Ratbat (G1)
| The name or term "Ratbat" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Ratbat (disambiguation). |
- Ratbat is a Decepticon from the Generation 1 continuity family. He is usually a Mini-Cassette. Sometimes his robot mode is humanoid.
Cold-blooded and obsessed with efficiency, Ratbat's primary concern is looking out for himself. He treats his responsibilities, whether as a fuel auditor or as leader of Decepticons, as a business. In his book, everything comes down to profit and loss.
In his role as fuel scout, Ratbat carries sensors that allow him to detect and evaluate the quality of fuels of various types, from primitive hydrocarbons to Energon. He can process any number of these different fuels to power himself.
Although obsessed with efficiency, like any good CEO, Ratbat allows himself a small indulgence: He enjoys sinking his fangs into the fuel tanks of Terran automobiles, the more expensive the better. He enjoys nothing more than savoring high-test gasoline siphoned from a hapless yuppie's Mercedes or BMW.
Ratbat is also the best Decepticon leader ever. True, that's what every other leader says, but he's got the victories to back it up.
Fiction
Generation 1 cartoon continuity
Madman The Transformers comic
In the year 2001, Ratbat was one of several tapes that accompanied Soundwave when they were spying on the construction of Autobot City. Soundwave had managed to record a meeting between Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus where the two Autobots leaders discussed hiding the Matrix of Leadership in a bunker at the building site. Ratbat was deployed along with Overkill, Slugfest, Beastbox and Squawktalk to oversee the retrieval of the powerful Autobot artifact. As Ratbat happily reported the minimal usage of fuel in the successful operation, the Autobot Hot Rod rammed Squawkbox and Slugfest, scaring the crap out of the bat. The Transformers
The Transformers cartoon
- Voice actor: Frank Welker (English), Yoshitada Ōtsuka (Japanese)
Ratbat was among several cassettes deployed by Soundwave during the Battle of Autobot City in an effort to stop Blaster from broadcasting a distress signal to Optimus Prime. After successfully destroying the transmitter, the cassettes broke into the glass dome of the communications tower and attacked Perceptor until Blaster deployed his own cassette squad. Ratbat was then attacked by Ramhorn. The Transformers: The Movie
While the Decepticons were searching space for isidrite to repair their weaponry, Soundwave ejected Ratbat to hunt for the mineral in an asteroid field. Although the scout was successful in his mission, the isidrite deposit he discovered was already being mined by the Autobots, leading to the inevitable conflict. Webworld
When Galvatron hired the Skuxxoid and Slizardo to attack the Autobots with anti-electrons, the spying Ratbat recorded their failure and raced back to Chaar to inform Galvatron, replaying his footage of the Autobots' recovery for the two would-be saboteurs to see. Grimlock's New Brain
During a battle on Earth's Moon, Ratbat was among several "primitive" Transformers called away by a mysterious being known as Primacron's assistant to do battle with Primacron's creation, Tornedron. As the primitives made their escape from the seemingly unstoppable creature, Ratbat was grabbed by Tornedron's tiger form and eaten. Call of the Primitives He got better, though, and was later around to overhear the Autobots' conversation with Jessica Morgan about the discovery of the lifeless body of Optimus Prime. However, this resulted in most of the Decepticons being infected with the Hate Plague. Some days, a bat can't win. The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1
Japanese cartoon continuity
Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers comic
Under the direction of Soundwave, Ratbat and his fellow cassettes ambushed Bumblebee in Japan shortly after his companion Kenji had flown off in Powerglide. Bumblebee was able to leap over them and run off, which prompted Soundwave to have the cassettes give chase. Rumble shortly ordered the group to split up to cover more ground.
