THE CYCLONUS PROJECT (preview)
Gregatron
to post a preview of this article and get some real feedback. This is
the first of a planned trilogy dealing with one of the more mysterious
sub-groups in Transformer history, the "Unicronians", first seen in
The Transformers: The Movie (1986). Although this project is rooted in
the cartoon universe, the comic book and toy universes will also be
examined.
The Cyclonus Project is an analysis of who exactly became Cyclonus in
the movie.
The Galvatron Project will attempt to determine if Galvatron retained
Megatron's mind/personality or if he is a separate being.
The Scourge Project will deal with the Sweeps (how many are there,
where do they come from, etc.), and whether or not Scourge retained
Thundercracker's mind/personality.
Most importantly, this project is a tribute to these great characters
who have entertained fans for nearly 20 years.
As The Cyclonus Project is not yet complete, expect some rough edges.
There are placeholders for future image links (or perhaps in-line
images for a website version Steve-O Stonebraker has kindly
volunteered to host), and the conclusion is incomplete.
Please reply with feedback/suggestions/improvements, etc. (criticism
should be *constructive*).
Enjoy!
- Gregatron
**PERSONAL NOTE: I had a good amount of the introduction to this essay
typed up. I copied
it, about to save it. Then I was going to check to see if the
link to Bombshell's model sheets still worked....and I
accidentally deleted the whole ****ing thing. I blame Bombshell, as
always. It's
a sign. He knows his time is running out.**
GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
This essay is dedicated to all the websites and site owners whose
material I've placed links to (please don't be mad!). These sites are
some of the best resources for Transformers info out there, and this
essay would not have been possible without them!
THE CYBERTRON CHRONICLE (Rik Bakke):
http://www.cybertronchronicle.freewebspace/com
A great source for all thing Generation one, especially in terms of
voice/sound clips, episode guides, and voice actor info!
A great resource for all Transformers fans, with info, images, TFU
profiles, message boards, etc.
NIGHTWIND'S TRANSAN ASYLUM:
http://home.att.net/~nightwind69/
An *excellent* resource for G1 screencaps, essays, fanfics, episode
guides, etc.
A great site for toy reviews, images, and info for all generations of
TF.
LEGENDS OF CYBERTRON:
http://www.legendsofcybertron.net
An excellent resource for US and foreign TF toy info/images.
Another excellent toy-oriented site.
BOTCH'S BOX ART ARCHIVE:
The ultimate resource for TF box art images.
Another site with great box art and other such images.
An excellent resource for TF info and extensive images of rare items,
such as the Takara pvcs.
SUPER TOY ARCHIVE
A great site full of rare toy pics/info, as well as scans of TF color
model cels.
ROCKMAN'S ROBOTS IN DISGUISE:
A fabulous resource for toy commercials, model sheet/video cover
scans, and much, much more.
THE TRANSFORMERS ARCHIVE:
A great site with lots of episode info and comic book scans.
The official site for *THE* official Transformers convention.
FRED'S WORKSHOP:
http://www.geocities.com/futuristgroup/bones.html
The ultimate TF toy variation info site.
PRIME SABER'S TRANSFORMERS PAGE:
http://www.fortunecity.com/lavendar/manwood/484/TF/TF.html
And I must thank Zobovor, Iacon, Jackpot, Raksha, and everyone else at
alt.toys.transformers for all the useful ideas and debates!
With all that said...
T H E C Y C L O N U S P R O J E C T :
INDEX:
I. INTRODUCTION
II. CARTOON CHARACTERS
III. TOYS
IV. MODEL SHEETS/DESIGNS
V. TECH SPECS
VI. TOY CATALOGS
VII. COMIC BOOKS
a. US
b. UK
c. BOTCON
d. DREAMWAVE
VIII. THE MOVIE
a. POSTER
b. SCRIPT
c. STORYBOARDS
d. ANIMATION
IX. INSECTICON CLONES
X. THE SERIES
XI. JAPANESE SERIES
XII. DVD
XIII. FAN THEORIES
XIV. CONCLUSIONS
I. I N T R O D U C T I O N :
Cyclonus.
The name evokes many things among Transfans. Honor. Loyalty.
Power. Grace.
Cyclonus is a much-respected character. However, there is one
nagging, persistent thing that holds his legend back in the fandom.
A question that has caused years of debates and confusion: Which
Decepticon did
Unicron craft him from in The Transformers: the Movie? This question
has plagued
many fans, especially me. The answer is not as clear as some think.
Many TF fan
sites have encyclopedia-type entries for characters. some sites claim
as "fact"
that Skywarp became Cyclonus, others claim Bombshell did. There are
several
reasons as to why it is difficult to find an answer to this question.
A large
part of the debate comes from strong fan support for Skywarp, who is,
generally
speaking, more popular than Bombshell.
Here are some random examples/excerpts of how some websites claim as
"fact" that either Skywarp or Bombshell became Cyclonus (With all due
respect to the sites and their owners. No names are being given so as
to protect the innocent.):
EXAMPLES:
1. "Cyclonus was formerly the Decepticon jet warrior, Skywarp. The
armada was a single clone of Cyclonus, formerly the Insecticon,
Bombshell. Both Cyclonus units were apparently identical, with the
same personality, or lack therof. However, following the events of
2005, only one Cyclonus unit remained active. Any instances where
multiple Cyclonus units were seen was erronious. It is presumed that
the second Cyclonus was destroyed during the final battle with
Unicron."
2. "After the reformatting, Skywarp became Cyclonus, Galvatron's
(Megatron's) new second-in-command."
3. "What he (Unicron) did: Created: Galvatron (from Megatron),
Cyclonus (Bombshell {or Bombshell clone}), Scourge (Thundercracker),
the Sweeps (Kickback ,Shrapnel, Skywarp, and a Cyclonus clone. These
were made from the other Decepticons thrown out of Astrotrain."
4. "Bombshell: Because of injuries he got in the attack on Autobot
City he was tossed out of Astrotrain with some other Decepticons. He
was then reformatted by Unicron into Cyclonus.
Skywarp: Because of injuries he got in the attack on Autobot City he
was tossed out of Astrotrain with some other Decepticons. He was then
reformatted by Unicron into Cyclonus愀 armada."
As you can see, these supposedly "definitive", encyclopedia-style
entries are wildly contrasting when seen together. Many other such
entries claim that the one-robot "armada" was flamed by the Dinobots
at Autobot City and destroyed, a myth we'll get to later.
This essay will attempt to explore the facts in an impartial manner,
and
will hopefully clarify the arguments for both sides. It is not
intended to try to "sway"
fans toward one side or another of the debate, but rather to present a
variety
of facts, theories, and opinions. Perhaps an answer will evolve from
there.
History has yet to record a definitive answer for this question (and
it is
driving me mad! There MUST be a definitive answer! I have to
*KNOW*!!), and this
has been a source of confusion.
Additionally, this essay will attempt, for the most part, to work with
"behind-the-scenes" elements. That is, what the *CREATORS* were likely
thinking when
they worked on the series, movie, comics, etc. Although there have
been many
fan-based theories attempting to "explain" bloopers and such, for the
purposes
of this essay *REAL LIFE* explanations will be used most often. Also,
this essay will cover the toys, comic books, etc., in addition to the
cartoon, since they're all interrelated, to an extent.
Finally, this is really a celebration of all things Cyclonus (and
Skywarp...and Bombshell...)!
(NOTE: Hopefully all links to images will work, but text descriptions
will still
be given for most of them.)
Let's begin at the beginning...
II. C A R T O O N C H A R A C T E R S :
SKYWARP (voiced by Frank Welker) first appeared in the series pilot,
"More than Meets the Eye part 1". He was loyal to Decepticon leader
Megatron and
close to fellow jet Thundercracker. He served
the Decepticon cause well, assisting in many energy raids and the
like. Skywarp had a cruel sense of humor
and was a bit dim. He possessed the power of teleportation and wore
arm-mounted guns. Skywarp originally transformed into a Cybertronic
jet, but after
the Autobot computer, Teletraan 1, adapted him for life on Earth, he
transformed
into an F-15 fighter jet.
VOICE SAMPLE:
http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/sounds/Skywarp.wav
TELEPORTATION SOUND EFFECT:
http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/sounds/Teleport.wav
SAMPLE IMAGES:
http://www.seibertron.com/cartoon/superrobotlife/seekers/tmb/Skywarp.jpg
http://www.seibertron.com/cartoon/superrobotlife/seekers/Skywarp046-01.jpg
http://www.seibertron.com/cartoon/superrobotlife/seekers/Skywarp065-01.jpg
http://tf-screen-caps.150m.com/caps/skywarp2.jpg
http://tf-screen-caps.150m.com/caps/skywarp5.jpg
http://tf-screen-caps.150m.com/caps/skywarp15.jpg
http://www.bwtf.com/g1/tvshow/mtmte1/8.jpg (original "Cybertronic" jet
mode)
APPEARANCES:
More than Meets the Eye pt. 1-3, Transport to Oblivion, Roll For It,
Divide and
Conquer, Fire in the Sky, S.O.S. Dinobots, Fire on the Mountain, War
of the
Dinobots, The Ultimate Doom pt. 1-3, Countdown to Extinction, Heavy
Metal War,
Autobot Spike, Changing Gears, City of Steel, Attack of the Autobots,
Traitor,
The Immobilizer, The Autobot Run, Atlantis Arise!, Enter the
Nightbird, A Prime
Problem, The Core, The Insecticon Syndrome, Dinobot Island pt. 1-2,
The Master
Builders, Auto Berserk, Microbots, Megatron's Master Plan pt. 1-2,
Desertion of
the Dinobots pt. 1, A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court
(cameo), The
Golden Lagoon, War Dawn, Starscream's Brigade, The Revenge of
Bruticus, B.O.T.,
The Transformers: The Movie.
BOMBSHELL (voiced by Michael Bell) was one of three Decepticons (the
others
being Kickback and Shrapnel) who
ejected from the Decepticon space cruiser (the same one that crashed
on Earth
MTMTE pt.1, according to the series "bible") in
an escape module. He first appeared in "A Plague of Insecticons". On
Earth,
these Decepticons' idento-computers reconfigured them into
"Insecticons" so they
could adapt
to life on Earth. Four million years later, they met up with the other
Decepticons
on Earth. However, the Insecticons were often
were at odds with the other Decepticons, especially Megatron, but did
work well
with them on occasion. Bombshell was devious and intelligent, and used
his "cerbro-shells" to control the minds of Autobot and Decepticon
alike. In robot mode, he carried a twin-ion impulse blaster. Like his
fellow Insecticons, he lived primarily to eat matter and convert it
into energy. On Earth, he transformed
into a robotic beetle (In the comic book and toy "universes",
Bombshell shrank to the size of a real insect when he transformed. In
the cartoon, he stayed robot-sized when in beetle mode.).
VOICE SAMPLE:
http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/sounds/Bombshell.wav
CEREBRO-SHELL LAUNCHER SOUND EFFECT:
http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/sounds/CerebroShell.wav
SAMPLE IMAGES:
http://www.seibertron.com/cartoon/superrobotlife/insecticons/tmb/Bombshell.jpg
http://www.seibertron.com/cartoon/superrobotlife/insecticons/Bombshell018-01.jpg
http://www.seibertron.com/cartoon/superrobotlife/insecticons/Bombshell020-01.jpg
APPEARANCES:
A Plague of Insecticons, Traitor, Enter the Nightbird, The Insecticon
Syndrome,
Megatron's Master Plan pt. 2 (cameo), Quest for Survival, The Revenge
of
Bruticus, The Transformers the Movie, Five Faces of Darkness Pt. 5
(cameo,
animation error), Thief in the Night (cameo, animation error, colored
like the
Autobot Beachcomber).
CYCLONUS (voiced by Roger C. Carmel, then Jack Angel after Carmel's
death) first
appeared in The
Transformers: the Movie (1986). Created from one of Megatron's
fallen Decepticons, he obediently served his leader, Galvatron.
Cyclonus was stoic, honorable, and highly intelligent. He became the
backbone of
the Decepticons after Unicron's destruction. He transformed
into a futuristic space jet, and carried an oxidizing laser gun in
robot mode. During "The Rebirth pt. 1-3" Cyclonus became a
Targetmaster, and wielded the Nebulan called Nightstick (voiced by
Peter Cullen).
VOICE SAMPLE (Roger C. Carmel):
http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/sounds/Cyclonus-TV1.wav
VOICE SAMPLE (Jack Angel):
http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/sounds/Cyclonus-TV2.wav
SAMPLE IMAGES:
http://www.seibertron.com/cartoon/2010/destrons/tmb/Cyclonus.jpg
http://www.seibertron.com/cartoon/2010/destrons/Cyclonus116.jpg (In
his
alternate, "Akom" color scheme.)
http://www.seibertron.com/cartoon/2010/destrons/Cyclonus117.jpg
http://tf-screen-caps.150m.com/caps/cyclonus.jpg
http://tf-screen-caps.150m.com/caps/cyclonus3.jpg (With an "alternate"
design
element: a goatee.)
http://tf-screen-caps.150m.com/caps/cyclonus8.jpg
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 38B HERE!!!***) ("Early" design jet mode)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 38G HERE!!!***) ("Early" design robot mode)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 38K HERE!!!***) ("Early" design robot mode)
APPEARANCES:
The Transformers: The Movie, Five Faces of Darkness pt. 1-5, The
Killing Jar,
Dark Awakening, Forever is a Long Time Coming ("cameo", EDC target
practice dummy),
Starscream's Ghost, Thief in the Night, Surprise Party, Ghost in the
Machine,
Webworld, The Big Broadcast of 2006, The Quintesson, Journal, The
Ultimate
Weapon, Fight of Flee, The Dweller in the Depths, Grimlock's New
Brain, Call of
the Primitives, The Face of the Nijika, The Burden Hardest to Bear,
The Return of
Optimus Prime pt. 1-2 (Jack Angel), The Rebirth pt. 1-3 (Jack Angel).
III. T O Y S :
Skywarp was designed by Hasbro/Marvel/Sunbow. He was an American
recolor of the Takara Diaclone F-15/robot toy. His cartoon model sheet
design (based on the toy and Thundercracker toy box art) was
presumably created by Floro Dery, concept designer for the
Transformers series (seasons 1-2) and the Movie.
Bombshell was created by Takara for the Diaclone line, and later
released as a Transformer in America. His cartoon design was created
by Floro Dery, based on Bombshell's toy box art.
Cyclonus was created by Floro Dery. He told me in an interview that
Cyclonus' physical
design was totally new, and *not* based at
all on the designs of the previous Decepticon jets (like Skywarp).
Dery's
robot/jet mode designs were heavily revised by other artists, however,
and the
new version became what was used in the Movie and *most* of the
post-Movie
cartoon episodes. The original design for Cyclonus DID mistakenly show
up in
several episodes of the series ("Starscream's Ghost", "The Rebirth",
etc.),
though, as well as in *ALL* of his appearances in the U.S. and U.K.
comic books
(as well as children's books, publicity materials, etc.) Interestingly
enough,
Cyclonus *does* share a few physical traits with both Bombshell (shape
of
shoulders, geometric shape on forehead, etc.) and Skywarp (color
scheme, wings,
legs, pelvis, thrusters on back of legs, etc.), though this appears to
be totally coincidental. However, it is *possible* that whomever
REVISED Cyclonus' mode sheets added the similarites to the previous,
Skywarp-style jets. It's also possible that the designer of Cyclonus'
COLOR MODEL (presumably the late Phyllis Craig) intentionaly added a
resemblance to Skywarp's color scheme, just as Scourge's colors
resemble Thundercracker's.
Cyclonus' early and revised designs differ in several ways:
1. The early design (robot mode) has a "goatee" on the chin,
folded-back wings,
and radically different lower arms and legs, as well as extra
detailing
throughout.
2. The early design (jet mode) has extra/different panel lines on the
rear of the jet body
and leading edge of each wing, raised air intakes on the wings, and
DECEPTICON
SYMBOLS on the wings (oddly enough, the final, revised version has
absolutely *NO*
Decepticon symbols *whatsoever* in jet mode!! This makes it easy to
tell when the
animators accidentally used the early model in the movie/series.)!!!!
(In a rare
set of bloopers {by the Movie's standards}, the "early" design jet
mode does
appear in a few shots of the film, which we'll discuss later.)
The toy version of Cyclonus was based on the "early" design. Here are
some images:
http://www.legendsofcybertron.net/TFs/US/cyclonus/
http://www.unicron.com/tf1986/figures/cyclonus.htm
(The Cyclonus toy was designed and created by Hasbro, based on Floro
Dery's original designs. An early version of the toy, with various
purple stickers, appeared in the toy catalogs, and also inspired the
color scheme for Cyclonus' Transformers Universe comic profile. Also,
the toy version of Cyclonus' oxidating laser gun is radically
different in design from the one he used in the cartoon series.)
The Cyclonus toy also had a variant--the infamous "blue ears" version.
This variant had blue spires on the helmet and a blue waist.
CYCLONUS VARIATIONS:
http://www.geocities.com/futuristgroup/vdecep.html#cyc1
CYCLONUS' BOX ART (art/color scheme based on early version of toy):
http://botchthecrab.com/archive/decepticon/1986/cyclonus.jpg
The Japanese version of the Cyclonus toy came with a nifty trading
card that featured his box art.
SKYWARP:
http://www.legendsofcybertron.net/TFs/US/skywarp/
http://www.unicron.com/tf1984/originalfigures/skywarp.htm
(The mold for Skywarp came from Takara's Diaclone
Starscream/Thundercracker-style F-15/robot in Japan, but Skywarp's
color scheme was created for the Transformers line in America.
Skywarp's instruction scans (seen in the link above) depict a
prototype version of the toy with a slightly more cartoon-accurate
color scheme. It has black thrusters on the legs, purple horizontal
tailfins, and purple arm-guns. It also has a purple nosecone tip,
UNLIKE the cartoon/final toy's black nosecone, as well as black leg
panels instead of purple. Skywarp was also re-released by Takara a
while back.)
There were also several Skywarp variations, with the main differences
being the tailfins, wings, fists, and canopy.
SKYWARP VARIATIONS:
http://www.geocities.com/futuristgroup/vjet.html
SKYWARP'S BOX ART (art/color scheme based on early version of toy):
http://botchthecrab.com/archive/decepticon/1984/skywarp.jpg
BOMBSHELL:
http://www.legendsofcybertron.net/TFs/US/bombshell/
http://www.unicron.com/tf1985/figures/bombshell.htm
(Bombshell's mold came from the Japanese Diaclone line, and like the
other Insecticons and the Dinobots, the toy has a cockpit for a tiny
pilot with magnetic feet. Oddly enough, Bombshell's robot-mode chest
is purple on the toy, but dark gray-black in the cartoon. However,
when he transforms to insect mode in the cartoon, his chest
"color-fades" to purple. The reason behind this seeming error is
unclear. Perhaps Bombshell's robot-mode color model was based on an
unpainted version of the toy. Nevertheless, in the cartoon, robot-mode
Bombshell does not have *ANY* purple on him at all.)
