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Mirage is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. After Optimus Prime and Megatron, and along with Prowl, Mirage is one of the single most re-used names in the Transformers series, and is almost entirely synonymous with characters possessing Formula 1 racing car alternate modes.

Contents 1 Transformers Generation 1 (1984) 1.1 Animated Series 1.2 Marvel Comics 1.3 Dreamwave Comics 1.4 Toys 2 Beast Machines 2.1 Fiction 2.1.1 BotCon comics 2.2 Toys 3 Transformers: Robots in Disguise 3.1 Fiction 3.1.1 Animated series 3.2 Toys 4 Transformers: Armada 4.1 Fiction 4.1.1 Animated series 4.1.2 Dreamwave comics 4.1.3 Transformers: Cybertron 4.2 Toys 5 Transformers: Energon 5.1 Fiction 5.1.1 Animated Series 5.1.2 Dreamwave comics 5.1.3 Pack-in mini-comics 5.2 Toys

[edit] Transformers Generation 1 (1984)

Transformers character
Mirage toy boxart
Mirage
Affiliation	Autobot
Function	Spy
Motto	"Who and what I am, I hide from my enemy." "Can you keep up with my speed?"
Alternate Modes	Ligier JS11-Ford Formula 1 racer, and various other F-1 racer styles.
Series	Transformers: Generation 1 Transformers: Generation 2 Machine Wars Transformers: Alternators Transformers Universe Transformers Classics
Voiced by	Frank Welker (English) Takuro Kitagawa (Japanese)

Some might say that Mirage (Ligier in Japan, Mistero in Italy) was created with a silver sparkplug in his mouth. On Cybertron, he was one of the planet’s elite upper class, preferring to spend his days hunting turbo-foxes instead of involving himself in conflict. When that became unavoidable, Mirage enlisted with the Autobot forces, although he is often unsure about his motivations for doing so, which leaves his fellow Autobots finding it hard to trust him – a problem not helped by the fact that Mirage can rarely hide that he is often unwilling to fight directly, or his contempt for the “commoners” he is now forced to interact with. He has no lost love for Earth, and would happily return to his old life on Cybertron if he could.

It is ironic that, given his unwillingness to fight, Mirage is a superior hand-to-hand combatant, and a skilled sharpshooter, having honed his talents hunting game on Cybertron. He is armed with a rifle which fires explosive, armor-piercing darts, but the most important piece of his arsenal in his function as a spy is his shoulder-mounted electro-disruptor, which can bend photons to make Mirage invisible, or appear to be where he is not, or even alter his physical appearance, hence his name.

[edit] Animated Series

The animated series opted to present Mirage’s desire to return to Cybertron as a genuinely sad longing, rather than as a result of any great dislike of Earth, and this shaped him into a more gentle character, not especially like the snob suggested by his profile. His actions immediately after the Transformers’ reactivation on Earth in 1984 were heroic ones, working with Hound on a plan to dupe the Decepticons, and using his invisibility powers to sneak aboard the villains’ space cruiser as it launched, sabotaging it from within and forcing it to crash back to Earth.

Be it as a result of his own desire not to engage in combat or not, Mirage’s role in the Autobots’ battles on Earth was a distinctly minimal one, leaving him confined to the background on the battlefield, or not present at all. In early 1985, however, the spotlight shone on Mirage again when Cliffjumper suspected him of disloyalty. The discovery of a Decepticon installation in a sector Mirage had recently observed caused Cliffjumper to leap the incorrect conclusion that he was a traitor to the Autobots, having concealed the information. After a battle with the Decepticons, Mirage risked the trust of his comrades by sneaking away to perform a plan of his own, framing the Decepticons for stealing Energon Cubes from the Insecticons. Spotting carrying the cubes by Cliffjumper, Mirage’s guilt seemed all but confirmed, and before he could reveal his innocence, he was captured and brainwashed by one of Bombshell’s mind-controlling cerebro-shells. Under Bombshell’s control, Mirage led the Autobots into an ambush, but at the battle’s end, the assorted manipulations were revealed and Cliffjumper apologised to Mirage.

