Crosshairs (Transformers)

For other uses, see Crosshair (disambiguation).

Crosshairs is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers franchise.

Transformers: Generation 1

Crosshairs

Crosshairs box art
Autobot
Information
Sub-group Targetmasters
Function Weapons Supervisor
Rank 6
Partner Pinpointer
Motto "Don't shoot until you see the wires in their eyes."
Alternate modes Cybertronian ATV
Series Transformers: Generation 1
English voice actor Neil Ross
Japanese voice actor Hōchū Ōtsuka

Crosshairs is an Autobot and transforms into a futuristic, possibly Cybertronian ATV.

Meticulous, cautious, some would say overcautious—will not take a shot unless he's sure he cannot miss... will not waste ammo. Pinpointer, his dual rocket-propelled grenade launcher, can lock on target in less than .0003 seconds, but usually trusts Crosshairs to decide when to shoot. In vehicle mode, maximum speed: 160 mph, range: 750 miles; built for traversing rough terrain.[1]

In Japan Pinpointer was called Pointech.[2]

Marvel Comics

Crosshairs followed the Autobot leader Fortress Maximus to Nebulos in an effort to get away from war. However, they were followed to Nebulos by Scorponok's Decepticons, and the war began anew. Desperate to prove their peaceful intentions to the Nebulans, Crosshairs was amongst those who surrendered their weapons. When the Decepticons ran roughshod over the planet, the Nebulans pioneered a bioengineering process where Nebulans in robotic suits could transform into the guns of the Transformers. Crosshairs became a Targetmaster as a result, battling the Decepticons on several occasions. After the war proved devastating to Nebulos, Maximus' crew left for Earth, where they encountered the Earthbound Autobots under Grimlock.

Cloudburst, Crosshairs, Getaway, Highbrow and Stakeout were among the Autobots who backed Optimus Prime when Grimlock challenged him for leadership of the Autobots in the issue #263 of the Marvel U.K. comics, "Break-Away!"

Animated series

Crosshairs was featured in the U.S. season 4 episode "The Rebirth". His cartoon model was different from his toy in the fact that the cartoon had a face mask and the toy did not. Crosshairs was amongst the Autobots marooned on planet Nebulos when their starship's engines were overloaded by the Plasma Energy Chamber. While on Nebulos, he is kidnapped with the other future-Targetmasters. The Headmasters rescue them and Brainstorm modifies their weapons as exosuits for the Nebulans.

Crosshairs was featured in the Japanese series Transformers: The Headmasters. The Japanese animators kept Crosshairs design in line with his toy. The concept of the Targetmasters in this series was similar. One notable exception was the fact that the weapons replaced the robot's hands rather than held by them.

In the world of Transformers: The Headmasters, there are no Nebulons - the Headmasters themselves are simply small Transformers, who, having settled on the planet Master, learned to transform into heads and connect to lifeless larger bodies named Transtectors. It was to Master that the Decepticon forces returned after the Autobots forced them to flee Earth, and consequently, a ship was dispatched by the planet's inhabitants to alert the Earth-bound Autobots to the Decepticon invasion. At the same time, the youthful Autobot, Wheelie, had summoned three of his old superior officers - Pointblank (Blanker in Japan), Sureshot and Crosshairs - to Earth to aid in the clean-up operation currently going on, when Autobot Headmaster Chromedome accidentally activated one of the plasma bombs the Decepticons had left behind. Heading out into space so that the bomb might harmlessly explode out in the void, the Autobots then crossed paths with the approaching Master ship, which was being pursued by the Decepticon Sixshot and three new troops - Slugslinger, Misfire and Triggerhappy. As Pointblank and his men tangled with the Decepticons, the Master refugees offered their help by transporting away the plasma bombs, only to have the bombs detonate in the middle of the battlefield. Recovering from the explosion, Pointblank, Crosshairs and Sureshot discovered that the six Master refugees had been fused to their arms. Although Fortress was able to surgically remove them, a bond now existed between the larger Transformers and the Master refugees, who could now freely attach and detach to their wrists as guns. Unfortunately for these new Targetmasters, the same had happened to Slugslinger and his fellows. The Targetmasters joined up with Fortress's crew on the mission to Master, but quickly clashed with the Headmasters - Pointblank and his men were hard, experienced warriors who thought little of the Headmasters, and Pointblank spent a good deal of time attempting to soothe Chromedome's fiery temper to improve his battle ability.

When the Generation 2 animated series was aired animated bits of the Generation 1 commercial with Crosshairs in it were edited into the episode "More Than Meets The Eye Part 1." [3]

Books

Crosshairs appeared in the 1988 Ladybird Books story Decepticons at the Pole by John Grant.[4]

Crosshairs appeared in the 1988 Ladybird Books story Autobots Strike Oil by John Grant.[5]

3H Enterprises

Crosshairs appeared in a flashback sequence in the Transformers: Universe - Wreckers comic series. He works with the Autobot Targetmasters and Hot Spot against an army of Nightbird robots.

Dreamwave Productions

Although Crosshairs and Pinpointer did not appear in any fiction produced by Dreamwave Productions before it went out of business, they did get a one-page biography in their More Than Meets The Eye series.

IDW Publishing

Crosshairs first appeared at the very end of Transformers: Stormbringer, where Optimus Prime ordered him to "Set course for Earth".

Fun Publications

Spark commands an Autobot shuttle crewed by Blaze, Hubcap, Sideswipe, Streetstar, and Windbreaker into space where they intercept a distress call from Spike Witwicky on the planet Nebulos. When the Autobots arrive on Nebulos they meet Spike and Carly Witwicky, Chip Chase and the Autobots Brainstorm, Chromedome, Crosshairs and Highbrow who inform them that the Nebulan scientist Hi-Q is missing. They learn from Hi-Q's assistant Hi-Test that Hi-Q had security monitors and through them discover the scientist was kidnapped by the Decepticons Runabout and Runamuck.[6]

Toys

Came with his partner Pinpointer.