Bombshell also had several variations.
BOMBSHELL VARIATIONS:
http://www.geocities.com/futuristgroup/vdecep.html#bug
BOMBSHELL'S BOX ART:
http://botchthecrab.com/archive/decepticon/1985/bombshell.jpg
The 1986 Cyclonus toy was also re-released in 1987 as a Targetmaster,
with his partner being the Nebulan called Nightstick. The Cyclonus
toy's mold was altered, adding an extra hole for the gun-mode
Nightstick to fit in while the toy was in jet mode, as well as larger
peg-holes in the hands.
http://www.legendsofcybertron.net/TFs/US/TMcyclonus/
TARGETMASTER CYCLONUS' BOX ART (slightly modified from 1986 box art;
includes Nightstick):
http://rodimusconvoy.com/tf/pics/decepticons/Cyclonus.jpg
A knockoff of the 1986 Cyclonus toy has also floated around Ebay on
occasion. This knockoff toy is colored red, white, and purple!
In 1990, the original Transformers toyline reached its end with the
Action Masters. These toys were 3 3/4" figures that did not transform
and resembled the characters' cartoon appearances. For the first time
since the events of the Movie (and the creation of Galvatron),
Megatron appeared in toy form.
The European line of Action Masters also created and released AM
versions of Thundercracker (a garish repaint of the US Action Master
Starscream) and...Bombshell, a new sculpt entirely.
So, in the toy "universe", were Galvatron, Scourge, and Cyclonus
turned back into their former selves? Theoretically, if the G1 cartoon
had survived into the Action Masters era, we may have seen Galvatron,
etc. revert to their former selves. Their Action Master tech specs are
similar to the originals, as are the toys' physical appearances.
MEGATRON:
http://www.unicron.com/tf1990/toypics/megatron.htm
BOMBSHELL (with "Needler"):
http://www.bwtf.com/g1/toys/reviews/am/bombshell
TECH SPECS:
Strength: 6
Intelligence: 8
Speed: 6
Endurance: 5
Rank: 6
Courage: 5
Firepower: 8
Skill: 10
Function: Psychological Warfare
"The Mind is my playpen!"
A stinging, swaggering pest. Able to turn foes into helpless
accomplices by firing cerebro-shells into their heads with his short
burst stinger rifle. Transistorized implants give him the ability to
control his victims' minds. Possesses a cruel sense of humour. Amuses
himself by having his victims do his dirty work for him. Needler is
armed with front mounted armour crushing pincers and flame-throwing
turbo blasters. Combined with Bombshell, a deadly partnership is
formed.
THUNDERCRACKER:
http://www.bwtf.com/g1/toys/reviews/am/thunder/
TECH SPECS:
Strength: 7
Intelligence: 8
Speed: 10
Endurance: 8
Rank: 7
Courage: 9
Firepower: 7
Skill: 10
Function: Aerial Assault
"The deadliest weapon is terror."
A mean-spirited, ruthless sky jockey who enjoys running his enemies
into the ground. Contemptuous of anyone who can't fly. Engages the
enemy in high-speed dogfights at maximum altitudes then power-dives
straight down. Enjoys pulling up at the last second and sending his
opponent into a crash landing. Plane equipped with special, duraflex
metal construction that bends to accomodate excessive G-forces. Able
to fly very fast at low altitudes, skimming across treetops and
dodging obstacles with death-defying accuracy. Plane converts to
high-density, exo-suit battle armour, impervious to most armaments.
Also armed with deafening sonic boom blaster.
However, in 1997, during the Machine Wars phase of the Beast Wars
line, Megatron, *SKYWARP*, and Thundercracker were all released under
the Machine Wars label. Once again, these were all ostensibly the same
characters as the ones from 1984, as their tech specs indicate. Their
tech spec stats and data were altered a bit for these releases,
though. The fact that Skywarp "returned" to the US market and
Bombshell didn't indicates that *SKYWARP* may have been "cured" of
being Cyclonus in the US toy "continuity".
http://www.unicron.com/tf1997/toypics/mwskywarp.htm
http://www.unicron.com/tf1997/toypics/mwthundercracker.htm
http://www.unicron.com/tf1997/toypics/mwmegatron.htm
Recently, Takara released multiple waves of their SCF (Super
Collection Force) Transformers pvc figurines, with characters from the
various American and Japanese cartoon series. Skywarp was released as
a *VERY* rare exclusive (only 200 made). Lately, Hasbro has begun
releasing American versions of the Takara pvcs, with light-piping in
the eyes, glossier paint jobs, and "tweaked" decos under the banner
"Heroes of Cybertron".
Here's a comparison between HOC Skywarp and Takara Skywarp:
http://www.cosmicrust.com/pvc/exclusive/
Takara's SCF Skywarp is a *bit* more accurate in paint scheme when
compared to Skywarp's cartoon appearance. The only inaccuracies are
his chest panels (black instead of dark gray; HOC Skywarp gets that
much right) and the panels on his feet (not painted at all, just
purple like his feet; they should be light gray-white. HOC Skywarp has
them incorrectly colored black. HOC Skywarp also has incorrectly black
back panels instead of white, and gray-white knee panels instead of
blue.). Aside from that, their color schemes are identical. However,
HOC Skywarp is molded ENTIRELY in red plastic, with no paint covering
the eyes (for the light-up feature). Takara Skywarp is molded in black
plastic, with the details painted on over that.
HOC Skywarp also comes with a tech spec card, with stats similar to
his 1984 toy release, but containing additional bits describing his
cartoon personality. His stat numbers have been modified slightly (his
intelligence, most notably, has been lowered).
TECH SPECS:
Skywarp
Decepticon Warrior
Motto: "Strike when the enemy isn't looking."
Strength: 7
Intelligence: 5
Speed: 10
Endurance: 7
Rank: 6
Courage: 9
Firepower: 8
Skill: 8
Skywarp is the sneakiest of the Decepticons. Enjoys playing cruel
pranks on
fellow Decepticons. Like to suddenly appear out of nowhere to attack
Autobots through his ability to instantly teleport up to 2.5 miles.
Not very
smart and sometimes sarcastic. Misguided without the supervision of
Megatron. Switches allegiances quickly, following whichever Decepticon
is in
control. Carries heat-seeking missiles and variable-caliber machine
guns.
High-speed flier, reaching 1500 MPH as he searches for unsuspecting
prey on
the ground below.
Takara's latest pvc act, Act 8, includes Cyclonus, released in both
color and "pewter" versions. I was able to obtain both, and I must
say, the sculpt is the most accurate "cartoon design" Cyclonus item
out there (and maybe the *only* one...)! The colors are a little off
(the panels on his feet should be dark purple, the panels on his chest
should be orange, and the gray parts of his face, arms, legs, and
chest should be a very light purple-white), and a few sculpting errors
(there are panel lines on the leading edges of the wings on his back,
a holdover from the "early" design), but it's still a *great* pvc.
(click on the pvc head shots for turnaround pics)
http://www.cosmicrust.com/pvc/act8/
http://www.cosmicrust.com/pvc/hoc/
The Takara Cyclonus pvc was also released in America in wave 3 of
Hasbro's "Heroes of Cybertron" line. The pvc is molded in clear red
plastic to allow for light-piping in the eyes (unlike the Japanese
version), but has the same color scheme as the Takara version.
The HOC tech spec card does not add much to the debate. It seems to be
a retooling of Cyclonus' Transformers Universe profile, and STILL
indicates that he was made from *MULTIPLE* Decepticons (and *damaged*
Decepticons, not DEAD ones...)! Also, he's *STILL* "emotionless, but
his specs have been revised to add elements of his cartoon
personality. The stats are pretty much ideintical to those of the
original 1986 toy.
TECH SPECS:
Cyclonus
Decepticon Saboteur
Motto: "Compassion is the downfall of the Autobots."
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: 9
Endurance: 8
Rank: 8
Courage: 9
Firepower: 7
Skill: 7
Cyclonus is an emotionless air-warrior forged from the remnants of
damaged Decepticons. Like his commander Galvatron, he derives vast
resources of power and energy through Unicron. A dedicated Decepticon
harbinger, Cyclonus is 100% soldier capable of space-worthy flight for
interstellar pusuit and warfare. Stoic, brooding, and at times
intimidating, Cyclonus has no known weaknesses. In robot mode, he
carries an oxidating laser that fuses an enemy robot's internal
mechanisms.
The most recent Transformers toyline/cartoon, Armada, also includes a
Decepticon character called Cyclonus. The Armada "universe" has no
connection to the "Generation One" universe, and so this Cyclonus is a
totally new character. The name was used by Habsro solely for
copyright purposes and to attract G1 fans. Cyclonus transforms into a
helicopter and uses the Mini-con called Crumplezone. In the Armada
cartoon, Cyclonus is voiced by Don Brown. (If you ask me, this
"Cyclonus" is just a pretender to the throne.)
CYCLONUS' TECH SPECS/TOY BOX ART:
http://www.bwtf.com/tfarmada/toys/techspecs/cyclonus.shtml
CYCLONUS TOY REVIEW:
http://www.bwtf.com/tfarmada/toys/reviews/cyclonus/
IV. M O D E L S H E E T S / D E S I G N S :
SKYWARP'S ANIMATION MODEL SHEETS (These model sheets were also used
for Starscream and Thundercracker. Design based on 1984
Thundercracker's toy box art.):
http://www.takaratoys.co.jp/TF/settei/settei_image02/stsc05.gif
http://www.takaratoys.co.jp/TF/settei/settei_image02/stsc04.gif
EARLY, UNUSED COLOR MODEL FOR SKYWARP (Robot mode has dark gray face
instead of
light gray-white, black shoulders instead of light purple, light gray
knee panels
instead of light blue, and light purple jet thrusters on the backs of
his legs instead of
black. Also, the Decepticon symbols on his wings are not upside-down
like they
are on the final version):
http://www.toyarchive.com/Transformers/Cels/Skywarp1a.jpg
SKYWARP'S TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE PROFILE (Art based on model sheets,
"comic book" color scheme used.):
http://216.234.160.156/comics/universe/original/?tf_id=skywarp
Skywarp
Allegiance: Decepticon
Function: Warrior
First Comic Appearance: Transformers #1
"Strike when the enemy isn't looking."
Profile: Skywarp is the sneakiest of the Decepticons. On Cybertron he
was known to appear out of nowhere in the middle of peaceful Autobot
villages to rain terror and destruction upon them, if the mood hit
him. He'll even use his teleportation powers to play a prank on a
fellow Decepticon. Everyone enjoys this except the butt of his joke
since Skywarp's sense of humor tends to be rather cruel and physically
abusive. Skywarp isn't too smart and would be totally useless without
the supervision of Megatron.
Abilities: Skywarp can reach a top speed of 1500 mph. But what makes
him unique is his ability to instantly teleport himself a maximum
distance of 2.5 miles. He also carries a heatseeking missile launcher
and a variable-caliber machine gun.
Weaknesses: Skywarp's control of the accuracy of his teleportation
power diminishes as the distance he teleports increases. As a result,
if he's not too careful, he's likely to crash into things when he
arrives at where he's teleporting. Not being too bright doesn't help
him avoid these accidents either.
BOMBSHELL'S ANIMATION MODEL SHEETS (Design based on 1985 Bombshell toy
box art):
http://www.tfrid.com/pictures/Megatron/meg15.JPG
BOMBSHELL'S TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE PROFILE (Art based on model sheets,
uses comic book color scheme, which was based on the toy.):
http://216.234.160.156/comics/universe/original/?tf_id=bombshell
Bombshell
Allegiance: Decepticon
Sub-Group: Insecticon
Function: Psychological Warfare
First Comic Appearance: Transformers # 17
"The mind is my playpen!"
Profile: Whether it refers to a robot's or a human's, Bombshell's
credo carries the same awful meaning-once he sinks his stinger into
someone's head, it's unlikely that that someone will ever think for
himself again. His ability to turn foes into helpless accomplices
makes this Insecticon one of Decepticon Leader Megatron's favorites.
And Bombshell's interest in his victim doesn't end with mere control
of his mind: Given his cruel sense of humor, Bombshell finds nothing
more entertaining than to have his unwilling followers perform
embarrassing and debasing acts, an amusement he eagerly shares with
his evil comrades.
Abilities: In his insect form, Bombshell is particularly adept at
using his tiny size to infiltrate human populations. He then uses his
stinger to inject a tiny "cerebro-shell" into a human's head. The
micro-circuited device travels through the blood until it reaches the
brain, wherepon it opens up and releases tens of thousands of
connecting wires. The wires coil around nearby neural dendrites until
the brain's conscious functions are effectively rerouted through the
cerebro-shell, which puts the mind of the victim under the remote
control of Bombshell. He has a flying range of 5.7 miles in this form.
In his larger robot form, Bombshell's stinger is used in much the same
way against other robots' high function mental circuitry. The major
difference is that once the stinger is pressed against the metal
casing of a victim's head, the small laser torches on the side of the
stinger rotate rapidly to carve a small hole in the casing, allowing
the stinger to inject a cerebro-shell. He also carries a head-mounted
mortar that can throw a 50-pound explosive shell 8 miles with very
good accuracy.
Weaknesses: Successful removal of one of Bombshell's cerebro-shells
allows its possessor to use it against him by sending false signals
back to him. Some tougher metals are impervious to his laser torches.
Often, Bombshell will make the mistake of playing with his victim
rather than paying more attention to more important matters, such as
an Autobot assault.
COLOR MODEL FOR "EARLY" CYCLONUS DESIGN:
http://www.toyarchive.com/Transformers/Cels/Cyclonus1a.jpg
CYCLONUS' TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE PROFILE (Art based on "early" design
model sheets, color scheme based on toy prototype.)
http://216.234.160.156/comics/universe/original/?tf_id=cyclonus
Cyclonus
Allegiance: Decepticon
Function: Saboteur
First Comic Appearance: Transformers: The Movie #1
"Compassion is the Autobots' downfall."
Profile: Cyclonus is a huge and emotionless air-warrior
metamorphosized from parts of dead Decepticons and remnants by
Unicron. Like Galvatron, he derives vast resources of power and energy
through Unicron and so can draw on strength in direct proportion to
its need- always being able to become stronger than his opponents
because of his access to the infinite reservoir of power that Unicron
represents. A dedicated destructor, Cyclonus transforms into a
gigantic multi-engine (and perhaps multi-wing) jet fighter. His
firepower remains intact and is augmented by an incendiary bomb rack.
Cyclonus is capable of an additional transformation, trimming his
wings and tail back to assume a space-worthy rocket mode for
interstellar pursuit and warfare. He has no personality, no interests
other than conquests for the sake of Unicron, and no weakness.
Abilities: In jet fighter mode, Cyclonus is equipped with
nuclear-powered turbine engines which enable him to reach speeds
greater than Mach 2. In robot mode, he carries an oxidating laser that
fuses an enemy robot's internal mechanisms.
OBSERVATIONS:
1. Unlike the toy's tech specs, this profile describes Cyclonus'
origin.
2. Interestingly, Cyclonus is described as having been created from
PARTS of DEAD Decepticons (plural!)!!!!
3. Yes, he's emotionless, just like in his tech specs. The cartoon
tells a different story...
4. This profile also (unlike the tech specs) describes an "alternate",
wingless, space-rocket mode. This would appear to be an attempt to
"explain" the fact that the Cyclonus toy's arms/wings are removable.
5. So...Cyclonus tranforms into a multi engine ("and perhaps
multi-wing") jet fighter. What, he DOESN'T *KNOW* how many wings he
has???? Sheesh.
6. As with his tech specs, this profile gives no indication that
Cyclonus leads an "armada", but Scourge's TFU profile does mention the
Sweeps.
CYCLONUS' REVISED "MOVIE" MODEL SHEETS:
http://www.takaratoys.co.jp/TF/settei/settei_image21/cyclo05.gif
http://www.takaratoys.co.jp/TF/settei/settei_image21/cyclo04.gif
NOTE: Cyclonus also had two other variations in the post-Movie
episodes of the series:
1. A "goatee" on his chin (seen in "SAMPLE IMAGES" link above). This
vestigial holdover from the
"early" design appeared in some episodes, sometimes for only a few
scenes in the
entire show.
2. "AKOM" color model (seen in link above under "SAMPLE IMAGES"). An
alternate
color model for the "Movie" version of Cyclonus (seemingly based on
the "early"
color model). This version has many dark purple highlights (It's
possible that the dark purple depth shading on the "Movie" design
color model was misinterpreted by the animators as dark purple areas.
They made similar errors with Galvatron and Cerebros, among others.).
It can be seen in
any post-movie episode animated in Korea (FFOD, Dark Awakening, The
Rebirth,
etc.)
Also, there is an inherent problem with the color model for Cyclonus'
jet mode. Okay, his entire helmet (minus the spires) is medium purple
in robot mode. In jet mode, however, the lower sides of his helmet
(flanking his chin and cheeks) constantly change color. In views of
the underside of his jet mode, the lower sides of his robot mode
helmet (just behind the nosecone's missile launchers) are still medium
purple. HOWEVER, in topside views of his jet mode, they become light
purple-pink. When he rolls in jet mode, the colors change from view to
view. Watch jet-mode Cyclonus rolling during the Movie in
slow-motion/freeze-frame when Galvatron says "There are plenty of
Autobots for you. Ultra Magnus is mine!" at Autobot City, and when he
transforms to attack Kup and Hot Rod's shuttle in space, and you'll
see what I mean. The animators had to fudge it a bit.
V. T E C H S P E C S :
Before we get into the specifics of the Movie and series, let's start
with the
toys, since they were the prime movers concerning what happened in the
cartoon
series and comic books. It was decided to "kill off" several existing
Transformers characters in
the Movie to make way for new toys. Two Decepticon subgroups, the
series one jets
and the Insecticons, were chosen. This was accomplished by actually
turning the
old characters *INTO* the NEW ones. In one fell swoop, the old
characters were removed
and the new ones appeared.
Here are the toy tech specs for Skywarp, Bombshell, and Cyclonus
(Note: Stat numbers vary from source to source.):
SKYWARP (1984):
Strength: 7
Intelligence: 9
Speed:10
Endurance: 7
Rank: 9
Courage: 9
Firepower: 8
Skill: 8
Function: Warrior
Motto: "Strike when the enemy isn't looking. "
Data: Skywarp is the sneakiest of all Decepticons. Enjoys
playing cruel pranks on fellow Decepticons and appearing out of
nowhere to
attack Autobots. Not too smart. Would be useless without Megatron's
supervision.
