Broadside (Transformers)

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Broadside is the name of three fictional characters from the Transformers universes.

Contents

[edit] Transformers: Generation 1 (1986)

Transformers character
Broadside
Affiliation Autobot
Sub-Group Triple Changer, Wreckers
Function Air/Sea Assault
Motto "I like the sea far away and my feet on the ground."
Alternate Modes Aircraft carrier/F-4 Phantom
Cybertroian Jet
Series Transformers: Generation 1
Voiced by Bill Martin (English)

Broadside doesn't like transforming into either of his alternate modes — he gets seasick and doesn't like heights, but he's a brave warrior. Expands to 1200 feet long as an aircraft carrier and can transport jets and other Autobots into battle. Has a 15,000 mile range and a 40 knots maximum speed. Can project an 80,000 volt electricity field around himself in jet mode. Carries a high-energy plasma-pulse gun and shattering vibro-ax in robot mode.

A Chinese-made knockoff was released where he was partnered with a knockoff of the Micromaster Decepticon jet Flattop, making them a jet and aircraft carrier set.

[edit] Animated series

Broadside first appeared in episode 67 of the animated Transformers series, "The Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2". He last appeared in episode 92, "The Burden Hardest to Bear". Broadside was depicted as being very large in all modes, standing at least twice as tall as Ultra Magnus, and being able to combat giant Decepticon combiners alone.

Broadside had a troubled history in the animated continuity. A large Autobot spaceship that looked exactly like Broadside's jet mode appeared in "Five Faces of Darkness", but was destroyed in the episode. In the following episode, "The Killing Jar", a Quintesson scientist disguised his spaceship as Broadside and beckoned the Decepticon Cyclonus to come inside. Inexplicably, Cyclonus complied. Broadside's first confirmed appearance was in "Thief In the Night", where he appeared in aircraft carrier mode. He fell on Devastator in "Carnage in C-Minor", appearing in robot mode (albeit an old prototype design). In "Grimlock's New Brain" and "The Burden Hardest to Bear", Broadside finally appeared in his correct robot mode.

[edit] Transformers: Headmasters

Broadside appeared in several episodes of the Japanese-exclusive Headmasters series. He was last seen in episode 16 being used by Arcee and Spike Witwicky to explore deep space in aircraft carrier mode.

[edit] Marvel Comics

Broadside appeared only in issue #41 of the U.S. Marvel Transformers comic series, as well as getting a bio page in their Transformers: Universe series of profiles.

[edit] Marvel UK comics

Broadside appeared in several issues of the Marvel UK comics. His first appearance was during the Target: 2006 saga where he joined The Wreckers alongside fellow Triple Changers Springer and Sandstorm, to serve as replacements for Ultra Magnus, who was on mission off-world at a critical time.

Following this, he was involved in the battle with Flame in a successful effort to stop the reactivation of the Kalis Engine and Cybertron's resultant destruction.

In issue #188, Broadside appeared in a story called "Firebug". Broadside leads Inferno and Sandstorm on a mission to Earth under the orders of Emirate Xaaron to set up a permanent reconnaissance base. They land a cloaked ship in Oregon about the same time an alien Firebug from the planet Furnacia lands nearby. The Firebug attacks a nearby human city to create fires to feed off. The three Autobots respond to the fires and discover the creature, which Inferno recognizes. Although they are able to defeat the alien they cannot bring themselves to destroy it. Inferno comes up with a plan and they send the Firebug to the planet Mercury in one of their ship's message pods, where it can live off the hot environment of that planet without hurting anyone.

[edit] Dreamwave Productions

Broadside appeared in the second Transformers: The War Within comic series by Dreamwave as a member of the Wreckers lead by Springer. This was before he became a Triple Changer, and his only alternate mode was that of a Cybertronian jet.

After Shockwave gained control over Cybertron and unified the Autobots and Decepticons, Broadside joined his cause as one of his soldiers. Broadside was present in the Arctic Battle where Shockwave attempted to arrest the Autobots and Decepticons on Earth. They were successful in capturing Megatron and converting the Decepticons, but the Autobots escaped.

Later, Sandstorm and Broadside joined the Autobot rebellion and were ordered to escort their former leader, Optimus Prime, to the Autobot rebels. While Broadside escorted the other Autobots elsewhere, Sandstorm and Optimus made their way to the rebels. While on there way, Optimus and Sandstorm were attacked by one of Shockwave's assassins where Sandstorm was shot and killed, much to Optimus Prime's dismay.

Note: According to his Dreamwave More Than Meets the Eye bio, Broadside was cured of his fear of heights and seasickness when Shockwave turned him into a Triple Changer, but he still likes to complain about both anyway.

[edit] IDW Publishing

Broadside in IDW comics.
Broadside in IDW comics.

Broadside, in Cybertronian form, appeared in issue #2 of The Transformers: Stormbringer series by IDW Publishing. He aided Springer's Wreckers on the planet Varas Centralus in the Kol system when Optimus Prime redeployed the Wreckers to a mission on Cybertron.

[edit] References


[edit] Transformers: Armada (2003)

Transformers character
Broadside
Affiliation Mini-Con
Sub-Group Night Attack Team
Partner Fetch, Scattor
Motto "Fear the darkness and shadows, for we are there."
Alternate Modes Missile Truck
Series Transformers: Armada

The second use of the name Broadside was for a Mini-Con in the Transformers: Armada line. He is a member of the Night Attack Team and was packaged with Fetch and Scattor. He was a recolor of Armada Knockout and Crack, and later recolored into Cybertron Steamhammer.

Some versions of Armada Galvatron included the Night Attack Team as a bonus item.

Broadside loves the dark. He excels in darkness, and has a cruel streak that has certainly helped the Night Attack Mini-Con Team earn its grim reputation (and string of "dead or alive" warrants on numerous planets). However, he's endlessly spouting off what he believes are creepy warnings about the darkness swallowing victims, endless nights and the like that some have a very hard time taking seriously, or just find outright pretentious and annoying.

Broadside first appeared in the animated Transformers: Armada episode #25, "Tactician".

His only appearance in the Dreamwave comics was on his bio page in Transformers: Armada More Than Meets the Eye #2.

[edit] References


[edit] Transformers Classics (2007)

Transformers character
Broadside
Affiliation Mini-Con
Sub-Group Decepticon
Demolition Team
Partner Wideload, Sledge
Alternate Modes Tank
Series Transformers: Classics

The third Broadside is a Decepticon-aligned Mini-Con. He transforms into a tank and is part of the Mini-Con Demolition team. This toy, like all the initial Classics Mini-Cons, was initially intended to be part of the Transformers: Cybertron line, but was released after that line had ended — the packaging was changed to resemble that of the Classics line, despite him NOT being a homage to Generation 1 Broadside.

Each member of the Demolition Team is an expert in engineering and construction, which makes them all the more effective at their actual function: turning things into piles of unidentifiable rubble. Allied with the Decepticons, these guys are sent in first to weaken Autobot fortifications, making it easier for the main army to swarm in.

[edit] References

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