Towards the end of the year, Mirage was among the team of five Autobots who disguised themselves as the Stunticons, with Mirage’s alternate mode making him the perfect choice to masquerade as Drag Strip. Penetrating the Decepticons’ camp, the Autobots ran into trouble when the real Stunticons arrived, trying to prove their identities by forming Menasor. With a combination of Windcharger’s magnetic powers and Mirage’s illusion-creating ability, the Autobots were able to appear as Menasor too, but the deception was soon revealed, though they were still able to thwart the Decepticons’ plans.

Mirage was absent from the events of 2005 and 2006 without explanation; however, a storyboarded scene from Transformers: The Movie featuring Mirage was cut from the finished film, in which, amidst the transformation of Autobot City, Mirage ambushed the Insecticon Bombshell, and was then fired upon by Megatron. Whether or not this would have killed Mirage is not made clear, but given the film's casual bodycount, it seems highly probable. The scene was rejected because was proposed an attempt to promote Mirage higher on the ranks of Autobots in the successive third season of the serial, but without success, due also to bad sales of the action figure, that was considered too fragile.

[edit] Marvel Comics

Following the awakening on Earth, Mirage immediately made clear his desire to return to Cybertron, even going so far as to question where his loyalties lay, if a different alliance would allow him to return to his home world. Attacked by Ravage in an early battle, Mirage attempted to reason with him, seeing no reason that two Transformers should fight, viewing co-operation as the best way to get back to Cybertron. However, when he clashed with Ravage for a second time, and had his arm severed by the Decepticon’s fangs, Mirage came to the realisation that only by fighting on the side of the Autobots did he truly stand a chance of returning to the world he loved.

Mirage did not play any major role in battles which immediately followed, but managed to avoid being among the ranks of the injured following the Autobots’ climactic clash with Shockwave. Still, he remained largely absent from combat situations until the Underbase-empowered Starscream threatened the world; attempting to defend New York with a large number of his fellow Autobots, Mirage was deactivated by the Decepticon. His damaged body was stored in a stasis pod on the Ark, until and his fellow fallen comrades were brought back online through the power of Nucleon.

After the end of their original Transformers comic book series, Marvel continued the story with its Transformers: Generation 2 series a few years later, accompanying the toyline of the same name. In the comic, Mirage was among a team led by Grimlock onto the Twilight, the flagship of the second-generation Cybertronians led by Jhiaxus. Overwhelmed by the troops on board, the Autobots were captured but eventually mounted an escape attempt. The first to rush into battle, Mirage was destroyed by a flamethrower; his death was soon avenged in battle by Ironhide.

[edit] Dreamwave Comics

Dreamwave Productions’ 21st Century re-imagining of the G1 universe presented a Mirage much closer to the cold, snobbish character his tech specs originally suggested.

As ever, when the civil war on Cybertron broke out, Mirage eventually sided with the Autobots, and even maintained his allegiance to them when the two warring forces split off into several smaller factions following the disappearance of Optimus Prime and Megatron. During this period of unrest, when The Fallen attacked the Autobot base in order to capture Blitzwing, Mirage was among the Autobots who tried to stop him.

As one of the Autobots on the Ark, Mirage participated in the battles on Earth, awakening in 1984 and developing a loathing of the planet. It was no doubt a relief for him to head back to Cybertron in 1999 after the Autobots defeated and captured the Decepticons, but when an act of sabotage caused their craft to explode shortly after leaving Earth, Mirage was among the Transformers who were able to avoid having their bodies appropriated by the terrorist, Lazarus. He was reactivated by Optimus Prime in 2002 and participated in the ensuing battles against the Decepticons that culminated in a nuclear explosion above San Francisco.

