Backstreet (G1)
| This article is about the Autobot Triggerbot from Generation 1. For the Autobot from Transformers Animated, see Backstreet (Animated). |
- Backstreet is an Autobot Triggerbot from the Generation 1 continuity family.
Backstreet hates warfare. He is not motivated like Beachcomber by philosophical reasons; quite frankly, he isn't mentally equipped for deep thought, but he at least suspects that a failure to fight would mean Decepticon victory, and that he does not want. No, his temperament is the trouble. He's jumpy and nervous, easily agitated, and prone to jumping to incorrect conclusions from accurate observations. He knows he is like this, and tries to avoid battles when possible. Does this make him a coward? Perhaps, but when he cannot honorably avoid fighting he does his best to crush his fears, lest he be found out. His comrades, unaware of his secret, know him as an adequate soldier.
As a lookout, Backstreet almost excels. His senses are keen, and his nervousness keeps him constantly alert, if edgy. Best of all, he can avoid the worst of the battlefield chaos. Unfortunately, jumping to conclusions is an even worse trait in a sentry than a front-line soldier.
Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
Marvel Generation 1 comics
Around five million years ago, Backstreet was in the Autobot Fourth Computerized Division. Under the command of junior officer Optimus Prime, he, Override, and Dogfight were seeking to end the war with the knowledge of Boltax and the Underbase. On the way to Boltax, the Autobots encountered a series of traps which were placed to keep out unwanted intruders. Backstreet helped with the third trap, a road of collapsing panels. Noting that bigger wasn't necessarily better, the small car zipped past the trap faster than it could ensnare him, and Backstreet deactivated the trap on far side of it. Finally, the four Autobots reached Boltax, where the Disciples of Boltax warned them that pain and suffering would be inflicted on them if they continued. Backstreet didn't like being threatened, but Optimus Prime agreed with the disciples. He ordered Backstreet, Dogfight, and Override to stay behind while he continued. The Flames of Boltax!
He must've hit hard times over the next few millennia, though, as he was languishing in a Decepticon prison on Cybertron in 1988. Funny how your life can fall apart that quickly. Anyway, he was let loose on Earth by the Decepticons in a new rendition on The Most Dangerous Game of All — Backstreet and his Sparkabot companions were to be hunted down by human bounty hunters called Roadjammers, who Scorponok had equipped with mode-lock weapons. The Autobots were captured, but managed to escape after the bounty hunters bit the big metal hand that fed them. Ca$h and Car-nage!
Backstreet's fellow Triggerbots were eventually released from prison under undisclosed circumstances. The three were reunited during the Matrix Quest, and traveled to the desert planet Cheyne in search of the legendary artifact. They were taken in by a group of peaceful settlers, but oddly began to lose focus in their quest. No, not robotic ADD... it was Vrobian Psychic Vampires from the Dark Nebula! Dogfight managed to break their psychic spell on the others, and Backstreet and Override were forced to kill the Vrobians in self-defense. After some off-hand musing about the nature of evil and death, the Triggerbots quickly moved on with their quest. Kings of the Wild Frontier.
In one mission on Earth, Backstreet was made pointman in an Autobot plan to capture Crankcase and Ruckus, two Decepticons carrying valuable information. The Autobots knew the Triggercons should be passing a certain point on their travels, and it was Backstreet's job to send the alert signal to the rest of the army when they reached that checkpoint. Because of their close proximity to a human town, Backstreet was under strict orders from Optimus Prime not to engage the enemy. When he spotted the Double Targetmasters flying as escort for the couriers, though, Backstreet became wracked by indecision and ultimately opened fire against orders. The battle began and caused serious damage and casualties among the humans, while Crankcase and Ruckus got away. Backstreet's backup, Override, was furious at him and overstated the reprimand from Optimus Prime he was to deliver, claiming Backstreet faced court-martial and possible termination. Caught up in another panic, Backstreet went AWOL, believing himself hunted by Autobots, Decepticons and humans alike. Red Alert would be proud of how paranoid the Triggerbot became, as he attacked and destroyed an entire human military patrol before realizing they weren't the Combaticons.
Megatron received word of all this, and came up with the scheme to approach Backstreet and win him over to the Decepticon cause. He extended the "hand of friendship" to Backstreet, but was interrupted by Optimus Prime. Backstreet eventually found his courage and fired on Megatron in order to save Optimus. He returned to the Ark to face trial for his actions, but in the end Prime only decreed that no Autobot would ever stand on lookout duty alone again, to prevent any repeats of this incident.
Good to know Optimus Prime would rather "idiot-proof" his battle protocols rather than simply get rid of the idiots. Slapdash probably let out a sigh of relief at that one. Trigger-Happy!
Transformers Comic-Magazin
Template:TransformersComicMagazin Backstreet was present when the Decepticons unleashed a robotic hell-beast known as 'King Con' on New York; however Optimus Prime rented a helicopter to fly a banner announcing huge raw oil deposit finds in the Rocky Mountains. After a short hesitation, the Decepticons retreated to pursue these findings. Transformers — Transforming Robots in Action: New York — A City Sinking in Terror
IDW Generation 1 comics
When Optimus Prime needed a quick taxi service to Cybertron to investigate the disappearance of Jetfire's survey team, he called up Backstreet and the crew of the Ark-27 to transport him there. Stormbringer issue 2
Later, Backstreet and the Ark-27 were again called upon to assist Optimus Prime when Monstructor attacked and crippled Omega Supreme. Backstreet was seen assisting in Omega's recovery. Spotlight: Optimus Prime He was present on the Autobot Orbital Command Hub when Blaster announced his return to the airwaves. Spotlight: Blaster Years later after the Surge, Backstreet was serving under Dogfight when they ran into the Decepticon Justice Division while returning from the Serp Mines. When rushing for medical assistance on Delphi, he had his Autobot symbol scrutinized by First Aid. Bullets Backstreet was apparently still in medical assistance in Delphi when the crew of the Lost Light arrived, and Ambulon was seen trying to reconstitute him.Life After the Big Bang
Toys
Generation 1
- Backstreet (Triggerbot, 1988)
- Backstreet transforms into a Porsche 962-based Le Mans racing car. As a Triggerbot, in either robot or car modes, pressing a push-button on his back end flips out a pair of chromed spring-loaded (non-firing) rifles. Due to this gimmick, his back tires are just stickers while a single wheel hidden under the rear of the car allows Backstreet to roll.
Notes
Foreign names
- French: Confusion (Canada)