However, they instead (as a group, oddly) ran into Ironhide and Cliffjumper, which sent them into retreat. Unfortunately, their attempt to re-enter Soundwave's chest was foiled by the fact that Bumblebee had shattered it with a kick, causing them all (including Ratbat) to bounce off the mangled cassette door. Cliffjumper then picked them all up and proceeded to pull out their magnetic tape, wrapping it around his fingers. That meanie. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #2
Scramble City: Mobilization
Detecting some strange electromagnetic emanations coming from a mountain range, Megatron had Soundwave deploy Ratbat, Ravage and Laserbeak to investigate. When they met resistance from Blaster and his own cassette warriors, it became apparent that the mountain concealed an Autobot operation. While Ravage and Laserbeak occupied Ramhorn and Steeljaw, Ratbat was able to evade laser fire from Blaster and penetrated the mountain, discovering that it housed the construction site for the Autobots' Scramble City. Scramble City: Mobilization
The Great Transformer War comic
In 2010, after infiltrating Scramble City, Ratbat watched from a hidden perch as the alien scientist Doctor Dalton assisted the Autobots in increasing the power of the nascent Technobots. The Great Transformer War #1
The Headmasters cartoon
- Voice actor: Ken Yamaguchi (Japanese)
In the year 2011, as Vector Sigma was in the process of destabilizing, Soundwave and his cassettes invaded Autobot City in an attempt to learn what the Autobots' strategy for resolving the situation was. While listening in on the Autobots' discussion, which involved locating the missing Matrix of Leadership, Ratbat was detected by Blaster, leading to a battle between the two communications officers. Soundwave and his troops fled, but the battle was renewed soon after in the Arctic, where both combatants ultimately destroyed each other. Ratbat, Laserbeak and Buzzsaw gathered up the broken fragments of Soundwave's body and made an airborne escape. The Mystery of Planet Master Subsequently, the information Ratbat had gathered on the Autobots' search was replayed for Galvatron. Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime
Thanks to the super-science of planet Master, Decepticon Headmaster leader Scorponok was able to use the fragments of Soundwave's body Ratbat and the others had recovered to restore him to life as Soundblaster. He was joyfully received by Ratbat and the other cassettes, who soon found themselves again battling Blaster - likewise reborn as Twincast - and his cassettes while Soundblaster attacked Cybertron with the Decepticons' new Madmachine. The Great Cassette Operation
When a shadowy figure began blackmailing different nations around the world, Ratbat snuck into Autobot City to observe the Autobots' response. He was, however, spotted by Trainbot leader Shōki in the reflection in his glass of energon, and fled. Terror! The Six Shadows Ratbat continued his spying missions, and gleaned information on the human/Autobot joint venture Sol 1, an energy-absorbing satellite set for launch. Although he was discovered by Chromedome, Ratbat escaped and reported back to Soundblaster. He used holographic projectors behind his eyes to allow Scorponok to review the data he had uncovered. The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok
Ratbat and the Mini-Cassettes were concerned about Counterpunch filling their place as Scorponok's chief informants, and met with Soundblaster on how to reassert their dominance. Return of the Immortal Emperor Ratbat was still favored by Galvatron after he returned, however, and was sent to spy on the Autobots in order to learn what they planned to do about Sandra's distress call. SOS from Planet Sandra
After the Decepticons left Earth behind to seek other sources of energy, Ratbat and the Mini-Cassettes traveled with Soundblaster and the others aboard Scorponok. On the planet Paradise, he delivered a message to the Autobots when the Decepticons captured their teammate, Highbrow. Head Formation of Friendship
The Headmasters comic
After Soundblaster crash-landed following his encounter with Chromedome's "Master Chrome Hurricane-Throw to the End of Hell" attack, Ratbat and the other animal cassettes (minus Slugfest and Overkill) stood over his groggy form while Rumble and Frenzy panicked at the approach of Sixshot. The Headmasters #8
Marvel Comics continuity
Generation 1
Ratbat was one of the many Decepticons left on Cybertron, where he rose to the critical post of fuel auditor. With a drive towards extreme efficiency, he would rarely countenance unnecessary risks. He was one of the key figures in Lord Straxus's court, and so when Straxus' attempted possession of Megatron saw Straxus dead and Megatron mentally unstable, Ratbat was able to exploit it. Convincing the others that Megatron and Straxus were a liability, he had Straxus' troops open the Space Bridge in front of Megatron, Optimus and Ultra Magnus, which sent them back to Earth. Resurrection!
