Starscream's Brigade

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Starscream's Brigade is an episode of the original Transformers cartoon. It is notable for the first appearance of the popular military-themed Combaticons.

[edit] Events

Following another abortive attempt at overthrowing Megatron, this time caused by the overwhelming loyalty over the other Decepticons Megatron enjoys, Starscream is exiled to an island. While lamenting his fate, he happens upon wrecked vehicles from the Second World War. Noticing a tank and its resemblence to the Triple Changer Blitzwing, Starscream notes that if he had his own Blitzwing, he could take command from Megatron.

This then inspires him to create his own army to help him seize rule over the Decepticons. To that end, he travels to Cybertron via the Space Bridge. Stealing a number of personality components from a prison cell, he returns to the island, where he has prepared five vehicle bodies. Upon inserting the personality components, the bodies reshape and come to life. While Starscream names them the Combaticons, the five warriors bluntly refuse to aid Starscream until he points out he did not equip their bodies with a way to recharge.

Thus blackmailed, the Combaticons attack and capture a number of both Autobots and Decepticons, taking their recharging components to strengthen themselves. Starscream eventually challenges Megatron for rulership over the Decepticons. When the Combaticons prove too much for the loyal Decepticons, Megatron commands the Constructicons to form Devastator. In response, Starscream has the Combaticons reveal their own combined form: Bruticus.

Bruticus proves to be more than a match for Devastator, and Starscream seems to finally have victory in his grasp. However, at the last moment the Stunticons arrive and combine into Menasor. Blindsiding Bruticus, Menasor and Devastator are able to overpower the Combaticon combiner.

The episode ends with Starscream being exiled off the planet on a barren asteroid, accompanied only by the five unconscious Combaticons. Starscream and the Combaticons would rejoin the Decepticons in the next episode The Revenge of Bruticus.

[edit] Trivia

The Combaticons are the most repainted of the G1 figures, appearing in lines as recent as Robots in Disguise.
The Combaticons were imprisoned for rebelling against Megatron.
Because the Stunticons' interference caused the Combaticons' defeat, many fans believe there is a rivalry between the two teams. This is further reinforced by their wildly different personalities and backgrounds (for example, Combaticon commander Onslaught is portrayed as a cool, intelligent soldier while his Stunticon counterpart Motormaster is loud and aggressive).