Windcharger (G1)
| "Windcharger" redirects here. For the Energon Mini-Con combiner robot, see Windcharger (Energon). |
- Windcharger is an Autobot from the Generation 1 continuity family.
Of all the Ark's crew that crash-landed on Earth, Windcharger is unquestionably the fastest on the ground, at least for short distances. Of all Autobots living or deactivated, he is among the quickest; he can go from zero to 60 MPH virtually instantly, limited only by the traction between his tires and their driving surface. Frequently, after tearing away with a neck-snapping jerk, he will just as rapidly squeal to a halt to investigate something that caught his eye, for Windcharger is impulsive as well as impatient, both in mind and in body.
Naturally, such quick starts require a huge burst of energy from Windcharger's power systems. He can also use this energy in another way. In robot mode, he can energize his arms and make them the poles of a precisely controllable electromagnet, powerful enough to levitate ten tons of steel 700 feet away. With care, he can draw objects gently toward him or hurl them violently away. Also, as the long-suffering laws of physics dictate, this field is extremely strong near Windcharger; at close range, he can tear magnetic objects to shreds.
Unfortunately for Windcharger, his power supply, biased as it is toward a brief, heavy overload, is prone to failure if the overload is too severe or too long-lasting. Even worse, his impulsive nature makes him hardly willing to exercise the mental control he needs to avoid overusing his power. As a result, Windcharger often finds himself stumbling home, reeking of ozone and burned insulation, and needing medical attention and a nice, tall, chilled glass of dielectric oil.
Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
Five million years ago, Windcharger was part of Optimus Prime's plan to defend Iacon from the Decepticons. After Prime lured the Decepticons onto a bridge and blew it up, Windcharger used his magnetic powers to pull him to safety. And There Shall Come...a Leader!
Windcharger was among the elite few selected by Optimus Prime to join him in crashing the Ark into the Earth. The Transformers After the Autobots awoke in 1984, Windcharger was very concerned with how they would obtain more fuel. Power Play! He participated in the attack on Fortress Sinister, and looked at Gears's body after his fellow Autobot fell off the Decepticon fortress and was deactivated. Prisoner of War!
During a Decepticon attack on the Ark, Optimus Prime attempted to activate the Ark's computer, known as Aunty, to bring the defense systems back online. Unfortunately, Auntie had been damaged in the crash and become unstable. Unable to remember who was friend or foe, she used a magnetic field to subdue all the combatants aside from Windcharger and Ravage, whose magnetic powers enabled them to counter Auntie’s magnetic force. With Ravage's help, Windcharger was able to deactivate Auntie's Guardian battle droid. Once Ravage shut down Auntie, Windcharger used his powers to hurl Megatron from the Autobot base. Raiders of the Last Ark
After witnessing Huffer accuse Sparkplug Witwicky of treachery, Windcharger battled the Decepticons once more, but was defeated by Shockwave along with the rest of the Autobots. The Last Stand His deactivated body was strung up from the Ark's ceiling to be used as spare parts. The New Order
Once the Decepticons had been vanquished from the Ark, Guardian was reactivated to guard the ship, full of deactivated Autobots in need of repair. When the few active Autobots returned, they made Windcharger's reactivation a priority so that he could use his magnetic powers to thwart Guardian. Ultimately, however, Windcharger did not get the chance. The Wrath of Grimlock!
Windcharger and the other Autobots were eventually repaired by Ratchet. DIS-Integrated Circuits! Some time later, Windcharger was gunned down by Optimus Prime's body when the Decepticons took control of it using a fake head. Prime Time!
When the Autobots were dispatched to locate the missing Dinobots, all suffering from madness due to circuit damage, Windcharger was assigned to lead "A-Team", which included Cliffjumper and Gears. The three searched for Sludge in a northern California swamp, but were captured in a Decepticon ambush led by Soundwave. They were later rescued thanks to Bumblebee. Dinobot Hunt!
