Monsterbots
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Monsterbots (known as the Firebots in Japan) is the name for a sub-group of three fictional characters from the Transformers universes. Released in 1987, the unifying characteristic of the three Monsterbots - Doublecross, Grotusque and Repugnus - is evident from the group’s name: they all transform into monstrous creatures of various types. This was particularly unusual for Autobots, and the commercial advertising the toys even went so far as to suggest that their monstrous natures had come about as the result of some accident during their creation. Additionally, all three figures could shoot streams of harmless sparks when a button on their bodies was pressed, simulating “fire breathing” abilities.
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[edit] Profiles
Restricted to small roles in their few fiction appearances, the Monsterbots received characterisation from the profiles included with their Tech Specs and published in Marvel's Transformers comic, which were later re-written and expanded upon by Dreamwave Productions.
[edit] Doublecross
| Transformers character | |
 |
|
| "Decepticon destruction is my
favorite sport... and mine, too." |
|
|---|---|
| Takara I.D. #: | C-100 |
| Allegiance: | Autobot |
| Function: | Supply Procurer |
| Alternate Mode: | Two-headed Dragon |
| Comic Appearances: | Marvel |
| Cartoon Appearances: | Headmasters |
| Voice Actor: | Michihiro Ikemizu |
Despite the above-average skill Doublecross has for his job, in almost any other circumstance, other Autobots can’t depend on Doublecross for anything… in fact, he can’t even depend on himself. His twin-headed dragon mode is not just for show – designed to allow each of his heads to process their input individually, thereby maximizing his efficiency, an unanticipated side-effect resulted in the formation of a true split personality, which even carries over to Doublecross's robot mode. His two minds can never agree on anything, and as many Autobots have discovered, a deal made with one will not necessarily be upheld by the other. His problems, however, do not impede his ferocious and savage abilities as a warrior - in dragon mode, his razor-fanged jaws conceal a fusion-generted flamethrower, and he wields an armor-corroding rust-ray rifle in robot mode. Although highly fuel efficient and a fierce fighter, Doublecross is unfortunately not particularly strong.
[edit] Grotusque
| Transformers character | |
 |
|
| “If it ain’t fun to do,
it ain’t worth doing.” |
|
|---|---|
| Takara I.D. #: | C-99 |
| Japanese Name: | Grotes/Grotus |
| Allegiance: | Autobot |
| Function: | Military Strategist |
| Alternate Mode: | Winged Sabertooth |
| Comic Appearances: | Marvel |
| Cartoon Appearances: | Headmasters |
| Voice Actor: | Unknown |
The only thing that frightens Grotusque is looking at his own reflection. He hates his bizarre gargoyle-like creature mode (a bizarre blend of a saber-tooth tiger, reptillian hind-quarters and dragon-like wings), but he doesn’t let it get him down – instead, he maintains a totally upbeat attitude and treats all aspects of life as a joke, including the Transformer war itself. After all, he rations, if combat can’t be fun, then he’d be loathe to do it. Although his comrades sometimes wish he would take combat a bit more seriously, Grotusque is nowhere near as offhand about his duties as he might appear, possessing a sharp analytical mind that makes him an expert campaign planner. Slow in robot mode, Grotesque’s creature mode has indestructible fangs and allows him to fly, although the process is fuel consumptive, meaning that he prefers to travel in three-mile leaps – when he decides to utilise his un-aesthetic alternate mode at all. He is armed with a vaporator weapon which evaporates enemy robots’ fuel supplies right out of their bodies.
[edit] Repugnus
Other Autobots give the fittingly-named Repugnus a wide berth – visually unpleasant to look at, his temperament is even worse. He’s foul-mouthed, foul-tempered, vicious, anti-social and insubordinate, and has actually been kicked out of the Autobot several times, only to be invited back when his superiors have a mission that’s simply too filthy for any other Autobot to carry out. Repugnus is the kind of soldier who is a necessary evil in war, but is left an embittered loner among the Autobots. When he’s not ferreting out information on undercover missions in the Decepticon camp, Repugnus will spread malicious, morale-dampening gossip about his “comrades.” Repugnus is armed with a paralyzing venom laser, but puts little faith in it or any gun – his insectoid creature mode’s claws can rip through almost any material, and his x-ray and infrared vision is supplemented with the ability to project stroboscopic optical effects that dazzle and disorient his foes.
[edit] Animated Series
The Monsterbots were among the few new 1987 toys who did not make it into the fourth and final season of the American Transformers animated series. They did, however, make it to the small screen on the other side of the Pacific, when they appeared in the Japanese-exclusive series, Transformers: Headmasters.
The Monsterbots made their debut accompanying Rodimus Prime to Planet Beast, home of the Battle Beasts, which had been invaded by the Decepticons. Rescuing the captive Battle Beasts from the Decepticons’ subterranean factory, the Monsterbots were appointed by Rodimus to stay behind on the planet and keep guard for a time, in case the Decepticons returned; the trio accepted the position, their animalistic alternate modes well suited to the planet. The Monsterbots later rejoined the main Autobot force, and accompanied the new leader, Fortress Maximus, and his crew on their pursuit of the Decepticons from planet to planet, entering combat on the planet Paradise, where the three of them turned their fire-breath on Abominus and used it to detonate the Decepticons’ Energon Cubes.
Of the three Monsterbots, Doublecross received the most attention, as his unusual personality quirk offered opportunities for humor. While attempting to put out a fire on Paradise, one head instructed the other to shoot water instead of fire, forgetting that they did not possess that ability. Later, when the Decepticons returned to Earth and attacked one of the Autobot bases there, Doublecross’s two heads could not agree on which direction to take to get to the battle, and he was attacked and defeated by the Horrorcons.
[edit] Marvel Comics
Small roles were fated for the Monsterbots even in the pages of Marvel Comics Transformers series. Introduced in the Headmasters four-issue miniseries, the three Monsterbots joined with Fortress Maximus and other like-minded Autobots who wanted to leave Cybertron in order to escape the war on the planet. Relocating to the world of Nebulos, they were followed by Scorponok’s Decepticon forces, who began wreaking havoc on the planet after members of both factions bonded to Nebulan natives as “Headmasters.” Attempting to defend Nebulos’s beautiful Mercury Gardens against a Decepticon attack, the Monsterbots were overpowered by the Decepticon Headmasters and forced to retreat. They later departed Nebulos with the rest of Maximus’s team and were integrated into the larger Autobot army on Earth.
