Mainframe (G1)
| The name or term "Mainframe" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Mainframe (disambiguation). |
- Mainframe is an Autobot Action Master from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Mainframe is a dork. A computer dork, to be precise. (Both in that he is a computer that is a dork, and a dork about computers.) He'd rather tackle complex mathematical problems than join the inconvenient galactic conflict with the Decepticons. Despite his distaste for combat, he won't shirk his duties when called upon. If anything, he hopes that if he simply must fight, that he'll have the chance to use his considerable brainpower to end things quickly.
Alas, his partner, Push-Button, would rather convert to a piston rifle and blow stuff up than be stuck debugging Mainframe's programs. Naturally, the two don't especially get along.
Fiction
IDW Generation 1 continuity
Mainframe was one of the survivors of the Kimia Facility massacre. He got away aboard an escape pod piloted by Chromedome and Brainstorm. Kings The pod was picked up by Arcee, who told the survivors of D-Void's plan to destroy the universe and brought them all to Cybertron to stop it. Genesis
When the Lost Light departed for unknown space to search for the Knights of Cybertron, Mainframe was part of the bridge crew. How to Say Goodbye and Mean It He was present among the assembled Autobots after their tumble through quantum space as Rodimus addressed the troops. Hangers On When crew member Ultra Magnus left on a stolen shuttle, Mainframe helped track it down. The Fecund Moon They followed Magnus to Luna 1, where the ship was invaded by Chief Justice Tyrest's Legislators and the crew subdued. The Divided Self Having been constructed cold, Mainframe was among those nearly killed by Tyrest's universal killswitch. Arm the Lonely
Mainframe piloted the Lost Light into the right position for launching Rodimus, Orion Pax and others through a portal to the Dead Universe. Black Metal In search for Metroplex he then navigated the ship to a watery planet Winners & Losers where they were attacked by a lot of Ammonites. 2026[1] of them, according to Mainframe's estimation. Into the Abyss After finding Metroplex, the crew used the Titan's space bridge to teleport him and the Lost Light back to Cybertron, where Mainframe lost control of the ship and crash-landed. Finis Temporis Cybertron was subsequently invaded by another army of Ammonites, forcing Mainframe to get the ship airborne and away from the attackers. Black Planet His contribution to the battle was contacting Chromia before the Lost Light rammed Monstructor, telling her to clean up the remains in a flowery, dramatic fashion too vague for her to understand. ...And the Damage Done
Once Cybertron was saved, Mainframe continued to serve on the Lost Light as it returned to its journey with a new captain: a reformed Megatron. Towards Peace He helped a plastered Jackpot to the medbay, running into Tailgate on the way. Words Hang in the Air
Mainframe was a member of the crew on an alternate timeline's version of the Lost Light. Then the Decepticon Justice Division showed up, and Mainframe had his head torn off.slaughterhouse
After the Lost Light reappeared, Mainframe along with Bluestreak, First Aid and Trailcutter landed on Ofsted XVII while awaiting further orders from Rodimus. Mainframe explained to Bluestreak who was curious that the planet was experiencing a lot of warp gates appearing after a massive battle between Black Block Consortia and the Galactic Council with a few mechs over a ravaged ship in orbit. After First Aid called Bluestreak from a lecture theater, he and Mainframe went to meet up with him. They discovered a fatally wounded Cybertronian lying around in the wrecked room. Mainframe and Bluestreak decided to find out if the Cybertronian was an Autobot or Decepticon. After First Aid and Trailcutter returned with medical supplies, First Aid became furious with Mainframe and Bluestreak for moving the injured bot, giving him less time to live. Mainframe became unsure of donating some of his fuel when he mentions the risks of donating too much energon. Next, Mainframe found a translator lying around and activated it. However, Bluestreak discovered the Cybertronian's face and discovered that with a switch on it, releasing spikes. Mainframe was now convinced that the injured bot wasn't an Autobot and he and Bluestreak back out from donating their fuel and left the lecture theater requested by First Aid. After the bot was revealed to the Vos, a member of the DJD and attacked Trailcutter, First Aid went to go find Mainframe and Bluestreak to help. Mainframe was present when the three bots discovered that Kaon had murdered Trailcutter, and watched hopelessly as Kaon crushed Trailcutter's brain mondule.Births, Deaths, and Interventions Afterwards, Mainframe and the others were nearly killed by the DJD after they tried to blow up their shuttle and was soon rescued.The Custom-Made Now
Classics
Template:Classicsnote Mainframe was overlooking the Ironworks with Rad when Overlord attacked the base with his squad of Decepticons. Invasion Prologue He argued with Rollout while rebuilding Ironworks. When the Junkions attacked, he was captured and turned into one. Invasion
Toys
Generation 1

- Mainframe (Action Master, 1990)
- Accessories: "Vibro Pulverizer" rifle, Push-Button partner
- As an Action Master, Mainframe is a non-transforming action figure of a robot with an indeterminate alternate mode, but chances are he turns into one of those huge computers you see in those movies from the 70s and 80s, you know, the ones the size of refrigerators with the reel-to-reel magnetic tape. He is compatible with any Action Master vehicle or weapon. He was part of the second assortment of basic carded figures, and came with his partner-robot Push-Button.
Notes
- Mainframe is inexplicably on the cover of the 1990 Family Home Entertainment VHS release of the "Five Faces of Darkness" mini-series... a cartoon produced about four years before Mainframe's toy was released.
- According to his tech specs he is equipped to store 200,000 Megabytes of data. Which is really impressive unless you have $100 to spend on a USB hard drive.
Foreign names
- French: Ordinateur (Canada)
- Italian: Cronos
References
- ↑ The Ammonites' number was changed to 819 in the Hasbro exclusive cover variant of the issue available with the Transformers: Generations Deluxe Class Mini-Con Assault Team.



