Astrotrain
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Astrotrain (Triplex 1 in Italy) is the name of a fictional character in the Transformers universes. He and Blitzwing were the original Triple Changers.
Contents |
[edit] Transformers: Generation One (1986)
| Transformers character | |
 |
|
| Astrotrain | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance | Decepticon (Destron) |
| Sub-Group | Triple Changer |
| Function | Military Transport |
| Motto | "In confusion, there is opportunity." "The enemy's weakness is his uncertainty." |
| Alternate Modes | Locomotive / Space Shuttle |
| Comic Appearances: | Marvel, Dreamwave, IDW |
| Cartoon Appearances: | Sunbow Productions |
| Voiced by: | Jack Angel (English) Takuro Kitagawa (Japanese) |
Originally a Diaclone mold; in Transformers, Astrotrain appeared in three different color schemes. The Hasbro version was colored light grey, purple, and black. The Takara version being white and black which was later reissued in Japan during 2004. Also during 2004, eHobby offered a dark grey and purple "anime-accurate" color scheme as shown in the cartoon and box artwork.
Both Astrotrain's Marvel and Dreamwave bios state that he loves using his Triple-Changing abilities to create confusion among his enemies, enjoying the fear in their eyes in the moments before he destroys them.
Based on his actions during Transformers: The Movie, we can tell that Astrotrain is not an ambitious character, or at least has abandoned thought of leadership after his previous attempt. After Megatron's injury and subsequent ousting from the Decepticon community, Astrotrain was in the perfect position to assert himself as the new Decepticon leader, but did not seize the opportunity. The question of leadership took place while all of the Decepticons were riding inside of Astrotrain's shuttle mode. He could easily have asserted himself as leader by threatening to transform, leaving them stranded in outer space, if they did not submit to him. By choosing not to do so, Astrotrain was condemned to be a follower for the rest of his existence.
[edit] Animated Series
Astrotrain first appeared in season 2 and was a part of Megatron's forces on Earth. Although typically a secondary character, Astrotrain was a main player in two episodes. In the episode Triple Takeover, he and Blitzwing froze Megatron and Starscream and took leadership of the Decepticons for themselves. Leading an army of drone-like locomotives, he was defeated and forced to return command to Megatron - at gunpoint.
One of Astrotrain's most prominent actions came in the episode God Gambit. The Autobot Cosmos discovered an energy source on Titan (a moon of Saturn), but was shot down by Astrotrain and disabled. Upon discovering a large deposit of energy crystals, Astrotrain (accompanied by Starscream and Thrust) persuaded Titan's inhabitants, the Talarians, to worship him as a god, subsequently using them as slaves to mine the crystals. The disabled Cosmos, being held prisoner, managed to contact the Autobots, thanks to a Talarian rebel who reactivates his communicator. Omega Supreme, with Perceptor and Jazz aboard, arrive and eventually drive off the Decepticons but not before Astrotrain destroyed the crystals, proclaming if he can't have them, nobody can.
He was present at the Battle of Autobot City but was not wounded. He transported the defeated Decepticons back to Cybertron. Of note, he changed size greatly at that time, as all of the participating Decepticons, including Devastator, were able to stand inside of his shuttle form.
He would continue to make sporadic appearances throughout season 3.
[edit] Marvel comics
Astrotrain would first appear in the Transformers comics in the Target 2006 arc of the UK comics, where, along with the three Insecticons, Dirge, Thrust and Ramjet and the other Triple Changers, they are the Decepticons' most feared killers and have to be taken out before a major Autobot uprising can take place. Megatron inadvertently scuppered the plan by summoning the Insecticons to Earth.Astrotrain would first appear in the US Transformers comics in US Issue 29. Sent to Earth along with Blitzwing and Octane to retrieve a crashed shuttle which was carrying fuel for one of Ratbat's operations. However the shuttle was infected with Scraplets, a plague of sentient micro-robots that ate metal and the dying pilot then accidentally infected them. After battling with Blaster and Goldbug they became infected as well. Goldbug eventually found the cure - water, but Blaster refused to let Goldbug spray them, reluctant to save the Decepticons. The Scaplets took matters out of his hands, however, and formed into one huge creature. Options spent, Goldbug cured all four Transformers and let the heavily-armed Decepticons deal with it. The three Triple-Changers then escaped with the cargo.
With the influx of new toys, like Headmasterss,Targetmasters and Pretenders, older Decepticons like Astrotrain appeared less. He was part of Ratbat's forces, battling Scorponok's Decepticons and then the Autobots. He was then deactivated by the Underbase-powered Starscream and did not appear again in the U.S comics, apart from an alternate universe appearance as part of Galvatron's forces in a nightmare alternate universe where Unicron had destroyed Cybertron, and Galvatron and the Decepticons ruled Earth, as well as a brief appearance in a crowd scene in the G2 comics before the Decepticons fought Jhiaxus. As the battle was a rout, it is not clear if he survived.
