Darksteel (DOTM)

Darksteel is a Decepticon from the Dark of the Moon portion of the live-action film series continuity family.

"Was once a snaaaake."

Darksteel is dark and presumably made of steel. Tarnation! He was trained on Cybertron by Cybertron's most respected Decepticon fighter, and although he's still capable of utilizing blasters, he doesn't trust them. There's nothing else with the killing power or reliability of a good blade.

Toys

Dark of the Moon

Snakeman! Call Dennis Quaid!

• Darksteel (MechTech Deluxe, 2011)
  • Accessories: 2 MechTech Cannons/Swords

Part of the fifth wave of Dark of the Moon MechTech Deluxe Class toys, Darksteel is a retool of MechTech Deluxe Sideswipe, with a new head and new weapons. Darksteel changes into a Corvette Stingray concept convertible in very dark brown with a teal flame deco. He comes with retooled versions of Starscream's MechTech weapons, with one weapon being static and now resembling snake fangs and the other being functional and now resembling a scorpion's stinger. Both weapons are double-sided, featuring a cannon barrel (which looks like a machine-gun barrel) on one side and a "sword" on the other. Pushing forward the scope on the functional weapon will cause the sword weapon to extend, increasing its reach. The peg and cannon barrel on the static weapon correspond to the peg-hole and the hole of the scope of the functional weapon, meaning his weapons can combine to form a long, double-sided bladed weapon. Aside from the 5mm posts on the side of either weapon, the "machine-gun" barrels at their tips are 5mm wide, enabling Darksteel to actually wield each weapon normally.

There are a grand total of 7 MechTech ports, with two on his doors, two on the sides of his hood, one on his trunk/robot back, and two for his hands.

The packaging stock photography shows his stinger weapon painted the same red-orange as his fangs weapon, when the final product leaves it unpainted.

Darksteel's packaging cardback lists his faction as "DECEPTION". Note the missing "C". Autocorrect much? The registered trademark symbol is still next to the word though.

In Japan, this figure was a BIC Camera exclusive released in September for 3,150 yen (approximately $40 US at then-current conversion rates).

• More information on Darksteel at TFU.info

Notes

• As revealed at BotCon 2011, Darksteel is an intentional homage to Beast Wars Quickstrike. This occurred because designer Lenny Panzica likes snakes.
• Darksteel's name was originally announced at BotCon 2011 as Dark Iron (possibly Darkiron). Evidently plans changed at some point in production.
• Darksteel's instruction sheet incorrectly refers to him as an Autobot.
• Darksteel lacks a tampographed faction symbol of any type.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Darksteel (ダークスチール Dākusuchīru)