Highbrow (G1)
| The name or term "Highbrow" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Highbrow (disambiguation). |
- Highbrow is an Autobot Headmaster from the Generation 1 continuity family.
To put it in terms even your obviously limited intellect can easily understand: "Highbrow is smarter than you are". No, no, don't allow your comparably plebeian cerebral encumbrance to strain itself beyond endurance in a futile attempt to grasp the intrinsic universal magnitude of Highbrow's innate mental acuity, for it will bear no arboreal reproductive spheres. The ultrascopic trans-infinite sublimity of his diurnal ponderances transcend the circumference of most sentient species' entire thought-spheres, if he does vocalize the notion personally (and you can be certain he will).
The greatest tragedy of his existence is to be clearly so far beyond all those around him, entrapped as they are by their own primitive psyches and abysmal ignorance in a barbaric escalation of pugnacious defenestration and rebuttal. That a paradigmatic mind such as his own should be bound or beholden to a lesser being, especially a rude, primitive swain such as the Nebulan biped Gort is a supreme and vexing irony.
Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
Back on Cybertron Highbrow was part of an Autobot strike unit led by Fortress Maximus, operating out of the Manganese Mountains and working to foil the schemes of the dastardly Scorponok. However, Fortress Maximus had grown sick of warfare and sought to escape the endless conflict by emigrating to the world of Nebulos. Along with a large number of his comrades, Highbrow opted to join Fortress Maximus on his quest for peace.
After arriving on Nebulos, Highbrow was the first Autobot to encounter a Nebulan, or more specifically two Nebulans — Gort and Marita, conducting what was apparently a "binomial data transfer". Due to a misunderstanding that led to Gort tripping and injuring himself, this first contact did not go well and the Autobots' subsequent attempts to assure the natives of their peaceful intentions were sabotaged by Lord Zarak for political reasons. In a final attempt to convince the Nebulans not to start a war, Highbrow was one of four Autobots who followed their leader's example in surrendering their own heads as a show of good faith. Ring of Hate!
Soon Scorponok's Decepticons had arrived on Nebulos and after they attacked the city of Koraja the Autobots convinced Galen to attempt the creation of Headmasters - a fusion of Nebulan and Autobot warriors through a binary bonding process devised by the Nebulan surgeon Arcana. Highbrow was binary bonded to Gort and together they were able to repel the Decepticon invaders. Broken Glass! However, once the Decepticons had developed Headmasters of their own the tables were turned and, lured to Scorponok's base on the Plains of Thok, Highbrow and his Headmaster comrades were soundly defeated. Love and Steel!
Following the introduction of the Targetmasters to the war on Nebulos, Highbrow, Gort and the others were freed from captivity by a remorseful Zarak, now himself binary bonded to Scorponok. After a brief battle with the Decepticon Targetmasters they retreated to protect Koraja from further damage. Brothers in Armor!!
During a mission on Nebulos, the Autobot Headmasters were being chased by Decepticons. Chromedome taunted Highbrow about how wrong his predictions were, but the tables turned when Highbrow wound up saving Chromedome from the Horrorcons. Mindwipe faked a retreat, something that Highbrow found very suspicious. Hardhead criticized Highbrow's tendency to think things over, but Brainstorm defended him. The Headmasters decided that rescuing the Targetmasters from the Decepticon Fortress of Despair was more important, but found they were tricked. The ensuing clash saw Highbrow captured by Scorponok, and with his partner Gort conflicting with Highbrow's decisions, he was at a disadvantage. Figuring out the two's incompatibilities, Scorponok attacked, but with encouragement from Chromedome, Gort and Highbrow teamed up and defeated the Decepticon, learning the true meaning of being a Headmaster. Worlds Apart!
Subsequently, the Autobots intercepted a call for help from their allies on Earth and left Nebulos to investigate. Brothers in Armor!! While the main force stayed in orbit aboard the Steelhaven, Highbrow and the other Headmasters travelled to Oregon, the source of the signal, where they found the Autobot Goldbug trapped in the body of a toy car, along with the human Spike Witwicky. Discovering that they had been followed to Earth by Scorponok's Decepticons, who were even now threatening Spike, Fortress Maximus ordered his troops into battle, where Highbrow blasted Skullcruncher. Following the death of Galen and the eruption of Mount St. Hilary, Highbrow noted it was a worthy farewell to their lost leader. Trial by Fire!
