TFtember: Wheeljack

 Wheeljack

Mad science!

Yeah, this time we're looking at the Dr. Frankenstein of the Autobots. The toy was originally a Diaclone Lancia Stratos Turbo. I wasn't a huge fan of this toy. The car looked cool, but the robot was clunky as all get out and stiffer than the others. You can pop his back wings off and make his car mode winged, so that was neat at least. 

Aside from the Series 1, there was also the Action Master version. Looked even worse; I mean the head was show accurate but it didn't seem to be the same scale as the body plus the body was just off. Too narrow for my tastes. The car he came with was cool and could be used as an awesome GI Joe ride. 

There were a few reissues but those were mostly for the European market. The file card makes it clear he is the mad scientist of the Autobots. Armed to the teeth, likes to show off and is his own worse enemy. 

Looking at the comic, like most of the other characters they didn't devote a great deal of time on him but he did act as the main science guy. He functioned mostly as that, at least until Starscream blew him up. He got better though but his main claim to fame was bringing Optimus Prime back to life. Grimlock tossed him out the airlock but he got better. He ended the series about to be bashed by Bludgeon, only to be saved by Optimus. 

Voiced by Chris Latta, Wheeljack was one of the first Autobots to be seen on screen, and in his Cybertronian form to boot. He was definatly the mad scientist here, creating the Dinobots among other things, usually kicking off more than a few plots with his science gone mad. Pity he got his chips cashed in during the Movie. The Headmasters cartoon didn't get the message though, and we see him in a few background shots.