Steeljaw

Steeljaw is the name of several characters from the Transformers toy line and television series.

Transformers: Generation 1

He is an Autobot and part of the mini-cassette team. He takes the form of a lion. He is described as a vicious hunter, and fights with a pair of blasters.

As a member of the Autobot communications sub-group Steeljaw frequently worked with its other members - Blaster, Eject, Grand Slam, Raindance, Rewind and Ramhorn.

When he's on the hunt, his prey is as good as caught. Determined, tenacious, coolly professional when on a mission. Likely to trace any scent. Range of 800 miles. Super-strong jaws—can snap a foot-thick steel cable with one bite. Carries two solar-powered pellet guns that fire 1,200 rounds per minute. Lack of sunlight hampers the guns' performance. Can electromagnetize himself in cassette Mode. Prone to rusting.

Marvel Comics

Steeljaw made no appearance in the original US Transformers comic. He would appear in the alternate future of the Marvel UK series, in the storyline "Space Pirates". Along with his fellow cassettes Rewind and Ramhorn, he assisted Hot Rod and Arcee in defending Autobot City from a Quintesson attack.

He next appeared in the US comics' prelude to Generation 2, as part of a strike team sent to stop the rebuilt Megatron. Steeljaw was the first to fall, killed by a blast from Megatron's new rail gun weapon.

Animated series

In The Transformers: The Movie, set in the year 2005, Blaster and his cassettes were assigned to Autobot City on Earth. During the invasion by Megatron's forces, Blaster was responsible for sending a distress signal to Optimus Prime on Moonbase One. Blaster's transmission was jammed by Soundwave's cassette minions to prevent him from establishing contact with the Autobot Moonbase. However, the signal was received and Optimus Prime was able to arrive with reinforcements to defeat the Decepticons. After the attack, Blaster picked up transmissions from Moonbases One and Two. Blaster and his cassettes were not seen for the rest of the movie.

He later appeared in "Call of the Primitives" as one of the Transformers "Primitives" (animal themed Transformers like the Dinobots and Predacons) summoned by Primacron to battle his creation Tornedron, but was deactivated by the energy creature. He was revived when Grimlock defeated the creature.

In episode 78, "Madman's Paradise", Spike and Carly hosted a banquet for a visiting ambassador. Daniel got bored and wandered off. Grimlock followed him, and they fell into a lost chamber where Quintessons banished their criminals to other dimensions. They slipped through to the sorcerous other-dimensional realm of Menonia, and were tricked into fighting on the Red Wizard's side, only to find out that he was the Quintesson criminal, who overthrew the Golden One. Ultra Magnus, Blaster, Eject, Rewind, Ramhorn, and Steeljaw followed, and using Blaster's amplification, they help the Golden One defeat the Red Wizard. With the help of Perceptor, the Autobots and Daniel are returned to Cybertron.

In "The Quintesson Journal" he was a part of the Autobot team that recovered the Quintesson's recording device.

He also had a small part in "The Ultimate Weapon", teaming with Ramhorn to ram Galvatron's cannon mode.

Steeljaw was among the Autobots injured by Superion during the hate plague outbreak. After Optimus Prime was revived, Steeljaw was among the team of Autobots that joined the expedition to Chaar to recover the metal developed by Drs. Morgan and Swofford, previously stolen by Galvatron, which was impervious to the plague. Steeljaw bought time for Optimus and Sky Lynx to escape with the metal, before becoming infected with the plague himself. Steeljaw, along with everyone else who was infected, was subsequently cured by the power of the Matrix.

Toys

• Generation 1 Steeljaw

Steeljaw was packaged together with Eject.

• Universe Generation 1 Series Autobot Blaster with Steeljaw, Ramhorn and Eject (2010)

A San Diego Comic-Con International exclusive reissue of the original figure with cassettes Steeljaw, Ramhorn and Eject.^[1]

• Generations Steeljaw (coming soon)

Transformers Animated

A robotic lion, similar to Steeljaw, briefly appeared in the episode "This is Why I Hate Machines".

Shattered Glass

This Steeljaw is a lazy evil Autobot. He occasionally leaves the remains of his prey outside Blaster's quarters and enjoys having his tummy rubbed.^[2]

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Steeljaw is more than just a war machine. Loyal, brave and almost as intelligent as his humanoid Autobot companions, Steeljaw is the ultimate tracker. When the Wreckers need to locate a creature, person or object, they turn to Steeljaw's advanced series.^[3]

Whereas Steeljaw is originally a mechanical lion, Steeljaw this time around is a mechanical dog.

Toys

• Dark of the Moon Human Alliance Leadfoot (not yet released)

A Human Alliance version of Leadfoot. Comes with Steeljaw, who becomes a wrist blaster weapon.

References

1. ↑ San Diego Comicon Exclusives, Toy Review magazine issue #213, Fall 2010, page 23
2. ↑ Transformers Collectors Club Magazine #27, June/July 2009
3. ↑