Blackout (Movie)
| The name or term "Blackout" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Blackout (disambiguation). |
| This article is about the Decepticon helicopter from the first live-action movie. For the Decepticon helicopter from Revenge of the Fallen, see Grindor (ROTF). |
- Blackout is a Decepticon from the 2007 movie franchise in the live-action film continuity family. He is also known as N.B.E. 23.
The massive Blackout has been described as the "hound" of Megatron. In better days he was always to be found looming powerful and silent behind his leader's right shoulder. When given a target he hunts it down with fierce determination. Blackout is not happy with the progress Starscream is making towards finding the missing Decepticon leader. He suspects (quite rightly) that Starscream would prefer Megatron to stay lost. Blackout is openly mutinous and will challenge Starscream's leadership at any opportunity, not for his own sake, but to better serve his ultimate goal of finding his lost master. Blackout has a sneaky side and uses his symbiotic companion Scorponok's small size to great advantage.
Fiction
IDW Transformers movie comics
In the distant past, Blackout was a member of the Cybertronian Defense Force. During an attack by unknown aliens on the city of Metrotitan, he could be seen picking up a wrecked enemy tank. Defiance issue 1 In the aftermath of the attack, Megatron consulted with the mysterious relic dug up near Simfur and (essentially) declared a military dictatorship over Cybertron. Blackout followed Megatron and the other flight-capable soldiers into battle, using his special powers to disrupt the enemy flagship's targeting array. Defiance issue 2
After science division leader Optimus survived an attempted kidnapping by Starscream's squadron, Megatron declared the scientist and his followers traitors, and reformed the army under a new banner: the Decepticons. Defiance issue 3
During the subsequent civil war, Blackout fought alongside Megatron, until his master ordered 'this loyal hound' to assist Starscream's unit in keeping Optimus Prime's forces busy, while Megatron pursued his destiny. Arriving soon after Brawl delivered news of Megatron's location, Blackout and Starscream witnessed the successful Autobot launch of the AllSpark. Blackout restrained Starscream from going after it, the pair nearly coming to blows when Blackout launched Scorponok from his chest. Fortunately, Starscream calmed down, and after witnessing Megatron leave the planet himself, the group took on protoform transition forms and followed. Planetfall
Meanwhile, Starscream crew also went after Optimus Prime's starship in a Decepticon battlecruiser. Just before launch, Blackout listened to Barricade's not-so-quiet concerns that Starscream wasn't telling them everything. Unfortunately for the Decepticons, they were led into a trap by the Autobots, and their ship (and Starscream's advance scout Dreadwing) was crippled by concussion chain mines. Blackout gave a detailed damage report when ordered but was berated for giving his observation on what had occurred, and was ordered to despatch Scorponok to retrieve Dreadwing.
After making repairs to their ship, the Decepticons followed the AllSpark's trace energy and landed on Mars. The Reign of Starscream #1 There, they destroyed a primitive human rover scout and decided to investigate the nearby third planet of this solar system. Movie Prequel #3
Making planetfall on Earth in Afghanistan, Blackout attracted the attention of a military vehicle of the local creatures. Witnessing the ease with which Wreckage destroyed the carrier, Starscream pondered that Megatron would have been able to subjugate these beings if he was able to. Blackout replied that they needed to find out why he hadn't yet. Starscream's unit then attacked the nearby air base where Blackout scanned and adopted the form of an MH-53J 'Pave Low' helicopter, then easily hacked into the files of the human computers. Inside, he found files on something called 'Project: Iceman', which he suspected was related to Megatron. After the base's destruction, Blackout headed towards Qatar, intent on attacking a similar military base there to access the information they needed. Planetfall
Meanwhile, the unit also arrived on Earth in the United States of America in the year 2003. Blackout scanned a USAF MH-53 Pave Low helicopter, but apparently was not detected by the humans, nor caused any casualties, in contrast to his two comrades. When Starscream told the Decepticons that their mission was to find the AllSpark, Blackout reminded Starscream that they must also find Megatron.
