Stunticons
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The Stunticons are a group of Decepticons feared for their psychotic behavior that have the capability to do death-defying vehicular stunts and wreak havoc on the streets. They combine to form a powerful giant robot called Menasor (Pentacar or Ultrax in Italy). They were called Stuntrons in Japan . They were introduced into the Transformers toyline in late 1985 and were sold as a Menasor gift set, and then sold separately in 1986 in most department stores (e.g., Toys R' Us, Sears, Target, Kay-Bee Toys). Their antagonists are the Aerialbots.The Stunticons were mistakenly billed as Autobots when their toys were released in Italy.
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[edit] Transformers: Generation 1
[edit] Stunticon members
The five Stunticons are:
- Motormaster: Kenworth K100 Aerodyne sleeper tractor-trailer (team leader). Frequently uses his bulk and strength to crash into other vehicles and even buildings. Seeks to destroy Optimus Prime in order to claim the title "King of the Road". However, he seems to be at a disadvantage considering one confrontation ended with himself and Optimus Prime ramming each other head on in vehicle mode and the Decepticon was severely damaged while the Autobot came out unscathed. Hated and feared by the other Stunticons. Motto: These wheels were made for crushing.
- Breakdown: (mid 1980s) Lamborghini Countach. A paranoid robot who thinks everybody -- even inanimate Earth cars -- is staring at him. Vibrations from his engine can cause mechanical breakdowns in nearby vehicles. Motto: Keep your optical sensors to yourself.
- Dead End: Porsche 928. A pessimist and a fatalist. Sees little point in continuing the Autobot-Decepticon war, as everyone is going to die anyway. Motto: We are all just food for rust.
- Drag Strip: (1976) Tyrrell P34 Formula 1 car. Obsessed with competition, will not hesitate to cheat in order to win. Motto: The first one across the finish line lives!
- Wildrider: (1970s) Ferrari 308 GTB. A reckless driver who intentionally pays no attention to traffic laws or road safety. This Stunticon's principal fear is quiet. Motto: Either you're out of my way or out of luck.
[edit] Animated series
When the Decepticons failed to steal a super fuel from the Autobots because they used their land vehicles modes to maximum advantage, Megatron hatched a plan to counterattack the Autobots by creating a team of Decepticon super-cars for more power on the road. They started by stealing five Earth vehicles. The first vehicle stolen was a yellow 6-wheeled Tyrrell P34 Formula-1 car during a race. Next were a maroon Porsche 928, and a black Kenworth K100 Aerodyne tractor-trailer with a 2nd level sleeper. Later, two more cars showed up: a white Lamborghini Countach, and a dark grey Ferrari 308. The cars were soon converted to Decepticons. Megatron tested out the new robots' abilities on the roads and then through the woods. Rumble stated "Incredible, not even the Autobots can do that kind of stunt driving!" Megatron replied "Stunt driving? Yesss. Behold, the Stunticons!" The Aerialbots were soon built by the Autobots as a countermeasure to the Stunticons. With their ability to survive head-on collisions with just about anything they were dangerous foes. In their first encounter with the Autobots they all but defeated them until the arrival of the Aerialbots. The two teams battled, first individually then in their combined modes of Menasor and Superion, with Menasor only being defeated through the intervention of Omega Supreme.
The Stunticons remained part of Megatron's Earthbound forces after this, and were involved in many of his schemes. They kidnapped Perceptor to find the cure to a plague of Cosmic Rust; after curing the Decepticons Megatron predictably double-crossed the Autobots and sent the Stunticons to prevent the Autobots from acquiring the cure themselves, leading to another battle between Menasor and Superion, which Menasor lost. During a "smash and grab" mission to acquire parts for Megatron's latest super-weapon, the Stunticons' transformations proved instrumental in causing confusion among the humans. Until revealing themselves as Decepticon warriors, their acts of vehicular terrorism led uninformed humans to believe they were Autobots (also seen by humans as "driverless cars"). The Autobots used this misinformation to their advantage by capturing and disguising themselves as the real Stunticons (Optimus Prime as Motormaster, Jazz as Dead End, Mirage as Drag Strip, Windcharger as Wildrider, and Sideswipe as Breakdown), fooling even Megatron. This caused much confusion for the Decepticons, especially when the real Stunticons (as Menasor) returned and the Autobots were able to merge into Menasor (due to Windcharger's magnetic ability and Mirage's Illusion ability). The real one quickly made short work of the fake, but the weapon was destroyed. They were next seen sabotaging a European road race (with human and Autobot participants) to gain a rare metal, driving most of the participants off the road and merging into Menasor to finish off the survivors. They were defeated when one of the humans drove his car right into Menasor, distracting him long enough for the Autobots to escape. They were instrumental in defeating Bruticus when Starscream attempted to seize power, after they realised Starscream would not stop with destroying just Megatron.
