Blitzwing
Blitzwing is the name of four fictional characters from the Transformers series.
Contents
Transformers: Generation 1
The original Blitzwing was introduced in 1985 as a Decepticon Triple Changer.
Fictional biography
Ability as Triple Changer to rapidly transform makes him one of the most dangerous Decepticons. Cruel sense of humor, loud-mouthed, belligerent, and brash. Flies at mach 2.7, range 1500 miles, has heat-seeking concussion missiles as plane. As tank, has track-mounted cannon that fires explosive shells 3.5 miles. As robot has electron-scimitar and gyro-blaster rifle. Often gets stuck in mid-transformation.
Reception
The Retro Robot Radio podcast for September 28th, 2013 mentioned the eness labels for Blitzwing in the news.[1]
Animated series
The Transformers
Blitzwing was a minor character who appeared in the second and third seasons of the animated series; very rarely did he stand out other than as a fierce warrior known more for his strength and abilities than his intelligence. His debut came in the episode "Dinobot Island." On one episode "Triple Takeover" he and Astrotrain managed to take command of the Decepticons by freezing Megatron and Starscream — but when they were defeated by Megatron, Megatron forcibly resumed command at gunpoint.[2]
After this Blitzwing was seemingly let back into the Decepticons, being sent alongside Astrotrain in "Prime Target" to forge an alliance with the big-game hunter Lord Cholmondeley, although Cholmondeley had no interest in the Decepticons, merely wishing to hunt the ultimate prey, Optimus Prime.
In The Transformers: The Movie, Blitzwing was present at the Battle of Autobot City, targeting Hot Rod and Daniel Witwicky. He was taken out by Kup, who engineered a collision between him and Shrapnel, with the two of Decepticons falling off a mountain. During the actual attack on the city, Blitzwing narrowly escaped from being hit by an oncoming Optimus, who was running down Decepticons in his trailer truck mode. Blitzwing was later seen fighting with the Decepticons on who would be Megatron's successor.
Blitzwing had a somewhat significant part to play in the 5-part episode "Five Faces of Darkness". When the defeated Decepticons were accosted by the Quintessons to launch an attack on Cybertron, Blitzwing stayed behind, awaiting the return of Galvatron. Later, when Galvatron and the Quintessons joined forces to defeat the Autobots, Galvatron sent Blitzwing to report back to the Quintessons. It was then that Blitzwing discovered the Quintessons' treachery and their plan to paralyze all the Transformers and take Cybertron for themselves. When Blitzwing tried to warn Galvatron, the fearsome Decepticon leader did not believe him and knocked Blitzwing down, telling him to "tell it to the Autobots". Blitzwing told Rodimus Prime about the Quintessons' plan, and stopped a group of Sharkticons sent to trigger the shut down mechanism. Galvatron followed them, thinking Blitzwing a traitor, and triggered the shut down himself, causing all the Transformers to freeze. The Quintessons came down to claim Cybertron for themselves, but Spike Witwicky destroyed the fail safe device, unfreezing the Transformers. Galvatron, now realizing their treachery, chases after the Quintessons, who barely escape. Galvatron was about to restart the fighting between the Decepticons and the Autobots, but Blitzwing stood in the way, threatening him. Backing down, Galvatron left with the other Decepticons, telling Blitzwing that he was no longer welcome in their ranks, and would suffer for his betrayal. The Triple Changer however refused an offer to become an Autobot but stated that he respected the Autobots and most likely went into exile.
Blitzwing would appear twice more as a part of the Decepticon forces in later episodes, but it is unclear if these were animation errors or not. The episode "Starscreams Ghost" was originally written for Blitzwing, but was hastily rewritten to star Octane (who was a new toy at the time).
Transformers: Headmasters
He is clearly shown fighting alongside his fellow Decepticon Triple Changers again in the Japanese anime, The Headmasters. Maybe he was reintegrated on Decepticon's ranks with the parole of Scorponok
Books
Ladybird Books
Blitzwing is featured in the 1986 Ladybird Books story Galvatron's Air Attack. In that story he commanded one of the Decepticon stations.[3]
Toys
Generations
- Generation 1 Blitzwing (1985)
- Based on a Diaclone toy. Turns from robot to tank or jet.
- This toy was recolored into Overcharge.
- Generations Voyager Blitzwing (2013)
- A new mold. Turns from robot to tank or jet.[4]
- This toy was remolded into Generations Doubledealer and Cloud Starscream.
Transformers Animated
This 2008 re-imagining of Blitzwing is berserker depicted as having multiple personalities.
Fictional biography
Even by Decepticon standards, Blitzwing is totally insane. He's got three personalities packed into his cyberium-steel chassis, and he argues with himself almost as often as he argues with other Decepticons. The only person he listens to without interrupting is Megatron, because all three of his personalities are terrified of the Decepticon commander. He carries a superheater cannon and a hyperfrost emitter to burn or freeze his enemies.
Shattered Glass
This Blitzwing is a mirror universe counterpart to the Generation 1 character, introduced in 2009.
Fun Publications
In Do Over the Nemesis launches after the Ark. After a brief battle the Nemesis is shot down and crashes on Earth, with the crew escaping in stasis pods. Although not directly depicted, Blitzwing is a member of the crew of the Nemesis.[5]
In Blitzwing Bop Heatwave and Blitzwing discover the Autobots are building a Stellar Spanner to return to Cybertron. Blitzwing is unable to stop the Autobots from sending Heatwave to Cybertron as a test subject, but he does shut down the machine. Sadly an accident downloading information from the machine jams his music player on constantly on the emergency communications frequency of the Autobots. Seeing an opportunity to stop the Autobots with non-lethal force Starscream sends Blitzwing out to distract the Autobots as the Decepticon oppose their various schemes. Sideswipe, Bombshell and Blitzwing stop a scheme by Elita One and Brawn to make attack drones from human cars by implanting control devices in the cars in a Roll-N-Wash car wash. The Autobot Blaster is sent to recover Blitzwing, planning to send the Decepticon to Cybertron on the Stellar Spanner with an amplifier which will destroy everyone on the planet, including Blitzwing! Blitzwing is saved Soundwave and Thunderwing.
Toys
No toy for this version of Blitzwing exists. He looks like the Generation 1 Blitzwing toy with the colors from Generation 1 Warpath.
Kre-O
In 2015 Kre-O Blitzing is a Kreon who is Class Jock and President of the Chess Club.
References
- ↑ Mathew Ignash (September 28th, 2013). "Retro Robot Radio". http://www.youtube.com/user/RetroRobotRadio?feature=watch (Podcast). Mathew Ignash. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WV0OSUQm5Q.
- ↑ http://www.anime.com/Transformers/ Transformers Season Two Box Set, Part 1 by Brian Cirulnick, February 2003
- ↑ Grant, John (1986). Galvatron's Air Attack. Ladybird Books. ISBN 0-7214-0988-1.
- ↑ http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-generations-classics-30-35/transformers-generations-toy-fair-2013-voyager-class-official-images-176852/
- ↑ S. Trent Troop and Greg Sepelak (2009). Do Over. Illustrator Yuki Oshima. Fun Publications.