Tow-Line (RID)
| This article is about the Robots in Disguise Autobot tow-truck. For the Energon Autobot van, see Tow-Line (Energon). |
- Tow-Line is an Autobot from the Robots in Disguise continuity family.
"'No parking' means 'no parking'!" is Tow-Line's motto, and it allows for no exceptions. He is so single-mindedly fixated on this apparently senseless purpose that he has been known to tow fire engines away from hydrants, seize children's tricycles, and even impound other Autobots who violate human traffic laws in the course of a mission. Such extreme irrationality, coupled with such total predictability, makes him both a hindrance to his fellow Autobots and an easy target for his enemies.
In battle, he wields his mighty Wrecker Hook![1]
Fiction
Robots in Disguise cartoon
- Voice actor: Lex Lang (English), Masami Iwasaki (Japanese), Oreste Baldini (Italian)
One of Tow-Line's first acts on arriving on Earth was to tow Side Burn, much to the latter's disgust. Under Prowl's supervision, Tow-Line began towing away Metro City's illegal parkers. Unfortunately his zealousness extended to towing away tricycles, wedding cars, mailmen named Moe, and so on, leading Prowl to reprimand him.
Tow-Line's work was not lost on the Predacons, who ambushed him and dragged him away to do a bit of reprogramming with a disk. Soon Tow-Line considered the other Autobots as villains and began towing X-Brawn. After reasoning failed, X-Brawn attempted to use his grappling hook, causing damage to the other Autobot's circuits, and resulting in Tow-Line dumping him down a hole at the power plant.
Side Burn was also captured easily, but while carrying Rapid Run through the city, Tow-Line was spotted by Prowl and Koji. Intercepted by Optimus Prime and Prowl, he was soon rescued from the disk's control and apologized profusely for kidnapping his fellow Autobots. Even after learning his lesson, Tow-Line still cheerfully hauled off Prowl for parking illegally. Tow-Line Goes Haywire
Tow-Line aided in a deception, helping to disguise Team Bullet Train and Optimus Prime as a transforming dragon in order to trick the Predacons into leaving some statues alone. When Railspike and Optimus toppled over while operating the robot, Tow-Line was able to pull it back into an upright position using his grappling hook. The Ultimate Robot Warrior
Movor briefly tracked Tow-Line from space in an attempt to locate the Autobots' hidden base, but as Tow-Line was spending all of his time towing cars, it wasn't much help. Later Tow-Line and the other Autobots ambushed the Decepticons as they tailed Side Burn. Attack from Outer Space
Tow-Line towed Side Burn to Fortress Maximus's hiding place, so that the Autobot wouldn't get distracted on the way. Maximus Emerges
He was also called in as part of the contingency plan created for the event that Galvatron learned of the location of the Autobot base. Assembling with the rest of the Autobots near a lake, he took part in the battle against the combined Decepticon/Predacon forces. Surprise Attack!
Together with the other Autobots, he shielded Optimus from Galvatron's paralyzing beam, allowing the Autobot leader to regroup and form Omega Prime with Ultra Magnus. After the final battle was over, Tow-Line towed some more cars just for the fun of it. The Final Battle
Robotmasters
By 2003, Wrecker Hook somehow lost his memories and joined the Decepticons, believing that staying with them would help him find answers to his true identity. He became friends with Wingstun. Robotmasters Wrecker Hook bio
Robotmasters pack-in comic
Wrecker Hook was part of a contingent of Decepticons led by Beast Megatron against the Autobots in pursuit of solitarium. The Decepticon army proved to be too much for Optimus Prime till Optimus Primal arrived through the Blasty Zone to assist. The New Battle Begins!
Robotmasters online comic
Wrecker Hook followed the new Decepticon leader, Beast Megatron in an attack on Autobot City. However, they were foiled when the Autobots focused their firepower on Megatron and he ordered a retreat. Clash! The Two Leaders With Psycho-Orb and Air Hunter, Wrecker Hook later took the time to gang up on R-Blade, but were sent scurrying away when Optimus Primal, fresh from the Blasty Zone, came and defended the fallen Autobot. Enter the War! Optimus Primal
Along with Wingstun, Psycho-Orb, and Air Hunter, Wrecker Hook was selected as one of the recipients of the Arsenal Force weapons Starscream forged in a bid against Beast Megatron. Wrecker Hook himself received the Boost Hammer. Starscream Grins 3 Times... He was later present when Air Hunter announced the return of the original Megatron and joined the others in leaving their base. Strategic Meeting: The Mysterious New Warrior
Transformers Generations 2013
Wrecker Hook was still with the Decepticons after 2035, and fell under Straxus's command. Wrecker Hook was part of Straxus's team piloting Darkmount during the Decepticons' attack on Scramble City. Metrowars
Toys
Car Robots
- Wrecker Hook (Flipchanger, 2000)
- Japanese ID number: C-017
- Accessories: Grill/rifle
- Wrecker Hook is a redeco of the Machine Wars tow trucks Hoist and Hubcap. He changes from truck to robot mode with a single-step, spring-loaded transformation activated by lifting his towing hook up, plus he has a (non-firing) blaster weapon stored under his grill.
- This mold was also used to make Robotmasters Wrecker Hook.
- Super Wrecker Hook (Flipchanger, 2000)
- Accessories: Grill/rifle
- A limited-edition, clear-orange version of Wrecker Hook in "Super Mode" was made exclusively for Daiei stores in Japan, free with the purchase of the Build Team gift set for a limited time.
Robots In Disguise
- Tow-Line / Skyfire (Deluxe, 2001)
- Accessories: Grill/rifle
- For the Hasbro release of the toy, he was available only in a Deluxe-level two-pack with the Decepticon Skyfire. The only difference between the Hasbro and Takara versions is the size of the Autobot symbols.
Robotmasters
- Wrecker Hook (Destron, 2004)
- Japanese ID number: RM04
- Accessories: "Aiming Shot" grill-rifle, "Boost Hammer"
- As part of the first assortment of Robotmasters, Wrecker Hook is a heavily-painted redeco of the Machine Wars Hoist/Hubcap mold, transforming from a tow truck to robot with a spring-loaded one-step transformation. The grill of the truck detaches to form his "Aiming Shot" blaster weapon.
- Unique to this release of the mold is the solitarium weapon called the "Boost Hammer", a clear-plastic flail. It can be combined with the other Decepticons' solitarium weapons to form the "Arsenal Force" megaweapon.
Notes
Foreign names
- Japanese: Wrecker Hook (レッカーフック Rekkā Fukku)
References
- ↑ Bio on the R2 DVDs. Chris McFeely was having fun that day!