Ratbat emerged as the most powerful Decepticon in Polyhex. Ratbat grew increasingly dissatisfied with the inefficient use of fuel by the Decepticons based on Earth under the command of Shockwave, a practice he planned to alleviate by shutting down the Space Bridge between Earth and Cybertron. The amount of fuel the Earthbound Decepticons had gathered was not remotely equal to the energy required to run the bridge. Regardless, Shockwave appealed for one more use of the Space Bridge, and blamed the Earthbound Autobots for their lack of progress. To the ends of eliminating them from the equation, Ratbat opened up the Space Bridge in front of the Ark and sent Trypticon through it to destroy them. Though many injuries were inflicted, the arrival of the Dinobots rapidly turned the tide. Trypticon's energy expenses exceeded the budget allowed for the mission, and Ratbat ordered him back. King of the Hill!
With the Space Bridge no longer an option, Ratbat sent things to Earth via low-energy cost space freighters. However, a particularly important cargo went missing en route to Earth, so he dispatched the Triple Changers through the Space Bridge to investigate. Crater Critters When the source of the problem turned out to be a deadly plague of Scraplets, he captured the Throttlebots and sent them to Earth to remove the infection with corrosives. He warned them that if they did not succeed within ten hours, he would destroy the Earth to prevent the plague from spreading. Thankfully, water was discovered to be an effective cure. The Cure!
Ratbat traveled to Earth to oversee his designs for Earth. He continued to be outraged at Shockwave's excessive fuel use, particularly when he revealed that Shockwave's Decepticons had recently stolen a fuel tanker after it had unloaded its cargo! Meanwhile, Ratbat's plans proceeded well. He had placed industrialist G.B. Blackrock under his control, and had him open a chain of car washes that featured rock and roll music and flashing lights, dubbed the "Wash and Roll Car Wash". These car washes hypnotized humans into delivering the fuel they'd pumped back to the Decepticons. However, this plan was discovered by the Autobots' ally Buster Witwicky. After a quick fight inside one of the car washes, Buster was able to awaken the hypnotized masses outside. Ratbat was forced to flee. Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom
The United States government later captured the Throttlebots and executed them live on television. The Predacons carried Ratbat to the execution location afterwards so that he could ensure that they had indeed been killed. He discovered that their brain modules were missing, and once he had the scent, he tracked down the Throttlebots inside a nearby mall. Here he battled Buster Witwicky once again, who with Walter Barnett had snuck the Throttlebots' brains away inside remote control cars. Ratbat cornered Buster and kidnapped him. Toy Soldiers!
He brought Buster back to the Decepticons' island headquarters, where he was used as a human shield against military retaliation. The Autobot Targetmasters besieged the base, commanded by Fortress Maximus and Buster's older brother Spike Witwicky, so the Decepticons were forced to flee by deploying the island base's space-travel capabilities. In the process of departure, Shockwave was shot down in space and seen spiraling towards Earth, apparently dying during reentry. Ratbat declared it would be inefficient to rescue him and seized command of the Decepticons for himself. The Desert Island of Space!
Of all the leaders of the Decepticons on Earth few came closer to outright victory than Ratbat. He followed the Autobots under Fortress Maximus when they set out to unite with those under Grimlock and launched an all-out attack that resulted in huge casualties and the Autobots being briefly stranded on the Moon. He retreated only when Grimlock and Blaster returned from their duel and turned the tide. Totaled!
Later, Ratbat promoted the newly recovered Starscream to the position of second-in-command and set out to learn the truth about the legendary Underbase, which could seemingly make a Transformer supremely powerful. Club Con! Ratbat was determined to attain its power for himself but this ambition was shared by Starscream. The latter lured the separate Decepticon faction led by Scorponok to a meeting with Ratbat's forces, which soon resulted in conflict between the two, allowing Starscream to seek the Underbase for himself. Cold War! Both Decepticon factions allied with the Autobots in fighting against Starscream, suffering huge casualties in the process. However, both Ratbat and Scorponok independently suspected that the Autobot leader Optimus Prime had plans to seize the power of the Underbase for himself, and they set out to stop him. They confronted him aboard the Ark and Ratbat declared he would have the power of the Underbase for himself. Seconds later, Ratbat was dead, shot in the back by Scorponok. Dark Star
Generation 2
Years later, Grimlock would invoke Buster Witwicky's fight with Ratbat inside the Wash and Roll Car Wash. Optimus Prime needed to be reminded that no matter how small, life struggles to carry on, and if protecting it was good once, why would they stop now? War Without End!