Later, after being lured into a trap intended for Bumblebee set by a group of impressively equipped humans, Blackout attacked the organisation's bunker and attempted to hack into their main server, but failed after they disconnected their local systems. The only lead he got was a name...Sector Seven. Movie Prequel #4
Transformers: Beginnings
- Voice actor: Brian Stepanek
Titan Magazines Transformers movie comics
During the war on Cybertron, Blackout preferred to sow confusion and disarray before he attacked, rather than engage in direct confrontation and risk being killed. He would only go into ground battles under cover of loud noise and pyrotechnics (which he himself caused with his devastating sonic shriek emitters). Unfortunately for him, this meant he kept getting stuck leading the first wave of attacks! To protect himself, he used an army of drone troopers (presumably Scorponoks) to draw enemy fire. These drones were called "the swarm" and Blackout deliberately encouraged rumours about them so their arrival would strike fear into the hearts of enemies. Blackout Profile Despite being a coward at heart, he began to revel in the chaos and carnage he was causing, even if the odd Decepticon ended up as collatoral damage! Jazz V. Blackout
Half an hour after his death and before his body was dumped in the sea, Blackout was briefly turned into a rampaging zombie by Starscream. Starscream's Militia
Blackout was not dead!
He assaulted an Autobot convoy at Shreveport, Louisiana as part of a general terror campaign. Dark Spark Later, he was a key part in a Decepticon ambush, appearing from nowhere to blankside Autobot ground troops. The Decepticon Who Haunted Himself
He was one of the Decepticon Heartland generals, and had to report the grim news to Starscream of just how badly Stockade had gummed up their advance. Revolution Part Two By the time the battle reached him in Philadelphia, he was commanding the only Decepticon force left standing. He rejected an offer to defect to Stockade's team, defiantly saying this planet was theirs, and sicced Scorponok on him.
Scorponok failed and Blackout went down. Now he is dead. Revolution Part Three
Ghosts of Yesterday prequel novel
Blackout had spent thousands of years searching for Megatron and the AllSpark under Starscream aboard the Nemesis. While Starscream was hoping not to find Megatron, Blackout was working against him in hopes of restoring the former leader. Upon discovering a vessel similar to Megatron's alternate mode, Blackout became convinced that Megatron was nearby. However, the Autobots arrived in the Ark to investigate the ship, and Starscream ordered the Decepticons to wait while he investigated the alien ship. Growing impatient, Blackout convinced Frenzy and Bonecrusher to join him in an attack on the Autobots. Blackout, Scorponok, and Frenzy ganged up on Optimus Prime, but he managed to defeat them, forcing Blackout to call for a retreat. After Prime headed to investigate Bumblebee's disappearance, Starscream ordered them to attack, and Bonecrusher was given command. Blackout, however, was able to sneak Scorponok on board the Ark.
After Starscream returned, Blackout demanded answers. Starscream claimed that Prime and Bumblebee were killed by indigenous worms, while the alien ship was destroyed when it fell into a cavern. Blackout, unconvinced, challenged Starscream, but was seriously damaged, and had to be taken back to the Nemesis. However, Prime, Bumblebee, and the ship appeared soon after. When Starscream ordered the Decepticons to destroy the ship, Blackout demanded answers, which Bonecrusher and Barricade agreed to. However, Ratchet was able to force Scorponok off the Ark, and Blackout, still healing, sped to his rescue. What a pal. Ghosts of Yesterday
Transformers (2007) film
Blackout flew into the airspace of US SOCCENT Forward Operations Base in Qatar and refused to identify himself, prompting base commander Colonel Sharp to dispatch two F-22 Raptors to escort the Decepticon into their base. One of the Raptors reported that Blackout had the registry number of 4500X on his vertical stabilizer, the number of the helicopter Blackout had scanned and destroyed three months earlier in Afghanistan.