Top speed of 1500mph. Can
instantly teleport up to 2.5 miles. Carries heat-seeking missiles and
variable-calibre machine guns.
(**SPECIAL NOTE: It has been theorized that Starscream and Skywarp's
tech spec
stats were accidentally *switched*. Notice that, as it stands, Skywarp
has higher speed,
intelligence, and rank ratings than Starscream. Starscream has the
same stat numbers as Thundercracker, when Skywarp would seem more
likely to have. I present Starscream's stats
here, just to show you what Skywarp's probably *SHOULD* look like.**)
Strength: 7
Intelligence: 7
Speed: 9
Endurance: 7
Rank: 5
Courage: 8
Firepower: 7
Skill: 7
BOMBSHELL (1985):
Strength: 5
Intelligence: 8
Speed: 5
Endurance: 5
Rank: 6
Courage: 5
Firepower: 6
Skill: 9
Function: Psychological Warfare
Motto: "The mind is my playpen. "
Data: Can turn foes into helpless accomplices by injecting
cerebro-shells into
their head (robot or human) with his stinger...gives him control of
their
minds...has a cruel sense of humor...arms himself by having his
victims debase
themselves. In insect mode this insecticon can fly 10km. In robot mode
wears
head-mounted mortar...throws 25 kg explosive shell 15 km.
Cerebro-shells can be
used against him if removed from victim's head.
CYCLONUS (1986):
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: 9
Endurance: 8
Rank: 9
Courage: 9
Firepower: 7
Skill: 7
Function: Saboteur
Motto: "Compassion is the Autobots' downfall. "
Data: Cyclonus is huge and emotionless air warrior. He has vast
resources of
power and can draw strength in direct proportion to his need. Cyclonus
is
equipped with nuclear-powered turbine engines which enable him to
reach speeds
greater than Mach 2. In robot mode, he carries an oxidating laser that
fuses an
enemy robot's internal mechanisms. Cyclonus has no weaknesses and no
interests
other than conquest.
(NOTE: Also included are Thundercracker and Scourge's tech specs,
which will be
discussed in the "Observations" below.)
THUNDERCRACKER (1984):
Strength: 7
Intelligence: 7
Speed: 9
Endurance: 7
Rank: 5
Courage: 5
Firepower: 8
Skill: 7
Function: Warrior
Motto: "The deadliest weapon is terror. "
Data: Contemptuous of anything that cannot fly. Not totally convinced
of the
Decepticons' cause, but they persuaded him to continue battling
Autobots. Flies
at speeds up to 1500 mph... produces controlled, deafening sonic booms
that can
be heard for 200 miles. Equipped with powerful drone rockets and
incendiary gun.
Doubts about cause sometimes impede effectiveness.
SCOURGE (1986):
Strength: 8
Intelligence: 8
Speed: 8
Endurance: 7.5
Rank: 8
Courage: 8
Firepower: 7.5
Skill: 7
Function: Sweep Leader
Motto: "Desolation follows in my trail. "
Data: Scourge is fearsome, merciless and implacable hunter. Created
from
Decepticon wreckage, he leads "The Sweeps", a wolf pack of
tracker-terminators
designed to hunt down and eradicate Autobots. Scourge possesses
powerful
high-tech scanning equipment and a disintergater ray that can cut
through solid
rock. In robot mode, he carries a laser blaster that shoots short
bursts of
intense heat. Scourge's only weakness is his arrogance.
Here the tech specs for the last releases of the G1 Cyclonus and
Scourge toys:
(Note: Cyclonus is still "emotionless", Scourge's fuction is now
"tracker" (why isn't Cyclonus' function now "warrior"? Huh.), and
there are various other little changes to their tech spec data,
especially in their STAT NUMBERS.)
TARGETMASTER CYCLONUS (1987):
Strength: 9
Intelligence: 9
Speed: 10
Endurance: 6
Rank: 7
Courage: 10
Firepower: 5
Skill: 6
FUNCTION: SABOTEUR
"Compassion is the Autobots downfall."
An emotionless marauder whose single-minded purpose is to destroy the
Autobots. Incapable of fear. Paired with Nightstick, a Nebulan master
criminal who doubles as a blinding, corroding black-beam gun. In space
jet mode, has nuclear-powered turbine engines that allow him to cruise
at Mach 2 in suborbital altitudes and achieve escape velocity for
interstellar space travel.
TARGETMASTER SCOURGE (1987):
Strength: 7
Intelligence: 9
Speed: 6
Endurance: 6
Rank: 8
Courage: 8
Firepower: 7
Skill: 7
FUNCTION: TRACKER
"Desolation follows in my trail"
Merciless, fearsome - only his extreme hatred of Autobots prevents him
from attacking his Nebulan allies. The Nebulan is a high-temperature
incendiary cannon with a volatile temper to match. In vehicle mode,
Scourge is a hunter-destroyer, land-scouring vehicle. Equipped with
optical and heat sensors for detecting and eliminating enemies.
Maximum speed: 260 mph, range 800 miles.
OBSERVATIONS:
1. Skywarp (if you replace his stats with Starscream's) and
Thundercracker had
identical tech spec stat numbers. Cyclonus and Scourge's numbers are
virtually
identical, too. It's possible that Cyclonus and Scourge's stats were
derived from Skywarp and Thundercracker's, as if they were "upgraded".
Skywarp/Cyclonus:
7/8
7/8
9/9
7/8
5/9
8/9
7/7
7/7
Thundercracker/Scourge:
7/8
7/8
9/8
7/7.5
5/8
5/8
8/7.5
7/7
2. Bombshell and Cyclonus both have an intelligence rating of "8".
3. Skywarp and Cyclonus both have a speed rating of "9".
4. Cyclonus' function as a "saboteur" (shouldn't it be "warrior"?) is
reminiscent of Skywarp using his telportation powers to be "sneaky".
5. Skywarp's function was "warrior". Cyclonus was announced as
"Cyclonus, the
warrior" when he first appeared in the Movie, and often referred to
himself as such in the series.
6. Bombshell's function was "psychological warfare". In one episode of
the
cartoon series ("Face of the Nijika"), Cyclonus demonstrates at least
a basic
knowledge of mob psychology.
7. Scourge's tech specs depict him as being built from "Decepticon
wreckage", but there is no such indication of a similar origin in
Cyclonus' tech specs.
8. Scourge's tech specs also mention the Sweeps, but there is no
mention of Cyclonus leading an "armada".
VI. T O Y C A T A L O G S :
The 1984, 1985, and 1986 Transformers toy catalogs can also provide
some facts.
1984:
http://www.unicron.com/tf1984/1984padback.big.jpg
1985:
http://www.unicron.com/tf1985/1985padback.big.jpg
1986:
http://www.unicron.com/tf1986/1986padback.big.jpg
1987:
http://www.unicron.com/tf1987/1987padback.big.jpg
OBSERVATIONS:
1. In the 1984 catalog, Skywarp, Starscream, and Thundercracker are
listed
together as "Decepticon jets".
2. In the 1985 catalog, Dirge, Ramjet, Thrust, Skywarp, Starscream,
and
Thundercracker are listed as "Decepticon Jets". Also, the Insecticons
make their
first appearance as toys (Kickback, Bombshell, Shrapnel).
3. In the 1986 toy catalog, characters who died, etc. in the Movie no
longer
appear (Megatron, Skywarp, Thundercracker). However, the Insecticons,
who "died"
in the Movie, still appear, as does Starscream. Here are two possible
explanations:
3A. The Insecticons did get a few featured scenes in the Movie, and
also
appeared later in the series (though these appearances are probably
animation errors). *Only*
characters from 1984 were eliminated from the catalogs (although
Megatron and
Thundercracker were later sold in the form of mail-in offers).
3B. However, Starscream may have stayed in the catalog because he was
a very popular character/toy, or it was known ahead of time that he
would "return" as a ghost in the cartoon series.
4. Most importantly though, Cyclonus and Scourge *REPLACE* Skywarp and
Thundercracker *specifically* in the 1986 catalog ("Decepticon Jets"
are now listed
as: Starscream, Ramjet, Dirge, Thrust, Scourge, Cyclonus.)
5. It is also worth noting that the Cyclonus and Scourge toys are of
equivalent
size/proportion to the other Decepticon jet toys (such as the late
Skywarp and
Thundercracker). The Insecticon toys are all much smaller than the
jets. This is also true for the cartoon series.
6. In the 1987 catalog, Triggerhappy, Slugslinger, Cyclonus, Misfire,
and Scourge constitute the "Targetmaster Decepticon Planes".
VII. C O M I C B O O K S :
VIIa. US comic books:
SKYWARP:
Skywarp first appeared in Marvel Comics' The Transformers series, in
issue # 1 (1984). As in the cartoon, he was aboard the Ark with the
other Decepticons when it crashed on Earth, and was reconfigured into
an F-15 jet four million years later. He served under both Megatron
and Shockwave after this, but was later captured by Omega Supreme and
placed in stasis aboard the Ark with several other Decepticons. They
were later revived, but Skywarp was soon destroyed by the
Underbase-powered Starscream. However, Skywarp later showed up in the
Transformers: Generation 2 comic (1992-93). How he came to be
resurrected was never revealed (Skywarp also appeared in the comic
book adaptation of The Transformers: The Movie issue # 1 as a
background character.).
BOMBSHELL:
Bombshell first appeared in issue # 17 of Marvel's Transformers comic
(1985). He and the other Insecticons came to Earth via the Space
Bridge and served under Megatron, Shockwave, and Ratbat while on
Earth. After a few other appearances, he was not seen again, and his
ultimate fate is unknown (Bombshell also appeared in the background of
the comic book adaptation of The Transformers: The Movie issue # 1.).
CYCLONUS:
Cyclonus was featured in Marvel's "Transformers Universe" comic, in
issue
# 4 (link to scans can be found above). He also appeared in a few
issues of the
regular Transformers comic. His first featured appearance was during
issue # 43's adaptation of the cartoon
episode, "The Big Broadcast of 2006", and later in the issues dealing
with the
timeline that the comic book version of Galvatron came from. His most
prominent US comic appearance
was in the Marvel adaptation of the Movie. Although not a part of the
cartoon
universe, the comics still provide some unique observations. (NOTE: As
stated already,
Cyclonus is drawn in his "early" incarnation in ALL comic book
appearances.)
Also, in the four-issue Headmasters comic series, Cyclonus appears as
one of
Scorponok's troops, and gains Nightstick as his Targetmaster partner.
However, he is *NOT* a product of Unicron in the normal comic
universe (as far as we know), nor does he *LOOK* like CYCLONUS (The
artists obviously got his character
model sheets mixed up with one of the Nebulans' or something.)!!!
However, in the UK version of the Headmasters series, "Cyclonus" was
renamed Krunix, because Cyclonus was a prominent character in the UK
comics, and the Headmasters version might have confused fans. Here's a
page from The Headmasters (US) issue # 2:
http://comics.tfarchive.com/headm2_page10.shtml
Aside from the adaptation of "The Big Broadcast of 2006", Cyclonus'
only other
appearance in the "regular" comic was in issue # 67. In this issue, a
Galvatron
from an alternate universe has devastated the Autobots and ravaged
Earth in the year 2009. The
insane Galvatron executes Cyclonus for cowardice in this issue. In
this issue, as in the Headmasters series, Cyclonus is portrayed mainly
as a generic Decepticon lackey/henchman, which is radically different
from his portrayal in the cartoon.
http://comics.tfarchive.com/issue67_page11.shtml
http://comics.tfarchive.com/issue67_page16.shtml
http://comics.tfarchive.com/issue67_page17.shtml
TFTM ISSUE # 1:
http://comics.tfarchive.com/themovie1_page20.shtml
http://comics.tfarchive.com/themovie1_page21.shtml
http://comics.tfarchive.com/themovie1_page22.shtml
In issue # 1, page 20, panel 4, Megatron, a "conehead"
(Dirge/Ramjet/Thrust-type) Decepticon jet, Kickback,
and several "generic" wounded robots are seen inside Astrotrain after
the battle at Autobot City.
Pg 20, panel 6: One Starscream/Skywarp/Thundercracker-type jet and
three generic
robots (one looks like it might be Kickback) are tossed into space
("Don't--please! We're still alive! Alive!")
Pg. 21, panel 1: 1 conehead jet, 3 generics, and Megatron float
towards Unicron.
Pg. 21, panels 2-3: Megatron and 3 generics can be seen.
Pg. 22, panel 1: Megatron and 2 generics.
Pg. 22, panel 2: 6 generics are altered by Unicron.
Pg. 22, panel 3: A Scourge-type leg is in the foreground, 2 generics
are being
altered.
Pg. 22 panel 4: 4 generics, 1 Sweep, 1 Cyclonus-type robot, Scourge,
and
Cyclonus (artwork directly copies their "early" design model sheets).
Also, the text on page 22 is interesting:
UNICRON: "These shall be your new minions."
NARRATOR BOX: "The battered Decepticons undergo a sudden, awesome
transformation. Their injuries are healed...their very structures are
massively
altered by the power of Unicron until......a new band of warriors
stands ready
to aid Megatron in his coming conquests----Scourge...the tracker. And
his
huntsmen...the Sweeps. Cyclonus...the warrior, who will become
Megatron's ship."
OBSERVATIONS:
1. The Marvel artists were probably told that a few Insecticons and
Decepticon
jets were to be tossed off Astrotrain in the film version. Thus, they
drew
Kickback and an unidentified *CONEHEAD* or two.
2. The narrative text implies that all Unicron did was heal the
Decepticons'
wounds and alter their bodies, as he did with Megatron (Or maybe not,
as MINGers
will tell you.).
3. No mention is made of Cyclonus having an "armada", although
Cyclonus-type
robots are certainly visible in the background of pg. 22 panel 4, as
well as in issue 2. However,
the script the comic was based on *DID* mention/include the armada, as
well as the
idea that Cyclonus would become Megatron's...uhhh... I mean
GALVATRON's personal
ship.
4. No indication is made concerning which Decepticon became Cyclonus
in the
comic version of the Movie.
TFTM ISSUE # 2:
http://comics.tfarchive.com/themovie2_page1.shtml
http://comics.tfarchive.com/themovie2_page2.shtml
http://comics.tfarchive.com/themovie2_page5.shtml
http://comics.tfarchive.com/themovie2_page6.shtml
http://comics.tfarchive.com/themovie2_page7.shtml
Issue # 2, page 1: Scourge, Cyclonus, and (in background) 14 generic
Scourge/Cyclonus-type robots.
Pg. 2, panel 2: Galvatron hops into jet-mode Cyclonus. 3 Cyclonus-type
jets and
7 Sweeps can be seen.
Pg. 2, panel 5: Cyclonus, 2 Cyclonus-types, and 4 Sweeps interrupt
Starscream's
coronation.
Pg. 5, panel 7: 4 Cyclonus jets.
Pg. 6, panel 2: 4 Cyclonus-jets.
Pg. 6, panel 5: 2 Cyclonus-jets.
Pg. 7, panel 2: 3 Cyclonus-jets.
Pg. 7, panel 4: 3 Cyclonus-jets.
OBSERVATIONS:
1. It would appear that the artists drew the "armada" in lieu of the
Sweeps for
the rest of the comic adaptation.
2. Many, many more Sweeps and Cyclonus jets appear at the beginning of
this issue
than were tossed out of Astrotrain in issue # 1.
(NOTE: Cyclonus does appear in issue 3, and has dialogue in issue 2,
but there
is nothing pertaining to this discussion.)
VIIb. UK comic books:
The UK comics featured Cyclonus and the other movie characters much
more prominently than the US series did. The UK comic, (published
weekly instead of monthly, as in the US) had to fill the gap between
reprints of the US issues with new, UK-created stories. Thus, while
many American fans were totally unaware of the UK series (until
interest in the series exploded in recent years), the British fans
were treated to an epic, 300+ saga which bridged the US stories and
new stories together (with far fewer continuity errors than you might
think, especially considering the complexity of keeping consistent
with the US comic).
In Simon Furman's classic storyline, "Target 2006" (recently collected
in the US in trade
paperback form), Galvatron, Cyclonus, and Scourge travel back in time
to 1986 during the events of the Movie in a plot to destroy Unicron.
While there, Cyclonus relates his origin to the Autobot Hound (scans
unavailable):
CYCLONUS: "Once, I lay like you: Battered. Defeated...close to death.
Until
Unicron took what had once been LIFE SPARK...restoring him and
resculpting him
into...CYCLONUS!"
The artwork for this scene shows a roughly-drawn version of
"early-design" Cyclonus being
created amidst swirling energy.
The words "Life Spark" are printed in bold lettering, and look
different from
the rest of the typestyle of the text. Some fans believe that the
original intent was to reveal
Cyclonus' former identity, and that the text was altered at the last
minute to
avoid conflict with the film version of the Movie.
This is *NOT* true. I spoke to Simon Furman himself on the matter. He
stated that
he was working from an early treatment of the Movie script (hence
Target "2006" instead
of "2005"), which described Cyclonus being created from a "life
spark". The staff accidentally
took this to mean that Cyclonus was created from a *DECEPTICON* NAMED
"LIFE
SPARK", and thus wrote the "name" into "Target 2006".
Also, Skywarp is *DESTROYED* by Galvatron at the end of this story
(but ostensibly put back into stasis in time for his return in the US
comic).
A temporal anomoly allowed Cyclonus and Scourge to travel back in time
once more and serve under Scorponok during the US "Headmasters" series
(Although they don't actually appear in the US comic, as such. See
above.)
Later during the "Time Wars" storyline, a clone of Megatron ripped
Cyclonus' head off. Ouch. The story then focused on Scourge attempting
to retrieve Cyclonus' body and return to the future to prevent a
massive problems with the timestream.
And that's about as much as I can explain about the complexity of the
UK/US comics continuity without getting a headache.
VIIc. BOTCON comic books:
The Botcon-exclusive comics ("The Wreckers") have added a bit of fuel
to the
controversy in that Cyclonus and Skywarp appear *TOGETHER*. The
characters in
the comic are seemingly intended to "represent" various characters
from the cartoon
universe, although the comic probably shouldn't be considered "canon"
for the series. I spoke with the comic's artist, Dan Khanna, and he
stated that Skywarp appears
separately from Cyclonus because Khanna himself feels strongly that
*BOMBSHELL* became
Cyclonus in the Movie. However, this *still* creates a problem:
Skywarp became a Cyclonus-type robot (if not *THE* Cyclonus) in the
Movie. Regardless of who he became, at
the moment Cyclonus was created, Skywarp ceased to exist as a
character. There is *NO* way Skywarp and Cyclonus could
exist at the same time (unless Skywarp was somehow restored in
mind/body).