Recordicons
Though Ratbat was dead, he was sought by his alternate self from another universe who had assumed the persona of Batbot. Asking if Ratbat had left any unfinished business, Batbot was directed to the pile of unfinished paperwork in Ratbat's quarters. Recordicons #11
Regeneration One
After awaking in 1994, Megatron retrieved Ratbat's body from the Ark and after being reanimated and lobotomised, the cassette was pressed into service as part of Megatron's zombie army.
In 2012, Ratbat (now sporting an eye-patch) was part of a detachment ordered to chase down Kup and the Wreckers. Upon subduing Kup, Ratbat ordered his fellow zombies to return him to Megatron. Loose Ends #2
When the Wreckers subsequently attempted to rescue Kup, Springer took down Ratbat with a punch after deploying some unexpected moves. Loose Ends #4
Following Megatron's defeat and Auntie's destruction, the inert bodies of the zombies were gathered up, thrown into a large pit and vaporised from orbit. Natural Selection #1
Transformers in 3-D
Ratbat was a sentient entity capable of talking, but pretended to be an obedient mute animal in order to get out of doing any real work. He ended up as the mentally unstable Galvatron's witless pet and sole confidant. This embarrasses him, but rather that than do work!
Cyclonus worried about Galvatron's unhealthy attachment to Ratbat. When Searchlight foiled Ratbat's search for mysterious energon-producing aliens by causing Galvatron to accidentally step on him using Scorponok, Galvatron stopped fighting to rush to Ratbat's side, distraught over his actions. The Test
Ratbat later joined a Decepticon raid on S.S. Exton 9, corralling the humans within for the use of the suspension-ray beam on them. They were to be future slaves in the Decepticons' energy research laboratory. During the raid, Ratbat noted what seemed to be an Autobot ship, and several Decepticons went in pursuit. They failed to capture the Autobot, and a group of four children, Ironhide, and Cosmos returned to Exton 9 with the Prism of Power. The battle that followed forced the Decepticons into retreat and the Prism nullified the ray beam's effects on the humans. Transformers in 3-D #2
Dreamwave Generation One comics
In the absence of Megatron and Optimus Prime during the Dark Ages, the Autobots and the Decepticons split into disparate factions. High Executor Ratbat became leader of his own faction, the Ultracons. They frequently clashed with Springer's Wreckers, who managed to keep the Ultracons in Polyhex's borders.
In a push to seize the Tagan Heights, which would grant 40% of Cybertron's manufacturing, Ratbat violated the Crisis Intervention Accord and managed to sway the Constructicons over to the Ultracons, unleashing Devastator on the Heights. However, the Protectobots arrived and formed Defensor. Escalation Their duel resulted in the destruction of a good deal of the Tagan Heights, and Ratbat was forced to retreat. Devastation
Eventually, four of the factions agreed to peace talks at the High Council Pavilions, which Ratbat attended. The talks were interrupted by an attack from Starscream's Predacons, but the four factions joined together to subdue the Predacons. However, another force quickly arrived in the form of Megatron and his Aerospace Extermination Squad. The Age of Wrath With the return of their esteemed leader, the factions reintegrated into a single Decepticon army. The Age of Wrath Pt.2
During the millions of years that followed, Ratbat acquired a body, which he despised More than Meets the Eye #5 and which worked in conjunction with Soundwave's body. At one point, he was captured and kept in the Detention Banks. During the reign of Shockwave, Starscream secretly worked with Soundwave, having Frenzy and Rumble assist him in releasing Ratbat while they were releasing the Stunticons on behalf of Shockwave. Cold War In return for some favors, Starscream returned Ratbat to Soundwave. Countdown to Extinction
G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers
Ratbat was one of the many Transformers recovered from the crashed Ark by Cobra. He was repaired and retrofitted by Doctor Mindbender, who proudly displayed him, Soundwave, and his fellow Mini-Cassettes to Destro. G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2 Ratbat was released by Soundwave, along with Laserbeak, Frenzy, Rumble, and Ravage, during an attack on the SPS Research Facility. Ratbat was felled by the combined fire of Rock 'n Roll, Roadblock, and Bazooka. His body was taken into custody by G.I. Joe. G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3
IDW Generation 1 continuity
Millions of years ago, before the war, Ratbat was a member of the Senate and possessed a fairly impressive humanoid form with wing-like capes and a bat head-like helmet. This seems to mean he's a descendant of "the progenitors". Chaos Theory Part 2 His professed role was "the application of wisdom through judgment", whatever that means, but, in practicality, he simply monitored news feeds and manipulated events (including stoking conflicts) to create the most profit for himself. Megatron Origin #2 He supported Senator Proteus's decision to implement the Clampdown, which would grant the Senate more power over Cybertronian citizens by strengthening security in the wake of an assassination attempt on Nominus Prime. In particular, Ratbat suggested they use the Clampdown to track down and shut down groups opposed to the Senate's rule. Chaos Theory Part 2 He was also responsible for the automation of Cybertron's energon mines, a move which prompted the miner known as Megatron to rebel and flee underground.
