Reflector (Transformers)
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Reflector is a Decepticon character from the fictional Transformers toy range and associated universe.
Contents |
[edit] Transformers: Generation 1
| Transformers character | |
| Reflector | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Decepticon |
| Function | Reconnaissance |
| Motto | "See and you can know, know and you can destroy." |
| Alternate Modes | Camera |
| Series | Transformers: Generation 1 |
| Voiced by | Chris Latta (English) Yoku Shioya Japanese |
Reflector comprises three separate robots which together transform into one hand-held camera. Like other Transformers which converted into household (mock) electronic applicances (e.g. Soundwave), Reflector was sized to fit the hands of children. It featured a working, if weak, magnifying lens, housed in the central of the three robots, Viewfinder. The names of the other two robots are Spectro and Spyglass.
The toy was only available by mail order in 1986, the recipient of the product having provided both monetary payment and a number of 'Robot Points' clipped from other Transformers packages, and coincided with the 1985 Transformers catalogue (see List of Decepticons). However, the virtually identical knock-off version of Reflector, "Microx", was widely available in the US during the launch of the Transformers in 1984, so many collectors had this version of the toy before its official US release.
[edit] Animated series
In the Transformers Generation 1 cartoon, Reflector was depicted as a gestalt in robot mode, speaking with the same voice, and moving in unison. Reflector had very few significant action roles in Season 1 (1984), mostly serving as part of the overall Decepticon forces, and was rarely ever seen in Season 2 (1985), seemingly phased out as more Decepticon toys were introduced. In those few episodes in which Reflector did have a role, it was as a spy, and the character seemed to be at the bottom of the Decepticon pecking order. Reflector is seen briefly in some The Transformers: The Movie (1986) scenes, such as during the attack on Autobot City; and during Unicron's attack on Cybertron, characters bearing resemblance to the Reflector robots are seen running to man the defenses of the planet. However the character is never seen in subsequent seasons. Three additional Reflector units were shown in the initial episodes, at least one displaying an individual personality distinct from the typical Reflector unit (when shuttling energon to Cybertron through the Space Bridge). Subsequent episodes periodically showed an individual Reflector unit, while the actual Reflector constituted three drones working in unison in episodes they had appeared in.
Despite the three components having different appearances as a toy in robot modes, the three Reflector robots had a near-identical appearance in the cartoon: their bodies were primarily based on Spectro's robot mode, but with Viewfinder's chest (although only one of them, appropriately, had a lens assembly in his torso).
[edit] Dreamwave Productions
Reflector would make his first comics appearance in Dreamwave Productions's second Generation One mini-series. Here, he was a soldier of Shockwave, assigned to spy on Cybertron and all its' inhabitants (Autobot or Decepticon) from a special computer network so that Shockwave could maintain absolute power without appearing to be actively spying on anyone. He was killed by Starscream as a show of force to Soundwave.
Reflector also appeared in the iBooks trilogy written by David Cian, set somewhat in continuity with the Dreamwave G1 universe. In the first book, Hardwired, they are part of the Decepticons on Earth and, after Megatron's disappearance and Skywarp's defeat by Starscream, joined Starscream's leadership to save their own necks. This seemingly marks a continuity error with the Dreamwave series, as it is established in the second miniseries that Reflector was on Cybertron during the time of the battles on Earth. However, the second book, Annihilation, resolved this by noting that the Cybertron-bound Reflector was a copy of the real one - the Earthen one. It is notable here that Reflector's three components all have separate personalites.
[edit] Devil's Due Publishing
Reflector appeared in the original G.I Joe vs the Transformers miniseries from Devil's Due Publishing, being ordered by Megatron to assist Dr Mindbender in stockpiling Energon. They did not appear after this, so it is possible they were deactivated or killed on the island. Here the three drones resembled their cartoon appearance.
In the third series Reflector would appear again (this time in a toy accurate form) as part of the Decepticon army under Serpentor. Delivered by Menasor, they delivered Serpentor's ultimatum to Optimus Prime, although they were attacked by Jetfire. With Serpentor's defeat their fate is unknown.