He appeared in the Earthforce stories as part of the Decepticons of Megatron and Shockwave's forces, in one notable instance leaving Octane to be blasted by the U.S army after it was revealed he had simply been chasing a car out of sheer spite - unaware that the car was actually Jazz.
[edit] Dreamwave Comics
The Triple-Changers would appear again in Dreamwave's reinterpretation of the Generation One Universe - this time with a greatly expanded origin. First appearing during Shockwave's attack on Iacon city along with Blitzwing, Bludgeon, Brawl, Chopshop, Dirge, Octane , Onslaught, Ramjet, Tantrum, Venom and Vortex, Astrotrain would later appear as part of deStarscream's Predacon faction. Later, during the Civil War on Cybertron Shockwave envisioned a Transformer with multiple alternate modes, studying Astrotrain and Blitzwing. However, the Great Shutdown meant his plans could go no further - until Unicron's servant Scourge located Cybertron and reactivated him for study. But when Shockwave was attacked by Sharkticons Scourge saved him, only to be shot in the back by Shockwave. Shockwave then proceeded to examine and study him, using the secrets gleaned to create first the Duocons and then the Triple-Changers - Astrotrain, Blitzwing, Octane and at least two others - appearing to be the Autobots Sandstorm and Broadside (interestingly, in the Micromasters mini-series by Dreamwave, Blitzwing and Astrotrain are suffering from severe physical changes. As this is before the Great Shutdown this might imply that the change was a natural one rather than a result of experiments). The Triple-Changers then served as Shockwave's bodyguard, accompanying him to Earth to capture Optimus Prime and Megatron's troops, with Blitzwing taking down Megatron, leaving him vulnerable for a follow-up attack by Shockwave. They were unable to prevent him from being stopped by Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus back on Cybertron, but Astrotrain and Blitzwing accompanied Shockwave on his exile in the wastes of Cybertron, where his experiments resulted in Sixshot. However, the arrival of Megatron and the Predacons resulted in Shockwave having his arm severed by Megatron. The rest of Shockwave's troops surrendered, including Astrotrain, although Blitzwing was killed by Razorclaw.
[edit] Devil's Due Comics
In the third crossover between G.I Joe and the Transformers from Devil's Due Publishing, Astrotrain appeared as part of the Decepticon air attack on the Autobot Capital City, led by Sixshot, but was driven off by Omega Supreme. After Omega's defeat he attacked Autobot civilians , but was beaten into the ground by Optimus Prime himself.
[edit] IDW Comics
Astrotrain appears in the IDW Publishing G1 relaunch miniseries The Transformers: Infiltration as one of the Decepticons stationed on Earth under the command of Starscream. He, along with Runamuck, Runabout and Thundercracker stands down and surrenders when Megatron finally arrives to deal with the rebellious Starscream personally.
Astrotrain also appeared in the mini-series Evolution: Hearts of Steel. In this Industrial Revolution themed series Astrotrain was reconfigured as a steam train with a third flying train mode. He was the main Decepticon pulling the Decepticon train convoy to New York, but was presumably destroyed when John Henry and Bumblebee sabotaged the railway line and sent the Decepticons plummeting into a chasm. [1]
[edit] Transformers Club (2006)
The cancelled Transformers: Universe toy Spacewarp (a repaint of Transformers: Armada Jetfire) finally gets released as a club store exclusive under the name Astrotrain, with some slight color alterations and a different head. The new head is based on a design by artist Dan Khanna and resembles the head of the original G1 Astrotrain. The character is not related to the original Astrotrain and appears in the Transformers: Cybertron series. Astrotrain's Mini-Con is a repaint of the Mini-Con Comettor; the identity is as yet unknown and should be unveiled shortly.
In November 2006 it was revealed that they were changing Astrotrain to be a member of the Transformers: Timelines toy line, and it would come with 4 Mini-Cons. One was a repaint of Commetor, while the other three are repaints of the Transformers: Cybertron Giant Planet Mini-Con team.
Astrotrain's bio indicates that, unlike the original Astrotrain, he has his own agenda in joining the Decepticons. A fearsome bounty hunter, he and his partner Mini-Cons transport the Decepticons in their quest for the Cyber Planet Keys.
[edit] Transformers: Classics (2006)
A prototype of the upcoming Transformers Classics Astrotrain toy was made available on the Internet during early 2006. As before, he is still a triple changer; his space shuttle mode being sleeker and his train mode now resembles a bullet train. Pictures of the robot and shuttle modes may be seen on the Hasbro web site [2]. The colour scheme is mostly white, with some blue and red decoration.
[edit] Links
Astrotrain Toy Gallery (Hasbro)
Astrotrain Toy Gallery (Takara)