The following year, when Shockwave arrived on Earth to arrest Prime and Megatron’s forces as war criminals, the Autobots were naturally resistant to the idea. Mirage was among a squad who monitored Shockwave’s movements on Earth, but upon discovering that Ultra Magnus was under Shockwave’s command, surrendered himself and the others, recognising this as his chance to return to Cybertron. When Optimus Prime then overthrew Shockwave, who was revealed to possess sinister ulterior motives, Mirage was among the Autobots who voted to stay on the planet rather than return to Earth, even though he had discovered that Shockwave had divided up his old estate and holdings amongst others.

[edit] Toys

• Generation 1 (1984)

The toy that was to become the Autobot Mirage was originally designed by Koujin Ohno in 1982 and released as part of the Japanese Diaclone series by Takara. Mirage transforms into a Ligier JS11-Ford Formula 1 racing car, which is the origin for his Japanese name. He bears the racing number 26 – denoting the vehicle as that which was driven by Jacques Laffite in the 1980 season – and sponsorship logos for "Citanes", a reference to the cigarette company, Gitanes. It was announced at Botcon 2005 that the mold for Mirage's original toy, first released in 1984, has been lost, meaning that the toy cannot be reissued like many others have.

• Generation 2 (1995)

For Mirage's appearance in Marvel Comics' Generation 2 series (see above), he was rendered in his original G1 body, although his original toy was not among those re-released for the G2 toyline. A new incarnation of Mirage was introduced to the toyline in 1995 - still a racing car, Mirage was now part of the smaller, simpler line of Go-Bots figures, and shared his mold with another figure named Double Clutch.

The figure was later repainted into a new Mirage for the Robot in Disguise toyline (see below) and then brought back as the original Mirage for the Universe line.

• Machine Wars (1997)

In 1997, the small Machine Wars toyline was released exclusively in KB Toys stores, and featured a new Mirage figure with a spring-loaded transformation and the traditional racing car alternate mode(now a Champ Car), shared by the line’s Prowl figure. The lack of any supporting fiction for the line leaves its place in continuity hard to define, but Mirage’s bio-card makes it clear that the figure represents a new version of the G1 character, presenting him to possess the same personality, ability and function - the only difference is his new motto, "Can you keep up with my speed?"

• Robot Masters (2004)

The original Mirage returned in 2004 as part of the new Japanese-exclusive toyline, Transformers: Robot Masters. Released as Rijie (an alternate romanization of Ligier, Mirage's Japanese name), the figure was a recolor of his Machine Wars toy, recolored to resemble the G1 incarnation of the character, and the toy's profile - which spun out of the animated series at a point prior to Transformers: The Movie - made it clear that this was the original Mirage, still wielding his electro-disruptor and possessing his invisibility powers.

• Alternators (2006)

2006's Transformers: Alternators toyline, featuring updated versions of classic G1 characters with modern vehicular alternate modes and complex transformations, introduced a new versions of Mirage, who transforms into a Ford GT with a Michigan license plate. Although the American toyline offers no supporting fiction for the Alternators toys, the line's Japanese counterpart, Binaltech, has featured a growing storyline, a new chapter released with each toy, making it clear that the Alternators/Binaltech timeline branches off from the animated series continuity prior to Transformers: The Movie. However, with the line currently stalled in Japan, it seems unlikely that a new chapter of the story will be written to precisely explain the specifics of Mirage's acquisition of his new form, or any of its special features, any time soon. Fan made sticker sheets have been produced to make Alternators Mirage look more like his Generation 1 version. A red version of Mirage's Ford GT mold, identified as Hot Rodimus has been issued in the Kiss Players toyline, with a new head sculpt and a number of additional accessories.

• Transformers: Universe (2006)

Released in mid 2006, a re-package of the transparent green recolor of RiD Spy Changer Mirage made it out at discount stores as a Transformers: Universe toy. According to the bio on the box this toy was now representing Generation 1/Generation 2 Mirage. This is only fitting since the mold was previously used for Generation 2 Mirage.

