Hardhead (Transformers)
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Hardhead is the name of two fictional characters in the Transformers universes.
Contents |
[edit] Transformers: Generation 1 (1987)
| Transformers character | |
 Hardhead Box Art |
|
| Hardhead with Duros | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Autobot  |
| Sub-Group | Headmasters |
| Function | Ground Assault |
| Partner | Duros |
| Motto | "It's either MY way -- or NO way!" |
| Alternate Modes | Cybertronian Tank |
| Series | Transformers: Generation 1 |
| Voiced by | Stephen Keener (Hardhead, English) Masato Hirano (Japanese) |
Hardhead is an Autobot introduced in the 1987 Headmasters sub-line of Generation 1. He has the Headmaster partner Duros and he turns into a Cybertronian tank.
[edit] Animated series
Hardhead first appeared in the episode Rebirth Part 1.
Decepticons successfully stole the key to the Plasma Energy Chamber and opened the ancient device, a group of Autobots and humans included Hardhead were blasted across the galaxy by the energy release, crash-landing on the planet Nebulos. Quickly siding with a group of rebels engaged in a war against the planet's evil rulers, the Hive, they deduced a process by which they could combine the best of their minds and bodies together, becoming Headmasters.
[edit] Transformers: Headmasters
Whereas "The Rebirth" served as an ending for the cartoon series in the west, in Japan, it was decided to continue producing new episodes. To that end, "The Rebirth" was discarded, and in its stead, a new 35-episode series titled Transformers: Headmasters was created, along with a new Japanese concept for Headmasters which differed distinctly from their Western counterparts. There would be no Nebulons or humans here - instead, the heads were small Cybertronians, and the bodies were lifeless constructs called "Transtectors" to which these small robots connected themselves, and which they controlled. Although the Japanese toyline, like the West, gave the Headmaster components different names to the larger Transtectors the animated series used only one name for both the head and the Transtector.
Four million years ago, Fortress was the leader of one of the many groups of Autobots who fled Cybertron to escape the wars. Things took a turn for the worse, however, when their spaceship crashed on the planet Master, the harsh environments of which killed many members of the crew. In order to survive the dangers inherent to life on Master, the Autobots created the lifeless bodies known as Transtectors, and underwent rigorous training to master the transformation technique and merge with them. Their training also allowed them to developed considerable mental powers such as telepathy and telekinesis.
However, a member of the group known as Zarak chaffed under Fortress's leadership, and he and three of the Headmasters loyal to him turned on him, only to be defeated and forced off of Master. Zarak subsequently teamed up with Decepticon leader Galvatron, and when they attacked Cybertron in the year 2011, Fortress and his men - Chromedome, Brainstorm, Hardhead and Highbrow - returned to their home planet aboard Fortress's battleship, Maximus, and joined the war once more.
[edit] Marvel Comics
Duros is ideally matched to Hardhead. The Nebulan enjoys warfare as much as the Autobot. For years, Duros had served as the chief of security for the Nebulan Ruling Council, but he found the job fairly boring - Nebulos had been at peace for so long that the opportunity for action was rare. Of all the Autobot Headmasters, Duros and Hardhead get along the best, but Duros's eagerness to embrace warfare has alienated many of his fellow Nebulans, including most of his family. Even his wife has become estranged from him.
Hardhead joined Fortress Maximus's expedition in search of a peaceful world upon which to live. Hardhead was among the Autobots who joined Fortress Maximus in leaving Cybertron for the planet Nebulos. Hardhead was among the Autobots who gave up their heads to the Nebulans in hopes of showing their peaceful intentions (Transformers: Headmasters #1).
A story told in Marvel U.K. #130-131 called Worlds Apart was set some time during the events of issue #4 of the U.S. Headmasters series. In this story the Decepticons have captured Autobot Targetmasters Crosshairs, Pointblank and Sureshot, supposedly to learn to perfect the Targetmaster process. Autobot Headmasters Brainstorm, Chromedome, Hardhead and Highbrow made their way to the Decepticon headquarters but were attacked by the Apeface, Mindwipe, Skullcruncher, Snapdragon and Weirdwolf. The Autobots won, perhaps too easily, causing an argument between the Autobots and their Nebulan partners on what to do next. Eventually the Nebulans prevail and they arrived at Scorponok's Fortress of Dispair, where they found both the missing Autobots and a trap set by the Decepticons. Scorponok and his Targetmasters Cyclonus, Misfire, Scourge, Slugslinger and Triggerhappy ambushed the Autobots, who learn the Decepticons actually were having trouble with their Headmasters and needed to capture one of Headmaster Autobots. Scorponok grabbed Highbrow to study and left the others to die, but the Autobots freed their Targetmasters, who helped even the odds. As Highbrow and his partner Gort were having trouble working together, Scorponok learned the importance of compatibility of a Transformer with his binary bonded partner. Chromedome aided Highbrow in realizing it's not compatibility as much as common goals and using the best of both minds which unite a Headmaster team and he was able to help Highbrow's team work together. Together they forced Scorponok to flee.
Hardhead first appeared in issue 38 of the regular Marvel Transformers series and last appeared in issue 75 during the battle with Unicron.
[edit] Dreamwave Productions
Although Hardhead didn't appear in the Dreamwave Transformers comics before they closed down, Hardhead and Duros did get a one page biography in their More Than Meets The Eye series.
[edit] IDW Publishing
Hardhead would make his first IDW Publishing appearance in The Transformers: Escalation as part of the reinforcements summoned to counter Megatron's ore-13 enhanced Decepticons. He and Hot Rod insisted on heading down to Earth to assist Prime's unit against the Decepticons as soon as possible - just in time to save Prowl from Astrotrain. The story is ongoing.
[edit] Beast Wars Neo
| Transformers character | |
 |
|
| Hardhead | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Predacon  |
| Sub-Group | Deluxe Beasts |
| Function | Ground Trooper |
| Motto | "…Wait, are you talking to me? Who are you, anyway?" |
| Alternate Modes | Pachycephalosaurus |
| Series | Beast Wars Neo |
| Voiced by | Masami Iwasaki (Japanese) |
Hardhead was the name of a Predacon who served under Magmatron in the Beast Wars Neo line. His toy was a remold of the toy first used for Beast Wars Dinobot, and was later recolored as Beast Machines Dinotron.
Hardhead is depicted as a dumb but tough warrior who must constantly be ordered around to keep him in line. To put it mildly, one could say that Hardhead's cranium isn’t exactly crammed with cerebral circuitry. Or one could say that he’s as dumb as a rock - and not one of those cool geodes, either. I mean a big grey piece of slag. Hardhead has a tough time even staying on task long enough to finish a sentence. He can be easily fooled and needs to be constantly reminded of exactly what he’s supposed to be doing.
He was sold by himself and packaged with the Maximal Sharpedge.