Once landed, Blackout was surrounded by the soldiers stationed at the base and ordered to power down and disembark his crew, or deadly force would be used. Seeing no reason to hide himself any further, Blackout transformed under a hail of automatic weapons fire from the shocked humans. Activating his heavy machine guns and rocket launchers, Blackout made quick work of the soldiers closest to him, then unleashed a massive shock wave that killed the rest of the troops and shattered their vehicles and the windows of the operations control tower. Blackout made his way around the base, tossing tanks aside, crushing soldiers underfoot and blowing up aircraft. Eventually, he reached the operations bunker and tore off the roof to link up with their server and download its files in an attempt to find information on Project: Ice Man. Unfortunately, the base commander intervened, cutting the physical hard line of the server, severing Blackout's connection and thwarting the primary objective of his mission.
Still, Blackout carried out his second objective—the destruction of the human base. As he proceeded, a human soldier was nearly crushed. Instinctively, the soldier recorded images of Blackout, the Decepticon indulging this brief moment of curiosity by looking straight back at the human. Blackout then activated a chest-mounted laser cannon to put the fleshling out of its misery, but before he could do so, he was struck by a grenade fired by another soldier, and the human made his escape. Enraged, Blackout fired flare countermeasures into the sky to confuse any other attempts to attack him, then ejected Scorponok from his back and sent his minion to track the fleeing soldiers. Blackout then turned his attention and his weapons back to the rest of the base, eventually destroying it, leaving no survivors.
Evidently, after the attack, Blackout flew back to the United States, as he was in the vicinity when Frenzy reported the discovery of AllSpark's location and Starscream ordered their forces to mobilize. Blackout was the last to acknowledge the order, then rallied in Megatron's name, perhaps to remind Starscream who his master was.
Blackout arrived at Mission City just as the final battle was getting underway. Megatron's order of "Decepticons attack" must have been music to his ears, and he followed his master's commands whole heartedly. He attempted to block ladiesman217's path as the boy was trying to get away with the AllSpark, before he was attacked by Ironhide. The Autobot threw a car at Blackout, who fired his laser cannon to destroy the vehicle and knock Ironhide over. He flew ahead of ladiesman217, attempting to use his rotor weapon to kill him, but the human managed to dodge this attack.
Blackout withdrew from the battle for a few moments, but returned as Optimus Prime and Megatron fought. Seeing his master under attack, Blackout came to the defense of his lord by activating his hand-held rotor weapon, but soldiers—including survivors of the SOCCENT base attack—attempted to stop him by painting him with targeting lasers for friendly F-22 Raptors to fire upon. As Blackout activated his cannon, he noticed the lasers targeted on him. Underestimating the fighting spirit and desire for vengeance of the humans, Blackout tried to finish them off until Captain Lennox, using an abandoned motorcycle, charged at him and fired a sabot round into his crotch (ouch), as F-22s pounded the Decepticon with missiles, extinguishing his spark.
His remains were dumped in the deepest second deepest part of the ocean—the Laurentian Abyss—along with his fellow dead Decepticons. Transformers
Beast Wars Diorama Story
At some point, Blackout and multiple Autobots and Decepticons traversed dimensions and found themselves on a different Earth, in the distant past. They crossed paths with new Transformer factions, the Maximals and the Predacons, who were engaged in a conflict called the Beast Wars. A battle broke out between the four factions. The Autobots and the Decepticons eventually returned to their home dimension, leaving the Maximals and Predacons behind to settle the Beast Wars. Beast Wars Diorama Story
Transformers (2007) toy bios
Blackout is extremely disciplined, and as such keeps his bodywork pristine. Premium Series Blackout He is incredibly single-minded in pursuing his quarry. Titanium Series Blackout He and Barricade have fought alongside each other for untold years, leaving nothing but devastated worlds in their wake as they searched for the AllSpark. Unleashed
At some point, he had a knock-down, drag-out fight with Ironhide, possibly in a desert. Ironhide Vs Desert Blackout
IDW Transformers movie comics
In the aftermath of the battle in Mission City, Sector Seven hauled away Blackout's corpse along with the other Decepticon bodies. The clandestine human organization brought the bodies to a secret facility in the Nevada desert, with the intention of getting every bit of information they could out of the dead Decepticons before they were forced to dump them into the sea. Alliance #1
Revenge of the Fallen toy bios
Ratchet and Blackout are apparently total opposites. Rescue Ratchet Vs. Blackout He may have once gotten into a fight where Optimus Prime deployed twin forearm swords. Optimus Prime and Blackout
Games
Transformers The Game (console)
- Voice actor: Noah Nelson
Autobot campaign
During the battle of Mission City, Blackout suffered a humiliating defeat from Jazz, even though he had help from Starscream and two Dreadwings. That's got be the most humiliating thing for any of the characters in the videogame, losing to somebody a third of his size. Transformers The Game
Decepticon campaign
Blackout and Scorponok were sent to the SOCCENT Base to destroy the human military installation there and download information from the military servers on the location of the AllSpark. The pair were successful, though Blackout's escape was briefly interrupted by the arrival of a squad of human jet fighters. After blasting them to tiny bits, he made good his escape.
