TFtember: Starscream

 Starscream

Now this is a character. To keep this manageable, we'll be limiting ourselves to the Generation 1 toys and shows.

The first toy started as Jet Robot from the Diaclone line. He was a bit different from the other two seekers, as you had to formally remove some parts of the plane to make him a robot. You didn't have to, but you could. 

The figure was pretty basic and reused plenty of times. There was a two pack with Megatron in 1986, but 1989 would see a new figure as part of the Prentender line. Decent, although I still had an issue with the idea of robots in human looking shells. Are they really big humans or really small robots?

Kmart would get the Legends lines, which was just the Pretender figure on a card. Japan, meanwhile, would get a hero set multipack, with Starscream renamed Tornado. 1990 would see the Action Masters line, and yeah, didn't care for this one. While the other figures we talked about at least looked like their show versions, Action Master Starscream looked like he dipped his arms and legs in blue paint. 

The file card would set the tone for most portrayals across the franchise. He wants to replace Megatron, relies on treachery and has an overinflated opinion of himself. 

He spent most of the comic series frozen but he acted as an underling (not quite second in command though) who always plotted against Megatron. He did manage to kill a bunch of characters in#50 before getting blown up. He got better though and got brought back as a Pretender. They used the shell as an excuse, saying it was healing his body. 

He made it to the end of the series, locked in combat with Ratchet. Not a bad way to go, all things considered. 

Voiced by Chris Latta (more or less the same as Cobra Commander), this was the perfect portrayal for many fans. Right from the first story arc he was plotting against Megatron. All Megatron had to do was trip and Starscream would declare himself leader. 

The show would have some character development though. We learn that before the war, Starscream was a simple scientist and even best friends with Skyfire. 

One of the bigger shocks from the movie was actually seeing Starscream being made leader, for about.05 seconds before Galvatron turned him into dust. He'd come back though, as the first Transformer ghost (including a crossover with the Ghostbusters too). The show even gave him a proper ending. Hurtling screaming through space isn't much of an ending but is an ending all the same. 

Starscream would set the tone for treacherous seconds in command, which isn't too shabby for a toy line. 

TFtember: The Master Builders

"The Master Builders", the Transformers, October 8 1985

Grapple and Hoist are trying to sell Prime on their building a solar tower. Prime likes it, but shoots it down as it would be too hard to defend. 

After a fight, Grapple has the idea of just doing the tower anyway. Better to ask forgiveness than permission, right? Hoist says no. Even if they did build the tower themselves, it is too much work for just two bots. 

Right on cue the Constructicons appear! Just appear, not attack. Yeah, they are sick of fighting and want to construct things, not destroy. 

They tell Megatron the opposite though, telling him that the tower would be a nice addition to the Decepticon's power needs. 

The tower is soon completed, but will Grapple and Hoist survive the unveiling?

Pretty good, although we get more contradictory background for Constructicons, with the group saying they were always fans of Grapple's work, except "Heavy Metal War" suggested they were built on Earth and fairly recent at that.  

The idea of Decepticons/Autobots working together was a neat idea though and would be touched on again later throughout the franchise. 

TFtember: Transformers#32

"Used Autobots" the Transformers#32 (September 1987) with credits to Bob Budiansky (script), Don Perlin (pencils), Ian Akin and Brian Garvey (finishes), Nel Yomtov (colors), Pat Brosseau (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

We see the Throttlebots and they aren't having a good day. Nope, the Decepticon Vortex has decided to put an end to their throttling. Blaster makes the save, but sadly human witness the fight, and when they go to refuel, a call to RAAT is made. 

Grimlock, meanwhile, has ordered the entire Protoctobots to bring Blaster and Goldbug back to base ASAP. 

Unable to refuel, the Throttlebots decide to bunk at a used car lot for the night. Pity Big Steve finds them. Big Steve being the lot's owner and he takes an even dimmer view on Autobots than RAAT; who he has called by the way. 

The Throttlebots try to escape, but Big Steve was too smart. That gas they used to refuel? Mostly soda. RAAT arrives, but so do the Comboticons. The Protectobots make the scene too. Before a brawl can commence, Big Steve offers a compromise: Why not bid for the bots?

Onslaught is puzzled so he radios Swindle, who states the most obvious solution; i.e. kill Big Steve and take the robots. 

During the fighting, RAAT manages to steal the Throttlebots. Blaster arrives and manages to turn the tide of battle, driving off the Decepticons. He also takes time to destroy the check RAAT paid Big Steve. 

Once that is taken care of, Blaster wants to rescue his friends from the humans, but Hot Spot stops him. They're under orders; specifically they are to bring Blaster back to the Autobot base. He has to be there for his trial and execution after all. 

Pretty good. We get more focus on Grimlock's method of leadership, and yeah, Optimus he ain't. 

TFtember: Soundwave

 Soundwave

Another major character, and one of my favorites. 

First, the toy/file card. Soundwave began as Cassette Man from the Micro Change series. Packaged with Buzzsaw, he went from robot to microcassette player. The Japanese release came with headphones and a microphone, I'm told. The figure was nice and big, although going by the style of the time it had darn little by way of articulation. 