Generation 1 cartoon continuity
The Transformers cartoon
- Voice actor: John Stephenson (English), Keiichi Nanba (Japanese), Ulises Cuadra (Latin American, Season 1), Juan Cuadra (Latin American, Season 2)
Windcharger was part of the initial crew of the Ark, on a mission to seek out new energy sources to fuel their struggle with the Decepticons. More than Meets the Eye, Part 1 After awakening on Earth over four million years later, Windcharger participated in the unsuccessful Autobot counter-attack on the Decepticon siege of Sherman Dam, which was being run at dangerous capacities to fill the Decepticons' energon cubes. More than Meets the Eye, Part 2
He was also among the group of Autobots who attempted to stop the Decepticons raiding the ruby crystal mines of Burma. He dressed up in a lab coat during an attempt to trick the Decepticons into attacking a fake rocket base, though it turned out the Decepticons they were fighting were decoys, and he and the other Autobots were forced to try and stop the Decepticons from taking off in their space cruiser. More than Meets the Eye, Part 3
When Optimus Prime was severely damaged, Windcharger, Brawn and Gears went to see how the repairs were going, unaware that Laserbeak had hitched a ride on Brawn's shoulder. He later helped defend headquarters long enough for a new cosmitron to be retrieved from Cybertron, so Prime could be repaired. Divide and Conquer Windcharger attended the unveiling of the Dinobots, and was knocked over by Sludge during the ensuing chaos. S.O.S. Dinobots
Of all the other Autobots, he seemed to be closest to Brawn, judging from their excellent teamwork and friendly banter while journeying with Skyfire to investigate a Decepticon super-weapon in Peru. When Windcharger was injured during the battle later in that mission, Brawn was quick to swear vengeance for the small 'bot. Fire on the Mountain
When Sparkplug Witwicky was kidnapped by the Decepticons, Windcharger was in the group which tunneled beneath the Decepticon base, using his magnetic field to detect when they'd reached their destination and carrying Sparkplug from the base. Along with the other Autobots, he was unsuccessful in preventing Megatron from bringing Cybertron into Earth's orbit. The Ultimate Doom, Part 1 After Bumblebee fell into a chasm during the Autobot retreat, Windcharger used his tractor beam to pull the little Autobot out. The eruption of the volcano at Autobot HQ blew Windcharger, Ratchet and Huffer into the air, necessitating a rescue by Skyfire. The Ultimate Doom, Part 2
After Insecticons were sighted in Bali, Windcharger, Brawn and Bumblebee headed there in Skyfire. They found the Insecticons feeding on a field of hay, but had trouble fighting them off. Windcharger had to set up a repulsor field to stop them from being cut to bits by the spikes from Shrapnel's grenade. The rest of the Autobots turned up in time to save their bacon, and they pursued the Decepticons to a nearby refinery. A Plague of Insecticons
Windcharger was in the group of Autobots who attempted to defend a new Air Force rocket base from the Decepticons. He and Ratchet were taken out by an attack from behind by Soundwave, who was promptly given the boot by Brawn. Windcharger was OK though, and later helped the other Autobots try to reason with Spike Witwicky when the boy was placed in a robot body and went a little nuts. Autobot Spike He was hanging around Autobot HQ when Teletraan I detected strange readings from the bottom of the Atlantic, but didn't bother volunteering to go check it out. Atlantis, Arise! At one point, he helped the other Autobots construct detection plates to increase Headquarter's security grid. Enter the Nightbird
"...A bee flew by and I panicked."
Much like the other Autobots, Windcharger was bemused by Optimus Prime's odd behavior after one particular battle, and even more confused when a second Optimus drove into Headquarters. Their test to determine the real Prime proved inconclusive, however the Autobots were alerted by strange energy readings from the crevasse the earlier battle had taken place at. Returning to the scene, they battled the Decepticons again, however Windcharger and Spike spotted Starscream acting oddly, and found Megatron's control center, from which he was controlling the false Prime.