Blackout arrived at Hoover Dam, where his scans failed to detect the energy signatures of Megatron or the AllSpark. Starscream ordered him to break the dam piece by piece. Blackout fired a pair of missiles and fought off a squad of Autobot sports car drones that were defending the installation. As Megatron emerged, he bowed before his lord. He then followed the newly-revived Megatron to Mission City, where he engaged in a final showdown with Ironhide, who had just punted Scorponok. The Autobot warhorse certainly gave the massive Decepticon a run for his money. The huge number of Autobot drones backing Ironhide up didn't make things any easier.
During Megatron's battle with Optimus Prime, Blackout attempted to assist his master by charging Prime. Prime punched the massive Decepticon, sending him flying. How embarrassing. Transformers The Game
Transformers: Autobots
As Jazz retrieved Sector 7 vehicles for Optimus Prime, he happened upon their helicopter, which to his surprise turned out to be Blackout. The two battled at Tranqulity's power plant, where Jazz managed to defeat him. Humiliated, he transformed and flew away.
Blackout made his presence felt again as Bumblebee raced back to Tranquility carrying the AllSpark with him. He chased Bumblebee through the streets until he was intercepted on a rooftop by Ratchet, who put an end to his menace for good. Transformers: Autobots
Transformers: Decepticons
First arriving under the command of a low-ranking soldier, Blackout was sent out to destroy the communications arrays in the Qatar SOCCENT military base. Once completed, he returns for more orders.
Soon after, Blackout encounters Ratchet, who appears at the base to stop you from blowing the hell out of everything. Once defeated, Blackout disappears until the other Decepticons arrive at Hoover Dam.
Dropping off some bombs for Brawl to set, the Decepticons attempt to blow up the Dam to simultaneously release Megatron and thaw him out, but are thwarted by Jazz and his drone clones. Their heroic attempts are for naught, as Megatron escapes anyway, while Blackout and Barricade retrieve his weapon chip. Once in hand, they meet before their leader and reactivate his weapons. After a charismatic speech, they set out to Tranquility to capture the AllSpark and defeat the Autobots once and for all.
Blackout arrives just in time to be blasted to slag by an AllSpark powered Starscream with a single blast. That's still slightly less embarrassing than being beaten by a half-dead Jazz. Transformers: Decepticons
Toys
Transformers (2007)
Legends Class toys
- Blackout (Legends, 2007)
- A much smaller and highly simplified version of the character, Legends Blackout features limited articulation and detail, with the helicopter mode not being a particularly faithful recreation of an Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low heavy-lift helicopter (the placement of the fuel tanks, in particular making him look more like a CH-53 Sea Stallion). Even though the robot mode sports an attempt to emulate the movie character's chest design, this does not involve the use of obvious fake elements of the helicopter mode's cockpit, unlike other Legends Class toys of movie characters. Curiously, the instructions on the back of the card show how to transform him from his alt-mode to his robot mode, which is the reverse of the rest of the Legends Class packaging.
- This toy was redecoed into Revenge of the Fallen Grindor and Spinister.
- Ironhide vs. Desert Blackout (Legends Allspark Battles two-pack, 2007)
- Desert Blackout is a tan redeco of the previously released Legends Blackout toy. He comes with an all-new Legends Class Ironhide. Oddly, he doesn't have a faction symbol anywhere on his body.
