Beastbox (G1)
| The name or term "Beastbox" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Beastbox (disambiguation). |
- Beastbox is a Decepticon Mini-Cassette from the Generation 1 continuity family.
Like the apes he resembles, Beastbox is naturally curious, which should, in theory, make him an excellent interrogator. Unfortunately, that curiosity is subsumed by his impatience and violent rages. Although he can record up to 6000 hours of testimony, he rarely captures anything but screams and cries as he pummels his recalcitrant captives with his heavy metal fists. Although a violent attitude is a must with the Decepticons, his superiors are rather displeased with his performance—it's difficult to gain information from an Autobot after he's been beaten to death.
He can combine with Squawktalk to form Squawkbox.
Fiction
Madman The Transformers comic
In the year 2001, Beastbox accompanied Soundwave and several other Decepticon mini-cassettes to spy on the construction site of Autobot City on Earth. The team recorded a secret meeting between Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus where the two Autobot leaders discussed hiding the Autobot Matrix of Leadership in a bunker on the building site. Once the majority of the Autobots had left for Cybertron, Soundwave deployed Beastbox, Squawktalk, Ratbat, Slugfest and Overkill to begin excavation. Beastbox was confused at the command until Slugfest clarified it for the dim-witted ape. He combined with Squawktalk into Squawkbox and successfully dug up the Matrix, but was then run over by the Autobot Hot Rod. The Transformers
IDW Generation 1 continuity
Beastbox and Squawktalk were seen, as Squawkbox, helping Soundwave and Starscream overthrow and destroy the Senate at Kaon. Megatron Origin #4
Much later, also as Squawkbox, Sixshot asked him to locate the missing Terrorcons. Squawkbox fearfully complied and directed Sixshot to the planet Mumu-Obscura to find his comrades. Spotlight: Sixshot
Hearts of Steel
Beastbox, again combined with Squawktalk as Squawkbox, served as Starscream's communications officer while Megatron was in stasis lock. When Starscream learned the Autobots were active, he ordered Squawkbox to alert the other Decepticon forces by telegraph. All Squawkbox utters is "Yes, Starscream!" Hearts of Steel #3
TransTech
Beastbox is one of countless "offworlders" residing in Axiom Nexus. He was seen, as usual, hanging out with Squawktalk. Gone Too Far
Regeneration One
Beastbox was present on Cybertron when the Dark Matrix creature attacked the population and was converted into a shadow-leech alongside Soundwave, Howlback, Slugfest, Squawktalk, Overkill and Wingthing. Their combined form menaced Ravage before he was rescued by Shockwave and Starscream. King of Shadows The shadow-leeches ceased to be a threat once Rodimus Prime defeated the Dark Matrix creature. The War to End All Wars, Part 5
Games
Transformers Legends
Beastbox joined Soundwave and Frenzy in infiltrating a human science facility to gain access to a technology to increase Energon production. The trio were faced by Blaster and his tapes. Espionage
Toys
Generation 1
- Beastbox and Squawktalk (Mini-Cassette 2-pack, 1988)
- Accessories: Left and right "compression cannons"
- Beastbox transforms from a purple microcassette designed to fit into Soundwave's chest into a gorilla. He has two "Compression Cannons" which can be attached to his ape mode. He was sold with Squawktalk, and he combines with him to form Squawkbox.
- While this set was available in the Hasbro line at standard retail, Takara released it only as a mail-order toy, along with a few other Hasbro toys from that same year. The pair cost 980 yen and 2 Robot Points.
Notes
- The 1988 North American catalog shows Beastbox (and ergo Squawkbox) with a fairly significant engineering difference: Beastbox was originally going to have a panel that flipped over in gorilla mode to hide Squawkbox's face on his butt, which would have become a chestplate in the combined mode. (The coloration in the catalog also suggests Beastbox/half of Squawkbox may have originally been burgundy, though how much of that is lighting is hard to say.)
Foreign names
- Japanese: Beastbox (ビーストボックス Bīsutobokkusu)
- French: Furnimal (Canada)