Before they could return to warn the other Autobots, the pair were spotted, and Windcharger was knocked into the crevasse, where he only escaped destruction by transforming — his vehicle mode tires insulated him from the korlonium crystals filling the crevasse. He was able to climb out and warn the other Autobots. A Prime Problem
Windcharger was around when Wheeljack attempted to demonstrate how he'd taught the Dinobots to better control their abilities. It didn't go well. Dinobot Island, Part 1 When Megatron supercharged himself with the Heart of Cybertron, Windcharger helped defend Headquarters against the Decepticon leader. Microbots All of the Autobots were banished from Earth after the Decepticons framed them with an elaborate plan. Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1 They almost crashed into the sun, but made it back to Earth safely. Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2
After a close call with Cybertonium depletion, Windcharger was around for a ceremony honoring Spike, Carly and the Dinobots for retrieving more of the valuable substance from Cybertron. Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2 He, Huffer and Ironhide blasted Decepticon drones in New York City. Make Tracks After Tracks and Bumblebee disappeared, Windcharger took part in the search. As the other Autobots were picked off by Lord Chumley and his servant Dinsmoore, Windcharger narrowly escaped one of their fiendish traps. He regrouped at HQ with the other Autobots in time for Chumley to deliver his challenge to Optimus. Prime Target
Windcharger was among the five Autobots who disguised themselves as Stunticons in order to halt one of Megatron's evil schemes; he camouflaged himself as Wildrider. When the group was forced to become a fake Menasor, Windcharger's magnetic powers were essential to pull the Autobots together for the illusion. Masquerade
Windcharger was among the Autobots killed at the Battle of Autobot City; Arcee pulled his corpse into the shelter of a bunker and laid it alongside that of Wheeljack. The Transformers: The Movie
Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers comic
Windcharger greeted Kenji, the Autobots' new human friend, when he came to visit their headquarters in Japan. Shortly afterwards, the city of Yokohama came under attack from the Decepticons, and Windcharger followed Optimus Prime to the site of the battle. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #4
Full Throttle Scramble Power! comic
After the Autobots had foiled the Decepticons' latest plan, Windcharger and dozens of other Autobots arrived at the villains base alongside Scramble City to punish them for their misdeeds. Full Throttle Scramble Power!
Binaltech (unused)
Two BT-16 Honda S-2000 Aero Style bodies were built for Windcharger to use, but the EDC shuttle they were on disappeared during delivery. One of the BT-16s ended up being possessed by the spark of a future Transformer, while the other was implanted with an evil laser core by Unicron and became Decepticharge.
Or not.
Find Your Fate Junior
When Bombshell used a cerebro-shell to control the Dinobots and send them on a violent rampage, Optimus Prime had few options. One option involved letting Mirage use a hologram of Optimus Prime to lure the Dinobots over a cliff. The other was to allow Windcharger to use his magnetic powers to remove the shells from a distance. Windcharger was eager to be chosen.
But how far away should he stand? If he stands too close, he may cause a whirlwind of magnetic destruction that would rip the Dinobots to shreds, causing dino-corpse parts to fly about and knock the Autobots around! But if he stands too far away, his powers may have no effect and everyone will die helplessly at the hands of their brainwashed comrades.
Let's stand a little further away next time, Windcharger. You murderer. Dinobots Strike Back
Deadly Paradise storybook
Windcharger was part of a team of Autobots who traveled to Carob Island to investigate suspected Decepticon activity. Upon discovering Decepticon machines digging for a unique ore, he helped destroy them using his magnetic abilities. It soon transpired that the Decepticons were forcing local roboticist Madame Cee to build fake Autobots, and after rescuing Bumblebee and Hound from her grasp, Windcharger and the others made it to the Decepticon base on the island. They were initially captured and imprisoned, but were soon busted out by Prowl and started attacking their captors. During the battle, Windcharger grabbed Starscream and crushed him to death using the full force of his personal magnetic field. Deadly Paradise
Dreamwave comics continuity
Windcharger was among the crew of the Ark when it crashed on Earth, and awoke in 1984 to battle the Decepticons. When the Autobots defeated the Decepticons and planned to return to Cybertron aboard the Ark II, Windcharger was one of many Transformers recovered by Lazarus after the starship exploded over the Arctic. In 2002, the Decepticons broke free of Lazarus' control before the Autobots, and tore through their captive enemies. Optimus Prime and a free group of Autobots did some spot-welding to repair as many comrades as they could in a hurry, but Windcharger was too badly damaged and remained off-line until after the resulting battle in San Francisco was over. Prime Directive