Voyager Class toys
- Blackout (Voyager Class, 2007)
- Japanese ID Number: MD-01
- Accessories: Scorponok mini-figure
- Blackout transforms into a reasonably accurate MH-53 Pave Low, though he has a rather film-inaccurate slate grey base colour and a totally random gold radome. An aft "cage" compartment can be opened to release a small PVC figurine of his partner, Scorponok. A button on the very end of his tail can be pressed in a geared action to rotate his rotor blades. By attaching the Deluxe-class Scorponok to his underside, the rotor gimmick also spins Scorponok's claws.
- During transformation, Blackout's (mind-numbingly delicate) Automorphing gimmick is activated when the user swings down his legs, which in turn flips the gray chest section his head is mounted upon up and into position, and lifts his back assembly and locks into into place behind his head. Another, less impressive automorph is in his legs—if you pull his knees down, his shin armor pops out a bit.
- In robot mode, Blackout appears closer to his original concept art, back when he was called "Incinerator" (seemingly also the basis for his Nintendo DS appearance). The entire rotor assembly on his back can be removed and converted into a gigantic fan weapon, to vaguely represent the hand-held rotor-blade weapon he wields in the film, also seen on the Titanium figurine (see below). Because of the size of his rotor assembly, Blackout is also much shorter than most Voyager-class figures despite his bulk, barely taller than a Deluxe figure.
- It is very easy for the gears in the cockpit/chest to become misaligned during transformation, enough so that the chest/head section refuses to align with the cockpit halves. Getting the gears back into alignment is a veritable nightmare, as so many other parts shift and move as you attempt to manipulate the respective pieces. Swinging the legs down locks the back assembly into place for robot mode, but simply swinging the legs back does not unlock it, with the user being required to actively separate the parts by hand. Failing to do so is sure to misalign your Blackout to bejeezus.
- An interesting side note is that the two hard points located on Blackout's shoulders, intended to support his abominably large weapon, are actually the same size as the Mini-Con Powerlinx plugs on most Unicron Trilogy figures.
- This mold was retooled and redecoed into Evac for the AllSpark Power refresh of the movie toyline, and was then redecoed into Whirl for Revenge of the Fallen. This retool gave them a new head and replaced the tiny Scorponok figure with a lifeboat/gun, as well as giving them the new hands to allow them to hold it. The original Blackout mold was redecoed into Grindor for the same line.
- Decepticon Desert Attack (Toys'R'Us exclusive two-pack, 2007)
- Accessories: Scorponok mini-figure
- This package, based on their first appearance in the film, features an unchanged Voyager Blackout packaged with an unchanged Deluxe Scorponok, which was exclusively available at Toys "R" Us stores. Since Voyager Blackout was gang-molded with the miniature Scorponok figure the single release came with, this means that the set contains two Scorponok toys in different sizes.
- Blackout Ver. 4500X (Lawson exclusive Voyager Class, Japan 2007)
- Accessories: Scorponok mini-figure, Autobot and Decepticon pins
- This Voyager class Blackout repaint is exclusive to the Lawson Japan convenience store chain, with the purchase of the movie DVD. He is redecoed in a somewhat more realistic color scheme for vehicle mode, 4500X markings and a drastically changed plastic color scheme in robot mode (many parts once black are now silver or the same colour as his helicopter hull). Additionally, the mini-Scorponok figurine has been repainted in metallic colours and detailed to resemble the deluxe-class toy (and the movie CG design, of course).
- Also included a set of two brass Autobot and Decepticon insignia pins.
- Blackout ("Premium Series" Voyager Class, USA 2008)
- Accessories: Scorponok mini-figure
- This redeco of the Voyager Class Blackout toy is based on the same plastic color layout and paint mask as the Japanese Lawson exclusive "Version 4500X" redeco of Voyager Blackout, down to the improved paint on the Scorponok mini-figure. As a matter of fact, both toys were almost identical, the main difference being that the paint used on Version 4500X's is more matte than the paint used on the Premium Series release.