The Skywarp and Cyclonus seen in these comics look radically different
from
their previous incarnations. This is because the Botcon-exclusive TOY
versions of
the characters are actually repaints of existing Beast Machines toys (
repainted in the G1 characters' color schemes). Cyclonus is a repaint
of Beast Machines Ultra Jetstorm. Here are their "Wreckers" catalog
entries:
CYCLONUS:
http://www.botcon.com/characters/CyclonusCatalog.jpg
SKYWARP:
http://www.botcon.com/characters/SkywarpCatalog.jpg
And here are the comic book versions:
SKYWARP:
http://www.bwtf.com/botcon/2k1/comic/skywarp.gif
CYCLONUS (with Devcon):
http://www.bwtf.com/eu/2k2comic/cyclonusdevcon.gif
Here are Botcon Cyclonus' tech specs:
http://www.bwtf.com/eu/toys/techspecs/cyclonus.shtml
And here's a toy review with pics:
http://www.bwtf.com/eu/toys/cyclonus/
VIId. D R E A M W A V E :
Dreamwave's massively successful Transformers comic book has featured
a seemingly new continuity, separate from what has gone before.
Skywarp (and the Insecticons, at least, on some covers) has played a
role in the regular series, as well as Simon Furman's 6-issue "The War
Within".
And now, the most important part...
VIII. T H E M O V I E :
VIIIa. Poster:
Let's begin with the original theatrical release poster for The
Transformers: The Movie (Cyclonus can be seen in the upper left
corner):
http://www.unicron.com/tf1986/tftm.jpg
As with all other such materials, Cyclonus is drawn in the form of his
"early"
model sheet.
Also of note is the fact that *several* Cyclonus-style jets can be
seen exiting
the Decepticon mothership. Although this was *probably* (and almost
certainly)
meant to represent a multi-image transformation effect for just *ONE*
Cyclonus
robot, it is also *possible* that the artist meant to depict a FLEET
of
Cyclonus-jets (also notice that there are no *SWEEPS* except for
Scourge on the poster). The Cyclonus jet closest to robot-mode
Cyclonus is based directly on the "early" jet-mode model sheet.
Robot-mode Cyclonus is based on the early model sheet, but has an
altered pose.
VIIIb. Script:
Ron Friedman's script for The Transformers the Movie provides several
points
which I must mention before we get to the heart of the matter:
1. All references to the Insecticons in the script indicate that they
are the *GENUINE
ARTICLES*, and NOT clones as some fans have theorized (we'll get to
the clone
controversy later).
2. There are absolutely *NO* references to specific characters when it
comes to
the wounded Decepticons being tossed off of Astrotrain and altered by
Unicron.
Friedman probably wrote them as "generic Decepticons" to allow room
for
Hasbro/Marvel/Sunbow to pick characters that would be "killed off" at
a later
date.
EXCERPTS FROM THE TFTM SCRIPT:
ANGLE ON ASTROTRAIN
Decepticons make way for Starscream as he tosses the nearly
lifeless Megatron into the shuttle and gets in.
Then, standing at the door, he kicks other Decepticons away.
STARSCREAM
Astrotrain, take off.
ANGLE ON ASTROTRAIN
The shuttle takes off, leaving a number of generic Decepticons
behind, who immediately raise their hands upon realizing that
they are surrounded by Autobots.
(And here's the infamous "Astrotrain" scene...)
EXT. ASTROTRAIN
As it whizzes through the Solar System.
ASTROTRAIN
Jettison some weight, or I'll
never make it to Cybertron.
INT. ASTROTRAIN
The ship is packed with living, dead and wounded Decepticons.
Starscream addresses them like an Athenian Orator.
STARSCREAM
Fellow Decepticons, Astrotrain has
requested that we lighten our burden!
ANGLE ON BONECRUSHER
BONECRUSHER
In that case, I say it's survival of the fittest.
STARSCREAM
So I hear a second on that?
ASSORTED SHOTS
HEALTHY DECEPTICONS
Aye!
STARSCREAM
And against?
NOT HEALTHY DECEPTICONS (weakly)
NAY!
STARSCREAM
The ayes' have it!
A robotic hand flips a switch, and chaos ensues. Strong
Decepticons start heave-hoing the weaker ones out into space.
DECEPTICONS
(AD LIB)
Beat it! Spare me!
ANGLE ON STARSCREAM AND MEGATRON
Starscream picks him up and holds him up by the door.
STARSCREAM
(sarcastic)
Oh, how it grieves me to do this.
MEGATRON
Wait, I still function!
Starscream kicks him out.
STARSCREAM
Wanna bet?
MEGATRON IN SPACE - TRACKING
He shakes his fist.
INT. THE SHIP
The last of the weak Decepticons is tossed, and the others dust off
their hands.
(Here are excerpts from the Megatron-meets-Unicron sequence...)
EXT. SPACE - LATER
Megatron and the other dented, dinged and dead Decepticon bodies
float through space.
we follow the wailing Megatron and the others down to:
THE SURFACE OF UNICRON
littering the otherwise beautiful technological expanse.
UNICRON
Welcome, Megatron.
(And now, the sequence that this whole argument is about...)
UNICRON
Your bargaining posture is highly
dubious, but very well, I will provide
you with a new body, and new troops to command.
MEGATRON
And...
UNICRON
And nothing.
You belong to me now.
MEGATRON
I belong to nobody.
UNICRON
Perhaps I misjudged you. Proceed
on your way to oblivion.
The Mist appears and starts to dissolve Megatron.
MEGATRON
(pleading)
No, no. I accept your terms. I accept!
UNICRON
Excellent! Behold - Galvatron!
X-ray images: wiring, circuitry, etc. flash on and off as a new
and larger being starts to form, changing from dented Megatron to
a huge, new creation: Galvatron.
THE TRANSFORMATION - CREATION
ends in a blinding flash and Galvatron - who still resembles
Megatron - laughs and flexes his muscles and stretches. His
voice is deeper, different from Megatron's
GALVATRON
Long live Galvatron!
UNICRON
And these shall be your minions...
ANGLE ON OTHER DECEPTICONS
Their bodies are turned from battered Decepticons to...
SCOURGE
SCOURGE (Sweep character) is bearded, fanged and ferocious
looking and as soon as he has been CREATED, he roars and
stretches and an ARRAY OF SIMILAR CREATURES - smaller and all
wearing dark and matching uniforms - are INSTANTLY CREATED
FROM OTHERS behind him
UNICRON
Scourge, the tracker....and his huntsmen...the
Sweeps....
ON CYCLONUS (NEW DECEPTICON WITH PLANE TRANSFORM ABILITY)
CYCLONUS is CREATED and then his "armada" of similar, but smaller
and similarly colored and clad creatures are formed.
UNICRON
Cyclonus, the warrior...and his armada.....
ANGLE FEATURING GALVATRON
GALVATRON
To Cybertron!
He roars with a mad power-rush, gets into Cyclonus (who will be
his personal ship) and leading the armada, takes off for the
distant stars.
UNICRON
(loudly proclaiming over
the scene)
Bring me the Autobot matrix!
DURING UNICRON'S COMMAND we CHANGE ANGLE TO SHOW
LONG SHOT OF UNICRON
as Galvatron and his newly created force FLY UP AND AWAY with
great speed.
GALVATRON
I will rip open Autobot after Autobot until
it is yours, Unicron.
OBSERVATIONS:
1. The creation of Galvatron and Scourge is scripted pretty much the
way it appears on
film. Scourge does "stretch", and an array (well, two...) of "similar
creatures"
that are smaller and wear matching uniforms are created from others
behind him.
2. The Cyclonus-creation, however, does NOT appear on film the way it
does here.
In the film, Bombshell and Skywarp become Cyclonus-style robots at
*EXACTLY* the
same time.
3. Cyclonus' "armada" is described as "similar, but smaller and
similarly
colored and clad creatures". The "similarly colored and clad" bit will
become a
*KEY* point later on in this essay.
4. The script also *CLEARLY* states that Cyclonus was (originally)
supposed to
have an "armada" of duplicates under his command, just as Scourge had
his
Sweeps. "Armada" is *NOT* the name of the other Cyclonus robot created
in the
scene, nor does it refer to the group consisting of Cyclonus, the
other
Cyclonus, Scourge, and the Sweeps seen at the end of the
"Cyclonus-creation" shot.
5. In the script, Cyclonus serves as Galvatron's personal ship
starting with the end of
this scene. In the completed film, the Decepticon Mothership serves
this
function (at the end of the creation sequence, at least). Too bad. If
we had seen Galvatron getting into one of
the Cyclonus robots in the film, or if Cyclonus had spoken, we would
know for sure which one was supposed to be the character known as
*CYCLONUS*.
(From Galvatron's attack on Autobot City...)
ANGLE ON DECEPTICON JETS
Galvatron is in the lead.
GALVATRON
There is no escape. I, Galvatron
will crush you just as the magnificent Megatron
crushed Prime!
ULTRA MAGNUS
And you'll die trying just like Megatron!
Ultra Magnus fires Laser and hits Galvatron.
GALVATRON
aaaaaaaah! Autobot cur!!
CYCLONUS
You want me to gut Ultra Magnus for you?
GALVATRON
There are plenty of Autobots for you.
Ultra Magnus is mine!
HIS P.O.V. - SEVERAL DECEPTICON JETS COMING AT HIM
GRIMLOCK
He gives FIRE BREATHING BLAST AT JETS as they go by STRAFING THE
SHUTTLE , SHOTS RICOCHETING AROUND GRIMLOCK AND BLURR
THE DECEPTICON JETS
as Grimlock's BLAST SETS THEM ALL ON FIRE and they spin into one
another as we CHANGE ANGLE TO
ULTRA MAGNUS
as Kup, Hot Rod and Arcee MOVE INTO SCENE BEHIND HIM
ULTRA MAGNUS
Kup, Hot Rod. Get the Dinobots out of here!
KUP AND HOT ROD
as they run into Dinobot Shuttle, retracting their entry ramp in
HAIL OF FIRE FROM SCOURGE AND HIS SWEEPS.
ON SCOURGE
as he TRANSFORMS to Humanoid mode and shouts orders, FIRING AT
Blurr who BLURRS PAST and then at Arcee who also SHIPS BY
SCOURGE
No survivors!
ON CYCLONUS AND HIS "WING" OF PLANES
as they bank down toward RISING SHUTTLE FAR BELOW.
CYCLONUS
Vaporize them!
Jets streak down toward upward rising Shuttle as we
CUT TO:
ANOTHER PART OF SHUTTLE LAUNCH AREA
Cyclonus' Jets fire on it, as we CHANGE ANGLE
ON ULTRA MAGNUS' SHUTTLE
It roars up behind Cyclonus' jets and overtakes and smashes
through them, scattering them as it pulls up alongside the
Dinobot shuttle
OBSERVATIONS:
1. This scene makes several references to Cyclonus and his "jets", or
"'wing' of
planes", confirming that he was supposed to have a group of duplicates
under his
command.
2. This scene also features Cyclonus' only line of dialogue as heard
in the completed film: "You want
me to gut Ultra Magnus?" (although the words "for you" have been left
out in the film version). This line has sometimes been attributed by
fans to Scourge
and/or a Sweep (Scourge, the only Sweep who sticks his head up in
vehicle mode during the *MOVIE*, at least,
flies into frame near Cyclonus and pops his head up while Cyclonus is
speaking, hence the confusion.
He's also mistakenly colored like jet-mode Cyclonus.). It is clearly
Roger C. Carmel's
voice that is heard, however (albeit Transformer-amplified).
http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/sounds/Cyclonus-Movie.wav
3. Cyclonus also has a line in this scene, "Vaporize them!" that did
not make it
into the final cut.
(In the script, the Autobots' battle with the Decepticons in space is
markedly different
from the final film version. This early version can also be seen in
the comic
book adaptation. It provided two lines for Cyclonus that were
discarded. Additionally,
in this version of the scene, Cyclonus does not shoot down Hot Rod and
Kup's
shuttle.)
GALVATRON'S SHIP
emerges from the chaos.
ON CYCLONUS
CYCLONUS
The explosions jammed my sensors.
(pause)
I have lost track of the Autobots!
ON GALVATRON
GALVATRON
Damn it!! They did the same thing
to me off Beta four!
(And here's the end of the battle, when the Decepticons mistakenly
believe that
they have destroyed Ultra Magnus' shuttle...)
SPRINGER
Face it, Magnus, the Decepticons 're
gonna dog us until they see us dead!
Ultra Magnus nods solemnly
ULTRA MAGNUS
(cryptic)
Then that's exactly what they're gonna
see.
CUT TO:
THE DECEPTICON FLAT TOP AND CYCLONUS' ARMADA
ON GALVATRON
as he works controls which eject more Moleculon Missiles.
HIS P.O.V. - ULTRA MAGNUS' SHUTTLE
electrical outline envelopes it and there is a...
...... blinding flash after which...
..... remnants of the hull and superstructure explode toward camera
and past camera accompanied by explosive sound and then, silence!
...... Where the shuttle had been there is now...nothing! Just loose
asteroids and clouds of space dust
CYCLONUS
The Autobots have been terminated!
GALVATRON
Excellent. And soon we shall say the
same of that infernal Unicron.
Suddenly, Galvatron's body begins to twist, and he writhes in
pain.
GALVATRON (CONT)
Aaaah! Take me to Unicron...Aaaah!
LONG SHOT ON THE HUGE FLAT TOP
as it veers off and away from the space cloud, followed by
Cyclonus' Armada.
OBSERVATIONS:
1. Cyclonus' line, "The Autobots have been terminated!" is clearly
spoken by
*SCOURGE* in the completed film.
2. We also get another specific mention of "Cyclonus' Armada".
(Cyclonus' final appearance in the script as well as the film is
during the Decepticon
assault on the Planet of Junk...)
ANGLE ON CYCLONUS
nasty looking missile which streaks INTO SHOT and...
ANGLE ON ULTRA MAGNUS' SHIP
...... BLAMMOLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Turns it into junk.
Springer FIRES UP at INCOMING JETS, calling to the others
SPRINGER
Cancel that last order.
ON DANIEL
as he reacts, looks around, thinks, brows knitting, looking off,
reacting.
DANIEL
Transform....
HIS P.O.V.- SCAVENGER
Coming at him from one side, Shrapnel coming from the other side
ON SCAVENGER
as he starts reaching for Daniel
SCAVENGER
Human germ!
ON DANIEL
as his Exo-Suit SUDDENLY TRANSFORMS INTO auto mode and takes off
and drives through...
......SCAVENGER AND SHRAPNEL, knocking them over.
DANIEL (V.O.)
Wooooh!!
OBSERVATIONS:
1. This scene clearly identifies Shrapnel by name as the genuine
article (as does the
comic book version), and *NOT* an Insecticon clone, as we'll discuss
later.
(As in the film, Galvatron hops out of Cyclonus. Both then approach
Ultra Magnus...)
ANGLE ON GALVATRON IN CYCLONUS
Galvatron pops out of Cyclonus and both transform, to land in
front of Ultra Magnus.
ANGLE ON ULTRA MAGNUS
Struggling to open the leadership matrix. He puts his hand
inside of it and gets a powerful shock!
He pulls his hand out quickly.
ULTRA MAGNUS
Damn it! Open it!
(Here is the script's final mention of Cyclonus, after Ultra Magnus
has been
drawn and quartered by the Sweeps {blasted apart in the final film}.
The bit
with Galvatron hopping into him and taking off does not appear in the
completed
film.)
GALVATRON
Unicron, my "master," with this I shall
make you my slave!
Galvatron gets into Cyclonus and flies off
VIIIc. Storyboards:
Transfan Tim Finn has a collection of storyboards from the Movie,
including the scene
of Cyclonus' creation. He has informed me that the boards are very
rough, with a
simple description ("Dead Decepticons are turned into new warriors" or
such),
and sketches of non-specific characters. It would seem, then, that the
Decepticons who would be tossed out of Astrotrain had not yet been
chosen at the
time these storyboards were created. It's possible that they were
chosen during
the animation process itself. I've tried to contact the director of
the Movie,
Nelson Shin, but to no avail.
(Drumroll, please...)
VIIId. Animation:
Now we can study the Movie itself in depth. An analysis of all major
points will
be given, as well as links to screenshots pertaining to the shot
involved. Some
minor points will also be discussed/shown. Pop in your TFTM DVD or VHS
and get
ready for lots of freeze-frame/slow-motion fun!
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd003/tftm_dvd0126.jpg
Skywarp's first appearance in the film, taking Ironhide's seat onboard
the
commandeered Autobot shuttle. Shrapnel and Kickback also take
positions at the
consoles.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 01a HERE!!!***)
In a reverse angle, Skywarp can be seen at the controls, and Bombshell
(in his
first appearance in the Movie) can be seen standing with the
Constructicons in
the back. The top of Skywarp's chest/cockpit is mistakenly colored
light gray instead of black, as are parts of the chin guards on his
helmet.
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd004/tftm_dvd0186.jpg
Shrapnel is accidentally gunned down by Blitzwing, the first of
many injuries he sustains in the course of the Movie.
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd005/tftm_dvd0249.jpg
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd005/tftm_dvd0250.jpg
Kickback and a fully intact Shrapnel begin chewing on Autobot City
("Delicious,
eh, Shrapnel?" "A little heavy on the electrons. Electrons.")
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd005/tftm_dvd0255.jpg
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd005/tftm_dvd0256.jpg
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd005/tftm_dvd0257.jpg
Then Kickback's head is utterly crushed by vehicle mode Kup. Both Hot
Rod and
Kup also knock Shrapnel down in this scene.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 02a HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 02b HERE!!!***)
A fully intact Kickback can be seen flying with Megatron and Soundwave
as the Decepticons line up at Autobot City.
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd006/tftm_dvd0313.jpg
Shrapnel and Kickback (both totally intact again) can be seen lining
up with the
other Decepticons (Skywarp can be seen as well).
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd006/tftm_dvd0328.jpg
Bombshell can clearly be seen on the left side of the frame as
Devastator is
about to form.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 03a HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 03b HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 03e HERE!!!***)
Bombshell is tossed into the air and Shrapnel is also presumably
injured as an
autobot torpedo hits the ground near Devastator.