With Spike now installed as Galen's replacement Headmaster partner, he discovered that the core consciousness of the presumed-dead Autobot leader Optimus Prime had been stored on a floppy disk by Ethan Zachary at Alternate Reality, Inc. and using technology stolen from Scorponok by the digital Prime, Highbrow and Brainstorm were able to replicate the Pretender process aboard the Steelhaven. Pretender to the Throne!
Highbrow, Brainstorm, Fortress Maximus and Goldbug made several attempts to reconstruct Optimus Prime but their efforts were met with failure because the bodies they built for him kept exploding due to a lack of resources or something. Upon encountering the Ark nearby they contacted its crew for help but the tyrannical Grimlock refused to accept Fullstrength Motleypuss's authority and Highbrow was forced to watch Grimlock and Max's champion Blaster duel on the Moon for Autobot leadership. Caught unawares by a massed Decepticon attack led by Onslaught the assembled Autobots were then stranded when the Ark was damaged and Maximus ordered the Steelhaven to Nebulos in hopes of resurrecting Optimus Prime there. Totaled!
Lured into Scorponok's clutches by humans hypnotised by Mindwipe, Highbrow battled the Horrorcons, but was defeated and also hypnotised. While Highbrow thus suffered from amnesia, the Decepticons attempted to convince him that they were on his side. Gort, however, was unaffected, and when he recombined with Highbrow, the two ripped off Scorponok's head. All in the Minds! He kept the head without telling the other Autobots, knowing he should destroy it and thus end Scorponok for good, but couldn't bring himself to do it. Though this led to the Decepticons coming for their leader's head, Optimus Prime told Highbrow he'd done as an Autobot should. To make matters worse, Highbrow was among the Autobots displaced into Limbo by Rodimus Prime and the future Autobots. Time Wars
Highbrow journeyed with Optimus Prime's Autobots to confront the Air Strike Patrol at the MacDill Air Force Base where the Micromasters also summoned Scorponok's Decepticons. The Resurrection Gambit! Realising that this battle had been engineered by a third party, Prime ordered his troops to return to the Ark aboard their All-Terrain Turbo-Transport, where they were easily able to overpower Megatron's minion Blackjack All the Familiar Faces! and return the explosives he had planted there to Megatron's base on Cybertron. Skin Deep Highbrow was injured not long afterwards by an out-of-control Mark V Guardian Droid when Hot Rod's plan to restore Optimus Prime's fighting spirit when somewhat wrong. Yesterday's Heroes! He had sufficiently recovered by the time Grimlock's A.T.T.T. returned from the Matrix Quest with the Matrix-possessed Thunderwing aboard to shoot the insane Decepticon a couple of times in the back. All Fall Down
Highbrow was with Optimus when he surrendered to Scorponok at the Decepticons' New Jersey base and was disarmed by Bomb-Burst. While he was in Decepticon custody the base was bombed by Shockwave's renegades. Surrender! He was not injured in the attack and went on to escape with Prime, Kup and Nightbeat only to walk into the beginnings of a new Decepticon Civil War. ...All This and Civil War 2 With orders to contain the battle, Highbrow, Kup, Sureshot and Waverider apprehended Mindwipe as he was hypnotising Soundwave and convinced him to order both sides of Decepticons to stand down. However, all of the Transformers were then transported away back to Cybertron. Out of Time!
With the Transformers gathered by Primus, Highbrow looked ready to punch out Dreadwind if he'd tell Darkwing one more joke during the exposition. The Void!
During Unicron's attack on Cybertron, Highbrow accidentally got into Cloudburst's way and made him steer into the path of Unicron's flame-breath and explode. Jerk. This caused Highbrow to lose it and perform a full frontal assault on Unicron, who clapped his hands and crushed him. It'd be worse if it happened to someone else. On the Edge of Extinction!
Earthforce
Highbrow was among the "new age" Autobots who attended Optimus Prime's meeting with Grimlock and the Dinobots about their more brutal methods. When Grimlock threatened to quit the Autobots, Highbrow cautioned Prime that they were already too short on soldiers to allow this. Instead, Prime seemed all too willing to get rid of Grimlock, and the two of them actually came to blows. After beating some sense into each other, however, Optimus Prime agreed to allow Grimlock his autonomy, to lead "Earthforce" while he and the Ark's crew took off for space. Break-Away!