- Unlike some of the early "Premium Series" toys, Blackout was available as a mass market release.
Fast Action Battlers
- Gyro Blade Blackout (Fast Action Battler, 2007)
- Accessories: Missile
- A simplified version of Blackout, designed for smaller children. His rotor blade can be detached and inserted into his left hand to represent the hand-held rotor blade seen in the film, just like the Voyager class version. He also features a chest cannon which can be flipped up from his back. Oddly, you can only see one-fourth of Blackout's head from a 90-degree angle. Even less of it is visible when his chest cannon is flipped up. He features a firing missile.
- This toy was redecoed into Revenge of the Fallen Grindor.
Dark of the Moon
Cyberverse
- Blackout (Cyberverse Commander, 2011)
- Series: 1
- Number: 005
- Japanese ID number: CV15
- Accessories: Scorponok
- Blackout is a Cyberverse Commander-class figure, featuring a surprisingly complex transformation into yet another Sikorsky Pave Low. Curiously, despite the development of this toy after two live-action movies, his robot mode appears to have the same preproduction feet as the larger and earlier toys. Since his left arm ends up having the Pave Low's tail rotor, Blackout is able to use it as a weapon if one chooses and hold either Scorponok or any C joint accesory.
- He is mistransformed in the package to better fit inside it, thus he appears that way in official photos.
- Blackout includes his symbiotic partner Scorponok, who has some minor tail articulation and transforms into a handheld blaster weapon for Blackout (or any other Cyberverse figure with the appropriate hands). Scorponok can also be carried along on the underside of Blackout's vehicle-mode tail. Though unmentioned in the instructions, Scorponok can also peg into the (otherwise pointless) peg on the back of Blackout's robot mode, just under his rotor blades, mimicking the way he was stored and ejected off of Blackout in the movie. This is prooooobably intentional.
Merchandise
Transformers (2007)
Lunchables
- Blackout ("Pocket Transformers" toy prize, 2007)
- What could only be called a "pseudo-figure" (and that's still being pretty generous), Blackout "transforms" from a flat, blueish-gray structure emblazoned with the Decepticon symbol and the word "Transformers" to a robot by folding out. Blackout is represented by stickers decorated with artwork of the character on the top, bottom, and two fold out "arms". His name is also spelled out, across his feet in this mode.
- This mold was also used to create the lunchables figure for Megatron and Starscream. A similar mold was used to create the Lunchables figure for Optimus, Ironhide and Bumblebee, though with the Autobot symbol sculpted in instead of the Decepticon one. Each iteration of this mold was made with a different color of plastic.
3D Battle-Card Game
- Blackout (3D Battle Card, 2007)
- A 29-point "uncommon" character in the 3D Battle-Card Game, Blackout "transforms" into a black helicopter. He uses the same parts layout as Evac, Vortex and Whirl.
Titanium Series
- Blackout (3" Robot Masters, 2007)
- Accessories: Decepticon display stand
- This three-inch figurine, as with all Titaniums, is partially made of die-cast metal and plastic, sculpted holding his rotor-blades as a hand weapon. Interestingly, Blackout has a more unique sculpt to him; the weapon is sculpted as it was briefly seen in the movie, but on the wrong hand. Blackout himself has an altered leg & foot design as well as having the main rotor-blades on his back excluded, matching it up more with the fact that instead of using his tail rotor, he uses his main rotor as a multi-purpose melee weapon, echoing the game render. His articulation is limited to his shoulders, head and waist, and he comes packaged with a movie-style Decepticon symbol display base.
Unleashed
- Blackout and Barricade (2008)
- The Blackout and Barricade turnaround is a 3D sculpture of the two characters in both robot mode emerging from rubble and explosions, with a movie-accurate sculpt (compared to the various transforming toys.) The 'turnaround' aspect of these sculptures simply means one can turn the piece around to display a raised-relief of the movie-style Decepticon sigil instead.
- This product's release was cancelled for the US market, but was released in Australia and in Asia.