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd007/tftm_dvd0387.jpg
Shrapnel (totally intact yet again) is run down by truck-mode Optimus
Prime.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 04a HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 04b HERE!!!***)
Kickback (totally intact again) is gunned down by Optimus Prime.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 28a HERE!!!***)
In the lower left corner of the frame, Thrust can be seen carrying the
injured
Shrapnel, and a fully intact Skywarp can be seen next to him. Both are
running
to catch up with Astrotrain as the Decepticons escape.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 05 HERE!!!***)
Long Haul can be seen carrying the injured Kickback to Astrotrain.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 29a HERE!!!***)
A fully intact Skywarp can be glimpsed sitting behind Mixmaster
onboard
Astrotrain.
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd009/tftm_dvd0505.jpg
As Starscream calls for a vote to dump the injured into space, the
wounded vote
"Nay!" (ALL of them verbally vote.) The wounded consist of Shrapnel
(missing left
antenna), Bombshell, Kickback, and (standing behind them) Skywarp and
Thundercracker. All of them now have a cracked, damaged appearance.
This
strongly contrasts with the shots of the fully intact Skywarp and
Thundercracker
running towards Astrotrain earlier. Also, as the wounded shift their
limbs, etc. to vote, Skywarp's right breast panel goes from dark gray
to light gray for a frame, part of Thundercracker's cockpit goes from
blue to orange for one frame, and Thundercracker's right air intake
(on shoulder) turns black/dark gray.
(The vocals of the characters voting "Nay!" are actually a single
generic voice layered a few times,
and this voice does not correspond
with any of the characters visible. It sounds like either Jack Angel
or Corey
Burton providing the voice to
me. Or maybe both of them.)
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd009/tftm_dvd0506.jpg
In the next shot (Which is much more poorly animated than the prior
shot if you
ask me...), Shrapnel
and Kickback have (It's a blooper, folks.) switched places (Which
they'll do
again later. Stay tuned...). Also, Bombshell's chest panel is colored
totally gray instead of yellow. As the healthy Decepticons move the
wounded toward the airlock,
Blitzwing can be
seen picking up a cracked green forearm with a purple hand (presumably
supposed to be
one of the wounded, but it doesn't match anyone color-wise. Judging by
the positioning of
the characters, I'd say the hand was supposed to belong to either
Kickback or
Skywarp.). Also, Skywarp's left wing is colored blue (the animators
probably thought it was a part of Thundercracker), and part of
Bombshell's helmet goes from gray to red while his eyes go from red to
gray back and forth a few times.
The same generic voice(s) says, "Get! Make room for others!" (sounds
like Ramjet), and "No! Brothers,
don't!"
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd009/tftm_dvd0507.jpg
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd009/tftm_dvd0508.jpg
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd009/tftm_dvd0509.jpg
Skywarp and Thundercracker are tossed out of Astrotrain (Note that the
animators
are keeping things very homogenous, with the jets being prominently
tossed out
together, and then the Insecticons being tossed out as a group, almost
as an
afterthought.). They are missing their arm-guns and the Decepticon
symbols on their wings in this shot, and they do not have the purple
and black (respectively) panels on the fronts of the their legs. The
animators just colored the enrire front portions of their legs purple
and black, respectively. Also, Shrapnel is missing the tip of his left
antenna, as if it were lost in battle.
This shot contains many bloopers, and isn't animated very well. After
the jets
are tossed, we can see Dirge holding Shrapnel in Astrotrain's airlock.
Then,
Dirge seemingly *JUMPS* out (He's actually morphed into
Bombshell-colored-like-Dirge), and Shrapnel morphs into *Kickback*.
Another
Shrapnel (who now has both of his antennae intact again) pops out of
nowhere behind
Thundercracker without actually having been tossed out. Bombshell is
then tossed out
again. So, in the second screenshot (link provided above), we can see
Thundercracker,
Shrapnel, Kickback, Bombshell, and Bombshell-colored-like-Dirge. After
a few
frames, Bombshell-colored-like-Dirge pops out of existence, and the
*3*
Insecticons finally float together into the foreground. (*Whew!*)
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd009/tftm_dvd0510.jpg
In the reverse shot, as Starscream carries Megatron over to the
airlock, we can
see the wounded floating in space at the bottom of the screen. Notice
that
Skywarp and Thundercracker (with their wings) are clearly the most
prominent.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 06a HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 06b HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 06c HERE!!!***)
As the wounded float through space, we can see Megatron in the
foreground,
Skywarp and Thundercracker floating side-by-side in exactly the same
pose
(homogeny from the animators again), Kickback now *MISSING HIS RIGHT
LEG* (as if lost in battle), and
Shrapnel and Bombshell barely visible behind Megatron. Skywarp is
slightly miscolored (the sides of his pelvis are black, his abdomen is
light gray, and the visible part of his chest is black), and he and
Thundercracker seem to be missing parts of their arm-mounted guns.
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd009/tftm_dvd0536.jpg
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd009/tftm_dvd0537.jpg
In the next shot, the wounded float towards Unicron. First Megatron,
then
Skywarp (who moves very slightly), then Kickback (still missing his
leg,
floating as if dead), then Thundercracker (who moves slightly), then
Shrapnel
(clearly "dead" in this shot), then Bombshell (clearly "dead" in this
shot,
drawn in a "flop" of his "model sheet" pose, minus his gun). Also,
part of Shrapnel's back is mistakenly colored light gray instead of
black, and Bombshell is missing the four gray squares on his abdomen.
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd009/tftm_dvd0542.jpg
As Megatron demands of Unicron, "State your business!", Thundercracker
and
Shrapnel can be seen floating near him. Also, Bombshell's legs (or
maybe Skywarp's arms?) appear to be
peeking out from behind Unicron's mandible/fang.
MEGATRON/GALVATRON:
As Megatron is altered by Unicron, there are several stages of the
transformation:
1. As Megatron states "I accept your terms!", green "sparkles" fill
the background. A green glow then surrounds Megatron and heals his
injuries. He is colored
consistently green (in other words, the black, gray, red, etc. parts
of his body
are all the same shade of green as the light parts).
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 07b HERE!!!***)
2. In a medium shot, the cel of Megatron looks almost PAINTED, with
lots of
heavy shading and such. A beam of energy starting in the middle of his
body and
moving outward scans his exterior, bathing him in a PURPLE light (he's
now
colored purple). As he is scanned, a purple glow/halo surrounds his
body.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 07c HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 07d HERE!!!***)
3. An "x-ray beam" then moves across his body from left to right,
revealing his
internal mechanisms.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 08a HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 08b HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 08c HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 08d HERE!!!***)
4. The glow around Megatron's body has diappeared. An energy "cocoon"
consisting of horizontal lines of purple energy moves up his body from
feet to head. As this occurs, the green "sparkles" in the background
turn into two vertical, green energy "grids".
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 09a HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 09b HERE!!!***)
5. As the cocoon moves up his legs, we can see his internal mechanisms
being
reshaped. However, the BASIC STRUCTURE of Megatron's innards remain
the same. *THEN* the cocoon covers his entire body and wipes up from
feet to head
revealing GALVATRON's exterior. Also, for ONE FRAME, Galvatron is
drawn in his
robot mode "model sheet pose".
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 30a HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 30b HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 30c HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 30d HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 11a HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 11b HERE!!!***)
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd009/tftm_dvd0559.jpg
GALVATRON'S MINIONS:
As Unicron says, "And these shall be your minions..." we see the
wounded
Decepticons float towards Unicron. Skywarp and Thundercracker are
floating in identically positions parallel to each other before they
are swept up by Unicron (There seems to be a pattern forming here.
Looks like the animators enjoyed treating them like "twins"). Just
before the wounded are all healed (and colored a uniform green), we
can see their usual colors. However, the middle of Shrapnel's back is
mistakenly colored completely light gray. Once more, the green
"sparkles" are eminating from Unicron's maw.
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd009/tftm_dvd0561.jpg
From left to right:
Kickback (fully intact, MOVES, now holding his GUN)
Shrapnel (fully intact, MOVES, now holding his GUN)
Thundercracker (MOVES)
Skywarp (MOVES slightly)
Bombshell (MOVES)
If we take this shot and move our imaginary perspective "camera" so
that it is
facing down, forming a right angle with the "horizon", the characters
are
positioned like this:
U N I C R O N
SHRAPNEL
KICKBACK THUNDERCRACKER SKYWARP
BOMBSHELL
Thus, Skywarp is much closer to Unicron than Bombshell is. Bombshell
is floating
on a higher "plane" than Skywarp and the rest, and farther back, too.
If Thundercracker was directly in front of the two Insecticons in this
shot
(as he is in the next shot) Kickback would be on his left and Shrapnel
on his
right.
SCOURGE AND THE SWEEPS:
(In this reverse shot, Thundercracker is now floating directly in
*front* of
Kickback and Shrapnel. Kickback and shrapnel have now *SWITCHED
PLACES*. Kickback
is where Shrapnel was in relation to Thundercrcker in the previous
shot and vice versa. Shrapnel is no longer holding his gun, but
Kickback still is.) The green sparkles are in the background.
1. All three are glowing green, surrounded by purple "aura" glows,
and, like Megatron, look "painted". Unicron
rechristens Thundercracker "Scourge" as his exterior is scanned. As
with
Megatron, the purple scan beam moves from the middle of his body to
either side,
coloring him purple. He is surrounded by a green glow for one frame as
the scan finishes. It then shifts back to purple.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 12a HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 12b HERE!!!***)
(NOTE: As with Megatron, NONE of the character's dark-colored parts
are shown to
be darker when they are colored green/purple. Their *ENTIRE* bodies
are one
uniform color.)
2. Colored purple, Thundercracker is then "x-rayed" from left to
right,
revealing his internal mechanisms ("...the tracker..."). When the
x-ray scan is complete, he is no longer surrounded by a glowing aura.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 31a HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 31b HERE!!!***)
3. As with Megatron, the energy "cocoon" moves upward from
Thundercracker's
feet. As this occurs, Shrapnel is scanned from left to right (now
colored
purple), then Kickback ("...and his huntsmen...") . As Shrapnel is
scanned, the background sparkles turn into two horizontal, green
energy grids.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 13 HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 31c HERE!!!***)
4. As Thundercracker is enveloped by the cocoon, the "x-ray" beams
move across
Kickback and Shrapnel simultaneously. This does *NOT* reveal their
innards.
Instead, we see simple (glowing purple) outlines of their *EXTERIORS*,
with no
interior detail shown at all (a time-saving cheat by the animators).
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 14 HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 31d HERE!!!***)
5. Completely enveloped by the cocoon (unlike Megatron),
Thundercracker is reformed
into Scourge, who moves and takes a pose while still inside the
cocoon. (NOTE:
Thundercracker does *NOT* change size when he becomes Scourge, merely
his pose.)
Scourge's cocoon is then stripped away (revealing his inner
mechanisms), moving
from his feet to his head. As Scourge's innards are revealed, he is
surrounded by a green glow. UNLIKE Megatron/Galvatron, Scourge's
innards bear absolutely *NO* resemblance to Thundercracker's.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 31e HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 31f HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 31g HERE!!!***)
6. Simultaneously, energy cocoons envelop Kickback and Shrapnel.
Kickback's
envelops him starting at his right arm and moving diagonally upward
towards the
right side of the screen. Shrapnel's starts at his right antenna and
moves
downward, diagonally and to the right side of the screen. The green
energy grid in the background shifts from horizontal to vertical.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 31h HERE!!!***)
7. Enveloped by the cocoons, Kickback and Shrapnel are reformed into
Sweeps
("...the Sweeps.") They do *NOT* move or change position at all, even
as Sweeps.
(NOTE: Also, they do *NOT* change SIZE at all when they become Sweeps.
This is
consistent with the script's idea that the Sweeps are supposed to be
smaller
than Scourge.) With his cocoon fully stripped away, Scourge's exterior
is
revealed, with the "x-ray view" of his innards being wiped away from
foot to head. When the wipe-up is complete, the green glow around him
fades.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 32 HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 15a HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 15b HERE!!!***)
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd009/tftm_dvd0563.jpg
8. As Scourge moves (and, like Galvatron, takes his "model sheet
pose"), the
cocoons on Kickback-Sweep and Shrapnel-Sweep are stripped away
simultaneously,
moving from foot to head, and a green glow surrounds them, then fades.
There is *NOT* a stage showing the Sweeps' internal mechanisms (unlike
Galvatron, Scourge, and the Cycloni). Their exteriors are revealed
when the cocoons disappear. After their exteriors are revealed,
*neither* Sweep moves at all or takes a pose like Scourge does.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 16 HERE!!!***)
CYCLONUS...AND HIS...ARMADA?
We then cut to Bombshell and Skywarp. The two have now *SHIFTED
POSITION* in
relation to Unicron and each other. Bombshell has moved down and
forward, and
Skywarp has moved upward and back! Also, Skywarp is of an equivalent
screen-size/position as were Kickback and Shrapnel when they became
Sweeps,
while Bombshell is clearly the most prominent character on-screen.
BEFORE (LOOKING DOWN ON THEM): SKYWARP
BOMBSHELL
AFTER: BOMBSHELL
SKYWARP
1. The green "sparkles" dominate the background. Bombshell and Skywarp
are surrounded by the green "healing' glow. Like the
others (Megatron, Thundercracker, Kickback, and Shrapnel), both are
colored a
uniform green (their dark parts are all the same color as the rest of
them), and are surrounded by a purple "aura".
However, they don't quite look "painted" as the others did. They look
more like
standard cel-type drawings with *some* shading. Also, Bombshell is now
holding his
GUN, which he did *NOT* have before.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 17a HERE!!!***)
2. As with the others, scanning beams move *SIMULTANEOUSLY* from the
middle of
their bodies outward to either side, coloring them purple. As the scan
is completed, the purple "aura" turns green for one frame (but
Bombshell's left armpit glow mistakenly remains purple), then turns
purple again. HOWEVER, *UNLIKE* the
others, Bombshell and Skywarp's "dark" parts are *CLEARLY* colored
darker shades
of purple than the rest of them. (For ex: Skywarp's black wings, legs,
are
middle arms are a much darker shade of Unicron-induced-purple than his
light purple and light gray parts. It's like a black-and-white tv
picture: dark objects look darker than lighter-colored objects. )
However, part of Bombshell's forearm is mistakenly colored light gray
instead of black, Skywarp's face is dark gray instead of light
gray/white, and the top of Skywarp's chest/cockpit is colored light
gray instead of black.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 17b HERE!!!***)
3. As with the others, "x-ray" beams move from right to left on both
*SIMULTANEOUSLY*, revealing their inner mechanisms. Unlike the others,
the glowing purple "auras" remain. Once the scan is complete, the
background changes into two "diagonal", green energy grids.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 33a HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 33b HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 33c HERE!!!***)
4. *UNLIKE* the others, energy cocoons begin to envelop Bombshell and
Skywarp
(SIMULTANEOUSLY), moving from their HEADS DOWN TO THEIR FEET. NOW the
purple "auras" dissappear.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 34a HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 34b HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 34c HERE!!!***)
5. Enveloped by the cocoons, Bombshell and Skywarp are reformed into
Cyclonus-style robots *SIMULTANEOUSLY* ("Cyclonus...").
Bombshell-Cyclonus takes
an intimidating "bodybuilder" pose, and Skywarp-Cyclonus shifts into a
"standing" position. (NOTE: While Skywarp does *NOT* change size as he
becomes a
Cyclonus-robot, Bombshell may or may not grow. It's hard to tell due
to his posture before the transformation.)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 34c HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 34d HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 34e HERE!!!***)
6. When the Cycloni are fully formed, their energy cocoons are
stripped away,
moving downward from head to feet and revealing Cyclonus-style inner
mechanisms. Like Scourge, but unlike Galvatron, neither Cyclonus
robot's innards resemble those of their former selves at all.
(*IMPORTANT NOTE!!!*: Skywarp-Cyclonus's cocoon is the *FIRST* to be
FULLY
stripped away. Bombshell-Cyclonus still has *TWO FRAMES'* worth of
cocoon around
his feet while Skywarp-Cyclonus' is already *COMPLETELY* GONE!) Also,
unlike Scourge and the Sweeps, there is NOT a green glow surrounding
the "x-rayed" Cycloni.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 18 HERE!!!***)
7. SIMULTANEOUSLY, the exterior of each Cyclonus robot is wiped on,
moving from
the middle of their bodies outward to either side. NOW the green
"auras" appear, but they diappear just after the exteriors are
finished wiping on.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 35a HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 35b HERE!!!***)
8. As the glow fades, both Cyclonus robots take poses (as Unicron
says, "...the
warrior"). The green energy grids fade away to reveal a starfield.
Skywarp-Cyclonus *MOVES* (unlike the motionless Sweeps) and takes a
bold standing
pose, and Bombshell-Cyclonus starts moving to take a more dynamic pose
just a
*second* later.(IMPORTANT NOTE: It may be a fluke of dialogue
placement, but
Skywarp-Cyclonus takes his pose *EXACTLY* as Unicron says "the
warrior...") Also, unlike Galvatron and Scourge, neither Cyclonus
takes his robot mode "model sheet pose" at *ANY* time...although
Skywarp-Cyclonus is *CLOSER* than Bombshell-Cyclonus.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 35c HERE!!!***)
9. Bombshell-Cyclonus begins to move, transforming to space jet mode
(As Unicron
says, "...and his armada". This *could* be taken to mean that
Bombshell-Cyclonus
*IS* the armada, but we'll get to that later.) Note that NOW,
Bombshell-Cyclonus takes Cyclonus' JET MODE "model sheet pose", albeit
a "flopped" version of it.
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd009/tftm_dvd0572.jpg
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd009/tftm_dvd0573.jpg
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd009/tftm_dvd0574.jpg
(NOTE: When he is fully transformed, certain parts on
Bombshell-Cyclonus' jet
mode underside, which seem to form three VTOL jets, are STILL colored
like his robot-mode knees and feet, light purple and
dark purple, respectively.)
(NOTE # 2: A source informs me that in the Japanese laserdisc version
of the Movie, the names of the "new" characters appear in Japanese
writing when they first appear in the film. Cyclonus' name appears
onscreen at this point in the film, when ONLY Bombshell-Cyclonus is
visible.)
10. As Bombshell-Cyclonus flies along, *FIVE* Sweeps (as opposed to
the TWO seen
created) fly into frame. Skywarp-Cyclonus also begins to transform
(thought
there is NOT a "transforming" sound effect for him) to jet mode. He
also takes Cyclonus' JET MODE "model sheet pose". For one frame a
Sweep overlaps him (it's a blooper).
(NOTE: you can just see Skywarp-Cyclonus'
underside as he transforms, and his robot-mode knees and feet are the
*CORRECT*
shade of purple for Cyclonus' jet mode color model, unlike
Bombshell-Cyclonus'. However, neither Cyclonus is colored 100% correct
in comparison with Cyclonus' jet mode color model, as both are missing
the dark purple areas around their forearms/jet turbines. Still,
Skywarp-Cyclonus has the more accurate color scheme.)
