Windblade (G1)

The name or term "Windblade" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Windblade (disambiguation).

Windblade is an Autobot from the IDW portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

YOU MAAAAAAAAADE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Windblade is a young Transformer who puts duty and truth first, even when both are difficult. Her friend and bodyguard Chromia can get frustrated at times with the strength of Windblade's convictions, and Chromia believes Windblade trusts too much. This may not be a worldview that can survive sharing a planet with Starscream.

Windblade is a better-than-average swordswoman, but her claim to fame is her rare talent for communicating with dormant Metrotitans, for which she bears the title of Cityspeaker. Like other Cityspeakers, her face bears the markings of Caminus.

Fiction

IDW Generation 1 continuity

Windblade was a Transformer who hailed from the planet/city of Caminus, and like the rest of her people she had adapted to have a gender, in her case female. Like her fellow inhabitants she had been cut off from Cybertron for millions of years, and her people have had to weigh every action they take. Her people's isolation ended with the arrival of Thunderclash, who had come seeking help from a Cityspeaker in order to aid Metroplex. A Bot and Her City The Autobot had been sent by Alpha Trion as the ancient 'bot was otherwise engaged.

They're Windblade and the brain
Yes, Windblade and the brain
One is an organ
The other's [CHARACTERIZATION PENDING]

Windblade, her bodyguard Chromia, and Nautica joined Thunderclash aboard the Vis Vitalis. After some time they managed to run into Metroplex, and the three chose to station up inside him to keep him alive. Eventually, a team of Autobots from the Lost Light arrived and were able to give Metroplex a jump-start from their ship, allowing them all to space bridge back to Cybertron, where a battle between its inhabitants and the Necrotitan was taking place. Burning Bright

Windblade was surprised to see the other Titan, and asked the other Autobots if they knew Metroplex would have to fight one upon his arrival on Cybertron; Ultra Magnus did not, but suspected Metroplex did. For a moment they considered fleeing Metroplex while he was battling the Necrotitan, in order to remove themselves from danger, but since it was impossible to flee without abandoning some of their own, they remained until Metroplex himself was suddenly restored by Megatron returning his Regenesis Ore-laden thumb to him, allowing him to defeat the Necrotitan. Finis Temporis

After the battle, Windblade spoke to Ultra Magnus on Metroplex's condition as he recovered. Although Windblade had not been able to learn much, she did know Metroplex had picked up the ore at some point, and jettisoned it and his thumb when he was attacked by Ammonites. Their discussion was soon interrupted, and Magnus was forced to leave. The Becoming However not long afterwards Ammonites began to swarm Cybertron, forcing Magnus to radio Windblade to ask Metroplex for aid. The titan needed no encouragement, and began to fight the horde. Black Planet

Upon all of the Ammonites being destroyed by Metalhawk, Windblade and her fellow Camiens were called on by Mainframe to finish Monstructor's component parts off. ...And the Damage Done

Some time after the battle, Windblade was present alongside Starscream and the Dinobot Sludge to greet Optimus Prime who had returned to Cybertron for a personal errand. While with them Optimus learned of a series of murders going on in the Decepticon Ghetto. City of Steel Windblade aided Optimus along with Starscream, the Dinobots, and the Decepticon Barricade in investigating the deaths. The Firecons were early suspects, and were attacked by the group. Windblade was critical by the Autobots' quick reversion to the war, but she remained with the investigation. The Killing Jar The group managed to uncover the true murderer, and Windblade later helped Optimus in his original task to return the Matrix of Leadership to the spot he had first received it so long ago. Forever Is a Long Time Coming

Windblade witnessed the trial of Megatron. World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace Subsequently, she and Ironhide stayed behind on Cybertron under Starscream's leadership as the Lost Light and the Ark-7 departed. Optimus Prime warned her to be wary of Starscream. Hello Cruel World