• Transformers: Classics (2006)

The original Mirage received an upgrade in 2006 in the Transformers: Classics line. This Deluxe class car came out in the second wave of the Classics line. Instead of having advertisements from Lieger on it, this Mirage advertised Witwicky Sparkplugs on his spoiler, a reference to the human character from the original Transformers animated series, Sparkplug Witwicky. The Transformation of this Mirage is very faithful to the original toy. [1]

[edit] Beast Machines

Transformers character
Beast Machines Mirage
Mirage
Affiliation	Vehicon
Sub-Group	Basic Vehicles
Function	Warrior
Motto	"Eat my dust!"
Alternate Modes	Cybertronian race car
Series	Beast Machines

The first truly new, different character to bear the name of Mirage appeared in the 1999 Beast Machines toyline, a portent of the frequent reuse the name would soon receive. A member of the evil Vehicons, with the requisite (albeit stylised and alien) racing car alternate mode, this Mirage did not appear in the accompanying animated series, but was characterised as an experiment by Megatron in bridging the intelligence gap between Vehicon drones and their generals.

Mirage’s biography presents him as a trickster who enjoys playing cruel pranks on his comrades, making him unpopular with his fellow Vehicons. He is not particularly smart and would be entirely useless without Megatron's own supervision and orders. He possesses the power of teleportation, able to appear from nowhere to attack his foes, and is armed with a plasma blaster and duel missile launchers. Interestingly, with the exception of his weaponry, Mirage’s biography is a carbon copy of that of the G1 Decepticon, Skywarp.

[edit] Fiction

[edit] BotCon comics

The Mirage Vehicon drones made a cameo in the BotCon "Wreckers" comic.

[edit] Toys

• Beast Machines (1999)

Beast Machines Mirage features pressure-launching missiles, and was later repainted and released in as part of the Robots in Disguise line, as an Autobot named Mirage GT (see below).

Plans existed to remold and redeco the toy into the Autobot bounty hunter, Devcon, to be released as an exclusive for a future BotCon. By extension, the toy would have been a Transformers: Universe figure, but plans were abandoned when 3H Enterprises lost the license to the hold the convention. Although the toy was not produced, the character did appear in the Transformers: Universe - Wreckers comic series.

[edit] Transformers: Robots in Disguise

Transformers character
Robots in Disguise Mirage
Mirage
Affiliation	Autobot
Sub-Group	Spy Changer
Motto	"You can't hit a speeding target!"
Alternate Modes	F-1 racer
Series	Transformers: Robots in Disguise
Voiced by	Wally Wingert (English) Ryou Naito (Japanese)

The parallel universe of the 2001 line, Transformers: Robots in Disguise introduced another new Mirage, known as Counter Arrow in the original Japanese version, Car Robots. Mirage is the fastest of the Spychangers, which makes him the best choice for spying on the enemy – he’ll be in and out before anyone is the wiser. As an excellent marksman, he is fittingly armed with a sniper rifle, and, like the other Spychangers, possesses optical camouflage powers that can make him appear invisible and is able to drive over any surface, including water, and even upside-down

[edit] Fiction

[edit] Animated series

Mirage made his debut with the rest of the Spychangers rescuing a plutonium generator from the clutches of the Predacons. His most focal role, however, proved to be an unintentional homage to G1 Mirage's own biggest role, when the other Spychangers inaccurately suspected Mirage of betraying the Autobots to the Predacons.

[edit] Toys

• Spychanger (2001)

Fittingly, the RiD Mirage toy is a repaint of the G2 Go-Bots Mirage figure, part of a smaller sub-group of such repaints known as Spychangers. The toy, originally sold in a two-pack with Ironhide, was also released alone in translucent plastic, and repainted transparent green as a Kaybee stores exclusive.

• Mirage GT (2002)

As noted above, the Robots in Disguise toyline also included a repaint of Beast Machines Mirage as an Autobot named Mirage GT, sold in a three-pack with Nightcruz and Scavenger (also repaints of Beast Machines toys). The toy was exclusive to the ‘‘Robots in Disguise’’ line, not having been a part of Car Robots and hence the character did not appear in the animated series, and without a profile, it is unclear whether or not Mirage GT is intended to be the same character as the existing Robots in Disguise Mirage or any other character by that name.