(Also, the Sweeps fly into frame from the LEFT of the Cycloni. Judging
by the characters' positions when Unicron swept them up, they should
be to the *RIGHT* of the Cycloni, from the audience's point-of-view.
Looks like yet *ANOTHER* blooper to me...)
Then,
Scourge comes into frame and transforms (*WITH* a transforming sound
effect) at
very nearly the *exact* same time as Skywarp-Cyclonus does (Skywarp
and
Thundercracker, together again!) We know this is *Scourge* and not
just a Sweep because:
A. His robot-mode head sticks up when he's in vehicle mode, unlike the
five other
Sweeps in the shot.
B. The animators (for the *Movie*, at least) are very consistent in
that SCOURGE is
the *ONLY* Sweep to ever stick his head up in vehicle mode.
11. Galvatron's new minions are now all transformed to vehicle mode.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 35d HERE!!!***)
If we take this shot and look at it from a front view, the characters
are positioned this way (roughly):
Skywarp-Cyclonus Sweep
Scourge Sweep
Sweep
Bombshell-Cyclonus Sweep
Sweep
Therefore, Skywarp-Cyclonus and Scourge transform together and fly
close to each other, above the rest of the group.
To compare Bombshell-Cyclonus and Skywarp-Cyclonus' jet-mode color
schemes with the genuine article, here's a shot of jet-mode Cyclonus
from the attack on Autobot City later in the film:
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 20 HERE!!!***)
The sound effects in this shot go like this:
1. Simultaneous scanning sounds as Bombshell and Skywarp float
together.
2. Simultaneous cocoon-enveloping sounds.
3. UNICRON: "Cyclonus..."
4. Nifty simultaneous sound effects as the Cyclonus-exteriors wipe on.
"...the warrior..."
5. Bombshell-Cyclonus transforming sound effect. "..and..."
6. "...his armada." Scourge transforming sound effect.
Vince DiCola's music in this scene doesn't provide any clues. It's
just a nifty rendition of Unicron's theme.
A few shots later, we see the group of new Decepticons circling around
and flying into the
newly-created Decepticon mothership. We see:
1. Cyclonus
2. Scourge (leading the Sweeps; the only Sweep with his head up in
vehicle mode)
3. Sweep
4. Sweep
5. Sweep
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 19 HERE!!!***)
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd009/tftm_dvd0583.jpg
Thus, in the last shot of the scene, there are 5 new Decepticons. This
corresponds to the number of wounded
seen before:
1. Skywarp
2. Thundercracker
3. Bombshell
4. Kickback
5. Shrapnel
However, in the prior shot featuring Cyclonus' creation, we saw:
1. Cyclonus
2. Cyclonus # 2
3. Scourge (the only Sweep with his head up in vehicle mode)
4. Sweep
5. Sweep
6. Sweep
7. Sweep
8. Sweep
We seem to have lost the other Cyclonus jet as well as two Sweeps!
Where, oh where did they go? Here's a possible answer...
The shot of Cyclonus being created was probably animated early on in
production, when he was still supposed to have an "armada". However,
the decision was apparently made to eliminate the armada after the
shot was animated, and so the shot of the new Decepticons flying into
the ship was either re-animated or just animated later on in
production (notice that the shot of the group flying into the
Decepticon Mothership is rather *crudely* animated. There is only a
single, re-used drawing of Unicron, a single drawing of the
Mothership, and the fleet itself is also rather poorly drawn.)
However, the "one-robot armada" idea *STILL* doesn't make any sense.
There were 5 wounded Decepticons (excluding Megatron). That would give
us Cyclonus, Scourge, and three "subordinates". The way the finished
version of the creation scene has it, Scourge gets two Sweeps and
Cyclonus has one robot in his "armada". Now, Scourge could have had
just one Sweep, and Cyclonus could have had an armada of *two*, but
then the same problem would arise, except that now *Scourge* would be
short a few 'bots instead of Cyclonus. There just weren't *enough*
wounded Decepticons to create armies for *both* Cyclonus and Scourge,
so it looks like it was decided to just have the Sweeps. Still, the
animators fudged it a bit and depicted as many as *20-30* Sweeps
during various shots of the Movie (such as on the Planet of Junk) and
the series. Eliminating the armada was, I think, quite a good idea,
actually. Aside from the fact that it's already difficult enough to
tell *Scourge and the Sweeps* apart, having Cyclonus as the ONLY
Cyclonus-style robot around makes him unique.
Anyway, I propose nothing less than the idea that the animators
retroactively "morphed" either Bombshell-Cyclonus or Skywarp-Cyclonus
into a *SWEEP*!!! This is the *ONLY* possible answer, really. The
concept of the armada was "retconned" out of existence at the same
time as it first appeared in the Movie!!!! Quite remarkable. Never
again after the Cyclonus-creation shot do we ever see or hear of an
armada (except in Five Faces of Darkness part 5, but we'll get to that
later).
Despite the fact that the Movie depicts, both in animation and
dialogue, the creation of an "armada", I would say that this concept
*MUST* be ignored as a part of the canon, just as it was officially
ignored by the creators during and after the Movie. This is difficult,
since we SEE *TWO* Cyclonus-robots being created, but this can be the
*ONLY* logical conclusion in my judgement. Never (not ONCE) in season
3 is there a verbal mention of the armada. It's ALWAYS "Cyclonus,
Scourge and the Sweeps".
If this retroactive error had been caught (which it may very well have
been, but it was probably ignored due to time/money reasons), and the
Scourge/Cyclonus creation shots had gone back to Japan for retakes,
what would the animators have done? Would they have placed Bombshell
or Skywarp into the Scourge-creation shot and turned one of them into
a Sweep? Would they really have shown *BOTH* jets becoming Sweep-type
robots, or would they have gone for variety and had one jet
(Thundercracker) become Scourge and the other (Skywarp) become
Cyclonus?
Since we may never know, this leaves one difficult question...which
Cyclonus "really" became a Sweep, Bombshell or Skywarp? There are two
possible scenarios:
SCENARIO # 1:
1. Thundercracker= Scourge
2. Shrapnel= Sweep
3. Kickback= Sweep
4. Bombshell=Sweep
5. Skywarp= Cyclonus
SCENARIO # 2
1. Thundercracker= Scourge
2. Shrapnel= Sweep
3. Kickback= Sweep
4. Skywarp= Sweep
5. Bombshell= Cyclonus
A solid argument can be made for both:
BOMBSHELL:
1. The Sweeps were supposed to be smaller than Scourge (although they
are almost never drawn smaller than he is), and the scene of their
creation, at least, also indicates this, as the Insecticons (who are
much smaller than the average Decepticon) do not change size when they
become Sweeps. Skywarp does not change size when he becomes a
Cyclonus-robot, but Bombshell might (It's hard to tell. If not, then
we'd have an Insecticon-sized Cyclonus! If he did grow, then the
logical explanation would be that Unicron supplied extra atoms to
increase his size.). Size-wise, Skywarp would be more likely to become
Cyclonus than a Sweep (if he did become a Sweep, he would have had to
*SHRINK*!!).
(NOTE: according to my studies, the "average" Decepticons, such as
Skywarp and Thundercracker, are about 20 feet tall. The Insecticons
are about 10-15 feet tall. Cyclonus and Scourge are between 20-25 feet
tall. You tell me, who fits the bill more, size-wise?)
2. The animators had clearly already shown a sense of keeping things
homogenous. Even floating randomly in space, the jets and the
Insecticons, for the most part, stayed in their own little groups.
Therefore, it makes sense for *ALL* of the Insecticons to have become
Sweeps, and for the jets to have become Galvatron's new lieutenants.
3. There is the POSSIBILITY that the Insecticons seen in this scene
were *CLONES* (although the animators probably didn't think so).
Therefore, a Bombshell clone could *NOT* have become a sentient,
fully-functional Cyclonus, as a clone would not have the necessary
cybernetic personality components. A clone would be more likely to
have become a Sweep, since the Sweeps act like simple-minded, obedient
drones and are seen in season 3 to be not very intelligent (for the
most part).
4. Although Unicron probably wiped everyone's minds, the Insecticons
were never very loyal to Megatron. The jets were. Would Unicron really
"promote" a backstabber like Bombshell to the rank of
second-in-command?
5. As stated before, Skywarp-Cyclonus' jet mode colors in the creation
shot are more accurate than Bombshell-Cyclonus'. When the group flies
into the Mothership, the one and only Cyclonus-jet seen in that shot
has the "correct" color scheme (as small as he appears on-screen, it's
still visible), a color scheme that Skywarp-Cyclonus was much closer
to having correct. The "correct" color scheme is also seen on Cyclonus
for the rest of the Movie, and most of the post-Movie tv episodes.
SKYWARP:
1. Since Skywarp *ALREADY* became a "subordinate" Cyclonus-robot
on-screen, we can assume that he retroactively became the third Sweep.
2. In terms of the characters' positioning in space, Skywarp was
closer to the Scourge/Sweeps group when Unicron worked his magic on
them. If Skywarp became Cyclonus, he would be in the middle of the
Scourge/Sweeps group.
3. Bombshell clearly became the Cyclonus most prominent on-screen,
therefore, we can assume he became the character known as Cyclonus.
This is a very difficult concept, as there is almost no way to know
which could have become a Sweep. Do we believe that Bombshell became
Cyclonus because that's what we SEE on-screen, or do we believe
Skywarp became Cyclonus because of all the other clues and
circumstantial evidence that indicate it?
We will get into this discussion a bit more later on. Now, I'd like to
examine some possible reasons as to *WHY* Bombshell might have been
placed most prominently on-screen:
1. The selection of which Decepticons became which were randomly
chosen, both by Unicron and by the animators.
2. The animators had worries that audiences might confuse
Skywarp-becoming-Cyclonus with his look-alike Thundercracker-becoming
Scourge from the previous shot, so they placed Bombshell in front.
This would also "freshen" the shot.
3. It was decided by the animators that the choices concerning who
became whom needed to look a bit random, and not biased towards the
jets becoming the new *MAIN* characters.
Now, I'd like to go back to the Cyclonus-creation shot in a bit more
detail. Oddly enough, there are some subtle and interesting context
clues in the shot which subtly indicate that SKYWARP became the "real"
Cyclonus. Although Bombshell is *CLEARLY* the most prominent, these
facts cannot be ignored:
1. The "energy-cocoon" on Skywarp-Cyclonus is finished stripping away
two frames *BEFORE* Bombshell-Cyclonus'. This is unusual, since
*EVERY* other stage in the transformation occurs *SIMULTANEOUSLY* for
both of them. Still, Skywarp-Cyclonus is fully REVEALED first, just as
Scourge was revealed before the Sweeps.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 18 AGAIN HERE!***)
2. As stated, Skywarp-Cyclonus takes his pose *JUST* before
Bombshell-Cyclonus does, as Unicron says, "...the warrior...".
3. All of the Sweeps fly into frame pre-transformed into vehicle mode.
Bombshell-Cyclonus then transforms, then Skywarp-Cyclonus, then
Scourge. Thus, SKYWARP-CYCLONUS AND SCOURGE ARE THE LAST TO TRANSFORM,
AND THEY DO IT AT THE SAME TIME. This *could* mean that all the
"subordinates" transformed to vehicle mode first, and THEN the *REAL*
Cyclonus and Scourge did.
4. Most importantly, Skywarp-Cyclonus' jet-mode color scheme is more
ACCURATE than Bombshell-Cyclonus'. This is an important point, to be
sure. Okay, let's say that the animators didn't "color-fade"
Bombshell-Cyclonus' knees and feet into the jet-mode's medium purple
shade because they thought it would be too noticeable and distracting.
However, they *DID* "color-fade" the spires on his helmet from medium
purple to light purple. Was this coloring error INTENTIONAL, an
attempt to make Bombshell-Cyclonus into a member of the armada?
So anyway, jet-mode Bombshell-Cyclonus is colored WRONG when compared
to the character known as Cyclonus, and that fits the script's
description of the armada as "similarly colored and clad". Aside from
a slight coloring error (the lack of the aforementioned dark purple
wing panels), *Skywarp-Cyclonus* is the most Cyclonus-accurate robot
seen on-screen.
(Realistically, though, the animators *CERTAINLY* intended
Bombshell-Cyclonus, the most prominent character on-screen, to be the
character known as Cyclonus. That's how film works. Still, the above
points do throw that into doubt a bit.)
As for the rest of the film, there are a few compelling tidbits:
In the next scene, we see the Decepticons attending Starscream's
ill-fated coronation. The Decepticons present are:
http://www.seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd009/tftm_dvd0584.jpg
http://www.seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd009/tftm_dvd0585.jpg
Starscream (on platform)
Astrotrain (on platform, crowning Starscream)
Thrust (on platform, "royal guard")
Ramjet (on platform, "royal guard")
Dirge
Reflector
Soundwave (with the cassettes, minus Rumble, presumably in his chest
compartment)
Rumble
Scrapper
Long Haul
Hook
Scavenger
Mixmaster
Blitzwing
Shockwave
Kickback
Bombshell
Shrapnel
Skywarp
Thundercracker
This is a representation of all known Decepticons at the time in the
series' history when the Movie was being animated (meaning no
Stunticons or Combaticons; they didn't *EXIST* yet). The only
Decepticons missing are:
Megatron (naturally; he just became Galvatron in the prior scene)
Bonecrusher (must be a blooper)
Reflector robot # 2
Reflector robot # 3
Laserbeak, Ravage, Frenzy, Buzzsaw, Ratbat (all presumably inside
Soundwave's chest compartment)
So...Skywarp, Thundercracker, and the Insecticons *ALL* show up...even
though they all became NEW Decepticons just a moment before?
The logical explanation would be thus:
Different parts of the Movie were animated at different times, by
different people. When the coronation scene was storyboarded, it was
probably supposed to include "all Decepticons". So, the animators
grabbed all the Decepticon model sheets they could find and stuck 'em
in, minus the characters mentioned above (probably left out
accidentally).
Although...the Insecticons don't seem to be drawn quite right, and the
jets are slightly miscolored. In the first shot of the scene,
"Thundercracker" is missing his Decepticon symbols, the red and white
stripes on his wings, his arm-guns, and his hands/forearms are colored
white instead of dark gray. "Skywarp" is also missing his symbols and
wing-stripes, and his wings are colored purple instead of black. Hmm.
Well, we could always say that the Insecticons are clones and the jets
are some of the generic Starscream/Skywarp/Thundercracker look-alikes
from "The Ultimate Doom", right? Right.
http://seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd009/tftm_dvd0600.jpg
So anyway, Cyclonus flies into the scene, scattering everyone. In the
prior shot of Skywarp, Shockwave, Thundercracker, and Soundwave
watching Cyclonus arrive, Thundercracker is missing his wing-stripes.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 36A HERE!!!***)
It is highly ironic that "Skywarp" and Cyclonus are only *FEET* away
from each other in this next shot. Also, Thundercracker and Skywarp
are missing their wing-stripes, and Thundercracker's hands/forearms
turn white for one frame. Also, Kickback is sent tumbling under
Cyclonus, and is drawn really small, much smaller than the other
Decepticons.
Galvatron hops out and Cyclonus transforms to robot mode. In this
shot, Cyclonus has no goatee, and the panels on his abdomen are
colored purple instead of orange.
However, in the next shot, we see that THIS Cyclonus has...a goatee.
This is a strange carryover from the "early" model sheets that
occasionally appears in the post-Movie episodes. Still, because errors
like this are rare for the MOVIE, it makes one wonder...is this, in
fact, a member of the armada? Nah.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 36C HERE!!!***)
Skywarp and Thundercracker can be seen one more time amongst the crowd
as Galvatron is being tortured after Unicron consumes the Cybertron's
moons.
Later on, the Decepticons attack Autobot City, and Cyclonus delivers
his first speaking line. Here we can also clearly see his jet mode
color scheme, which Skywarp-Cyclonus had almost entirely correct
earlier.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 20 HERE!!!***)
In several shots of this sequence, Cyclonus is mistakenly drawn in his
"early" design jet mode. Here is a sample:
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 37A HERE!!!***)
Still, there is *NO* evidence of an "armada" in this scene at all. WE
only see Cyclonus and 4 Sweeps. Some fans claim that the one-robot
armada was destroyed in this scene by the Dinobots. This is *NOT*
true. A *SWEEP* is flamed by Grimlock and explodes. Another *SWEEP* is
flamed by Sludge, but we don't see whether or not he is destroyed
on-screen. There *IS* a shot of Cyclonus (mistakenly drawn in his
"early" design jet mode again) being flamed by Grimlock, but this
Cyclonus is the one being piloted by Galvatron, and is *NOT*
destroyed.
Later on, Cyclonus (minus goatee) can be seen on the bridge of the
Decepticon Mothership as Galvatron attacks Kup and Hot Rod's shuttle
in space. He then launches out of the ship as Galvatron commands,
"Cyclonus, transform and attack!" The dialogue clearly indicates that
this is the character known as Cyclonus, and this Cyclonus also shares
the "correct" jet-mode color scheme that Skywarp-Cyclonus *almost* got
right.
http://www.seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd011/tftm_dvd0770.jpg
(***INSERT IMAGE 21a HERE!!!***)
http://www.seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd011/tftm_dvd0726.jpg
Finally, Cyclonus is piloted once more by Galvatron on the Planet of
Junk. He transforms to robot mode (minus goatee) and stands with
Galvatron as Ultra Magnus is destroyed by the Sweeps. In the last
visual appearance of Cyclonus in the film (in the shot where Ultra
Magnus explodes, he is missing the "air intakes" on his shoulders.)
http://www.seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd015/tftm_dvd0883.jpg
Cyclonus is not seen again in the Movie. Presumably, though, he was
involved in the battle against Unicron.
The final appearance of Skywarp (and Thundercracker, if you don't
count his grave marker in "Starscream's Ghost) is during the final
battle against Unicron. Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker can
all be seen in jet mode, attacking him. However, "Thundercracker" only
appears for one frame as himself; he then morphs into
Dirge-colored-like-Thundercracker. Apparently, the animators just took
the jets' model sheets and used them to represent "generic" Decepticon
jets. They may not have had reference for the "Cybertronic"-type jets
from "More than Meets the Eye" and "The Ultimate Doom". Here's a frame
from the shot in question, with a "super-deformed" jet-mode Starscream
in plain view:
http://www.seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd018/tftm_dvd1028.jpg
Also on the Planet of Junk, robot mode *SHRAPNEL* can be seen
threatening Daniel Witwicky along with Scavenger. Daniel runs them
down with his vehicle-mode exo-suit. In the first shot of the pair
landing to confront Daniel, Shrapnel's lower legs are mistakenly
colored light gray instead of dark gray/black. In the next shot, he's
colored correctly.
http://www.seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd014/tftm_dvd0875.jpg
http://www.seibertron.com/cartoon/tftm_dvd/dvd014/tftm_dvd0876.jpg
I would also put this in the "blooper" file, in the same category as
the coronation scene. It seems likely that the animators simply didn't
realize/notice that they were drawing characters that weren't supposed
to be there. The script, though, is the real cause of this blooper, as
it identifies Shrapnel by name. Surely, Ron Friedman didn't know
Shrapnel would eventually be chosen to become a Sweep, and the
animators apparently didn't catch it either.