Interested by Megatron's early gladiatorial exploits, he sent his servant Soundwave to offer Megatron a wide variety of advanced weaponry. He was either trying to get in on the fight racket and increase the violence for profit, or was deliberately trying to create greater instability (also for profit). Megatron Origin #2
When Megatron's forces bloomed from underground fightclub to planet-destabilizing army, Ratbat realized that he'd made a mistake and Megatron was going too far. Megatron Origin #3 After Megatron decisively won his first battle against Sentinel Prime and the Decepticons were established, Ratbat decided to view this as a job opportunity and simply transfer himself (and all of Kaon's city funding and government data) to Iacon and a more lucrative position. Unfortunately for him, he was betrayed by Soundwave, who thought Ratbat would be a "valuable resource" for the Decepticons. His spark was removed and transferred into a smaller, compact form. Megatron Origin #4
During a manhunt for Soundwave in Iacon, Silverbolt closed in on the Decepticon communications officer from the air. Soundwave ejected Ratbat to deter him, much to Silverbolt's shock. Ratbat nimbly took out Silverbolt's port stabilizer, forcing him to crash into a nearby building. The Hunt for Soundwave
Millions of years later, Ratbat served as a scout for the Decepticons on Earth. After reporting to Megatron that he had found the Autobots' Ark-19, Ratbat was ordered to keep monitoring. Devastation #1 After the Surge and during the Decepticon invasion of the United States, the patrolling Ratbat came across the military unit of Spike Witwicky as they attempted to cross the Hudson River. He sunk their boat and only Witwicky survived. All Hail Megatron #5 When the Autobots returned to Earth and fought the Decepticons off, Ratbat retreated with the others aboard Astrotrain. Uneasy Lies the Head
Following the defeat of the Deceptigod, Ratbat and the other Decepticons were left weakened from being forced to merge together and were apprehended by the Autobots and locked away in a temporary holding area inside the gun barrel of the crashed Kimia Facility. When Optimus Prime was shown to the facility, Ratbat loudly claimed that his reputation had been unfairly tarnished and he should be released, but Optimus told him in no uncertain terms that, as far as he was concerned, Ratbat was just another Decepticon, regardless of his past as a senator.
Getting nowhere with the Autobots, Ratbat instead tried to get the Decepticons to fall in line behind him now that Megatron had vanished, but when they were released to deal with a riot caused by a large number of angry neutral Cybertronians, the Decepticons all ignored him. Starscream mockingly noted that Ratbat's attitude was the reason why no one had listened to him in four million years. The Death of Optimus Prime
Some weeks later, Ratbat had managed to cement his position as figurehead and spokesperson for the confined Decepticons. Needlenose and Horri-Bull were forcibly returned to the Decepticon holding pen for threatening a NAIL, much to Ratbat's chagrin. He complained to Prowl about the unfair, restrictive conditions that the Decepticons were kept under. Prowl simply blew him off, telling Ratbat that Decepticons couldn't be trusted to function in the new society without the I/D chips in their heads. When Ratbat pressed further, Prowl bluntly stated that the Decepticons only deserved to be treated "like the animals you are". After the Autobots had left, Ratbat furiously chewed Needlenose and Horri-Bull out for volunteering to serve on the outside as peacekeepers. Needlenose protested that they simply wanted something to do, to which Ratbat responded that he did have a plan and they only had to stay out of trouble until the next night. The Autonomy Lesson
Of course, Horri-Bull and Needlenose couldn't stay out of trouble for another night and attacked another NAIL, forcing Bumblebee to activate Horri-Bull's I/D chip and blow his head off. This however, served Ratbat's larger scheme in proving to the Autobots that the I/D chips still functioned properly. The reality of it was that Soundwave and Shockwave had found a way to disable them, and Ratbat was waiting for the right time to take advantage of this fact. Having sent Skywarp to confirm this by teleporting out and witnessing Horri-Bull's demise, Ratbat warned the others to stick to his plan. Starscream openly voiced his doubt in Ratbat's plans and leadership, to which Ratbat merely claimed that he was the one who was responsible for the Decepticon uprising in the first place, through his manipulations as a senator. Starscream left in disgust, prompting Ratbat to order Long Haul to tail him.