[edit] Transformers: Armada

Transformers character
Armada Mirage
Mirage
Affiliation	Mini-Con
Sub-Group	Race Team
Function	Warrior
Motto	"Hide yourself, but never your ideals."
Alternate Modes	F-1 racer
Series	Transformers: Armada Transformers: Universe Transformers: Cybertron

The alternate universe of Transformers: Armada introduced another Mirage (known in Japan as Indy) in 2002, this time a member of the diminutive Mini-Con faction and one third of the Race Team, alongside Dirt Boss and Downshift. In the early days of the war, his skills in stealth and speed lead him to prefer running and hiding to fighting, but upon witnessing the atrocities of war, he viewed his cowardice as the worst crime of all, and stepped up to a command position in hopes of doing something about it. Although smart, observant and direct, Mirage still carries with him the guilt from the earlier part of his life, when he ignored his principles in favor of his own self-preservation.

[edit] Fiction

[edit] Animated series

As a Mini-Con, Mirage possessed no given personality in the Armada animated series, communicating only in bleeps and spending most of his time onscreen in the merged form of the Skyboom Shield as the Autobots and Decepticons battled for ownership of it and the other Mini-Con weapons.

[edit] Dreamwave comics

Mirage remained without any characterisation until Dreamwave Productions produced the character profile above, which presented Mirage to be the leader of the Race Team. Like his G1 progenitor, Dreamwave presented Armada Mirage to possess a light-bending invisibility power, capable of rendering himself and other objects inperceptible, which he used in defence of the Mini-Con's moonbase in the Dreamwave comic book storyline.

[edit] Transformers: Cybertron

Mirage was brought to the Speed Planet under the protection of Hot Shot, where he quickly overcome his sadness at his separation from Downshift and Dirt Boss when he discovered the planet's perfect raceways. Now he and Hot Shot are a nearly unbeatable racing team.

A parallel incarnation of Armada Mirage from an alternate universe was plucked from his home universe by a rip in space-time created by the black hole threatening Cybertron and blasted to the Speed Planet, where his damaged body was found by Override who recognized his potential and took him in. Repaired by her, Mirage became her willing parter, helping her win race after race. Upon discovering that Mirage's team-mate, Downshift, had been captured by Speed Planet native Dirt Boss (no relation to the Race Team member), the team have dedicated themselves to hunting down the villain and rescuing Downshift.

[edit] Toys

• Transformers: Armada (2002)

Packaged with Dirt Boss and Downshift as the Race Team, Mirage's mold is based on an earlier figure, Swindle – the transformation of the toy is identical, aside from an additional waist swivel, but every piece is moulded differently – and, naturally, transforms into a Formula 1 racing car. He can combine with his into the Skyboom Shield. The team was later redecoed in red and white as the Road Assault Team. In Japan, Mirage was later redecoed in blue and white.

• Transformers: Universe (2003)

The original version of Armada Mirage (and the rest of the Race Team) was repackaged individually with a collectible Tiny Tin.

• Transformers: Cybertron (2005)

Mirage was repainted in black and red and packaged with a Tiny Tin in special double-packs with both Hot Shot and Override.

Mirage was recolored in green and black to become the Japanese exclusive figure, Topgear, available only with the third DVD volume release of the series. His teammates were also released in such a manner, as "Midship" and "Tailside", and together, the "Speed Chaser Team," as they were dubbed, could combine into the "Magnawing," and featured in the Linkage manga included with the DVDs as servants of Unicron.

