Afterburner (Transformers)
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Afterburner is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes.
Contents |
[edit] Transformers: Generation 1
| Transformers character | |
 Afterburner toy |
|
| Afterburner | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Autobot |
| Sub-Group | Technobots |
| Function | Gunner |
| Motto | "Following leaders leads nowhere." |
| Alternate Modes | Cybertronian Combat Motorcycle |
| Series | Transformers: Generation 1 |
| English voice actor | Jim Cummings |
Afterburner (motorcycle) forms left arm of Computron. His design may have been inspired from Tron's Light Cycle. Known for frequently arguing with authority figures. [1]
[edit] Animated series
The Technobots first appeared in the season 3 episode "Grimlock's New Brain". After biting through a computer's cables located inside Cybertron's core, Grimlock became super-intelligent, and created the Technobots to combat the Terrorcons. The Terrorocons combined into Abominus and to combat him, Grimlock transferred his vast intellect into Computron, the Technobots' combined form. This left Grimlock in the same mental state as before. Like Omega Supreme, Computron speaks only in suffixed phrases, taking the form of "analysis: conclusion." However, unlike Omega, Computron often combines shorter suffixed phrases (such as items or datums) as variables in a larger problem, and seems less concerned than Omega with vocal economy.
The Technobots appeared on numerous other occasions, including when they were assigned to destroy a Quintesson base on Mars with the help of Marissa Fairborne. While the Quintessons controlled the Terrorcons they had them unite into Abominus to face the Technobots. The Technobots quickly formed Computron and were successful in defeating the Terrorcons and Quintessons.
During "The Return of Optimus Prime", they tried to stop the Terrorcons from stealing a special heat-resistant alloy. The two teams merged into their combined forms, but Computron's need to analyse every strategy before committing himself led to Abominus swiftly defeating him.
The Technobots also appeared in the Season 4 episode "The Rebirth Part 1". They were on Earth when the Decepticons attacked Autobot City. [2]
[edit] Marvel Comics
The Technobots were among the Autobots who joined Fortress Maximus in leaving Cybertron for the planet Nebulos (Transformers: Headmasters #1). However, a crew of Decepticons under Maximus' rival Scorponok pursued them and the war began anew on Nebulos. Assisting the Autobot Headmasters Brainstorm and Hardhead against the Terrorcons and Horrorcons, the Technobots were first seen combining to form Computron in Transformers: Headmasters #3. They once agan battled the Terrorcons as Abominus, defeating him and forcing the Decepticons to flee. Realising the damage the war was doing, the Autobots, including the Technobots, departed Nebulos for Earth (Transformers: Headmasters #4).
When Maximus' forces linked up with the Earthbound Autobots, they encountered resistance from Autobot leader Grimlock, who was unhappy they might resurrect Optimus Prime and topple him.
The Technobots were last seen trying to stop the Underbase powered Starscream in issue 50, as they were all taken out and deactivated. The Technobots were never seen again in the U.S. Marvel Transformers series. While they may have been destroyed by Starscream, many of the other characters he disabled in that issue eventually returned to the series.
[edit] Dreamwave Productions
Although Afterburner and the other Technobots received individual biographies from Dreamwave they did not appear in any fiction before the company went out of business.
[edit] IDW Publishing
Jetfire and the Technobots appeared working together in IDW Publishing's comic book miniseries, The Transformers: Stormbringer. They investigated a mysterious energy spike on the deserted surface of Cybertron. Jetfire, Lightspeed, Scattershot and Strafe went down to the surface to investigate, but were ambushed and taken out by Bludgeon's troops. Nosecone and Afterburner's ship was shot down, but they managed to launch a distress beacon first and get to an escape pod. The three captured Technobots were cannibalized for their parts, while Bludgeon revealed his true pan — to reanimate Thunderwing. Nosecone and Afterburner were left on the surface on Cybertron, and were about to be killed by Centurion drones when help arrived — the Wreckers, who saved them both. The Wreckers subsequently attacked Bludgeon's cult, and rescued the Technobots. They then helped Jetfire to decode Bludgeon's data, helping shut Thunderwing down for good. It is unknown if the Technobots can merge into Computron at this point.
[edit] Toys
- Generation 1 Afterburner (1987)
- Knockoffs of this toy were commonly released in a gift pack containing a mixture of Stunticons and Technobots who formed a bizarre Menasor/Computron hybrid toy.
[edit] Transformers: Generation 2
| Transformers character | |
 Afterburner toy |
|
| Afterburner | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Decepticon |
| Sub-Group | Skyscorchers |
| Function | Technicians Master |
| Motto | "Brute force is not my way. My technology can devise infinitely more successful, subtle, and unpleasant methods..." |
| Alternate Modes | F-104 Starfighter |
| Series | Transformers: Generation 2 |
A new Afterburner, a Decepticon jet, is a member of the Skyscorchers. The tech master of the Skyscorchers, Afterburner likes to think he’s above brute force, preferring to use clever tricks and technology to achieve his goals on his own time. While he is clever and quick-thinking at times, he’s also lazy and very independent, which often gets him into trouble with his superiors. He was also called Snipe outside the U.S.A. [3]
Afterburner has yet to appear in any official Transformer fiction.
[edit] Toys
- Generation 1 Afterburner (1993)
- An actual F-104 is 1666 centimeters long. The Afterburner toy is 11.5 centimeters long. This makes the toy about 1/145 scale. This means his 8.5 centimeter robot mode would stand about 1233 centimeters (40 feet 5 inches) tall. [4]
[edit] Transformers: Energon
Afterburner is the Japanese name for the Autobot called Storm Jet in the U.S.