Ratbat's plan went into effect the next night. During a memorial service for the presumed-dead crew of the Lost Light. Skywarp was to assassinate Bumblebee from a high vantage point, pinning the crime on a NAIL. Ratbat and the other Decepticons would then move out and attack the Autobots in the confusion. Unfortunately, Starscream had tipped Prowl off to Ratbat's plan, and the Autobot prevented Skywarp from pulling the trigger. Believing Bumblebee to have been successfully killed, Ratbat ordered Mixmaster to rally the others. Ratbat asked Soundwave and Shockwave if they were in agreement with his plans, to the former's silence and the latter's indifference. Satisfied, Ratbat retreated to his quarters to prepare, where he was ambushed by Arcee. The vicious Autobot cut his legs off and skewered his wing, before stabbing him through the chest. When someone came to check on Ratbat, they found him dead and pinned to the wall with an energy-sword. The World & Everything in It The Autobots showed up shortly thereafter to remove Ratbat's body. Prowl told the assembled Decepticons that Ratbat's death had been a suicide, much to their outrage and disbelief. Starscream backed this obvious cover story, claiming that the former senator had confided in him that the pressures of leadership were too great for his "tiny body" to withstand. Last seen, his corpse was in Fixit's medical facility, being stood over by Scattershot. Stick Together
Toys
Generation 1
- Ratbat / Frenzy (Cassette 2-pack, 1986)
- Accessories: 2 thrusters
- Ratbat transforms from a robot bat into a microcassette that can fit in the chest compartment of the Soundwave and Blaster molds. He was released in a two-pack with Frenzy in 1986 in the US and European markets. The toy had either gold or silver weapons and painted or sticker cassette detail. It is unknown if the color of the weapons corresponded to the detailing types.
- Ratbat's tiny "ears" are among the more easily lost parts in the original The Transformers line.
- This mold was later used to make Wingthing and Shattered Glass Ratbat.
- Ratbat (Cassettron, 1986/1987)
- Japanese ID number: D-61, D-107
- Accessories: 2 thrusters
- In Japan, Ratbat was released as an individual toy. He came with a clear-plastic cassette storage case, like all other Japanese releases of the cassettes. It is unknown what weapon/tape-detail variants were available in Japan.
- Great Cassette Operation Vol.2 (2009)
- Encore number: 17
- Accessories: 2 thrusters
- As part of the Transformers Encore Generation 1 reissue line, Ratbat was released along with Slugfest, Ramhorn and Steeljaw.
Universe (2008)
- Standoff Beneath the Streets (Voyager Deluxe Comic 2-Pack, 2008)
- A Target-exclusive redeco of Cybertron Sideways, Universe Ratbat is a purple, alien spacefighter with a pop-out "internal displacement cannon". When his Cyber Key is inserted into the back of the cannon, he switches factions (from Decepticon to Ultracon) and the built-in spring-loaded "combat blades" deploy. His wings can also detach from his ankles and be used as blades, with both pegging into either his hands, either with one blade in each hand, or with both blades pegging into the top and bottom of a single hand, forming a double-bladed weapon. His (conveniently color-coded) purple Cyber Key is unpainted, save for its silver Decepticon symbol. He was available only with Springer.