The Transformers cartoon
- Voice actor: Johnny Haymer (English), Eiji Yanagisawa (Japanese)
Highbrow was stationed on Cybertron in 2007, and observed a demonstration of Brainstorm's gauche theory that human partners could invariably improve the tactical capabilities of the Autobots in combat. Following the display, Optimus Prime alerted Highbrow's unit to a Decepticon force moving on Cybertron. They pursued Scourge to the Plasma Energy Chamber and successfully retrieved his prize, the key to said foundry, but the Autobots' shuttle was then perniciously struck by plasma energy, sending it on a quite unseemly trek through space. The raucous venture eventually led to a crash landing on planet Nebulos, and a tête-à-tête with the most impertinent group of locals. The technophobic cave-dwellers nearly blew the Autobots up until the arrival of the Decepticons cast Highbrow and his friends in a much finer light via contrast. Nevertheless, half of Highbrow's companions were abducted by the Decepticons in the melee that followed. In dire straits, the Autobots were forced to bow to Brainstorm's engineering mania and bond with their new Nebulan allies, creating Headmasters. The Rebirth, Part 1
Regrettably, Highbrow found himself in a seemingly inequitable partnership with Gort, the Nebulans' uncouth plebeian of a leader. Still, the binary bonding process did provide an exceptional combat advantage for Highbrow, as Gort was now on hand to remind him of the tactical advantage of a good right cross. The Autobot Headmasters rescued their friends, and began prepping their ship for repairs. Unfortunately, the Decepticons weren't above stealing a good idea, and formed a Headmaster partnership of their own with a local syndicate, the Hive. They absconded with the Key and made haste back to Cybertron. The Rebirth, Part 2
Upon the fortuitous arrival of Optimus Prime on Nebulos, Highbrow and his comrades returned to Cybertron with alacrity to foil Galvatron's plot. Credit where credit is due, it was Gort and his band of Nebulan rabble who sealed the Plasma Energy Chamber due to their organic immunity to the energy's effects. With Cybertron entering a new Golden Age thanks to the chamber and Vector Sigma recharging the entire world, Highbrow and his new partner returned to Nebulos with the other Headmasters to dispose of the Hive's machinery and make Gort's planet peaceful once more. The Rebirth, Part 3
Wings Universe
Following Hi-Q's kidnapping, Highbrow turned out with Chromedome, Crosshairs and Brainstorm to brief Pyro's team, though he spent the whole time playing with a device. A Flash Forward, Part 3
Japanese cartoon continuity
The Headmasters cartoon
- Voice actor: Michitaka Kobayashi (Japanese)
Four million years ago, Highbrow was among a group of diminutive Cybertronians who departed Cybertron under the leadership of Fortress, seeking to escape the eternal war that had consumed the planet. The Mystery of Planet Master Alas, engine trouble caused their craft to crash land on the planet Master, an inhospitable world whose murderous environments and wildly changeable atmospheric conditions threatened the lives of the Cybertronians almost as soon as they stepped off their ship and were caught in a desert of sinking sands. Fighting against the odds, the Cybertronians made several technological quantum leaps to survive on Master, including the creation of larger, lifeless Transformer bodies called transtectors. Highbrow and many of his comrades underwent rigorous physical and mental training to master the art of transformation, learning to transform into heads that connected to the transtectors and placed them under their control. The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery Highbrow was one of ten warriors who became one of these "Headmasters", but unfortunately, half their number soon rebelled against Fortress's leadership and sided with a traitor named Scorponok against him. Via the Decepticon ninja Sixshot, Scorponok soon forged an alliance with the Decepticon leader, Galvatron. The Mystery of Planet Master
In the year 2011, when Galvatron launched his latest attack on Cybertron with the added power of his new Decepticon Headmasters, Highbrow and his fellow Autobot Headmasters travelled to the planet to help their comrades defend their homeworld. Four Warriors Come out of the Sky They set about fighting the Decepticon Headmasters, and Highbrow took on Skullcruncher. Following the battle's conclusion, they traveled to Athenia on board Battleship Maximus to join the Autobot forces there. Though they volunteered to accompany Hot Rod to Earth to help search for the Matrix of Leadership, he insisted on sidelining them. The Mystery of Planet Master After Blaster's death, the Headmasters joined Hot Rod anyway and helped him search. When the came under attack from Abominus, they were able to hold the Decepticon off long enough for Hot Rod to dig up the Matrix. They accompanied him back to Cybertron, where Hot Rod once more became Rodimus Prime, but they failed to stabilize Vector Sigma, and Optimus Prime was forced to do it himself by sacrificing his life. Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime
Following the Decepticons' creation of the Madmachine, the Autobot Headmasters were all ready to storm over to Chaar to deal with it, however Rodimus instead had Fortress resurrect Blaster as Twincast, and sent him and his cassettes instead. The Headmasters were sent to Cybertron, where they helped the Throttlebots destroy the Madmachine. The Great Cassette Operation While on patrol in Battleship Maximus, the Headmasters encountered two Beastformers, leading them to travel to planet Beast to thwart a Decepticon invasion. Rebellion on Planet Beast After failing to destroy a strange meteor, they aided the Technobots in a fight against Decepticons. Partway though, they were called back to Athenia so they could accompany Daniel on a mission to destroy the meteor, and Highbrow and his fellows kept Galvatron's men busy while Daniel completed said mission. Approach of the Demon Meteorite