When Optimus Prime and Megatron joined forces against the U.S. military, Windcharger was on hand with the Autobots in confronting the President's forces. He was one of the first to fall before the assault of the deconstructionites. Fusion
When Shockwave arrived from Cybertron, proclaiming a new era of peace, Optimus Prime and a number of other Autobots were forced to surrender to his fantastically violent security force. Windcharger was left behind on Earth as part of a small unit led by Jazz. Brothers' Burden When a group of Decepticons returned to Earth under Starscream's command, Windcharger was deactivated battling the brutal Bruticus, and left to rust at the bottom of a lake. Night of the Combaticons He was eventually brought back on line with the help of Earth Defense Command. Lost and Found
IDW comics continuity
After Bumper and Fastback were killed in the line of duty, Windcharger attended their funeral along with the other Autobots working in Kaon Security Services with Sentinel Prime. Megatron Origin #3
As the war spread across Cybertron, Windcharger became a soldier in the Autobot army under Optimus Prime's command. When they were defending a city from the Decepticon advancing force, Optimus Prime ordered Blurr to use his speed to break through the enemy ranks and sow confusion. Windcharger volunteered his own rapid movement, but Optimus Prime rebuffed him due to Blurr's superior speed, and asked Windcharger to hold the line with Groove and Prowl. After their victory, he was seen at a celebration talking with Hound. The Iron Age
Much, much later, Windcharger made it to Earth, along with Seaspray and Jetfire after the Decepticons wiped out Autobot outposts across the galaxy. Spotlight: Prowl At one point, Windcharger was captured by Skywatch, along with Gears. ...For All Mankind
He was released from captivity once the Autobots and Skywatch settled their differences, but it wasn't long before the Decepticons struck once again. Forced to abandon their Skywatch base, Windcharger and the other Autobots fled towards Omega Supreme only to find themselves under attack, first from humans with anti-Transformer sentiments, then from Megatron himself. Even the Autobots' combined firepower failed to put a scratch on the Decepticon's brand new body, and they were defeated in short order. Revenge of the Decepticons Part 3: Woken Furies
Most of the Autobots left Earth a while later, intending to return to Cybertron. They took a captive Megatron with them, and seeing the powerful Decepticon leader in bounds was a source of great interest to Windcharger and others. Chaos Theory Part 1
Games
Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons
Windcharger had been taken prisoner by the Decepticons, and was hidden away in their maze-like base along with several other Autobots. This prompted Optimus Prime to embark on a rescue mission. Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons packaging blurb and game
Toys
Generation 1
- Windcharger (Mini Vehicle, 1984/2003)
- Japanese ID number: 12
- Released in the first year of Transformers in the same color as its Microchange version, and later on in a darker shade of red (coinciding with the addition of the rub mark to the line in 1985), Windcharger transforms into a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am sports car. The Microchange toyline was meant to depict robots that turn into toy cars, which accounts for the somewhat cartoonish proportions of Windcharger's Trans Am mode.
- Camaro (Robocar, 1985)
- Released in Brazil by Estrela in 1985, Robocar Camaro was available in two color schemes: red and grey (Windcharger's original colors) and white and grey. Whether or not Robocar Camaro is the same character as the evil Malignus Camaro is unknown.
- No, he's not actually a Camaro.
- Camaro (Robocar, 19??)
- Released in Argentina by Antex in, Robocar Camaro was available in two color schemes: blue and black and yellow and black. Both toys feature a paper decal based on the original Microchange sticker on the robot mode chest that doesn't particularly like to stay in place thanks to weak glue.
- While Camaro's cardback depicted a white version, it is suspected that this was merely photography of an Estrela toy, and that the white version was never sold in Argentina.
- Windcharger (Keychain, 2003)
- In 2003, toy company Fun4All made four different keychains, based on four of the original Generation 1 Mini Vehicle molds, Windcharger among them. This version is almost identical to the original, only it has a ring on the front bumper to attach the chain portion, and no face paint.
- In Japan, all four keychains were released in blind-packed boxes. Each one also had a rarer all-black "chase" version. While the normal Windcharger retained the lack of silver face-paint, the black version actually got the silver paint on his face once again.
- This toy was redecoed to make the BotCon Europe exclusive Rook.