Still, this brings us to the topic of...
IX. I N S E C T I C O N C L O N E S :
Okay, Insecticons clones first appeared in "A Plague of Insecticons".
During a battle with a group of Autobots, one of Bombshell's
Insecti-shells destroys some farm equipment. Shrapnel then indicates
that *HIS* electronic clone beams (generated from his antennae) will
do the rest, by creating a clone army (However, the animation shows
KICKBACK generating clone beams, also. It's probably an animation
error.) The metal scrap materializes into dozens of duplicates of
insect-mode Shrapnel, Bombshell, and Kickback. These clones are solid,
can fire energy weapons, eat solid objects, and *NEVER* speak. They
are almost always seen in insect mode (in "Quest for Survival, though,
several clones can be seen transforming to robot mode and standing in
the corner while Megatron drains energy from the genuine articles.).
The clones disintegrate when Autobot Trailbreaker cuts off Shrapnel's
control beams (which must be in continuous contact with the clones)
with a force-field. In later episodes, this method of attack was not
used against the clones, which indicates that Shrapnel improved his
cloning technology to avoid the clones' destruction in this manner.
Now, there is evidence in the Movie and the post-Movie episodes that
indicates the involvement of Insecticon clones:
1. Shrapnel and Kickback are damaged multiple times at Autobot City
(in some cases, as with Kickback's head, *gravely* damaged), yet
appear totally intact in later scenes.
2. The damage on the Insecticons as they're dumped into space and
encounter Unicron is constantly changing, as well as the fact that
sometimes they're holding their guns, sometimes not. This indicates
several duplicates of each Insecticon (which *would* account for all
the Sweeps that show up later on). If you totaled up all the
Insecticon "variations" that appear in these scenes, you'd come up
with nearly a DOZEN Insecticons (Shrapnel missing left antenna, fully
intact Shrapnel, Shrapnel holding gun, etc.)
3. When Shrapnel and Kickback are being x-rayed by Unicron, they have
*NO* internal mechanisms at all. Only outlines of their *EXTERIORS*
are shown. This *could* indicate that they were NOT the genuine
articles.
4. If the Insecticons turned into Sweeps were mindless clones, then
this would explain why the Sweeps seem to act like barely sentient
drones at times.
5. Even *AFTER* they're turned into new Decepticons, the Insecticons
appear later in the Movie and the series.
Here are the Insecticons' appearances in the post-Movie episodes:
FIVE FACES OF DARKNESS PART 1:
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 23 HERE!!!***)
At the beginning of the episode, insect-mode Shrapnel and Kickback are
on Chaar, attempting to grab a solitary energon cube. They are warded
off with a blast from the Sweeps, letting out a generic Jack
Angel-voiced grunt.
FIVE FACES OF DARKNESS PART 2:
A robot-mode Kickback can be seen in three shots as Cyclonus rallies
the Decepticons.
FIVE FACES OF DARKNESS PART 3:
Robot-mode Shrapnel can be seen amongst the Decepticons in a shot or
two.
FIVE FACES OF DARKNESS PART 5:
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 25A HERE!!!***)
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 25B HERE!!!***)
On Earth, blocking the Autobots' way stand Bombshell, Kickback,
Shrapnel, and....ANOTHER Shrapnel.
THIEF IN THE NIGHT:
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 26A HERE!!!***)
As the Decepticons arrive in Carbombya, Bombshell (mistakenly colored
like the Autobot Beachcomber) can be seen. Also notable is the fact
that Bombshell and *Cyclonus* appear in the same frame together.
FIGHT OF FLEE:
Here's an odd one, to say the least. Soundwave speaks in Shrapnel's
voice, sort of. He says, "We're picking up an image, Galvatron,
Galvatron." It's very odd. It's clearly Hal "Shrapnel" Rayle (who was
still around in season 3, voicing Snarl and Pipes, among others)
performing his usual Shrapnel voice. There's almost no doubt. He even
repeats the last word ("Galvatron"), which IS *Shrapnel's* distinct
speech mannerism. There's virtually no way the dialogue editors could
have taken the word "Galvatron" and put it in a second time on their
own. It had to have been recorded that way in the studio.
Traditionally, each word Shrapnel repeats is a different "take" on the
word, not the same take pasted by the editors onto the end of the
sentence. All of this implies that the creators believed Shrapnel to
be alive and kicking in season 3. Of course, this episode was written
by Tony Cinciripini and Larry Leahy, and this was the only episode
they ever wrote. They may not have known that Shrapnel was supposed to
be "dead". However, for some reason, the animators drew Soundwave
providing the line instead of Shrapnel (Either they caught the error,
or they just couldn't find Shrapnel's model sheet). Here's the line,
followed by Soundwave and Shrapnel's "regular" voices for comparison:
http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/sounds/SoundwaveWeird.wav
http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/sounds/Soundwave.wav
http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/sounds/Shrapnel.wav
(Dave "Zobovor" Edwards suggested to me the humorous possibility that
Soundwave had recorded Shrapnel's voice sometime before the Movie, and
was having fun creating new sentences out of bits of words and
syllables. You know, as a hobby. Heh.)
However, there are several facts that I feel quite decisively deflate
the idea that clones were involved in any of these episodes.
1. These "clones" speak (the infamous "NAY!", and presumably during
"Fight or Flee"), something the clones in the series were never seen
to do (although it's possible Shrapnel improved his cloning
technology).
2. If the creators had at all *INTENDED* to use clones, it would have
been a *plot point* in the Movie. We would have been given some kind
of dialogue and/or animation to tell us that Shrapnel was creating
clones.
3. We never see more than *ONE* of each Insecticon on-screen at a
time, in the Movie or season 3 (except for FFOD pt. 5).
4. Why would the Decepticons carry damaged CLONES aboard Astrotrain
after the battle at Autobot City? They would surely be considered
expendable...
5. If the Bombshell that Unicron altered had been a clone, he would
likely have disappeared when Shrapnel became a Sweep (thus cutting off
his control beams...unless Shrapnel somehow improved the
technology...).
I would categorize all appearances of the Insecticons in FFOD, etc. as
bloopers. Indeed, FFOD was animated by AKOM, and they did an
*INCREDIBLY* poor job animating these episodes. They probably just
grabbed the Insecticons' model sheets whenever they needed extras in a
scene (as they did for other characters...like Galvatron cheering on
Chaar in FFOD part 2 when he supposed to be soaking in plasma on
Thraal...), not realizing they were no longer supposed to be featured
in the series (It's happened before, with Skyfire and Reflector, among
others.).
X. U. S. C A R T O O N S E R I E S :
Another important topic would be Cyclonus' portrayal in the cartoon
series proper. Here are the most important tidbits:
1. In "Five Faces of Darkness Part 1", Cyclonus lands on Chaar with
the Sweeps (there are only *three* of them at this point), and takes a
pose VERY similar to the one taken by Bombshell-Cyclonus during the
Cyclonus-creation shot in the Movie.
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 24 HERE!!!***)
This shot is VERY badly animated, and features Cyclonus in his "Akom"
color scheme. It's possible that the Akom animators used the Movie for
reference, thus the pose. Is this pose a hallmark of the "real"
Cyclonus, and does this validate Bombshell-Cyclonus' claim to the
name?
2. In FFOD pt. 4, a Cyclonus robot mistakenly colored like Dirge can
be seen fighting alongside Cyclonus and the other Decepticons at
planet Goo (For FFOD, the AKOM animators consistently mixed and
matched characters' model sheets and color models to create "new",
generic robots, such as "Shockwave colored like Long Haul", or
"Starscream colored like Onslaught".).
3. In FFOD pt. 5, *MULTIPLE* Cyclonus-style jets can be seen during
the battle on Cybertron, and FIVE Cycloni fly off with Galvatron at
the end (Three in jet mode, two in robot mode).
(***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 27 HERE!!!***)
Is this the "armada"? I don't think so. I believe that some Akom
animator simply mistook Cyclonus' model sheet as the model sheet for
the *SWEEPS*. Stranger things have happened in these Akom-animated
episodes, believe me. However, Scourge's left arm is visible in the
image above. (AKOM ANIMATOR: "Let's see...one of these guys has five
guys that look just like him following him around. Is it the purple
guy or the blue guy? I know!!! It's the PURPLE guy!" Sheesh.) It seems
likely that the animator got things backwards and drew "Scourge and 5
Cycloni" instead of the usual "Cyclonus and 5 Sweeps" seen in the rest
of FFOD.
4. In "Starscream's Ghost", Cyclonus appears during the entire episode
in his "early" design. The animation in this episode apparently came
from a studio other than Toei or Akom, and is fairly mediocre. Still,
Cyclonus doesn't quite act like himself in this episode (perhaps
because this was the one-and-only episode written by Megeen
McLaughlin, and she may not have had a handle on the character.). He's
still voiced by Roger C. Carmel, though. Could this be a member of the
armada? (Probably not, as this Cyclonus was certainly intended by the
production staff to be the *ONLY* Cyclonus, as usual.)
(Also, it's interesting that Starscream possesses Cyclonus and
Scourge, with Scourge being possessed during "Ghost in the Machine",
for longer periods of time than anyone else. Aside from the fact that
they *ARE* Galvatron's top two lieutenants, it's also possible that
Screamer was so cozy because Cyclonus and Scourge USED to have bodies
IDENTICAL to Starscream's; i.e., Skywarp and Thundercracker. Here's a
thought: if Skywarp and Thundercracker had been around during season
3, do you think Starscream would have just possessed one of them
permanently and repainted the body in his own colors?)
5. Speaking of Roger C. Carmel, Cyclonus' voice seems to change from
episode to episode. Carmel voiced the character in every episode until
his death, but his PERFORMANCE of the character constantly fluctuates
(kind of like Frank Welker and Skywarp's constant voice fluctuations.
In some episodes, Skywarp sounded like Freddy Jones from Scooby Doo,
in others, like Rumble, etc. Hmmm...).
6. In "The Return of Optimus Prime" and "The Rebirth", Cyclonus has
gotten a new voice actor (Jack Angel), and in "The Rebirth", he's
constantly shifting from his "early" design to his "revised" design
(note that, once again, these episodes were animated by Akom). This
version of Cyclonus sounds and acts quite differently than any version
seen before (unavoidable, really, due to Carmel's death in 1986).
7. Near the end of "The Rebirth part 3", Galvatron and *Scourge* enter
the Plasma Energy Chamber while Cyclonus and the other Decepticons
fight the Autobots on Cybertron's surface. A few minutes later, we see
Galvatron and "early design" *CYCLONUS* leaving the Chamber and coming
to the surface! (This is obviously a blooper...)
Dave "Zobovor" Edwards once provided the amusing theory that there
were actually TWO characters named Cyclonus in season 3. One was made
from Bombshell, has the "revised" design, and is voiced by Roger C.
Carmel. The other was made from Skywarp, has the "early" design, and
appears in the episodes voiced by Jack Angel (as well as "Starscream's
Ghost", in which Carmel *did* provide Cyclonus' voice, but depicts him
speaking very differently than usual.).
However, a few facts deflate this humorous theory:
1. The Cyclonus robots created in the Movie *BOTH* had the "revised"
design.
2. The "early design" AND the "revised design" Cyclonus seemingly had
two different voices (Roger C. Carmel and Jack Angel).
3. Realistically, there's no way the creators could have believed that
there were two Cyclonus characters. The changes in his appearance and
behavior are simply inconsistencies/bloopers.
Also, on a personal note, I take offense to the idea that Skywarp
became the "bad" Cyclonus, with the "early" design, odd behavior, and
fill-in voice actor (although some of Cyclonus' dialogue and behavior
in "The Rebirth" ARE reminiscent of Skywarp...hmmm...)
There also some bits of dialogue in season 3 that could be clues to
Cyclonus' former identity, and whether or not he remembers his past
life:
"FIVE FACES OF DARKNESS PART 1":
ASTROTRAIN: In the days of Megatron it was not like this.
CYCLONUS: You mean Galvatron!
CYCLONUS/SWEEPS: Hail Galvatron! Hail Galvatron!
ASTROTRAIN: Well, they were the same guy.
This dialogue, which was probably meant by writer Flint Dille to be a
joke, indicates at least one of the following:
1. Cyclonus has *NO* memory of the "days of Megatron", or of Megatron
himself. He knows only of Galvatron.
2. Cyclonus is merely correcting Astrotrain, and he is technically
correct in doing so: the leader of the Decepticons is now called
"Galvatron"; Megatron is an obsolete name.
"THE KILLING JAR":
QUINTESSON SCIENTIST INQUIRATA: This Cyclonus is very similar in
programming to Ultra Magnus.
Thus, the Quintesson scientist in this episode seems familiar with
Cyclonus' programming. This shouldn't be possible, as Cyclonus was not
created by the Quintessons. It seems likely that Inquirata simply
scanned Cyclonus and Magnus to learn about their programming.
(However, in "The Quintesson Journal", we see robots in footage from
the Journal that look like Cyclonus and Scourge, as though they were
designed by the Quintessons. Hmm...maybe they should sue Unicron.)
CYCLONUS: It has been too long since I had an opponent that was worthy
of my full attention.
Some fans have wondered if this refers to a foe that Cyclonus faced in
his former life. However, this is easily explainable by the fact that
Cyclonus (probably) fought against Unicron at the end of the Movie, as
well as against a whole bunch of Autobots in "Five Faces of Darkness
parts 4 and 5."
"STARSCREAM'S GHOST":
(This dialogue is spoken while Cyclonus is possessed by Starscream.)
GALVATRON: Seen the last of who, Cyclonus?
STARSCREAM (Cyclonus' voice): Eh, why er, no one really, sir. I--I
mean...
GALVATRON: You mean *what*, old friend?
Although this little tidbit certainly did not occur to the creators,
we'll still examine it (Thanks to Zobovor for bringing this to my
attention). Assuming that Galvatron still possessed Megatron's mind
and memories, who was he friends with in the old days? Skywarp was a
warrior with whom he'd fought alongside on Cybertron. Megatron only
occasionally allied himself Bombshell when it suited his purposes (and
he often insulted him, to boot). If either of them could accurately
be described as an "old friend" of Megatron's, it would almost
certainly have to be Skywarp, not Bombshell. However, this doesn't
necessarily represent Galvatron's feelings about Cyclonus' former
self.
"FIGHT OR FLEE":
CYCLONUS: It looks like Cybertron during the fabled Golden Age.
This statement, said when Cyclonus and Scourge arrive on Paradron,
indicates that Cyclonus may remember the Golden Age of Cybertron,
which was many millions of years ago. Indeed, Bombshell and Skywarp
both may have been around during that time. However, note that he says
"fabled", as though he did not experience the Golden Age firsthand.
"THE FACE OF THE NIJIKA":
CYCLONUS: You've never understood mob psychology, have you?
Cyclonus says this to the doubtful Quintessons as he eggs on a mob
about to dump the Autobot Blurr into a pool of lava. Remember,
Bombshell's specialty was psychological warfare. However, it doesn't
take an expert in psychology to know that a mob will often take action
when verbally motivated. It's more of a general knowledge kinda thing
than an obscure, specialized fact. Still, this line *MAY* have been
written in because the writers believed that Bombshell became Cyclonus
(though this is highly doubtful).
Realistically speaking, it seems exceedingly obvious that Cyclonus and
Scourge (Galvatron is another issue, and another essay, entirely...)
were intended to be COMPLETELY *NEW* CHARACTERS, with no connection to
the Decepticons they were made from. Although Scourge seems to have
traces of Thundercracker's personality, and Cyclonus acts at times
like a "mature" version of Skywarp (or even a "mature" Bombshell),
this is surely coincidence. It may be *possible* that the writers
incorporated traces of the characters' former selves into Cyclonus and
Scourge, but this is *highly* unlikely. Cyclonus and Scourge are the
Decepticon equivalent of Frankenstein's monster (Take THAT, Autobot
X/Autobot Spike!): bodies used as raw material to create something
totally new and different. Cyclonus is NOT Skywarp, nor is he
Bombshell. He is *CYCLONUS*.
Nevertheless, the question of whom Cyclonus USED to be still bugs me.
If someone were to scan him at the molecular level during the Movie,
whose molecules would be detected, Skywarp's or Bombshell's? It drives
me mad. Are we watching Skywarp's corpse or Bombshell's corpse walking
and talking?
Speaking of this, the concept of whether of not the wounded
Decepticons were dead or not is a valid one. Unicron HEALED their
wounds...and THEN wiped their minds and altered their bodies? Maybe.
The key line from Unicron is, "I will provide you (Megatron) with a
new body, and new troops to command". It's not "I will provide you and
your troops with new bodies". Perhaps they were already dead...but the
visual evidence indicates that a FEW, at least, were still alive
(Thundercracker almost certainly was). Could Unicron create new life
from dead Decepticons? To use Beast Wars terminology, how could he
give Galvatron's new troops "sparks" if they no longer had any? The
animation indicates that various Decepticons were dead, then alive
again in later shots. Surely the Sweeps had sparks (perhaps "laser
cores" would be the appropriate term for hardcore G1 fans), too? Does
this mean that the wounded were ALL alive when Unicron fiddled with
them? Huh.
This argument has been heated for a long time. Fan support for Skywarp
seems to be the biggest factor. I think it comes down to a few simple
reasons as to why:
1. Skywarp is, generally speaking, much more popular among fans than
Bombshell is.
2. In the pre-Movie episodes, the "team" of Skywarp and Thundercracker
was well established. Many fans can't even say "Skywarp" or
"Thundercracker" without including BOTH names in the same breath. The
same goes for Cyclonus and Scourge. Their names go together so well
because we see these characters together in the series so often.
Cyclonus and Scourge are friends and partners, just as Skywarp and
Thundercracker were. "Skywarp and Thundercracker". "Cyclonus and
Scourge". It would seem almost like a CRIME to break up the
Skywarp-Thundercracker team, so to speak, and "replace" it with
"Bombshell and Thundercracker". Skywarp and Thundercracker were a
team. There are plentiful examples of this in the series. Here are a
few:
A. "More than Meets the Eye pt. 1": Skywarp and Thundercracker attack
Wheeljack and Bumblebee on Cybertron.