The Headmasters were sent to Praum to investigate reports of a Decepticon attack. On arrival, they found the base had been devastated and the occupants apparently destroyed. When Highbrow attempted to egress through the top of the building in his helicopter mode and it shut on him, they discovered they'd fallen into Scorponok's trap and they were soon being buried in sand. The five Headmasters remembered their struggles back on Master and swapped Transtectors in order to escape. Highbrow used Brainstorm's jet mode to fly out and attack the Decepticons. The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery While investigating a mysterious blackmailer, the Headmasters checked out the Statue of Liberty and Highbrow suggested they check out TV footage for clues, leading them to discover that there appeared to be six different blackmailers. They arrived in London with Metroplex, only to find the Decepticons had leveled the place. They similarly arrived back in New York too late. They later aided the Trainbots in catching up with and defeating the culprit, Sixshot, whom they'd encountered before on Master. Terror! The Six Shadows
The Headmasters continued to train with Highbrow utilizing a rowing machine. When Decepticons were reported to be heading for Earth, he opted to remain on Athenia, and later traveled to Cybertron with Fortress when the Decepticons mounted an all-out attack on the planet. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1 When the Decepticon Headmasters split mid-battle, the Autobots started hunting for them. Eventually they discovered the Decepticons were heading for Vector Sigma and gave pursuit. Unfortunately they failed to stop the Decepticons destroying Cybertron. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2
During the launch of the Sol 1 satellite, the Headmasters defended the launch pad. Highbrow and Hardhead briefly ganged up on Cyclonus. They succeeded in launching the satellite, but when the Decepticons made another play for it, Sixshot kept the Autobot Headmasters busy. The Headmasters found the satellite near Zarak, but were forced to destroy it to keep it out of Decepticon hands. The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok The Headmasters went to Earth to assist when a Peruvian volcano erupted and ended up fighting Predaking and the Decepticon Headmasters. Fortunately they were able to save the inhabitants of the village of Pan. The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts When they attacked a buridanka plant on Earth, Highbrow heroically attacked the plant by jumping into one of its mouths. The rest of the fight didn't go much better, and the Headmasters found themselves in danger of termination until Fortress broke out the Master Sword and cut the thing to shreds. Head On!! Fortress Maximus
When reports came in of the Decepticons being up to something on Mars, Brainstorm and the other Headmasters traveled there in Broadside. After tangling with Predaking they rescued Daniel and found out that the Decepticons were planning to blow the entire planet up. Interrogating the Decepticons led them to a crater which naturally turned out to be a trap. Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger Both Brainstorm and Highbrow were injured enough that they had to undergo extensive repairs. They finally returned to the fight to save Mars in time to witness MegaZarak's arrival, and were subsequently defeated by the giant. As Mars exploded, the four Headmasters joined Fortress aboard Maximus, and they were able to escape the planet thanks to the explosions recharging Maximus's power. Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears
Highbrow didn't think the Decepticons would blow up any more planets, given how dangerous it would be to do so, and Chromedome called him naive. He and the other Headmasters patrolled space near Chaar and came under attack from MegaZarak, but escaped thanks to another appearance by a mystery UFO. It wasn't until the Autobots gatecrashed Scorponok's coronation ceremony that the UFO was revealed to be the returned Galvatron, and they had to retreat. Return of the Immortal Emperor After an SOS was received from Sandra, the Headmasters prepared to take a shipment of energy to that world. The Decepticons set out to stop them, but Brainstorm and Highbrow kept them busy while Chromedome and Hardhead sneaked ahead with the energy. The Autobots arrived on Sandra in time to fight off the incoming Decepticons. SOS from Planet Sandra
As part of Spike's plan to negotiate with the Decepticon, the four Headmasters accompanied him to Shangri-La Island on Earth as an escort. When the Galvatron who met with Spike turned out to be an impostor, Brainstorm and the others rescued Carly and Daniel before attacking the Decepticons. During the escape, Sixshot destroyed the space bridge network, and the Autobots set out in pursuit in Battleship Maximus. Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!! When the Decepticons invaded Hive, the Autobots attempted to go help, but were stopped by the Hive ships which opened fire on Maximus. After Chromedome went on ahead to convince the people of Hive that the Autobots were on their side, the Headmasters were able to land and help fight off the Decepticons. Fight to the Death on Planet Hive!!
