Grapple (G1)
- Grapple is an Autobot from the Generation 1 continuity family.
Grapple is technically an architect, but in his Spark he is an artist. On Cybertron, before the war, his buildings were considered great works of art, but now his constructions are limited by the realities and needs of the war effort. It is a situation he often finds stifling. Grapple takes great pride in any work he constructs, and is prone to severe bouts of depression should his "masterworks" be destroyed in the course of combat. Grapple can usually be found hanging out with his close friend Hoist who does his best to cheer Grapple up when his artistic temperament has him down.
- French-Canadian name: Grappin
- Hungarian name: Csáklya
Fiction
Animated continuity
- Voice actor: Peter Reneday (US), Kenyu Horiuchi (Japan)
Grapple designed a Solar Tower to collect solar energy for the Autobots--even built a little model of it. When Optimus Prime wouldn't let him build it, Grapple ran off to sulk and encountered the Constructicons, and naturally told them all about his awesome tower idea that got nixed because Prime didn't want the Decepticons getting their hands on it. Brilliant.
They agreed to help Grapple and his buddy Hoist out, but then Megatron found out and decided to turn it into his latest evil plan. The Solar Tower was completed, but Devastator trapped Grapple and Hoist inside it, and the Autobots had to show up to save their skidplates. The Master Builders
Grapple was also one of several Autobots captured by Lord Chumley's wildly-improbable traps; Grapple fell victim to a series of girders that magically fell into a cage configuration. Taken to Chumley's goofy-ass castle, he was used as bait to draw in Optimus Prime, "forced" to hold up a giant boulder... which did not seem to be actually supported by anything and therefore Grapple could have just dropped it or thrown it at one of the other devices keeping the Autobots prisoner. Grapple's kind of stupid. Prime Target
Marvel Comic continuity
Prior to the Ark leaving Cybertron, Grapple (along with Smokescreen, Tracks, Hoist and Skids) had his memories recorded onto crystals in case Optimus Prime required more warriors during the Ark's mission. Four million years following the Ark's crash on Earth, Grapple and the others were revived in new bodies on Earth. While the other newly revived Autobots were sent out to learn more about their new home planet, Grapple was sidelined. Optimus Prime had a very special building project for Grapple. Rock and Roll-Out!
So Grapple built Omega Supreme. On his own. Command Performances!
- (Note: Optimus Prime says he copied Grapple's memories in case he needed another warrior while away. Does that mean there's still the original Grapple out there somewhere?)
Marvel Books Big Looker Storybook continuity
While lamenting the fact that he couldn't build beautiful buildings like he did back on Cybertron because the Decepticons would destroy them, Grapple spotted a grasshopper and a beetle. He wished life were as simple for him as it was for those insects, who promptly violated his brain. Under Bombshell's control, Grapple attacked the resident Autobot hippie. Later, at their base, the Decepticons made Grapple their bitch. After the Autobots removed his cerebro-shell, Grapple sucker-punched Megatron and they all celebrated. Hurray! Insecticon Attack
- (Note: Throughout almost the entire story, Grapple is drawn with Hook's character model, only appearing with Grapple's own head in close-ups.)
Toys
Generation 1
- Grapple (Autobot Car, 1985, 2004)
- Japanese ID number: C-47
- Grapple transforms into an orange crane based upon the same truck design that Inferno uses, the Mitsubishi Fuso. Each of his forearms contains a spring-loaded missile launcher, so he can fire his own fists or silver missiles (though the mechanism was severely neutered in the original US releases). He is also armed with a small black rifle.
- Grapple was reissued by Hasbro in 2004. He spring-loaded firing mechanisms in his arms were removed due to safety reasons. Additionally, the hook on his crane as well as the hydraulics in the crane arm were changed to plastic painted silver, rather than using the more brittle (but authentic to the original release) vacuum-metalized plastic. He also gained a new Autobot sigil tampograph on his chest/cab and his eyes were changed from yellow to blue.
- This mold was also used to make Artfire and Load Hauler.
Attacktix
- Grapple
Trivia
- An Autobot vehicle roughly matching Grapple's vehicle mode and refered as Hauler appears in a quick scene in the three-part mini-series pilot for the original cartoon series. Though later retconned into a unique character via an e-Hobby-exclusive redeco, it is likely that this was originally intended as the toy and character that eventually became Grapple.
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