Doubledealer
- Doubledealer is an Autobot and a Decepticon in the Generation One continuity family. In some continuities he goes by the separate names Double or Dealer as well.
Doubledealer is unique among Transformers as he holds a place in both the Autobot and Decepticon armies. The truth, however, is that this ruthless mechanoid is a mercenary loyal only to whoever is paying him, and then only if no better offer catches his eye. His skills and power make him a valuable asset to both sides, but neither really trust him as far as they could throw a Guardian Robot.
Doubledealer is also unique among Powermasters in possessing two binary-bonded partners, Knok and Skar.
Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
A Decepticon named "Dealer" escaped with both Chainclaw and the secret Autobot plans he was carrying, despite the Micromaster Race Car Patrol's efforts. A mysterious Autobot named "Double" immediately offered his services, explaining that it was his fault that Dealer got away with Chainclaw. After Roadhandler scanned his Autobrand for authenticity and Optimus Prime granted him Energon cubes for the mission, Double left to redeem himself. Meanwhile, Dealer presented the Autobot plans to Scorponok and left.
Double arrived back to the Autobots with Chainclaw, but he appeared severely damaged. He told of how Dealer had taken both his energon and the plans, and pleaded for his forgiveness. Optimus Prime, the Race Car Patrol, and Chainclaw left, leaving Double alone. Surprise! The mystery figure is both Autobot and Decepticon, both Double and Dealer! Having conned each side from both the Energon cubes and the Autobot plans, he takes to the air in triumph. (Double) Deal of the Century!
Dreamwave comics continuity
Doubledealer carefully chose his partners to best represent him to each faction. Neither Knok nor Skar knows of the other's existence, nor of their master's double life. His two partners are loyal to the Autobots and Decepticons respectively.
IDW comics continuity
A part of Hot Rod's first command, the Autobot called Dealer was left to face a Decepticon ambush alone while Hot Rod, having already lost the rest of his team, escaped with the mission's objective, the Magnificence. Stricken with guilt, Hot Rod infiltrated the Decepticon Penal Colony Styx and evacuated Dealer. Though Hot Rod was at first uneasy around Dealer, considering their history, Dealer explained that he understood Hot Rod's need to complete the mission and leave without him, and wished to become friends.
Unbeknownst to the young Autobot, however, Dealer was the true reason for the loss of Hot Rod's team. Dealer was an undercover agent working for the Decepticon mercenary Banzai-Tron and in that capacity had sabotaged Hot Rod's equipment and staged the ambush. With the Magnificence stored in a location known only by Hot Rod, he befriended the Autobot with designs to learn its hiding place. Banzai-Tron, learning of his hire's doublecross, renamed him Doubledealer. Spotlight: Hot Rod
"Doubledealer" maintained contact with Banzaitron, selling him bits of information such as the existence of Transformer gestalt warriors discovered by the Autobots, which the Decepticon used to track them to the penitentiary on Garrus 9, staging a full scale assault to acquire this revolutionary technology.Spotlight: Arcee
Toys
- Doubledealer with Knok & Skar (Powermaster, 1988)
- Doubledealer's "default" mode is an ICBM missile launcher truck with no visible faction sigils. By plugging Knok into the engine socket, his Autobot humanoid robot mode is unlocked. In this form, the ICBM splits up to form a handgun and shoulder-mounted (non-firing) launcher. By plugging Skar into the socket, his Decepticon "bird" mode is unlocked, where the missile simply acts as a gigantic rocket-pack.
- This mold was used to make Doubleclouder.
Trivia
- Doubledealer's packaging uses the Decepticon color scheme and logo, even though he's fictionally a "whichever".
- Though his toy bio and all other material describe his Decepticon bird mode as a "falcon", the head of the toy actually looks like a vulture, which would seem more fitting given his mercenary nature.
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