As Maximus neared the Twin Star system, Brainstorm got the other riled up by claiming battle was about brain over brawn. As Daniel left to sit the battle out on Toruin, Highbrow reassured him that the other Headmasters would sort out their differences eventually. The Headmasters, minus Brainstorm who'd also gone to Toruin, fought at length with the Decepticons on Spherity until Brainstorm arrived with the news that the inhabitants and all their energy had vacated to a secret base on Toruin, and the Headmasters decided to simply leave the Decepticons to the empty planet. Battle for Defense of the False Planet
Highbrow created Video Challenger which Daniel used as a game. After Highbrow detected an SOS, the Headmasters went to planet Daros, only to find the Decepticons had been shooting the local population. Chromedome and Highbrow found Tekna, a Beastformer who had been involved in the construction of Scorponok's transtector. Highbrow took him back to Maximus where, before he died, Tekna passed on a microfilm. Believing it to contain information on the transtector, Highbrow set about decoding it. Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!!
Progress was slow, and when the Decepticons were tracked to Paradise, Highbrow went down to the planet to see if he could find some clues. He befriended a young native girl, Papika, who pointed him to where the Decepticons had landed, however when he reached the site, the three Decepticon Headmasters captured him. He was chained up under a waterfall and remained there until the other Headmasters and Papika came and rescued him. Head Formation of Friendship
When the Headmasters paid a visit to the Pirate Planet, Highbrow used his analytically skills to uncover a hidden pyramid. While the Decepticons tried to gain entry though brute force, Highbrow worked out that the key to the pyramid was a skull mounted on the prow of a derelict ship in the Space Graveyard near the planet. He, Daniel and the Trainbots retrieved the skull and opened the pyramid, but the energy it had contained was already gone. Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship The Headmasters returned to Athenia, where Highbrow continued to try and decipher the blueprints with little success. He was not too busy to travel to Earth to try to stem a Decepticon attack, but the Headmasters were too late to prevent Ultra Magnus's death at the hands of Sixshot. Ultra Magnus Dies!!
