, more robo-wrinkles and "stubble."
- "Fortress Maximus" was likely a considered name for Metroplex. The Marvel comic adaptation of the 1986 Movie even refers to Autobot City as "Fortress Maximus" in a caption.
- The Japanese book Transformers Generations contains concept art for an unmade Action Master version of Metroplex.
- In Transformers The Game, the video game tie-in for the 2007 movie, a suburban mall was called the Metroplex Mall as an homage to the character.
- Unusually for the G1 cartoon, Metroplex retains his red optics. This is in contrast to the cartoon's typical practice of colouring Autobot optics blue and Decepticon optics red.
- No instructions show this, but in a bizarre case of convergent engineering, Grandus in transport mode can combine with Metroplex in transport mode via the pegs on the former's shoulders, and the fist holes on the latter. Jizai Gattai indeed.
- The tower formed with Slammer boasts a peak that is very similar to the Scramble City connection pieces sported by all smaller limb pieces, but is too large to be used in the same manner.
Foreign names
- Japanese: Metroflex (メトロフレックス Metorofurekkusu)
- English: Philip (Omni Productions dub)
- French: Métroplex (Canada)
- Italian: Guardian
- Mandarin: Dà Dū-hùei (Taiwan, 大都會, "Grand Metropolis"), Mǒng Dà Shùai (China, 猛大帅, "Fierce Grand Marshal")
