Cloudburst (Transformers)

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Cloudburst
Transformers character
Cloudburst-box.jpg
Generation 1 Cloudburst in box
First appearance

"Pretender to the Throne", The Transformers #40 by Marvel Comics
Created by

Hasbro
Information
Species Transformer
Abilities

Affiliation

Autobot
Alternate mode

Cybertronian jet
Function

Space Defense
Motto

"You can't tell a bot by his cover."
Series

Transformers: Generation 1
Sub-group

Pretenders
Tech specs

ST07 IN08 SP010 EN07

RN06 CO08 FB08 SK07

Cloudburst is a fictional character from the Transformers series. He turns into a jet and has a shell that looked like an armored human. He shouldn't be confused with Phoenix, a Japanese Transformer who shares the same toy.

Transformers: Generation 1

Cloudburst is one of the original six Autobot Pretenders. His inner robot transforms into a spaceship. Unlike the other Autobot Pretenders, Cloudburst carries a whip instead of a sword.

Fictional biography

On-box biography:

Aggressive, witty and charming, but only when hiding in his outer shell! Wary of everyone and everything, especially Decepticons. Uses his outer shell to disguise his dull personality as well as himself. Reluctant to leave his outer shell so he can transform into an interplanetary star cruiser, armed with particle beam cannon. Within shell, armed with lightning whip and thunderbolt laser pistol.

Dreamwave biography:

BIO: Cloudburst was timid and dull until he became a Pretender. Once hidden within his new shell, he took the opportunity to reinvent himself and project an aggressive, charming attitude that is a complete turn-around from his real personality. His long-time friends among the Autobots continually try to convince him that he doesn't need his shell and fabricated personality to feel secure and better about himself, but he dismisses them and octs like he doesn't knON what they're talking about. Cloudburst is fundamentally mistrustful of others intentions, especially any Decepticons, possibly because he knows that he's constantly misleading people himself.

WEAPONS/ ABILITIES: Subject's armored outer Pretender shell is armed with an electrified lightning whip and a thunderbolt cannon that fires high-voltage bursts. Inner robot can convert into a high-speed interplanetary cruiser armed with -a particle beam cannon.

WEAKNESSES: Subject is reluctant to leave the safety of his shell, which makes him vulnerable in situations where his vehicle mode might be useful.

Animated series

Although the US Transformers animated series stopped making original episode before Cloudburst was brought out, his Japanese counterpart Phoenix appeared in the Masterforce anime series.[1][2]

Cloudburst's appeared in animation in commercials for the Pretender toys.[3]

Animation from the commercial was used in the opening credits for season 5 of the Transformers, which retold episodes of earlier seasons. Cloudburst appeared in them.[4]

Comics

Condor Verlag

In a story called "By their Blasters you shall know them ...!" from Transformers Comic-Magazin issue #12 by German comic publisher Condor Verlag Optimus Prime instructs Backstreet, Bumblebee and Ruckus on how to identify Autobots from Decepticons in battle using the Ark's computer. Cloudburst is one of those he displays to the Autobots.[5]

IDW Publishing

Cloudburst, Groundbreaker, Landmine and Waverider appear in Spotlight: Hardhead investigating the Benzuli Expanse and reporting to Jetfire.

Cyclonus was later patrolling the Benzuli Expanse with Galvatron to look for those who would disturb the Expansion. Upon spotting Cloudburst's ship, Cyclonus called "dibs" and Galvatron happily let Cyclonus attack the vessel.[6]

Fortunately Cloudburst and the rest of the crew were rescued by the Technobots, who transported them to their ship and presented them with new and improved Pretender shells. Now equipped to deal with the Dead Universe and its denizens, the four warriors easily finished off Cyclonus. The three Nega-Cores were beamed to their location; Cloudburst and his buddies took them into the Benzuli Expanse, where they would detonate and seal the Dead Universe, cutting it off from their own. The living shells incurred some damage in the process but allowed the Autobots to escape the Dead Universe unharmed.[7]

Marvel Comics

Although not seen or mentioned directly, Cloudburst was among the Autobots who joined Fortress Maximus in leaving Cybertron for the planet Nebulos (Transformers: Headmasters #1). Unfortunately, they were followed to Nebulos by the Decepticons under Scorponok, leading war to break out once more. Fortress Maximus's band left Nebulos for the planet Earth, with the Decepticons in close pursuit. (Transformers: Headmasters #4).

