Octane (Transformers)
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Octane is the name of a fictional character in the various Transformers universes. He should not be confused with Mega-Octane, an unrelated character who appeared in the Transformers: Robots in Disguise and Transformers: Universe lines.
Contents |
[edit] Transformers: Generation 1
| Transformers character | |
| Octane | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Decepticon |
| Sub-Group | Predacon Triple Changer |
| Function | Fueler |
| Motto | "He who has fuel, has power." |
| Alternate Modes | Tanker truck Boeing 767 jet |
| Series | Transformers: Generation 1 Transformers: Universe |
| Voiced by | Beau Weaver (English) |
One of the three Decepticon Triple Changers, Octane can transform between a robot mode and two vehicle modes: a tanker truck and a Boeing 767 jet.
Octane is the Decepticons' fueler, in charge of storing and distributing fuel among Decepticons with vehicle modes. He is characterized as a mean-spirited bully, who takes delight in seeing others suffer. In jet mode, he is said to make other planes (even other Decepticons) crash-land for fun.
[edit] Animated series
In the original Generation 1 cartoon, Octane only appeared in the third season. It is implied, however, that he existed in the Decepticon ranks during and even prior to The Transformers: The Movie, though he is not seen in the feature. Octane first appears in "Five Faces of Darkness (Part 1)" where it is presumed that he is among the Decepticons exiled from Cybertron during the movie. His eventual alliance with Starscream, in which the two refer to each other as old friends, further implies Octane's status as having originally served under Megatron.
In the episode "Thief in the Night", Octane deserted the Decepticons and fled to Carbombya and there he discovered Trypticon. The city-sized Decepticon had been knocked into the ocean after his last battle with Metroplex. Repairing him, Octane used Trypticon as a bargaining chip, securing enough oil to convert to energon for himself, attacking Carbombya's enemies in return. When Trypticon's energon consumption spiraled out of control, Octane was forced to blow his cover by sending him to steal various world monuments. This alerted Autobot leader Rodimus Prime, who was able to foil his scheme. Even more worryingly for Octane, it attracted the attention of his former leader Galvatron, who put a price on his head for his treachery.
During his desertion, Octane collaborated with the Autobot Triple Changer Sandstorm to avoid getting captured. The two unlikely allies would end up dodging both Galvatron's troops and hired bounty hunters on Octane's trail. Sandstorm would help him escape to Cybertron.
His respite did not last long. In the episode "Starscream's Ghost", Octane fled into the Decepticon crypt, pursued by Cyclonus, Scourge and the Sweeps. About to be caught and executed, the Triple Changer received help from an unlikely source — the ghost of Starscream, who had been killed by Galvatron in The Transformers: The Movie. Possessing Cyclonus, Starscream allowed Octane to escape, and the two formed a deal to get rid of Galvatron and take over. The scheme failed, as Galvatron fought his way out of their trap and sent the duo fleeing once more. In the episode's follow-up "Ghost in the Machine", Starscream also possesses other Decepticons, but not Octane himself. When Starscream is finally defeated, Octane returns to the Decepticon ranks.
It should be noted that according to officials who worked on the series the storylines spotlighting Octane in the end of season 3 were originally written for Blitzwing, which is hinted at in Blitzwing's first estrangement from the Decepticons in the beginning of the season. Hasbro requested that the change the main character of these episodes to Octane because the Blitzwing toy, being released a year before Octane, was no longer sold in stores, and they wanted to instead promote a toy that they could sell.
[edit] Marvel Comics
In the Marvel U.S. Generation 1 series, Octane debuted along with Astrotrain and Blitzwing, serving as workers in Ratbat's new "Wash'n'Roll" project. Unfortunately, the spaceship that had brought the parts of Wash'n'Roll from Cybertron to Earth was infected by Scraplets. The infection spread to the Triple Changers and almost killed them, but Goldbug and his human friend Charlie Fong saved them along with the infected Autobots.
After participating in the attack on the Autobots to recover captive Decepticons, Octane was amongst those Decepticons on the front-line of offensive against invaders believed to be the Autobots in the Arctic (in reality it was Scorponok's faction of Decepticons) and was present during the meeting between Ratbat and Scorponok. Octane was responsible for being the Decepticon that informed Ratbat, that Scorponok's troops were attacking their base caused by the secret of the Underbase being revealed in error. As he rushed into battle with the rest of his fellow warriors, Octane was seen to be attacking the Terrorcon Rippersnapper. After the battle, Octane was amongst those Decepticons carrying their fallen comrades back to the base to be repaired he was pushing the remains of Tantrum within a wheeled trolley. Then after the Autobots had attacked, he deactivated Mirage. Later, once the Underbase-powered Starscream had begun attacking the cities of Earth, Octane was deactivated by Starscream and was not seen again in the rest of the comics run. He did put in a further appearance in an alternate universe as part of Galvatron's forces in a nightmare alternate universe where Unicron had destroyed Cybertron, and Galvatron and the Decepticons ruled Earth.
