Huffer (G1)
- Huffer is an Autobot character in the Generation 1 continuity family.
To say that Huffer is cranky is an understatement. Huffer's the poster boy for whiney pessimism. He complains and grumbles his way through every day, especially since he's been shipwrecked on Earth. If he thought his existence was unbearable before, it's intolerable now, and he'll certainly let you know.
Despite what a joy he is to be around, he's very effective at his job. A construction engineer, he can whip up anything of any complexity. Unfortunately, he'll be kicking and screaming the whole way.
- Japanese name: Drag (do-ra-ggu, ドラッグ)
- Greek name: Gigantas (Γίγαντας)
- French-Canadian name: Grognon
Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
Huffer complains of being homesick for his homeworld of Cybertron. Yet he still fights to destroy the Decepticons' transdimensional radiowave scrambler, which would have allowed him to contact home, knowing that if he allowed the Decepticons to use the scrambler, it could mean disaster for the Earth-bound Autobots.
Once he teamed up with Bomber Bill.
Classics
Huffer is part of Grimlock's crew on the Graviton. His attitude towards Earth has not improved with age.Games of Deception!
- (Note: The Classics story takes place in a post-Marvel Generation 1 comics universe where Generation 2 did not happen.)
Animated continuity
- Voice actor: John Stephenson (English), Yutaka Shimaka (Japan)
Huffer was part of the original crew of Ark-based Autobots who crashed on Earth four million years ago. In 1984, he awoke and was reformatted into a mini semi truck cab. An engineer and not a warrior, Huffer loathed combat and hated being stationed on Earth as he longed to return to Cybertron. Optimus Prime would often have to motivate Huffer, reminding him to remain courageous in the long fight. During one of the first engagements on Earth, where the Autobots attempted to stop the Decepticons from attacking an off-shore oil rig, Huffer was trapped in the debris. Brawn came to his rescue, cutting Huffer loose from the wreckage.
Damaged in a fall from the top of the Ruby Crystal Mines of Burma, Optimus Prime was encouraged by Huffer, Cliffjumper, and Gears as he painfully tried to transform back into robot mode. More Than Meets the Eye, Part 2
Prime was ever accident-prone, though, and after being beaten down by Megatron and again struggling to transform, Huffer was helpful enough to tow Prime's trailer back to the Ark.
When Optimus Prime authorized Wheeljack and Ratchet to build robot dinosaurs, Huffer insisted that this was a waste of time. After the Dinobots were completed and unveiled, Huffer remarked, "Dinobots? I thought you were supposed to make Dinosaurs!" and laughed. This was followed by an awkward silence.
Though his death was never depicted, Huffer's grave is later mentioned amongst those of the other Autobots who died during the attack on Autobot City aboard their interstellar mausoleum. Along with the mausoleum itself, Huffer's remains were later plunged into a red sun as a side-effect of a Quintesson plot. Dark Awakening
Bummer.
There are rumors that Huffer actually defected. Perhaps he finally found his happiness?
Dreamwave comics continuity
Huffer was a part of the crew onboard the Ark when it crashed into Earth four million years ago while clearing an asteroid in the path of Cybertron.
He was one of many Transformers captured and reprogrammed by arms dealer Adam 'Lazarus' Rook for lease to terrorist organisations and shady governments requiring brutal military might. Fortunately, Autobots under the command of Optimus Prime repaired and re-reprogrammed Huffer and the remaining captive Autobots. Immediately, they were put to work on fighting Megatron's metallic virus which had spread deep into Canadian territory. Huffer was seen to be very gung-ho about starting the blasting process when Wheeljack cautioned the group that the anti-virus requires converting their own interal energy, and he needed complete commitment from them if his plan was to suceed. Prime Directive, Part 5
Soon, the Canadian military arrived. Unfortunately, due to the recent attacks by both enslaved Autobots and Decepticons under the command of Rook, the Canadians attempted to stop the Autobots doing what they percieved to be an attack on their soil. When Wheeljack tied to explain what they were doing (in a rather agressive manner), the Canadians soldiers panicked and fired upon the Autobots. Huffer was blasted by a tank shell while trying to aid the fallen Wheeljack. Prime Directive, Part 6
Notes
- It has been speculated by some fans that, in animated continuity, Huffer may have been created from Orion Pax's friend Dion, the same way and at the same time Prime and Elita One were rebuilt by Alpha Trion.
- For further elaboration, see Who is Dion?.
Toys
Generation 1
- Huffer (Mini Vehicle, 1984)
- Japanese ID number: 14
- Huffer was part of the original 1984 assortment of Autobot Mini Vehicles. His mold was originally used for the Microchange series of toys as an "American" truck. The Microchange toyline was meant to depict robots that transformed into toy cars, which accounts for the somewhat cartoonish proportions of Huffer's vehicle modes.
- This mold mold was used to make Pipes: for the Hasbro line it was extensively retooled, while in Mexico and some European markets, it was straight-redecoed.
- Minibot Team (Multi-pack, 2004)
- Japanese ID number: TFC-12
- Huffer was reissued in a "Transformers Collection" six-pack with Bumblebee, Cosmos, Gears, Powerglide and Warpath. There are no notable differences between the original and the reissue versions.
- This entire set was redecoed to make the G1 GoBots set: Huffer was used to make Road Ranger.
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