Grapple (Transformers)

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Grapple (Grappin in France, Gancio in Italy) is the name of a single character in the Transformers universes. Due to trademake reasons, he was released as "Autobot Grapple" when he was reissued by Hasbro.

1 Transformers: Generation One (1985)
2 Transformers: Armada
3 Transformers: Energon
4 Links

[edit] Transformers: Generation One (1985)

Grapple
Transformers character

Allegiance	Autobot (Cybertron)
Sub-Group	Autobot Cars
Function	Architect
Motto	"Beauty is in everything except war."
Alternate Mode	Construction Crane
Series	Transformers: Generation 1
Voiced by	Pete Renaday (English) Kenyu Horiuchi (Japanese)

Grapple was remolded from the Inferno toy; itself originally a Diaclone mold. He was later recolored as the ehobby exclusive toy Road Hauler.

[edit] Animated series

Like many other year 2 Autobots, Grapple first appeared in "Dinobot Island pt 1". Grapple would receive a turn in the spotlight in the later season 2 episode "The Master Builders". Here, he teamed up with his friend Hoist to design a solar tower to provide unlimited energy. Hoever, he was turned down by Optimus Prime in case the Decepticons got their hands on it. Grapple and Hoist were then approached by a surprising source - the Constructicons. They told the two Autobots they wanted to leave the Decepticons and were willing to help Grapple and Hoist build their tower to prove it. Grapple and Hoist accepted them, and the tower was built - just as Megatron arrived and took them prisoner. The Autobots arrived and eventually rescued the two. Prime put them to work clearing up the mess in punishment for their mistake.

[edit] Marvel Comics

Four million years ago, Grapple was one of five Autobots who agreed to have their sparks transferred to crystal storage in case the Autobots needed extra troops during the mission of clearing a path for Cybertron through an asteroid belt. In 1985, the Autobots were suffering heavy casualties and the five Autobots were activated in Rock And Roll Out (US #14). However, while the others ended up battling Decepticons at a rock concert, Grapple ended up staying at the Ark. However, in line with his building talents, this was because Optimus Prime had a very special job for him - the creation of Omega Supreme. After this, Grapple began to appear less with the influx of new characters. He appeared as one of the spectators to the duel between Grimlock and Blaster on the moon. He was not shown among the casualties from Starscream's Underbase powered rampage, but did not appear again after this.

[edit] Dreamwave Productions

Grapple was not among the Autobots on board the Ark in this series, but stayed on Cybertron until the return of Optimus Prime and his crew, who led the overthrow of Shockwave.

Grapple was among the Autobots brought beck to Earth under the command of Prowl who started construction of Autobot City in Alaska.

[edit] Transformers: Armada

Although no character named Grapple appeared in the Armada line, the Japanese name for the Autobot Smokescreen was Grap, an obvious homage to Generation One Grapple as he turned into an orange crane. It is believed that Hasbro didn't use the name Grapple because of their inability to trademark the name, as seen when they re-released the original toy as "Autobot Grapple".