The Decepticons began striking at points across the Earth, but the Headmasters followed Galvatron to Alaska, where they were able to use information passed on by Punch to defeat Galvatron, trapping him beneath the ice. The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg New information pointed to the Decepticons trying to destroy Earth altogether. Highbrow left behind a note regarding his research into MegaZarak's weak spot, and while he, Brainstorm and Hardhard battled the Decepticons on the Kamchatka Peninsula, Chromedome used his work to successfully discover the weak point. I Risk My Life for Earth
With Earth largely abandoned by the Decepticons, the Autobot Headmasters set about finding the bombs they'd planted. Brainstorm and Highbrow retrieved a bomb from a mine and returned it to Battleship Maximus. During the disposal of the bombs in space, an accident created the Targetmasters from a group of refugees from Master and some Autobots and Decepticons. Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1) Brainstorm and Highbrow carried Pointblank back to the ship, though the newcomer dismissed their combat skills. Warned by the refugees, the Headmasters returned to their home world and fought the Decepticons. Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 2)
After Wheelie was kidnapped by the Decepticons, Highbrow gave Chromedome and Daniel advice before the pair rushed off to save their friend. Fortress was prepared to turn over the Master Sword information to Sixshot, but when Wheelie was successfully rescued, Highbrow and the other Autobots were unsuccessful in preventing the Decepticons from getting the information anyway. The Master Sword Is in Danger!! The Headmasters worked on tracking the unique energy signature that would betray the location of the Decepticons' work. Highbrow even built a portable energy detector that led them to the cavern where Scorponok was creating the Zarak Shield, but they were too late to prevent its completion. The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide Highbrow thought Chromedome's plan to rally the residents of Master against the Decepticons was risky, but went along with it anyway. It went horribly wrong when Scorponok popped up in the middle of the city and defeated Fortress Maximus. Operation: Destroy the Decepticons
The Headmasters traced Daniel to planet Daira after he became separated from the ship, and were surprised to find he'd been looked after by Sixshot. My Friend Sixshot! When Sixshot challenged Chromedome to a duel, the other Headmasters tried and failed to talk their friend out of accepting. They were reluctant to let him go alone, but when it turned out the whole thing was a diversion while the other Decepticons headed for Earth, they had no choice but to let him go it alone. Duel on the Asteroid
The Autobots hurried back to Earth, where the Decepticons were busy erecting Death Towers. When they learned that Spike and Carly's plane had crashed in the Andes, the four Headmasters went there with Daniel and Wheelie to rescue them. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1) On their way to Egypt to deal with another Death Tower, the four Headmasters had to contend with Mindwipe, Skullcruncher and Weirdwolf, though the trio didn't present much of a threat in the end. After failing to stop the Death Tower from rising, the Autobots' entire army went to the North Pole where they faced the Decepticons in a final battle to save Earth. As Fortress Maximus was caught in the energies preparing to tear the planet apart, Highbrow and the other three Headmasters attempted a Head Formation to give him more power. It was only when the other Autobots joined in that they succeeded, and the Decepticons' satellite was destroyed. With the Decepticons having fled into space, the Autobots left Earth to pursue them. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)
The Great Transformer War
Before the Headmasters joined the greater Transformer war, Highbrow, as part of the Headmasters of Justice, hunted down the Headmasters of Evil on a barren planet. Their ensuing battle was interrupted when Sixshot arrived to retrieve the Headmasters of Evil, as Galvatron had need of them. As they left, Fortress met up with the four Autobot Headmasters and they all boarded Battleship Maximus to pursue the Decepticons to Cybertron. The Great Transformer War #3
The Headmasters manga
On Athenia, Highbrow attended the unveiling of the Optimus Prime memorial statue. He and the other Headmasters of Justice also waylaid a Decepticon bombing attack on the planet. The Headmasters #1
Venturing to Beast, Highbrow and the Headmasters of Justice investigated an SOS from their allies. On aerial recon, Brainstorm and Highbrow found Alligatron and Predaking attacking innocent Beasts. The Headmasters heroically bought time for the Beasts to flee, but were captured by the Decepticons. Luckily, Hardhead and Chromedome found reinforcements in Kane and the Autobot Beastformers. They provided a needed distraction for Highbrow and Brainstorm to break free from their captors. Through quick thinking and teamwork, the Headmasters, Trainbots, and Beastformers successfully drove the Decepticon forces off of Beest and back to Chaar. Great Decisive Battle of Planet Beast!
