Wildrider

Wildrider is the name of three fictional characters from the Transformers franchise.

Transformers: Generation 1

A Decepticon with ADHD would best describe Wildrider's personality. Wherever the Stunticons are, you'll find Wildrider boucing off the walls... literally. Wildrider delights in the carnage he causes on the roads, but his hyperactive driving frequently puts him out of commission with tire failures. Deep down, the thing he fears more than anything is peace and quiet. He combines with fellow Stunticons to form Menasor.

Animated series

Wildrider first appeared with the rest of the Stunticons in the two-part episode "The Key To Vector Sigma". Like the other Stunticons, he was created after Megatron commissioned Rumble to find him some vehicles to be turned into Decepticon warriors, in order to more effectively battle the Autobots on the roads. Megatron modified the cars so they could transform into remote-controlled robots, and then took them to Vector Sigma so they could be given personalities of their own.

In the second season, Wildrider's voice was loud and boisterous, however by the third season he spoke more like a Texan. Wildrider, like most of the Stunticons were built as 200-mph cannonballs. Their strong hulls allowed them to smash through barricades, trees and rock. Wildrider used this ability to his advantage many times, including ramming himself into a rock face to knock Bluestreak off his back.

In the episode "Masquerade", Wildrider and Breakdown are sent by Megatron to steal laser lenses for his new weapons. While en route to the crater where Megatron was waiting, the Autobots intercept them and take them into custody. In order to discover Megatron's plan, the Autobots disguise themselves as the Stunticons. Windcharger, the fastest of the 1984-85 Autobots, is selected to be Wildrider.

Later on in the third season episode, "The Burden Hardest to Bear", Wildrider and Dead End engage Rodimus Prime on a cliffside. Rodimus, who was feeling the pressures of leadership, was being pursued by Marissa Faireborn. Rodimus lured them away from Marissa, but flew off a cliff and crashed into a ravine. Wildrider spots The Matrix of Leadership near the spot where Rodimus landed. He and Dead End take it to Galvatron. Galvatron attempts to tap into the power of the Matrix, but is unsuccessful, blaming Wildrider for damaging it. He discards the Matrix ordering Scourge to destroy it. Scourge instead installs the Matrix into his circuitry, causing him to mutate into a powerful warrior.

Wildrider made various other appearances in the U.S. cartoon, as well as in the Japanese series Transformers: Headmasters.

Comics

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 Teletran 3, 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.

Dreamwave Productions

Unlike previous series Wildrider and the other Stunticons were not portrayed as recently created characters, but were Decepticons from Cybertron millions of years ago, like most other Decepticons. Initially just five individual Decepticons, the five who would become Stunticons were chosen in an experiment to improve on the combiner process which had created Devastator. Their combined form was called Menasor.

The Stunticons 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.

Fun Publications

Although not appearing in director in any Fun Publications fiction, Wildrider is mentioned in the biography for Timelines Breakdown. It states that the other Stunticons were left in stasis lock after a pitched battle with Defensor.

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.

Marvel comics

Wildrider and the Stunticons were not major characters in the comics. They were featured in issue #22, "Heavy Traffic", where they battle the Aerialbots as well as Circuit Breaker and RAAT troops.^[1]

In the U.K. Earthforce storyline, Wildrider was killed by Megatron.

Toys

• Generation 1 Wildrider (1986)

Wildrider was sold in 1986 by itself, and later with the other Stunticons as a giftset.

• Generation 2 Wildrider (unreleased)

During the final part of the toyline, Hasbro had intended to release a Generstion 2 redeco of the original Stunticons. However, because of attention redirected to the upcoming toyline Beast Wars: Transformers, the toy was never released however a few packaged examples do exist.^[2] In April of 2008 rare prototypes of this toy were sold on ebay and garnered bidding of over $2000 U.S. dollars.^[3]

• Universe Spy Changer Wildrider (unreleased)

First announced in Previews magazine for January 2003 were a set of 5 Stunticon Spy Changers - Breakdown, Drag Strip, Motormaster, Dead End, and Wildracer.

• Gentei! Gentei! Deluxe Stuntron Wildrider (2008)

A Chara Hobby Japan exclusive black redeco of Classics Rodimus.^[4]

Transformers Animated

Part of an exclusive set for Botcon 2011, this version of Wildrider is from the Transformers Animated series. He is based on the Animated Deluxe Lockdown mold with a new head^[5][6]

Toys

• Timelines Animated Deluxe Wildrider (2011)

A BotCon 2011 exclusive gray/magenta recolor and remold of Transformers Animated Deluxe Lockdown with a different head sculpt and the chainsaw attachment from the Blazing Lockdown figure.^[5]

Transformers: Prime

Wildrider has a grudge against the Autobot Wheeljack.

Toys

• Arms Micron Wildrider

A remold and recolor of Prime Wheeljack with an added Micron partner.

References