They were not present at the battle of Autobot City, but were present on Chaar in the aftermath of Unicron's defeat, defeating a weakened Devastator as Menasor for an Energon Cube. They continued to appear sporadically throughout the third season. On one notable occasion they were able to force Rodimus Prime off the road during a race and steal the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. On another, they lost a fight to a one-armed Defensor shortly after the Protectobot First Aid ( the traditional left arm of Defensor) took a leave of absence.
[edit] Transformers: Zone
Although intended to be a complete direct-to-video series, 1990’s Japanese-exclusive Transformers: Zone series was cancelled after only one episode, but that was still enough time for Menasor to make a return appearance. He was one of the nine great "Decepticon Generals" to serve under the mysterious insectoid being known as Violenjiger. The remaining generals were Devastator, King Poseidon, Bruticus, Predaking, Abominus, Trypticon, Overlord and Black Zarak.
[edit] Marvel Comics
Through Soundwave, Megatron was able to tap into the Creation Matrix as Optimus Prime gave life to the Aerialbots, simultaneously giving life to the Stunticons. They battled the Aerialbots and then played a lesser role in the series as more characters were introduced.
[edit] Dreamwave Productions
The robots who became the Stunticons existed long before the Decepticons arrived on Earth. Motormaster in particular was a right-hand bot of Starscream's Predacon faction. Some time between the first and second War Within volumes, the team formed. At least Motormaster and Dead End later joined Starscream's Predacon faction.
In volume 3, Motormaster was responsible for the shooting and near destruction of Grimlock (while attempting to assassinate Ultra Magnus) before being blasted himself. The series was discontinued before it was completed.
The Stunticons then appeared in the second Generation 1 mini-series where Menasor was revived by Rumble and Frenzy, killing the Omnibots, Roadbuster, Whirl, and damaging the Protectobots (combined as Defensor) before battling and being defeated by Ultra Magnus on Cybertron. With the closure of Dreamwave, the fate of the Stunticons is unknown.
[edit] Devil's Due Publishing
The Stunticons first appeared in the second G.I. Joe vs the Transformers miniseries from Devil's Due. After Cobra Commander and Cobra, followed by G.I. Joe, had journeyed to Cybertron, weapons fire caused a critical malfunction in Teletraan I, causing numerous Autobots and Decepticons to become time-displaced. Among these were the Stunticons, who were dumped in 1930s Earth and reformatted into period cars. They were eventually defeated and returned to the present by a combined force of G.I. Joe and COBRA members, as well as another Transformer lost in that time - Optimus Prime
The Stunticons would also appear in the third mini-series, being recruited by SerpentO.R, a human military-created cyborg with Megatron's memories, and would participate in the ambush that killed Bumblebee. Seen in group shots where Serpentor is gathering the Decepticon army, their next major role would be in the assault on Capital City, assisting Predaking and Piranacon in taking down Omega Supreme. Breakdown and the Seacon Nautilator were the ones assigned to guard the human captives, but Snake-Eyes used his ninja powers to take control of Breakdown and had him shoot Nautilator, freeing them. Razorclaw and Motormaster were the ones who stopped Prime's attack on Serpentor, beating him near death, but were then killed by the Cobra Commander-controlled Serpentor.
[edit] IDW Publishing
The Stunticons made their first IDW Publishing appearance in issue 3 of The Transformers: Megatron Origin, appearing amongst Megatron's gathering of gladiators that would eventually become the Decepticons. In issue 4 Motormaster is blown apart by Sentinel Prime during the revolution in Kaon. Whether he will appear again is unknown.
[edit] Transformers: Generation 2
There were plans to release the Stunticons as Generation Two toys, and prototypes were even made in new colors (Drag Strip was black for instance), but the toys were never released to the public, with the exception of one. The G2 Breakdown (recolored from Ivory to Teal) was a Botcon exclusive.
[edit] Transformers: Universe
The Stunticons were planned to be released as repainted Spy Changer toys for the Universe line, as counterparts to the Generation One Commemorative Autobot Spychangers, but they were never released.