Now that was pretty much it for a while, at least as the US is concerned. In 1987, Japanese kids got a change to play with Soundblaster; who was pretty much the same save his chest had been redone to hold two microcassettes instead of one. The plastic in the door was replaced with red instead of clear, mostly to read the secret plans written on the back of Buzzsaw. 

In 1990, Soundwave was part of the Action Master line. Like the others, Soundwave didn't transform but his partner Wingthing did. The figure looked nice and show accurate. Pity it didn't come with any microcassettes. The file card painted an interesting picture. According to that, Soundwave had super hearing that let him listen in to other bots and use that info for blackmail (not shown in the series), had low level mind control (shown in the cartoon) and was often a target for retaliation by his comrades (not shown). 

The comics had a pretty similar version to the cartoon. The biggest reveal about the character is that Soundwave, Megatron, and Ravage started the Decepticons together. He worked mostly as Megatron's enforcer. He also sometimes had a mouth and was purple on occasion. 

He had a role in most issues and biggest surprise at all, managed to survive the series. He was even working the same post, albeit with Bludgeon rather than Megatron. 

The cartoon version was still my favorite of the portrayals. Voiced by a modulated Frank Welker, Soundwave tended to stay in the background and shoot his cassettes, but there was an indication that he was a trusted member of the team. 

He made it all the way to season three, acting mostly the same and ending his role on screen by relating information about Optimus Prime. Not terrible for a tape deck. 

TFtember: Dinobot Island, Part 2

"Dinobot Island part 2", the Transformers, September 26 1985

We open with the Dinobots trapped in tar. Megatron declares victory and leaves them, despite Starscream's misgivings. 

Back at the Ark, the Autobots manage to get Teletraan I rebooted in time. Rushing to the Statue of Liberty, they rescue Spike and Bumblebee and capture the Vikings and barbarians. 

Across the globe, things are getting crazier. Pirates attacking yachts, Wild West outlaws going after bikers, and more. Chip manages to trace the source of the weird energy that's tearing time up, and yeah, it's coming from Dinobot Island.

Sludge manages to free the Dinobots, mostly by setting the tar on fire. As they free themselves, the Autobots and Decepticons rumble. 

Just when the 'cons start to get the upper hand, Grimlock arrives with the Calvery-a Calvery made up of actual dinosaurs!

Not bad, the ending may have been telegraphed and honestly one could have done this as a one parter, but overall pretty good. We also get to see the debuts of Perceptor, Seaspray, and Dirge. 

No idea where they were before but new toys kids!

TFtember: Transformers#31

 "Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom" the Transformers#31 (August 1987) with credits to Bob Budiansky (script), Don Perlin (pencils), Jim Fern (finishes), Nel Yomtov (colors), Rick Parker (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

Shockwave and Ratbat are fighting over the leadership of the Decepticons. Shockwave thinks he scores a massive win when he steals an oil tanker, but when it turns out to be empty, he's a bit put out. Ratbat suggests they work smarter, not harder, and let the humans do the work for them. 

At Sparkplug's auto repair, business is booming. Yup, he's been doing so well ever since he installed a new wash and roll car wash. Buster is a bit annoyed, since the shop is now so busy he can't get any time off. 

GB Blackrock, meanwhile, is at a press conference. Since the Wash and Roll franchise has been such a success, he is pleased to announce Wash and Roll Mark II. When he's alone, he pulls out a cassette, which turns into Ratbat...

Buster and his gal Jessie take a private moment while going through a Wash and Roll. Buster is rather distracted, but Jessie isn't and gets an eye full of the wash's full service. Namely she gets hypnotized, takes her truck to a Blackrock oil storage and siphons out her own gas. 

Buster manages to snap her out of it, but a crowd of similarly entranced people arrive. Blackrock himself shows up and addresses the crowd. The effects of the Wash and Roll mark I are only temporarily, but mark II will be permanent!

Can Buster save the crowd, including his dad?

Pretty good, and Ratbat steals the show. I could see this as an episode of the cartoon.  I'm rather shocked he did end up in the show. 

TFtember: Skywarp

Skywarp 

We're bring this back and we're hitting the ground with an actual major character!

There would be other toys, quite a few, but we'll just focus on Generation One for right now. 

Skywarp, the Decepticon Jet that isn't Starscream. To begin, the toy started out as a Diaclone Jet Robo. Black and purple, his mold wasn't one hundred percent like his fellow Seekers, which mostly involved switching a few parts around. This also means finding a decent used one is almost impossible. 

His file card painted a rather interesting picture too. He's the nastiest Decepticon, thanks in part to his teleportation. Yes, he can teleport and he uses this ability to mostly play pranks. It even says he'd be useless without Megatron's direct supervision. 

For the comic, well, he was there from the start but if you can tell the difference between him and Thundercracker, you're a better man than I pal. Seriously, if you thought Rumble/Frenzy was confusing...

As for his role in the comic, he was there but he mostly acted as a thug and background character before Starscream blew him up real good in#50

Voiced by Frank Welker, he did slightly better in the cartoon. He didn't do a whole lot but in most episodes he did have a line or at least some kind action. He actually used his teleportation once, plus in a way he saved the entire series. 

Seriously, he was first Transformer revived and helped bring the Decepticons back on line. If Starscream hadn't shot that volcano, it might have been a very short series. 

A decent character; could have been used better surely but he was a nice spear carrier if nothing else and sometimes that's ok.