Shadow Striker (Universe)
| This article is about the Decepticon from Universe. For the Decepticon from Revenge of the Fallen, see Shadow Striker (ROTF). |
- Shadow Striker is a Decepticon from the Beast Era portion of the Generation 1 continuity family (via the 2003 Universe line).
At an early age, Shadow Striker and her sister Roulette watched as their sister was destroyed at the hands of nomadic invaders. This traumatic event caused her to realize the difference between those who wielded power and those who were power. She grew up to become a bold, resourceful criminal who ran constant jobs for the various gangsters on Cybertron, particularly Cryotek.
Shadow Striker's hot rod engine can deploy a sonic dampening cone around her that gives her temporary stealth, and she carries a small acid blaster. Despite her resourcefulness, she can be easily manipulated when it comes to her remaining sister. Threaten Roulette and you'll get whatever you want from her.
She's also kind of an airhead.
Fiction
Universe comic
Shadow Striker, her sister, and fellow Autobots Sideswipe, Sunstreaker and Trailbreaker returned to Cybertron after a long absence. The planet's Maximals welcomed them home, but the celebration was interrupted by Unicron, who abducted all five Autobots, as well as the Maximals Silverbolt and Blackarachnia. Transported to the Pit, deep within the Chaos Bringer, Shadow Striker was physically and mentally tortured, and her body was changed into a new form. Soon she and her fellow abductees were stolen away by strange beings and locked inside the Cauldron, where they would be forced to fight each other, the loser giving up their Spark to re-energize Unicron. Abduction
Although she and many other prisoners were freed by Optimus Primal, Shadow Striker had been corrupted by Unicron's influence. As they raced away from the Cauldron, she sped ahead of them, abruptly turned, and bombed a hole in the road that was leading them away from the pursuing Minions of Unicron. Primal was nonetheless able to use his link with Primus to lead his makeshift army to freedom, and Shadow Striker remained behind with the rest of Unicron's Minions. Escape
Optimus Primal mentioned Shadow Striker and Blackarachnia as two abductees he couldn't save when trying to convince the Maximal High Council of the danger Unicron posed. Homecoming
Cybertron comic
When Unicron's defeat at the hands of Optimus Primal's Children of Primus is revealed, Shadow Striker's fate is not. Though Shadow Striker is unseen, Roulette's downcast expression as she and her comrades escape from their victory suggests an unhappy ending. Revelations Part 2
Toys
Universe (2003)
- Roulette & Shadow Striker (Multi-pack, 2003)
- Accessories: Spring-loaded missile launcher/bumper, tailpipe/missile, blaster.
- Shadow Striker is a retool of the Robots in Disguise Deluxe Side Burn toy with a new head, transforming into a Dodge Viper with exposed engine block. Her rear bumper becomes a spring-loaded missile launcher.
- She was available only in an OTFCC 2003 exclusive two-pack with her sister Roulette. The two are cast in the same plastic colors, but have different paint operations to give them very different decos. This makes them one of the few examples of true repaints in the entire history of Transformers.
Notes
- According to Glen Hallit, Shadow Striker's name was originally intended to be "Silhouette", but the name failed a trademark search. Perhaps coincidentally, "Shadow Strikers" was the name of a Kenner toyline in the late '80s/early '90s.
- Roulette and Shadow Striker are the first convention-exclusive toys to have parts made from entirely new tooling. Previously, the only one to have any alterations to its mold was BotCon 2001's Arcee, which removed some peg-holes in her chest. Marcelo Matere designed the head.
- Shadow Striker is one of the few non-Alternators, non-live-action-movie Transformers toys to be an officially licensed vehicle. Each iteration of the Side Burn toy since the Hasbro US "super" version has had Dodge's "Viper" logo on the hood and trademark information on the packaging.
- Shadow Striker's overall colors and look very closely resemble that of another Decepticon convention exclusive character, Nightracer, which came out in 1995. Despite the similarities, 3H has flatly stated that the look was purely coincidental.