Live-action films

Crosshairs
Autobot
Information
Sub-group Scouts, Human Alliance Basic, Fast Action Battlers
Function Weapons supervisor, assault Infantry
Partner Sergeant Cahnay
Alternate modes Cybertronian Truck
Series Transformers
Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Crosshairs is an Autobot weaponsmith.[7]

IDW Publishing

Crosshairs is among the Autobot forces who witness the launching of the Decepticon ship Nemesis.[8]

In Transformers: Defiance #4 Crosshairs is seen being recruited by Optimus Prime into the Autobots after the bulk of the Decepticon forces left Cybertron on the Nemesis.

In Transformers: The Reign of Starscream #4 Arcee returns to Cybertron from Mars by hiding in the landing gear of Starscream's ship. Once on the planet she is discovered by Dreadwing and Payload drones, who she deactivates. Returning to an Autobot training facility she discovers Clocker, who takes her to Crosshairs. Crosshairs is planning an attack to free the Autobots at Simfur. They make their attempt aid of Wingblade, Skyblast, Breakaway and Strongarm. Crosshairs appears among the Autobots opposing the forces Starscream on Cybertron in Reign of Starscream #5. Crosshairs beheads Ramjet and the Autobots are able to deactivate the Decepticon drone forces as Starscream overcomes Dreadwing's remaining forces. [9]

Note - The appearance of Crosshairs is modified in the IDW Publishing stories so that his head more resembles movie style's alien insectoid style than the movie toy and (presumably) he has a Cybertronian alternate mode. A different Crosshairs appears in the fourth installment of the film series, as a green 2014 C7 Corvette Stingray.

Toys

Crosshairs is a redeco of Energon Strongarm. He is a Target store exclusive. His colors seem to be a homage to Generation 1 Outback, making him very similar to Timelines Fallback.

A redeco of Revenge of the Fallen Rollbar, Crosshairs transforms into a SWAT truck of probably-made-up model. He has little to no gimmickry whatsoever, with only an automorphing chestplate that swings up when you push the truck cab down onto his back.

A green redeco of Human Alliance Basic Thunderhead with Major Tungsten. As with all Basic Human Alliance figures, Crosshairs is a triple-changer; he transforms from a walker tank into a robot or a mecha suit for the human figure.


Transformers: Timelines (Shattered Glass)

Crosshairs
Autobot
Information
Sub-group Scouts, Targetmasters
Partner Pinpointer
Alternate modes Truck
Series Transformers: Timelines

Crosshairs is known to be incredibly lazy and when forced to get off his rear bumper he can become very angry. As well as his Targetmaster weapon he has a cannon in his chest. Ricochet commands Scoop and Crosshairs. Crosshairs is partnered with the over eager Targetmaster Pinpointer.

Crosshairs transforms into an Earth-style truck. Pinpointer transforms into a truck or a "fire and forget" missile launcher gun.

Although no toy for Crosshairs and Pinpointer was ever released they appear to be identical to the toys for Transformers movie Warpath and the Armada X-Dimension Mini-Con Firebot.

Fun Publications

Crosshairs is spotlighted as one of the main Autobot Targetmasters in the story Do Over by Fun Publications. In this story the Autobot Targetmasters capture Megatron, but as Optimus Prime arrives to finish him off personally the Micromaster Predacons and Whisper arrive and free Megatron.[10]

Transformers: Universe

Crosshairs
Decepticon
Information
Sub-group Mini-Cons, Ground Surveillance Mini-Con Team
Partner Longview, Scavenger, Snowcat & Treadshot
Alternate modes Helicopter
Series Transformers: Universe

Crosshairs is a Decepticon aligned Mini-Con who turns into a helicopter.[11]

Toys

Part of a Transformers: Universe Armada series 10-pack.[12]


References

  1. ↑ Bellemo, Mark (2007). Transformers Identification and Price Guide. Krause Publications. p. 142. ISBN 978-0-89689-445-7.
  2. ↑ Jim Sorenson & Bill Forster (July 22, 2008). Transformers: The Ark II. IDW Publishing. pp. 22–23. ISBN 978-1-60010-180-9.
  3. ↑ seibertronsei. "Transformers Generation 2 Episode 1 Part 1/3". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  4. ↑ John Grant (1988). Decepticons at the Pole. Ladybird Books. ISBN 0-7214-1068-5.
  5. ↑ John Grant (1988). Autobots Strike Oil. Ladybird Books. ISBN 0-7214-1069-3.
  6. ↑ Jesse Wittenrich & Pete Sinclair (June–July 2012). "A Flash Forward Part 3". Transformers Collectors Club Magazine 1 (45): 6–11.
  7. ↑ Allspark Power Warpath, Storm Surge and Crosshairs Pictures/Bios - TFW2005 - The 2005 Boards
  8. ↑ John Barber (w), Andrew Griffith (p), Priscilla Tramontano (i). Transformers: Foundation 3: 14/1 (April 2011), IDW Publishing
  9. ↑ "IDW Publishing Forums • View topic - REIGN OF STARSCREAM #5 - REACTION THREAD". Forum.idwpublishing.com. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  10. ↑ S. Trent Troop and Greg Sepelak (2009). Do Over. Illustrator Yuki Oshima. Fun Publications.
  11. ↑ "Crosshairs - Transformers Universe Classics 2.0". TFW2005. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  12. ↑ "ROTF Arcee bio and new universe minicon 10 pack - TFW2005 - The 2005 Boards". TFW2005. 2009-06-16. Retrieved 2014-03-19.