SPOILERS

Six months after the battle of the Titans, Windblade had tried settling into life on Cybertron as it had settled into Metroplex. She had an important role as Cityspeaker to the heavily-damaged Metroplex, though she was a novice at it and Starscream, the planet's leader, grew impatient and suspicious of her. Rolling blackouts threatened the city, and after she investigated the cause of those with Chromia, she also sought advice for how to best interact with Starscream. After talking with many of the denizens of Blurr's bar, she came to the sobering realization that Starscream was a scheming opportunist who shouldn't be trusted. Not long after this revelation, an explosion seriously damaged her and put her under medical care. Moments before the explosion, she'd seen Rattrap, Starscream's henchman, leaving the scene, and as she awoke from her medical bed, seeing Starscream approach her, she suspected Cybertron's leader had tried to kill her. A 'Bot and Her City

After giving Windblade a veiled threat, Starscream and Rattrap departed. Windblade revealed to Chromia that she had found traces of explosives, before the bodyguard discovered reporters spying on them. Later the two of them met up with Ironhide, who they had sent to guard Metroplex's brain. Windblade searched Metroplex's brain for reasons why Starscream would cause the blackouts, when Chromia noticed that Waspinator had let slipped in an interview that he knew something. Windblade was able to convince him to show her what he discovered despite his unwillingness to talk; a "mine" Starscream had build inside Metroplex, used to sift the Titan for the Regenesis ore in his body. Windblade returned to the reporters and brought them and the denizens of Blurr's bar down there to reveal the mine to them. Three of the Terrorcons guarded the mine, and they were more than happy to try to take down Windblade and her friends. Windblade #2 Though she fought back valiantly, at a moment of weakness Starscream and Rattrap interrupted the battle to arrest Windblade and the others (minus Chromia and Sky-Byte) for "crimes against Cybertron."

While the others were jailed, Windblade was interrogated violently by Rattrap. However, this interaction convinced her that while Starscream may be responsible for the mine, he was not responsible for the bomb that killed several citizens and nearly her. Then, Chromia and Sky-Byte invaded the compound to free Windblade and the others, and Windblade confided in her friend that she had discovered that Starscream was not the culprit they were after, to Chromia's shock. Windblade #3 Starscream and his goons were swiftly upon them, and the battle recommenced. Windblade and Chromia barely managed to duck inside Metroplex's brain room as Windblade attempted to hook up directly to Metroplex and solve everything. Merged mentally with Metroplex, finally she understood everything. She saw other Transformer colony worlds that had also broken off from Cybertron. She saw Caminus before he went lost. And, sadly, she saw Chromia in all her rage, and realized that her friend, her bodyguard, was the one who had placed the bombs in that street corner, that Chromia was willing to murder others to scare Windblade off the planet and to safety.

Supremely disappointed in Chromia, Windblade nevertheless had to keep the peace for the greater good. She plotted with Starscream to keep things buried, so that there would be a Cybertron for those lost colonies to eventually return to. Windblade left the both of them, wiser, but morally compromised. Windblade #4

When Optimus Prime returned from Earth, Windblade, Starscream, and Sludge told him about a series of murders that were targeting Decepticons. City of Steel The murderer struck again outside of Gutcruncher's bar, killing one of his friends, and so she helped Optimus Prime follow this apparent lead. Inside the bar they find a very angry Gutcruncher and a expatriated Sandstorm. It seemed to be a loose end, and the two left, but shortly afterwards the bar exploded, Fight or Flee killing everyone inside. After Windblade returned with them to investigate, Sandstorm snapped at Optimus Prime for killing his friends. This anger was short lived, and the shell of an infernus bullet was found in the wreckage, so another lead was found to follow. Quest for Fire The lead culminated in the brutal treatment and incarceration of the Firecons, and Windblade took this opportunity to raise an eyebrow at the Autobots' violent methods. Things escalate further when it seemed Slug was responsible for the murders, causing Windblade to pull Optimus Prime out of an imminent battle with him. The Killing Jar Optimus Prime realized who the real culprit was, and he enlists Windblade and Starscream to set up a ruse to draw him out. Ultimately, the murderer was revealed to be Sandstorm. Windblade accompanied Optimus Prime on a personal errand to return the remaining half of the Matrix of Leadership to the spot where he'd been given it millions of years ago. Optimus confided in Windblade that he was worried that violent Autobots like Slug and Sandstorm who had trouble acclimating to a post-war climate were the greatest threat to their race's new-found peace. Forever Is a Long Time Coming