Splashdown, Groundbreaker, Cloudburst, Landmine, Waverider and Sky High stand guard aginast Decepticon attack at Alternate Reality, Inc. in The Transformers #40 by Marvel Comics

When Brainstorm needed subjects to duplicate a Decepticon Pretender experiment, Cloudburst and five other Autobots volunteered and became the Autobot Pretenders. They fought the Decepticon Pretenders with the help of Optimus Prime and Goldbug (Transformers #40). They soundly defeated their Decepticon Pretender rivals, who thought they were simply giant humans. Cloudburst was present when Grimlock fought Blaster for leadership of the Autobots on Earth's moon. The Autobots were then attacked by the Decepticons lead by Ratbat (Transformers #41).

Cloudburst has a major role together with Landmine, when they rescued Sky Lynx and Berko from the Mecannibals, before battling the Decepticon Powermasters. During the adventure, Cloudburst is forced to fight in gladiatorial combat on Femax. The leader of the tribe of giant females falls in love with him, but angrily decapitates him when she discovered he is really a robot. Landmine eventually persuades her to let them go and rebuild Cloudburst.

Issue #248 of the Marvel UK Transformers comic featured a story called "Fallen Star", where Starscream began to doubt himself, despite being of the most powerful Transformers. Soundwave, Mindwipe and Weirdwolf feared Starscream would attack, but Starscream thought they were laughing at him behind his back. Leaving Starscream came across the Autobots Chainclaw, Cloudburst and Getaway, who were assigned by Optimus Prime to spy on him. Starscream soundly defeated all three Autobots and regained his self confidence.

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

The Decepticon Pretenders Bomb-Burst, Iguanus and Skullgrin were sent to steal from an oil rig in the "Gulf of New Mexico" in the 1989 UK Annual story "The Chain Gang." They were opposed and captured by the Autobot Pretenders Cloudburst, Landmine and Splashdown.

Cloudburst continues to appear, but has few prominent roles. Cloudburst is killed in the battle with Unicron in issue #75 of the US comic.

Toys

  • Hasbro Transformers Pretender Cloudburst (1988)
Cloudburst turns from robot to jet. He comes with human shaped shell that he can fit inside. He has a rifle, helmet and whip.
This toy is identical to the Japanese toy Phoenix.[8][9][10][11]

References

  1. Jim Sorenson & Bill Forster (July 22, 2008). Transformers: The Ark II. IDW Publishing. pp. 102–103. ISBN 978-1-60010-180-9. 
  2. Alvarez, J.E. (2001). The Unofficial Guide to Japanese and International Transformers. Schiffer Publishing Ltd.. p. 38. ISBN 0-7643-1282-0. 
  3. {{#invoke:Citation/CS1 | citation |CitationClass=audio-visual }}
  4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVwR5Zr0goQ
  5. Robert Mann (w). "By their Blasters you shall know them ...!" Transformers Comic-Magazin 12 (December 1990), Condor Verlag
  6. Spotlight: Doubledealer
  7. Spotlight: Sideswipe
  8. Cobra Island Toys - Transformer Archive
  9. Alvarez, J.E. (2001). The Unofficial Guide to Transformers 1980s Through 1990s Revised & Expanded 2nd Edition. Schiffer Publishing Ltd.. p. 74. ISBN 0-7643-1364-9. 
  10. Jon & Carl Hartman (February 1996). "The Transformers: 1988 - Part 2". Lee's Action Figure News & Toy Review 1 (40): 68–69. 
  11. http://www.oafe.net/yo/tf_precb.php
  • Furman, Simon (2004). Transformers: The Ultimate Guide. DK Publishing Inc.. p. 60. ISBN 1-4053-0461-8. 

External links