[edit] Transformers: Energon

Transformers character
Mirage (Shockfleet)
Affiliation	Decepticon
Sub-Group	Mega Vehicles
Motto	"I am your funeral at sea."
Alternate Modes	Cybertronian Gun Boat
Series	Transformers: Energon
Voiced by	Doug Parker (English) Jin Yamanoi (Japanese)

Main article: Tidal Wave (Transformers)

Despite occupying the same Universe as Transformers: Armada and its Mirage, Transformers: Energon introduced its own Mirage (named Shockfleet in Japan) in 2004, an upgraded version of the lumbering Decepticon battleship, Tidal Wave. Unusually for a character bearing the name, he transforms into a high-speed gunboat. This Mirage has proved himself as much a threat on land as he is on water, turning destruction into an art form.

[edit] Fiction

[edit] Animated Series

When the unruly, treacherous Decepticon known as Shockblast joined Megatron’s forces, Tidal Wave warned against the idea, distrusting Shockblast as a result of some unspecified past conflict that had occurred between them. Ordered to aid Shockblast in battle, however, Tidal Wave was badly damaged when an Energon Tower collapsed on him, and Megatron used the power of Unicron to reformat him, recreating Tidal Wave as Mirage.

Smaller and sleeker than in his original form, Mirage received an intelligence upgrade to go along with his new body, speaking more full sentences and losing his penchant for repeating his own name, though he still referred to himself in the third-person. Somewhat outlandishly, by the climactic events of the series, Mirage appeared to have developed a romantic fixation upon his leader, often making comments about his affection for him and, in one instance, contorting his body and generating a glowing pink heart. Tragically, Mirage’s sheer devotion to Megatron led him to follow his leader into oblivion when he flew into the Energon sun that had caused his leader’s demise.

[edit] Dreamwave comics

Energon Mirage also made a brief appearance in the Dreamwave Energon comic book series. Here, after failing in a mission on Cybertron, Tidal Wave was punished by Scorponok for his misdeed, and was damaged so badly that Alpha Q used Unicron’s power to rebuild his shattered body as Mirage. Mirage proceeded to battle the Omnicons and Kicker, but the bankruptcy and subsequently closure of Dreamwave Productions has left its storylines unfinished. Like the Mini-Con Mirage, this Mirage also had the ability to become invisible for short periods of time, in homage to the original G1 Mirage.

[edit] Pack-in mini-comics

Mirage debuted in the third installment of the mini-comics included with Transformers: Energon figures, patrolling an Autobot island facility while his fellow Decepticons worked to penetrate it. When the Decepticons are caught by Bulkhead and Towline, Mirage rushes to provide backup but is confronted and taken out by Omega Supreme. Tow Line wounds Slugslinger in combat. Omega Supreme takes out Mirage, Sharkticon and Shockblast. Later, in the fourth mini-comic, Mirage was among the Decepticons aiding Megatron in battle against Optimus Prime and Hot Shot, who were defeated when Prime powerlinked with Wing Saber.

[edit] Toys

• Transformers: Armada - Tidal Wave (2002-2004)

The original form of Mirage, the massive Decepticon battleship, Tidal Wave, was available in a variety of colors. As originally designed for the Transformers: Armada toyline, he was purple and grey, but large amounts of green were later added to the toy. The animators of the television series, however, did not learn of this change until they had rendered Tidal Wave in his original color scheme for the series, so while the American toy had the green components, the Japanese release of the figure chose to use the original design in the name of show accuracy. When re-released in the Transformers: Energon toyline, he was now rendered in whites and translucent greens, with lightning-bolt scars that the animated series blamed on exposure to raw Energon.

Tidal Wave is formed of three separate ship components - a troop carrier, an aircraft carrier and a twin-bowed gunboat. These three vessels can link together to form one giant battleship, which can then transform into Tidal Wave, or they can individual merge with the Armada Megatron or Galvatron toy. Tidal Wave has two firing missiles in his gunboat section, and his Mini-Con partner, Ramjet, activates rotating gun turrets.

• Transformers: Energon - Mirage (2004)

Mirage is one of the more complex toys of the line, and features spring-loaded hyper-power cannons with accompanying electronic sounds. The figure was later recolored into Dreadwing, his own clone, as part of the Energon line.