Games

Transformers Legends

Windblade and Nightbeat were dispatched from the Lost Light to explore a distant planet. There they met a group of Decepticons, and joined forces with them to battle their mutual foes, the Ammonites. Though several Ammonite attacks were thwarted by the alliance, soon differing opinions caused infighting in the group. Eventually, both the Ammonites and the Decepticons were defeated, and the two Autobots returned to their spaceship. Into the Abyss

Toys

Generations

Built by the fans, for the fans, and... incorporating fans.

• Windblade (Deluxe, 2014)
  • 30 OF 30
  • Series / Number: 02 / #019
  • Accessories: "Stormfall Sword", scabbard, tessen

Part of the tenth wave of 2012-onwards Generations Deluxe Class toys, Thrilling 30 Windblade transforms from a jet with tilting, spinning VTOL fans and fold in front landing gear, into a robot with 'facepaint' evocative of Japanese Kabuki theatre makeup. She comes with the Stormfall Sword, a translucent blade with a turbine at the hilt, which she can hold via its 5mm post. The sword sheathes into the included scabbard, which can be held or tabbed onto slots on her thighs and back/cockpit sides, as well as be stored underneath her jet mode. Her headdress can also detach and be used as a "tessen" fan. A port under her nosecone is compatible with some action figure stands.

She comes packaged with a copy of "Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8", and has a designated number as part of the Thrilling 30 line.

Care must be taken when detaching her headdress, as its painted and clear-plastic nature makes it very tight and susceptible to breakage. It must be pulled/wiggled back, not pulled up as the instructions say.

Notes

The face of democracy.

• Windblade is the first "officially fan-created" Transformer ever, the culmination of Hasbro's "Fan-Built Bot" initiative program. Two polls on Hasbro's official website allowed fans to determine her character and physical traits (well, most of her traits - her Japanese motifs weren't an option in the poll and seem to be the work of the design team).
  • From April 18th to May 5th, 2013, fans decided her faction (Autobot over Decepticon), alternate mode (jet over car, truck, tank, spaceship, terran beast [land], avian beast [airborne], helicopter, motorcycle, and construction), signature weapon (sword over blaster cannon, flame thrower, mace, spear/harpoon, morning star, Cybertronian taser, nunchucks, crossbow, and long-range blaster), color scheme (red & black over green & gold, blue & silver, orange & white, or purple & bronze) and personality (valiant over sneaky, hotshot, secretive, wild man, and grumpy).
  • From May 10th to May 17th, fans voted on name (Windblade over Autobot Eclipse, Charon, Centuritron, Cashtron, Autobot Wraith), gender (female over male), origin (from Kaon, Iacon, Altihex, Kalis, and Praxus) and specialty (telepath over combat medic, bodyguard, recon, and close combat specialist).
  • Subsequently, Windblade was revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2013, where concept sketches of her (and the piece of finished art to the right) were part of the Transformers brand presentation.
• Concept sketches at San Diego Comic-Con showed that European knight (with visor, arm shield, and fencing foil-esque sword) and Roman warrior (with twin swords) concepts for Windblade were considered before her Japanese stylings were finalized. A different pre-production sketch gave her a Japanese hand-fan weapon in addition to her sword. Speaking of her Japanese motifs, her finalized helmet was apparently designed to resemble the hairstyle commonly worn by the onna bugeisha, the upper-class warrior-women of feudal Japan.
• At Toy Fair 2014, Windblade was noted as being the handiwork of designer Lenny Panzica, who put "probably five times as much energy" into her as the rest of his workload.
• Her name works on many levels: "Wind Blade" is a real variety of industrial fan blade; she turns into a jet with VTOL turbofans; Hasbro designers had said they envisioned her coursing more energy into her sword blade through a spinning turbine fan in the hilt; She has a tessen, or iron fan; and, of course, she was the fans' choice character.