Highbrow and the Headmasters next traveled to an Alaskan energy refinery, where the Headmasters of Evil managed to temporarily get the drop on them, separating the Masters from their Transtectors. Through quick thinking and teamwork, the Autobot Headmasters reunited with their Transtectors and defeated the enemy. The Headmasters #2
The Trainbots joined Highbrow and the Headmasters on an undersea mission where they found Rippersnapper, Skullcruncher and the Sharkticons stealing(?) energy from subaquatic vents. They also found a giant robot squid lying in wait. Through quick thinking and teamwork, the Headmasters and Trainbots dismantled the squid and stopped the Decepticons' scheme. The Headmasters #3
In a battle with Sixshot, Highbrow and the Headmasters of Justice failed to prevent the Six Clan ninja from stealing food rations. And kidnapping Daniel. By accident. Way to go, guys. The Headmasters #4
During the Christmas season, Highbrow and his friends entertained the patients at a children's hospital until the Decepticons arrived. Through quick thinking and teamwork...aw, you get the picture. The Headmasters #6
On Earth, Highbrow and the crew of the Battleship Maximus helped put out a fire so that Ricochet and Artfire could concentrate on battling the Decepticons. The Headmasters #7
IDW Generation 1 continuity
Highbrow earned his head-themed name working for the New Institute alongside Chromedome and Brainstorm. The Reluctant Specialist
Highbrow joined the crew of the Lost Light as it searched for the Knights of Cybertron and was seen hanging out in Swerve's new bar. While he was there, he fell victim to Skids' drunken antics. Life After the Big Bang For his heroic actions rebooting the anti-vacuum shield system after a hull rupture, Highbrow was awarded the coveted Rodimus Star. The Reluctant Specialist Rodimus later beat Highbrow at a game of Fullstasis, yelling his much-overused "Till All Are One" in victory. You, Me, and Other Revelations He was among the Lost Light crew members who defeated a rogue Decepticon garrison on Temptoria, Before & After and also participated in the battle to defend the ship from Overlord. Under Cold Blue Stars
During the confrontation with Tyrest on Luna 1, Highbrow was subdued by the Legislators boarding the Lost Light. The Divided Self He was manning the bridge when the ship was pulled off course by an intervening Metroplex. Winners & Losers The crew followed Metroplex's lead to a watery planet where they were attacked by Ammonites, forcing Highbrow and the others to defend themselves. The Dead Are Not Enough
Games
Transformers: The Headmasters
Highbrow was kidnapped by the Decepticons and held captive on Cybertron by Bruticus. He was rescued by Chromedome and his other comrades, and in turn helped rescue those who were still imprisoned. Once they had reunited, Highbrow and the others met with Fortress Maximus for the last battle against Scorponok. Transformers: The Headmasters
The Transformers (PS2)
- Voice actor: Jon Umaki (English)
Decepticon story
Highbrow attempted to prevent the Decepticons from stealing energy from the Mongan hydroelectric power plant. He attempted to reason with them to leave without violence, but Megatron brushed aside his efforts. After the battle, Highbrow fled, yelling about what barbarians the Decepticons were.
Autobot story
Highbrow was one of the Autobots present on Zel Samine during the Decepticon attacks. He joined up with Optimus Prime's party after they secured the hydroelectric power plant from the Decepticons. The Transformers
Transformers Legends
The Autobot Headmasters including Highbrow hunted for Starscream's ghost by tracking the electro-magnetic spikes which signaled his manifestations. They were able to prevent him passing over into the physical world, and scattered the Decepticons who had aided him. Ghost in the Machine
Toys
Generation 1
- Highbrow (Headmaster, 1987)
- Japanese ID number: C-103
- Accessories: 2 "Corrosive Acid Rainmaker Rifles"
- Highbrow transforms into a cybertronic twin-rotor helicopter. His two "Corrosive Acid Rainmaker Rifles" can attach to the underside of his wings or under the helicopter's nose to create Highbrow's "attack helicopter" mode. His Headmaster partner Gort can sit inside his cockpit in either vehicle mode.
- In robot mode, like all Headmaster toys, Highbrow has a flip-down panel on his chest which covers a spring-loaded mini-Tech-Spec-meter which gives readouts for Speed, Strength and Intelligence. The tumblers are activated when Gort (or any other Headmaster unit) is plugged into his neck socket. With Gort plugged in, Highbrow's tech spec tumblers display 7 for Speed, 7 for Strength, and 7 for Intelligence.
Merchandise
Transformers Caramel
- Highbrow (1987)
- A soft-rubber figurine of Highbrow was available as part of Kabaya's Transformers Caramel line of "candy toys" in yellow, red or blue. Like all the figures from the Headmasters assortment, the figure was permanently attached to a flat base that had a rubber stamp of Highbrow's face and name on its underside.
Notes
- In the television commercial for Marvel Comics' Headmasters limited series, the Autobot and Decepticon Headmasters are shown having different head designs than the ones their Nebulan partners would later turn into. These designs were seemingly never used in any other piece of Transformers media. The models for most of them, however, turned up in the Transformers Generations guidebook.
Foreign names
- Japanese: Gorter (ゴーター Gōtā), Highbrow (ハイブロウ Haiburō)
- French: Intellect (Canada)
- Italian: Cruiserbot
- Mandarin: Hǎi Lóng (China, 海龙, "Sea Dragon"), Gāu Méi (Taiwan, 高眉, "High Brow")
- Russian: Umnik (Умник, "Sage")
