Cloudburst (Transformers)
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Cloudburst (Phoenix in Japan) is an Autobot Pretender in the Transformers toyline.
[edit] Transformers: Generation 1
| Transformers character | |
 |
|
| Cloudburst (Phoenix) | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance | Autobot (Cybertron) |
| Sub-Group | Pretenders |
| Function | Space Defense |
| Motto | "You can't tell a bot by his cover." |
| Alternate mode | Cybertronian Jet |
| Series | Transformers: Generation 1 |
Cloudburst is one of the original six Autobot Pretenders. His inner robot transforms into a spaceship. Unlike the other Autobot Pretenders, Cloudburst carries a whip instead of a sword.
Cloudburst is extremely cautious and wary. He prefers his outer shell, and very rarely exposes his inner robot, when not in space flight.
[edit] Animated series
As Phoenix, he was one of the Cybertron Pretenders on the Japanese Masterforce series. In robot mode his left hand could retract and launch knock-out gas.
Eight thousand years ago, a starship containing the Autobot (Cybertron) Pretenders Metalhawk, Landmine (Lander), Waverider (Diver) and Cloudburst (Phoenix) pursued the Decepticon (Destron) Pretenders Bomb-Burst (Blood), Skullgrin (Dauros) and Submarauder (Gilmer) to neolithic-era Earth, where they crashed. Using their Pretender abilities, the Autobots adopted the form of humans - not using simple external shells like in the American fiction, but actually transforming the very structure of their bodies into an organic equivalent, shrinking down to normal human size to hide in plain sight among burgeoning humanity. The Decepticon Pretenders, on the other hand, adopted the forms of monstrous creatures, becoming feared as demons by early man. After many battles, the Autobots succeeded in defeating their enemies and sealing them away - Bomb-Burst in the pyramids of Egypt, Submarauder in the ruins of Atlantis, and Skullgrin beneath the Nazca Lines in Peru - for thousands of years.
Liberated in the near future by the mysterious Decepticon god, Devil Z, the three Pretenders entered his service, and immediately began to draw the Autobot Pretenders out of hiding, before turning their attention to a series of plans to acquire energy and to disrupt one of the three Chokoon Powers on Earth.
[edit] Marvel Comics
Although not seen or mentioned directly, Cloudburst was among the Autobots who joined Fortress Maximus in leaving Cybertron for the planet Nebulos (Transformers: Headmasters #1).
Followed to Nebulos by the Decepticons under Scorponok, Fortress Maximus's band left Nebulos for the planet Earth (Transformers: Headmasters #4).
When Brainstorm needed subjects to duplicate a Decepticon Pretender experiment, Cloudburst and five other Autobots volunteered and became the Autobot Pretenders. They fought the Decepticon Pretenders with the help of Optimus Prime and Goldbug (Transformers #40).
Cloudburst was present when Grimlock fought Blaster for leadership of the Autobots on Earth's moon. The Autobots were then attacked by the Decepticons lead by Ratbat (Transformers #41).
In the Marvel Comics Transformers comic, Cloudburst had a major role together with Landmine, when they rescued Sky Lynx and Berko from the Mecannibals. During the adventure, Cloudburst was forced to fight in gladiatorial combat on Femax and was temporarily decapitated by The First One, leader of Femax.
Cloudburst was killed in the battle with Unicron in issue 75 of the U.S. comic.