Alternators
- Windcharger (Alternator, 2004)
- Alternator ID number: 10
- Accessories: Engine-shield
- Originally designed to be an updated version of the Omnibot Overdrive, this Alternators toy ended up having its name changed to "Windcharger" by Hasbro after they were unable to obtain the trademark for "Overdrive". (The toy was released as Overdrive as part of the Japanese Binaltech line, however.) He transforms into a 1:24-scale licensed Honda S2000 sports car with a removable "ragtop" roof, which doubles as a shield in robot mode.
- Aside from the lack of die-cast metal, the major difference between Windcharger and Overdrive is that Windcharger lacks the long drive-shaft/barrel for his engine/rifle accessory, which was even called a "shield" on the packaging. This was at the request of Honda's USA branch, who didn't like the idea of "their" toy toting a gun around. Since Honda's Japanese department had no such objections, however, Binaltech Overdrive did include an unchanged barrel. Other minor differences include slightly differently-shaped visors, the paint operations on the front grille, and their dashboards sculpted as mirrored counterparts of each other, with Overdrive having the steering wheel on the rights side while Windcharger has it on the left side for all the Hasbro markets he was released in.
- This sculpt was retooled into Decepticharge, which was planned to be released in Japan as "Blackwidow" but ultimately scrapped. The intended "Blackwidow" version was later released in different colors as Binaltech Arcee.
Transformers (2010)
- Windcharger (Scout, 2010)
- Windcharger transforms into a genericized modern muscle car that's a cross between a fifth generation Ford Mustang and a fifth generation Chevrolet Camaro. The front end is primarily based on the Mustang, including a trapezoid front grille inspired by the 2010 facelift, a GT hood scoop and a chin spoiler, while the rear half of the car is heavily inspired by the Camaro's distinct curves. The shape of the taillights, meanwhile, is also taken from the Mustang's 2010 facelift. His rear window sports a sculpted louver cover (available as an optional-add-on for both real-life cars) similar to the Generation 1 Windcharger toy, thus recreating G1 Windcharger's characteristic shins due to a similar leg transformation.
- In robot mode, Windcharger features flip-out "hand blasters"/magnets in his wrists. His head sculpt is based on the same "modified animation model head" design as Alternators Decepticharge's head, which had originally been designed with Windcharger in mind (see below). His magnet assembly also features C joint bars that can be used even when the magnets are retracted.
- As part of the Reveal the Shield subline imprint of the 2010 Transformers toy line, he features a heat-sensitive rubsign.
United
- Wind Charger & Decepticon Wipe Out (two-pack, January 2012)
- ID number: UN-27
Merchandise
Decoy
- Windcharger (Decoy, 1987)
- Decoy ID number: 25
- Decoy Windcharger is a small, red rubber figure depicting his robot mode. Like all Autobot Decoys, he was randomly packaged with Throttlebots, Aerialbots, Protectobots and Technobots.
Notes
- Windcharger had the preliminary name of Sprint.
- Poor ol' Windcharger is the only Autobot who doesn't get a name-check or a chance to use his special powers at any point during the show's three-part pilot, "More than Meets the Eye". All he gets to do is get beat up by Reflector. Per the episode's original script, he was supposed to get a brief spotlight helping Brawn and Huffer fight the oil rig fire at the conclusion of the first episode, but with the removal of this scene, he didn't even get to speak until "Divide and Conquer".
- Windcharger makes a post-mortem appearance in the third season episode "Call of the Primitives" as the energy creature Tornedron attacks Cybertron. Whether this appearance was accidental or if he "got better" (like Wheeljack) is unknown.
- The retool of Alternators Grimlock was originally planned to be Windcharger (presumably in red), with the vehicle mode being a convertible. Ultimately, however, the toy ended up as Wheeljack instead, with a new head sculpt. The head sculpt originally intended for Ford-Windcharger eventually ended up being used for the retool of the actual "Windcharger" toy (the Honda S2000 mold) instead, now named "Decepticharge".
Foreign names
- Japanese: Charger (チャージャー Chājā)
- French: Rapido (Canada)
- Hungarian: Széllovas ("Wind-rider")
- Italian: Lampo ("Lightning Flash")
- Portuguese: Ventania, Vendaval, Giro (Brazil comics)
- Russian: Razrjadnik (Разрядник, "Discharger")
- South American: Camaro
