Powerglide (Transformers)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Powerglide is the name of a fictional character from the Transformers universe.
| Transformers character | |
 |
|
| Powerglide | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Autobot  |
| Sub-Group | Mini-Vehicles |
| Function | Warrior |
| Motto | "To stop me, you have to catch me first." |
| Alternate Modes | A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog" CAS Plane |
| Series | Transformers: Generation 1 |
| Voiced by | Michael Chain (English) Hirotaka Suzuoki (Japanese) |
Contents |
[edit] Generation 1
Powerglide (Survolo in Canada, Jumbo in Italy) is a show-off. While most of his fellow Autobots are literally grounded by their abilities, he can take to the air, and he is exceedingly proud of that fact. He uses his ability to release brief bursts of great power to more than make up for his relatively slow flying speed. Consequently, his maneuverability is incredible. Whether putting on a show for his comrades or evading enemy fire, he delights in displaying his dazzling aerial virtuosity. Like any showman, Powerglide only demands one thing from his audience after one of his performances, their appreciation, and he'll accept it from friend and foe alike.
In vehicular mode, an A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthog airplane, Powerglide can reach a cruising speed of 500 miles per hour (mph). He can, for short periods, increase his power output dramatically and increase his speed to 3200 mph. His maneuverability is excellent; he can complete an aerial loop perpendicular to the ground with a radius of only 0.3 miles. He carries small concussion bombs and can shoot a short range high-temperature thermal beam from the tip of his nose module. He can also use the beam in robot mode. He has relatively little strength in robot mode.
The toy version of Powerglide was released by Hasbro from 1985 through 1986 as a Mini-Vehicle, placing him in the same general size category as Bumblebee, Beachcomber, and Huffer.
Powerglide was repainted as the Decepticon Bad Boy in Japan.
[edit] Animated Series
As a result of the great confidence he has in his flying ability, Powerglide often gets into more trouble than he can handle with enemy jets, i.e. Thrust, Dirge, and Ramjet.
Powerglide first appeared in episode 27, A Prime Problem.
Powerglide's largest role was in episode 54, The Girl Who Loved Powerglide, where he thwarts an attempted Decepticon kidnapping of a young CEO named Estoria, who falls for Powerglide. Megatron will stop at nothing to harness Estoria’s secret energy formula. It's up to Powerglide to save the day, no matter how bothersome his new human friend may be.
He did not appear in the Transformers movie, but did appear in several episodes of the television series set after the movie. His last appearance was in episode 87, The Big Broadcast of 2006.
[edit] Marvel Comics
Beachcomber, Blaster, Cosmos, Perceptor, Powerglide, Seaspray and Warpath were part of an Autobot team on Cybertron in the Earth year 1986. They battled the Decepticons lead by Straxus over the Space Bridge and the Autobots were stranded on Earth (Transformers #18).
They were then captured by Circuit Breaker and her Rapid Anti-Robot Attack Team, taken to her lab and then dissected (Transformers #21-22).
Circuit Breaker then captured Autobots Air Raid, Fireflight, Silverbolt, Skids, Skydive and Slingshot. Using the parts from all the captured Autobots she created a giant Autobot with herself in control, striking a deal with them that if they would co-operate she would let them go. Circuit Breaker then used them to oppose the Decepticon Battlechargers Runabout and Runamuck who were defacing American national monuments, including the Statue of Liberty. After defeating the Decepticons with Circuit Breaker the Autobots were released (Transformers #23). Autobot medics Ratchet and First Aid apparently restore the Autobots and Aerialbots to their original form before the events of G.I. Joe and the Transformers #1 and Transformers #24 (1986) take place.
Powerglide last appeared in issue 60, Yesterday's Heroes. (His appearance was on a viewscreen showing Autobots deactivated during an Underbase-powered Starscream's assault on the Earth.)
[edit] Dreamwave Comics
When civil war broke out on the planet Cybertron between the Autobots and Decepticons, Powerglide joined the Autobot cause.
When Autobot leader Sentinel Prime was killed by Decepticon leader Megatron, a new Autobot leader, Optimus Prime, was chosen. Optimus ordered the evacuation of Cybertron by the Autobots, and Powerglide was among those who reluctantly prepared for the evacuation (Transformers: War Within #2).
When Decepticon Military Operations Commander Shockwave lead a force of Decepticons against the Autobot capitol of Iacon, Powerglide was among the Autobots who defended the capitol (Transformers: War Within #3).
After the Great Shutdown, Powerglide was reformatted in the form of an Earth jet.
When Optimus Prime returned to Cybertron accused of crimes, Powerglide was among the Autobots who joined Optimus in overthrowing the rule of Shockwave.
Following the liberation of Cybertron from Shockwave’s rule, Bumblebee was assigned to help reinforce Jazz’s team on Earth. Bumblebee was placed in command of the Autobot supply shuttle Orion, with Powerglide, Seaspray, Cosmos, Warpath, Cliffjumper, Bumper and the Powerdashers assigned to him. Their mission was to aid the Autobots on Earth. Upon arriving in the Earth system from transwarp space, they witnessed the arrival of Sunstorm (Transformers: Generation One III #1).
[edit] Mirco Transformers (2007)
The Micro series of Transformers contains a repaint of Micro Jetfire painted red and named Fireflight. According to Hasbro scources at Botcon 2006 this toy was originally intended to be called Powerglide, but they can't get a trademark on that name.