B. MTMTE pt. 2: The pair complain about life on Earth and then beat
the bolts out of Bumblebee and Sparkplug Witwicky.
C. MTMTE pt. 3: The pair transform to jet mode and divebomb the
Autobots.
D. "Divide and Conquer": The pair team up to take on Optimus Prime.
E. "The Ultimate Doom pt. 3": The pair team up to attack the Autobots,
and then fly off together when Megatron abandons them.
F. "Divide and Conquer": The pair take on the Autobots in jet mode.
G. "Starscream's Brigade": The pair are together (*yawn*) guarding the
space bridge (I guess the conheads got all the good jobs at this point
in the series...).
There are *NUMEROUS* other examples. Compare this to Cyclonus and
Scourge always hanging together like such great pals, in episodes such
as "Five Faces of Darkness pt. 1-5", "Starscream's Ghost", "Fight of
Flee", and "The Rebirth pt. 1-3".
3. Skywarp was a sadly underused character, while Bombshell (and the
other Insecticons) got no less than FOUR entire episodes devoted to
them. It seems very unfair to "promote" Bombshell to second-in-command
when Skywarp had more than earned his turn in the spotlight. Also,
Bombshell, jerk that he was, directed the cerebro-shell-controlled
Autobot Mirage to fire a missile at Skywarp in "Traitor", and he *TOOK
CONTROL* of Skywarp with a cerebro-shell in "The Insecticon Syndrome"!
That's cruel and unusual punishment. If I were the suspicious type,
I'd say Bombshell had it in for poor Skywarp...
4. It seems wrong to many fans to have things be non-homogenous and
asymmetrical regarding the Movie's transformation scene. It "feels"
much more *balanced* to have one jet become a Cyclonus-type robot, the
other become Scourge, and all three Insecticons become Sweeps.
5. Cyclonus and Skywarp are both sleek jets and have very similar
color schemes. This seems almost TOO coincidental. It just SEEMS right
for them to be related.
6. The Movie's bloopers rob fans of a sense of closure. Did Skywarp
become Cyclonus or a non-entity "armada"? What was his final fate? We
can't be sure. Skywarp is trapped in limbo, not quite Cyclonus, not
quite dead. What did he become?
7. Skywarp was very loyal to Megatron. Cyclonus was fanatically loyal
to Galvatron. There seems to be some personality carryover there, even
if it's only coincidental. Skywarp was presumably loyal to Megatron
because Megatron was a solid leader and because Skywarp was "useless"
with Megatron's supervision. Cyclonus was presumably loyal to
Galvatron because ONLY *Galvatron* had the power, the vision, and the
charisma to rebuild the Decepticon empire and lead the Decepticons to
glory (or so Cyclonus thought). Here are some examples:
A. MTMTE pt. 1: Skywarp is the first Transformer to be revived on
Earth by Teletraan 1. Without hesitation, he then drags MEGATRON into
the repair beams, stating, "Megatron, my leader, we are alive again!"
B. MTMTE pt. 3: Skywarp respectfully asks PERMISSION of Megatron to
use his teleportion power and attack Ironhide and Bluestreak.
C. "The Ultimate Doom Pt. 1": Skywarp states, "I think Megatron's plan
was BRILLIANT!", and gets into a fight with Starscream when Screamer
(naturally) disagrees.
Of course, the feeling wasn't exactly mutual...
A. "Roll for It":
MEGATRON: Skywarp, you fool!
B. "Countdown to Extinction":
SKYWARP: Megatron, we're moving off our flight path!
MEGATRON: *DAZZLING* deduction, Skywarp!
C. "B.O.T.":
MEGATRON (over communicator): Does it look like there's been a battle?
SKYWARP: No. Just a trail of parts! What should I do?
MEGATRON: Follow the trail, DUMMY!
Cyclonus was very loyal to Galvatron and ALSO got yelled at and
smacked around a lot. Hmm.
On the other hand...
D. "The Autobot Run":
MEGATRON: "Treachery is your forte', my dear Skywarp!"
It's also notable that Skywarp was the only season one DEcepticon jet
that Megatron never physically struck. In fact, I'd say that Skywarp
was Megatron's "favorite" jet of the original trio, so to speak,
followed by Thundercracker, then Starscream.
XI. J A P A N E S E C A R T O O N S E R I E S :
The Japanese "Headmasters" series ignored the "Rebirth" trilogy seen
in the US, and continued the Transformers cartoon saga after the
series ended in America. These episodes are not considered "canon" in
terms of the US cartoon series. In the Headmasters episodes, Cyclonus
was portayed, as a generic, cowering "lackey" type, and was eventually
phased out of the series, after Galvatron's seeming destruction.
XIV. D V D :
The Region 4 (Australia) DVD release of The Transformers: The Movie
contains character bios as a special feature. These bios conclusively
state that *Skywarp* became Cyclonus, Thundercracker became Scourge,
and the Insecticons became Sweeps (very much as I have theorized).
Here they are, with my commentary:
CYCLONUS
ALLEGIANCE: DECEPTICON
FUNCTION: LIEUTENANT
"Compassion is the Autobot's downfall."
Cyclonus is the resurrected Skywarp, now possessed of much boosted
abilities
and with access to the unlimited power supply of Unicron.
Additionally, should Unicron be destroyed, Cyclonus' abilities would
be
reduced although he would remain among the strongest Transformers.
ABILITIES: Cyclonus is able to augment his strength without limit,
thanks to
his link with Unicron. Even without this boost he remains a formidable
opponent and carries an oxidising laser that fuses its target's
internal
mechanisms. In jet mode Cyclonus is equipped with nuclear powered
engines
and is capable of interstellar travel. His bomb rack contains a
variety of
incendiaries.
WEAKNESS: Cyclonus' link to Unicron allows the Devourer to know his
every
thought. Unicron has the ability to inflict wracking pain upon
Cyclonus,
should he meet with his master's disapproval.
NOTES:
1. These profiles are mainly based on the original Transformers
Universe comic book profiles.
2. Cyclonus'function is now "Lieutenant" instead of "Saboteur"
(wouldn't "warrior" be a better choice?).
3. Interestingly, the profiles indicate that Cyclonus and Scourge were
monitored by, and could be *tortured* by, Unicron (much like
Galvatron). No evidence of this has ever been seen before (as many,
like myself, assumed they would have been programmed to be loyal to
Unicron-- hence Scourge's line in the Movie, "But remember, *we*
belong to *him*!"--, unlike Megatron/Galvatron), and it is purely an
invention of the DVD bio writers (although an interesting one).
4. Most importantly, the bio explicitly states that *Skywarp* became
Cyclonus, and implies that Cyclonus is literally a new and improved
version of Skywarp, not just a new entity.
(NOTE: The profiles for Skywarp, Thundercracker, etc. are essentially
their Transformers Universe profiles, but with additional statements
about their "cause of death", seen below.)
SKYWARP
CAUSE OF DEATH: Skywarp sustained fatal injuries off-screen during the
assault on Autobot City. He was later reformatted by Unicron to become
Cyclonus, Galvatron's right-hand Decepticon and vastly superior in all
measures to Skywarp.
NOTES:
1. "Vastly superior", huh? This implies that Skywarp got a new and
better chance at life as Cyclonus.
2. The Beast Machines term "reformatted" is used in these profiles (as
well as by many mistaken fans), but the term does *not* apply to the
creation of Galvatron and his troops. Reformatting is totally
different than what Unicron did to Megatron and company.
BOMBSHELL
CAUSE OF DEATH: Bombshell sustained fatal injuries off-screen during
the assault on Autobot City. He was later reformatted by Unicron to
become one of the Sweeps.
NOTES:
1. This profile clearly states that Bombshell "retroactively" became a
Sweep, which is likely, given the animation in the Movie. The idea of
Skywarp becoming Cyclonus and Bombshell becoming the third member of
the original trio of Sweeps is very much in line with my personal
beliefs about this topic.
Whether or not these bios are "canon" is very much up to the viewer
(although they were ostensibly approved by Hasbro, therefore, they are
"official", in a sense). Just because the bios were put on the
Australian TFTM DVD doesn't mean they accurately reflect the
content/canonicity of the Movie itself.
XIII. F A N T H E O R I E S :
Many fans have developed theories regarding Cyclonus and the
controversy surrounding him. Here are a few:
1. Off-camera, Bombshell-Cyclonus and Skywarp-Cyclonus merged into
*ONE* Cyclonus-robot.
2. The "other" Cyclonus (either Bombshell or Skywarp) was destroyed
during either the second battle at Autobot City or fighting against
Unicron.
3. Unicron changed his mind and decided to "morph" either Bombshell or
Skywarp into a Sweep off-camera.
4. Bombshell became Cyclonus, and the "armada" just wasn't seen often.
5. The "armada" was actually a CHARACTER named "Armada", who was
either destroyed in battle or just not seen often.
XIII. C O N C L U S I O N S :
WHO BECAME CYCLONUS????
US TOYLINE: Although there is no mention of Cyclonus being created
from another Decepticon in his tech specs, since he and Scourge
replace Skywarp and Thundercracker, and Bombshell still existed as a
toy in the 1986 catalog, we can assume that Skywarp became Cyclonus.
However, the existance of Skywarp toys later on either rules against
this conclusion, or indicates that Cyclonus somehow reverted back to
Skywarp.
US COMIC BOOKS:
1. Regular continuity: No one. Cyclonus is simply a generic Decepticon
Targetmaster.
2. The Transformers: The Movie adaptation: Unknown. Possibly a
"generic" Decepticon.
3. Regular continuty's alternate future (Comic book Galvatron's
timeline): Unknown.
4. Transformers Universe profile: Unknown, but presumably parts from
*MORE* than ONE DEAD Decepticon.
5. BOTCON-exclusive comics/toys: Bombshell.
UK COMIC BOOK: Unknown. "Life Spark", presumably.
US CARTOON:
Hurm.
Well, this is tricky.
Okay, so the classic theory of Occam's (or Ockham's) Razor tells us
that "the simplest answer is usually the correct one". However, this
debate isn't simple at all. Oh, no. On the surface, this theory may be
taken as saying "Bombshell was the most prominent Cyclonus on-screen,
so he became the character known as Cyclonus", but there are more
factors than that. In the end, I think it boils down into two
theories/groups of fans:
1. Those fans who take the shot of Cyclonus and his ARMADA being
created, *despite* the plentiful bloopers, as "CANON". Therefore,
Bombshell became Cyclonus, Skywarp became a member of his armada, and
the armada, though almost NEVER seen, DOES exist wthin the
Transformers cartoon universe.
2. Those fans who do NOT feel that the Cyclonus-creation shot can be
considered "canon", due to the plentiful bloopers that populate it, as
well as the "non-existance" of the armada. They believe that Skywarp
became the one-and-only Cyclonus and Bombshell "retroactively" became
a Sweep, due to the surrounding animation/toy evidence. The "armada"
does NOT "really" exist in the cartoon universe, and NEVER did, as it
was retconned out of the Movie *immediately* after its creation.
Normally, I would go with the Occam's Razor bit and assume that
Bombshell became the character known as Cyclonus. However, since
I(among many, many others) would prefer Cyclonus' former self to have
been Skywarp, I cannot readily accept this, even if it seems logical.
In addition, the surrounding evidence *STRONGLY*, if ONLY
CIRCUMSTANTIALLY, indicates that Skywarp did indeed become the
one-and-only Cyclonus.
And now, the ultimate list of arguments for Bombshell and Skywarp
(although some "facts" are MUCH more subjective than others):
Facts in no particular order:
BOMBSHELL:
1. Bombshell was *CLEARLY* the MOST prominent Cyclonus-robot
on-screen, whereas Skywarp was merely in the background. Therefore,
Bombshell became Cyclonus.
2. Cyclonus and Bombshell were both very intelligent (and shared an
INT. rating of 8 in their tech specs).
3. Cyclonus clearly had knowledge of psychology in "The Face of the
Nijika", and psychology was Bombshell's specialty.
SKYWARP:
1. Since Skywarp-Cyclonus had a much more accurate Cyclonus jet-mode
color scheme than Bombshell, and because the Cyclonus seen in the rest
of the Unicron scene (and the Movie/series) shares these colors,
Skywarp became the character known as Cyclonus.
2. Also, in the Cyclonus-creation shot, Skywarp-Cyclonus' "energy
cocoon" is fully stripped away *BEFORE* Bombshell-Cyclonus' is , and
Skywarp-Cyclonus transforms to vehicle mode at the SAME time as
*SCOURGE*.
3. Bombshell was *MUCH* more likely than Skywarp to have retroactively
become a Sweep, since the Sweeps are supposded to be smaller than
Scourge and the Insecticons were also much smaller than the average
Decepticon. Also, this would be in keeping with the "homogeny" the
animators had already established. Thus, all three Insecticons became
Sweeps.
4. Cyclonus and Scourge *specifically* replace *SKYWARP AND
THUNDERCRACKER* in the 1986 toy catalog, but the Insecticons appear
simulataneously alongside Cyclonus and Scourge. Therefore, Skywarp
dissappeared, Cyclonus replaced him, and Cyclonus and Bombshell
existed at the SAME TIME.
5. Skywarp is *NEVER* seen again after the Movie. The Insecticons ARE,
however, and Bombshell even appears in the SAME FRAME as *Cyclonus*
during "Thief in the Night".
6. Cyclonus and Scourge's toy tech specs almost appear to be
"upgraded" versions of Skywarp and Thundercracker's.
7. Skywarp and Cyclonus share various physical design aspects, and
have *VERY* similar color schemes (light purple details, orange
cockpit windows, etc.), just as Scourge and Thundercracker have
similar color schemes (blue, dark gray, etc.). Cyclonus and Skywarp
also *BOTH* transform into JETS (Bombshell was a frickin' beetle!).
These similarities CANNOT be overlooked, and MAY NOT be coincidence.
8. Cyclonus and Skywarp were both very loyal to Megatron/Galvatron.
9. Although Bombshell was in the foreground of the shot when Cyclonus
was created, if the animators had maintained *continuity* from the
earlier shot of the group being swept up toward Unicron, *SKYWARP*
would have been in the foreground.
10. It seems appropriate (and symmetrical) for Thundercracker to have
become Scourge and Skywarp to have become Cyclonus.
11. Bombshell was a dork, and couldn't have become the sleek and
awesome Cyclonus. Here's proof:
http://www.angelfire.com/scifi/danai/z_bombshelldance.html
(Just kidding. Just making sure you're still awake.)
Cradok
news:b360c78.03091...@posting.google.com...
Wow! Very...extensive. The mind boggles at how much work you put into this,
and it's very impressive, although in truth, I really don't give a rip about
who became who.
A coupple of things lept up at me, though:
> VII. C O M I C B O O K S :
>
> VIIa. US comic books:
>
> CYCLONUS:
>
> Also, in the four-issue Headmasters comic series, Cyclonus appears as
> one of
> Scorponok's troops, and gains Nightstick as his Targetmaster partner.
> However, he is *NOT* a product of Unicron in the normal comic
> universe (as far as we know), nor does he *LOOK* like CYCLONUS (The
> artists obviously got his character
> model sheets mixed up with one of the Nebulans' or something.)!!!
> However, in the UK version of the Headmasters series, "Cyclonus" was
> renamed Krunix, because Cyclonus was a prominent character in the UK
> comics, and the Headmasters version might have confused fans. Here's a
> page from The Headmasters (US) issue # 2:
He also appears on pages 15 and 18-20 or HM #4, drawn correctly. He even has
a couple of lines of dialogue. It's his only 'real' appearance in the US
comics.
> A temporal anomoly allowed Cyclonus and Scourge to travel back in time
> once more and serve under Scorponok during the US "Headmasters" series
> (Although they don't actually appear in the US comic, as such. See
> above.)
Not quite a temporal anomoly. Unicron had a time portal constructed, and
Death's Head forced Scourge and Cyclonus into it, sending them into the
past.
> (***INSERT LINK TO IMAGE 01a HERE!!!***)
You have quite a few of these. I'm guessing that you meant to put links
there.
But that's just me nitpicking...
Chris McFeely
Y'know, I appreciate what you're trying to do here, and it's a great piece
of work, that you've clearly put a lot of effort into, but I just think
there's a hell of a lot of fat that you could trim off of it. Do we really
NEED a list of the characters' cartoon appearances, lists of their toy
variations, toy tech spec stats, etc? It just makes it a chore to get
through it all, to actually get to the valid stuff that deals with the
argument further into it.
Chris
ShadowWing
"Chris McFeely" wrote
> <massive snip>
I couldn't even bring it up. Well I could, but maybe being on a 56K has
something to do with it taking too long to download to concern me.
--
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Gregatron
- Gregatron
Techrat
Onslaught Six
I agree. Move that stuff to the end of the article, you know, as an
appendix or somesuch.
Gregatron
> When do we get to see what you have thus far in the other two volumes?
I haven't *started* them yet. This first one is the most confusing and
detailed, and has required the most time.
- Gregatron
Gregatron
I think it's important for fans (and new fans) who don't know that
much about the characters to have that frame of reference at the
beginning.
- Gregatron
Tut
> After months (which are turning into years) or R&D, I think it's time
> to post a preview of this article and get some real feedback.
First off, even skimming through it you obviously put an incredible
amount of time and attention to detail in this, more than I ever could.
I like the fact that you put a compendium of links together. If
you don't mind, I'm going to put some of those links on my Voices of
Cybertron page in my next update. Hard work deserves to be linked. ^_^
> The Cyclonus Project is an analysis of who exactly became Cyclonus in
> the movie.
You mentioned something I found really delectable--evidently in the
UK comic (maybe I misread that, but it was in a G1 comic) they mention
"Life Sparks". HAH! Sparks have a legitimate G1 reference! Much to the
scorn of BW haters...
(I don't incorporate 'sparks' in my own work, but I don't treat
the topic with a gag rule, either.)
Anyway...
> The Galvatron Project will attempt to determine if Galvatron retained
> Megatron's mind/personality or if he is a separate being.
Ooh, ooh, ooh! I guess I need to go ahead and paste up my updated
essay on that exact topic onto Voices of Cybertron. I think the old
version is up on Lexicon, but I've since added a bunch of other
information and coherent thought. When you work on the Galvatron Project,
could I >blink, blink< at you for a link?
The Galvatron-Megatron debate has been a big one for me for
practically the last decade, and I still wish my roommate at Louisiana
School hadn't deleted her own essay on the topic, even if she wrote
about Galv=Megs just to aggravate me...
--Tut, misses Galvatron being in active service as a watch dude...he's
retired to our nightstand now :P