Radio Shack
- Blackout (2007)
- A remote control helicopter sold at Radio Shack, this little heli operates on 2-channels, features blades with a diameter of just under 5.5 inches and an LED light mounted on the front fuselage. The design of the helicopter is rather inaccurate to an MH-53 Pave Low, and is coloured black for some reason.
Transformers Movie Screen Cleaners
- Blackout (2008)
- Released by Tomy Yujin on January 2008,[1] this Dangler is a faction logo-shaped screen cleaner for your cell phone, with a stock image of Blackout printed on the other side.
Robot Heroes
- Optimus Prime vs. Blackout (2007)
- Packaged with Optimus Prime, Blackout is a cute style rendition of the character. Most notably, his face has been given a more traditional Transformer style mouth and nose, making him appear more like a grumpy old man. His articulation is the standard three points, however, the kibble in his design limits the movement. This mold was later redecoed into "Battle Damage" Blackout.
- The Final Battle (2008)
- Packaged with Autobot Jazz, Autobot Ratchet, Megatron, and Optimus Prime. "Battle Damage" Blackout is a slightly redecoed version of the two pack version. No molding has changed, and the articulation is still limited. His exclusive deco is a black paint wash over various parts of his body to evoke battle damage. Oddly, the undersides of his arms get this deco but not the top, meaning the toy is meant to only be posed with arms raised. The Final Battle 5-pack was sold exclusively in Walmart stores.
Burger King
- Blackout (2007)
- This Burger King toy is a small plastic replica of Blackout's Pave Low vehicle form, with two special features:
- Holding his cockpit window up to a light source and peering through a small lens behind his front landing wheel will reveal an image of his CGI-rendered robot mode.
- His wheels are linked to his rotor drive shaft — spinning them will cause his rotors to spin rapidly, possibly flying off and disappearing under the nearest piece of furniture, where the cat will eventually find them and chew them to pieces.
Revenge of the Fallen
Robot Heroes
- Optimus Prime & Blackout (2009)
- Just like his first Robot Heroes set, Blackout comes with Optimus Prime. While Blackout is a redeco of the previous mold, Optimus Prime is an all-new sculpt with two swords. With his blue and tan, Blackout kinda looks like Grindor.
Titanium Series
- Rescue Ratchet vs. Blackout (3-inch Robot Masters multi-pack, 2009)
- Accessories: Movie Decepticon sigil display stand
- This Toys"R"Us-exclusive set features an unchanged version of 2007's Titanium Series Blackout and a redecoed Ratchet.
Figure Collection
- Blackout (2010)
- Accessories: Stand
- The Figure Collection edition of Blackout is based on his Fast Action Battlers toy, making him extremely off-model from his movie look. He is cast leaning back and has a chunk of kibble protruding from his back to stop him toppling forwards, however he's still very top heavy.
Missile Mania Board Game
- Blackout
- Blackout is one of eight characters featured in the Missile Mania board game, represented by a small standee adorned with artwork of the character.
McDonald's
- Blackout (Happy Meal, 2010)
- Accessories: rotor
- Part of the 2010 McDonald's Revenge of the Fallen promotion, Blackout does not transform but features a spinning/firing rotor mechanism instead. The rotor can be placed on his back, or mounted on his arm to be fired. Blackout does not feature any light-piping, but does have three points articulation. He was only available during week 6 of the promotion, and came with an instruction sheet that doubles as an ad for McWorld, featuring an exclusive code for the website.
Notes
- Blackout was originally conceived as Soundwave, hence his symbiotic relationship with Scorponok, who was originally conceived as Ravage. Though this obviously changed, his portrayal in the Ghosts of Yesterday novel is rather Soundwave-esque. Likewise, in the IDW prequel comic, Blackout is the only Decepticon to land on Earth and acquire his alternate mode without any witnesses, whereas Starscream and Barricade had to kill existing witnesses. In the film itself, Blackout's only speaking role has him quickly reporting to Starscream's call... in Cybertronian, with he alone both hailing Megatron upon the AllSpark's discovery and attempting to aid him in battle against Prime. What's more, all this "Soundwave-ness" is further enhanced by Hasbro's official bio, calling Blackout "his leader's hound".