- His packaging stock photography has his robot mode flipped, and his instructions and packaging call-out erroneously mention that his key-activated faction-changing gimmick makes him switch from "Autobot to Decepticon at will!" Worse yet, in an effort for him to fit in the box, he is horribly mis-transformed, with his crotch being left split open, and the panel above it not being fully attached to his main body.
- Despite being a redeco of a Cybertron mold, Universe Ratbat is a remarkable homage to his Dark Ages robot mode and altmode. This is further enhanced by packaging him with Springer, whom Ratbat had a rivalry with in the story. See above.
- In its first release in Canada, the set did not include a comic (in spite of the INCLUDES COMIC! marking on the package), and in its first reported US sighting, included the wrong comic. Instead of a reprint of "Target: 2006" parts 5 and 6, which was meant for the "Autobot Ambush" Deluxe-Voyager two-pack of Roadbuster and Dirge, the right comic was to be The Dark Ages issue "Escalation", which was similarly and erroneously included with the "Autobot Ambush" two-pack.
- This mold was also used to make the Noisemaze Mass Production Type Version, and retooled into Timelines Scourge and Sweeps Two, Six, and Seven. The Sweeps were later repurposed as Shattered Glass Scourge.
- Soundwave (2009)
- Accessories: 2 thrusters
- In 2009, the original Ratbat toy was included with yet another reissue of the original Soundwave as part of the Universe line, this time as a Hasbro Toy Shop exclusive that was prominently offered at San Diego Comic-Con 2009. Included were his weapons and his own cassette case.
- Surprisingly for a reissue, the US San Diego Comic-Con release and the Encore release were near simultaneous, both occurring on the same weekend.
Generations
- Ratbat (Deluxe, June - 2013)
- Japanese ID number: TG20
- Retool of Generations / United Scourge.
Merchandise
Diamond Select
- Sound Blaster (Diamond Select, 2008)
- Released by Diamond Select Toys in 2008, the Sound Blaster bust was sculpted by Mark Wong of Art Asylum, limited to 1,000 pieces. It includes a new sculpt of Ratbat perching on Sound Blaster's shoulder.
- Rumble (Diamond Select, 2009)
- Released by Diamond Select Toys in 2009, Rumble was sculpted by Mark Wong of Art Asylum and limited to 1000 pieces. Ratbat is seen blazing over his shoulder and decoed in a deeper purple then he is usually depicted in.
G.I. Joe and the Transformers
- Shockwave H.I.S.S. Tank with two figures & Energon (2012)
- An exclusive release for San Diego Comic-Con 2012, this toy is a redeco of the 2012 new-mold G.I. Joe: Retaliation HISS tank meant to represent Shockwave. It includes the Cobras James McCullen Destro XXIV and a Battle Android Trooper with a trolley for carrying Energon cubes.
- Destro's accessories include Soundwave in the form of a non-transforming tape deck and three micro-casettes capable of being placed within the Soundwave toy; red, orange, and gold cassettes that represent Ravage, Laserbeak, and Ratbat. Just who is meant to be who is unclear.
Notes
- Ratbat's manga appearances use wildly different character models. The first appears to be based more closely on his box art, and thus may in fact be his Studio OX model, while the second seems to simply be his standard animation model.
- While Ratbat in the original cartoon was a voiceless beast who was ordered around by Soundwave, in the Marvel Comics stories, Ratbat was an independent, intelligent character who could speak and held a prestigious rank, even commanding the Earthbound Decepticons for a period, despite transforming into a tiny audio cassette. Both of the "postmodern" continuities established by Dreamwave and IDW have tried to harmonize these two disparate roles by portraying Ratbat as a previously-important individual who was humbled and forced into a lowly form. Remember, kids, if you're not humanoid, you can't possibly have held a real rank. There must be some explanation.
- Ratbat's cassette form in All Hail Megatron was part of a deliberate decision to have everyone looking recognisable to new readers.[1] A black and purple bat? Perhaps they were worried readers would confuse him with Mindwipe.
Foreign names
- Japanese: Ratbat (ラットバット Rattobatto)
- French: Vampiro (Canada)
- Hungarian: Féreg ("Worm")
- Italian: Stridek
- Russian: Krysak (Крысак, "Ratty")