Although not explicit, a dead Transformer with a similar appearance to Octane appears in issue 10 of the Transformers: Generation 2 series amidst a pile of Decepticon corpses on the Warworld following a raid by a boarding party of Jhiaxus' troops, led by Starscream.
[edit] Marvel U.K. Comics
Octane's first appearance in the Marvel U.K. comic was in the Target 2006 story arc. He, along with the other Triple Changers, the three Insecticons, and Dirge, Thrust, Ramjet and Macabre, are the Decepticons' most feared killers and have to be taken out before a major Autobot uprising can take place. Megatron inadvertently scuppered the plan by summoning the Insecticons to Earth.
Octane also appeared in issue #99, where he was a guard for Straxus, who had been reduced to a disembodied head after his battle with Blaster. Things changed when a teleportation mishap delivered both Megatron and Optimus Prime to Cybertron. Megatron quickly linked up with Straxus, and sent Octane to hunt down the escaped Prime while spreading misinformation that he was a failed Decepticon spy. When the Wreckers realized that it was the real Prime and teamed up with him, Octane delivered this news to Megatron and Straxus, exaggerating his own role in the events to curry favor with the Decepticon leaders.
He appeared again much later in the story "Maneuvers." Octane was tired of constant work, stealing fuel for the Decepticons and wanted to have some fun by himself. To amuse himself, he chased the Autobot Jazz for miles who led Octane into a U.S. Army testing range, knowing full well he was full of fuel and would explode if hit. Octane called for help from his fellow Triple Changers, Blitzwing and Astrotrain, who managed to protect Octane for a while but were getting damaged themselves because of it. A forced confession from the terrified Octane to Blitzwing led to him and Astrotrain leaving Octane alone to deal with the Army. It is unclear whether this story is supposed to be set in the period where Ratbat was leading the Decepticons or the Earthforce stories surrounding it.
[edit] Dreamwave Productions
The Triple Changers would appear again in Dreamwave's reinterpretation of the Generation One universe — this time with a greatly expanded origin. Octane originally appeared as part of Shockwave's assault force attacking Iacon, and would later join Starscream's Predacon faction during the period following the disappearance of Megatron.
During the civil war on Cybertron, Shockwave envisioned a Transformer with multiple alternate modes, studying Astrotrain and Blitzwing. However, the Great Shutdown meant his plans could go no further — until Unicron's servant Scourge located Cybertron and reactivated Shockwave for study. Shockwave was attacked by Sharkticons, Scourge saved his life, only to be shot in the back by Shockwave. Shockwave then proceeded to examine and study Scourge, using the secrets gleaned to create first the Duocons and then the Triple Changers — Astrotrain, Blitzwing, Octane and at least two others — appearing to be the Autobots Sandstorm and Broadside. Interestingly, in the Micromasters mini-series by Dreamwave, Blitzwing and Astrotrain are suffering from severe physical changes. As this is before the Great Shutdown this might imply that the change was a natural one rather than a result of experiments.
The Triple-Changers later served as Shockwave's bodyguards, accompanying him to Earth to capture Optimus Prime and Megatron's troops. However, with the Earthbound Transformers captive, things began to go wrong. Grimlock had escaped and was intent on reactivating his fellow Dinobots. Shockwave sent Octane to investigate, but the Dinobots jumped him, beheaded him and stole his shuttle.
[edit] Devil's Due Publishing
In the third crossover between G.I. Joe and the Transformers from Devil's Due Publishing, Octane appeared as part of the Decepticon air attack on the Autobot Capital City, led by Sixshot, but was driven off by Omega Supreme. He was one of the Decepticons that tried to stop Optimus Prime from attacking Serpentor, but was punched out by the Autobot leader.
[edit] IDW Publishing
After the Transformers license passed to IDW Publishing, Octane appeared as one of the Decepticons under Starscream's command in the alternate reality Evolutions tale "Hearts of Steel". He was seen quizzing Tobias Muldoon about the possibilities of flight. He did not appear after this, but he was most likely destroyed when John Henry and Bumblebee diverted the Decepticon train convoy into a chasm.
He made his first appearance in the main G1 IDW continuity in issue #2 of The Transformers: Megatron Origin, where a series of video broadcasts showing underground gladiator battles (being watched by Ratbat) showed him battling alongside Slag and Megatron himself.
[edit] Toys
- Generation 1 Octane (1986)
- Octane can transform from a robot to a longnose truck cab with fuel-tanker trailer of undetermined model, and also a Boeing 767 jet plane. The tailfin of the jet form separates to become a shield for robot mode.
- Transformers: Universe Tankor (2008/unreleased)
- First announced at BotCon 2007, concept art for this toy was later seen at SDCC 2007, where it was named Octane. The toy is obviously a representation of Octane, although (possibly for copyright reasons) the toy will be named Tankor, despite this being the third toy released under the Universe line called Tankor. A deluxe sized toy.
[edit] Transformers: Cybertron
According to Hasbro sources some proposed names for Cybertron Sky Shadow were Octane and Spacewarp. [1]