- Blackout wins the award for being the Transformers character from the 2007 movie that has gone through the most number of working names: Aside from "Soundwave", he was also supposed to be named "Grimlock",[2] "Vortex",[3] "Devastator",[4] and "Incinerator"[5] at different stages of the pre-production process. The name "Incinerator" was later used for a different toy from the Movie toyline.
- Blackout's working name "Incinerator" is also accounted for in the aforementioned Hasbro bio, noting how Blackout will "fill the air with fire and burn the land clear to take his revenge".
- The period of time that Blackout acquired his vehicle mode in the film, three months prior to the unfolding events, appears to contradict the origin of his vehicle mode in IDW's Movie Prequel comics, with him apparently having scanned and destroyed the MH-53 Pave Low all the way back in 2003. It's maaaaybe possible that he just kept on destroying different Pave Lows over time to maintain his covert status (with the U.S. government covering it up) until he finally realized how close he was to a military network access point.
- Scorponok's alternate mode is actually a part of Blackout's helicopter mode; he's made up of a General Electric T64 turboshaft engine and various other helicopter bits. Considering Blackout didn't appear to be missing any integral parts of his alternate mode when answering Frenzy's call or during the final battle in Mission City, either Scorponok reattached himself to Blackout after he escaped the US Air Force's counter-attack in Qatar, or Blackout somehow magically regrew the parts that were previously made up by Scorponok.
- Blackout is never actually seen using his chest cannon in the film, even though he unfurls it quite emphatically on two separate occasions.
- During a transmission from Burger King's website, Optimus Prime has decreed that we are not to ride this helicopter. The current ridability of other helicopters the world over is unknown. Stand by for further updates as they become available.
- Blackout uses a mouthplate in the movie, seen in a brief shot of the side of his face before Epps takes his photo at the beginning of the film, and again when Epps was targeting him during the climactic battle.
- Whilst Blackout is seen using his smaller rear Helicopter rotor as a weapon in the film, the console game shows that he is able to detach the main rotor from his back and swing it around in a somewhat similar manner.
- Revenge of the Fallen never explicitly establishes Grindor as a separate character from Blackout. Screenwriter Roberto Orci, when asked, was not sure whether they were supposed to be the same character or not.[6] In the TFWiki.net Hasbro Q&A for July 2009, it was confirmed that Grindor, not Blackout, appears in the movie.
- Internal files for the Revenge of the Fallen video game identify Grindor as Blackout, indicating that the game had been developed with the understanding that they were the same character... but had dialog re-recorded to refer to him as Grindor.
- In addition to Orci, several other official sources were also confused if Blackout or Grindor appeared in Revenge of the Fallen. The 2-disc special edition of the film features an inside look at some still poses of the Autobots and Decepticons, and names the helicopter as Blackout (he's 33 feet tall, by the way). The Revenge of the Fallen: The Movie Universe also features Blackout instead of Grindor.
- In Hasbro's online "Vector Sigma: The Cybertronian Database" feature, Blackout's alternate mode is erroneously portrayed as Skyhammer's alternate mode. Likewise, his "Energon Wave" weapon is portrayed as Skyhammer's MechTech weapon.
- In the Dark of the Moon: The Ultimate Guide it also states that Blackout stands 33 feet tall.
Foreign names
- Japanese: Blackout (ブラックアウト Burakkuauto)
- Hungarian: Kisülés ("Discharge")
- Mandarin: Hēi Mó (Taiwan, 黑魔, "Black Demon"), Xuan Yun (China, 眩晕, "Dizziness")
- Ukrainian: Vymyckach ("Switch Off")
Footnotes
- ↑ Tomy Yujin Transformers page
- ↑ Details from an early script draft summed up here, confirmed as authentic by Roberto Orci here.
- ↑ Unformatted script sample from first draft naming the Decepticon helicopter "Vortex" posted by Roberto Orci on Don Murphy's message board
- ↑ "Devastator" concept art at Ben Procter Online Portfolio
- ↑ "Incinerator" pre-production render at Ben Procter Online Portfolio
- ↑ Q&A with Roberto Orci at TFW2005
