Prowl (Transformers)

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Prowl is the name of 12 fictional characters from the Transformers series. The first Prowl was an Autobot who turned into a police car that was introduced in 1984.

Machine Wars

Prowl
Transformers character
Prowl-mw-card.jpg
Machine Wars Prowl on card
Created by

Hasbro
Information
Species Transformer
Abilities

Affiliation

Autobot, Maximal
Alternate mode

Race car
Function

Security
Motto

"Logic is the ultimate weapon."
Series

Machine Wars
Sub-group

Basic vehicles
Tech specs

ST06 IN08 SP10 EN07

RN07 CO09 FB06 SK06

Prowl is a clone of Generation 1 Prowl created by Jhiaxus.

Fictional biography

Chief of Security for Autobot forces. Calculating, quiet and competent. Thought processors intensely logical. Enhanced racing design conceals sophisticated micro-circuitry capable of processing 30,000 bytes of information per millisecond. Loyalty and patience perhaps greatest assets.

Comics

TransTech

Machine Wars Prowl appeared in Withered Hope by Fun Publications. He was a member of the Axion Nexus Security Administration and was one of the investigators looking into the death of a mech named Comet.

Wings of Honor

In Termination Prowl attended his creator, Jhiaxus, when he went to Cybertron to issue an ultimatum to the remaining resistance and Megaplex to leave the planet or be destroyed.

Toys

  • Machine Wars Basic Prowl (1997)
Alongside Prowl's "return" in Beast Wars, the small toy line called Machine Wars was released exclusively in KB Toys stores in 1997, and featured a new Prowl figure with a spring-loaded transformation and a racing car alternate mode. The toy used for Prowl was an unused Generation 2 mold, and was shared by Machine Wars Mirage. He was later recolored into Robots in Disguise Skid-Z.
Machine Wars Prowl was recolored into Mirage (or Rijie) for the Japanese-exclusive Robot Masters toyline.


Beast Wars

Prowl
Transformers character
Prowl-beastwarsowl-card.jpg
Beast Wars Prowl on card
Created by

Hasbro
Information
Species Transformer
Abilities

Affiliation

Autobot, Maximal
Alternate mode

Transmetal II Great Horned Owl, Honda Integra/Acura RSX police car
Function

Military Strategist
Motto

"Logic is the ultimate weapon."
"Logic provides the structure to be filled by the soul of creativity."
Series

Beast Wars, Binaltech
Sub-group

Alternators, Basic beasts, Transmetal II
Tech specs

ST06.2 IN08.1 SP07.9 EN07.6

RN06.5 CO08.1 FB08.8 SK07.9

This Prowl's biography is distinctly familiar, being almost identical to that of the original Prowl, including his function as a military strategist, and even his motto. He strives to find logic and reasoning in everything. A listener, not a talker, he has the most sophisticated logic center of all the Maximals, which enables him to analyze and advise on complex combat situations almost instantaneously. He fires highly corrosive acid pellets, and is equipped with a cybernetic eye and frontal lobe, which interact with his wing-mounted ion orbs to supply him limited telekinetic power. He is afflicted with ironic, dry sense of humor. Believes himself to have been a great military strategist in a former life.

Comics

Binaltech

Although the Alternators toys have no supporting fiction, the Binaltech series tells a new story line that branches out of the Generation One animated series in the early 21st Century. In it, much of the Autobots' earth-based force had been rendered inactive due to a biological warfare attack by the Decepticons, using Cosmic Rust, necessitating the construction of new bodies in joint partnership with human car companies. Prowl was not one of the injured, based as he was on Moonbase One at the time, but thanks to manipulations of the timeline by Ravage, Prowl became aware of his own impending death in 2005. An attempt was made to alter the course of time by transferring Prowl's laser core into a new body built by Honda, but rather than wait for him to come to Earth, a subspace transfer was arranged, only for a Decepticon attack on the shuttle to disrupt the process, causing Prowl's laser core to be lost in subspace. This loss caused Chip Chase to make a great sacrifice - having already interfaced with Prowl's body and controlled it before, he chose to upload his own mind into the body, fusing it with Prowl's own knowledge and personality, already uploaded into the body, giving it life.

Fun Publications

The black transmetal II Prowl appeared in Withered Hope by Fun Publications. He was a member of the Axion Nexus Security Administration and was one of the investigators looking into the death of a mech named Comet. He worked with the X-Dimension Mini-Con Prowl and Machine Wars Prowl.

The white transmetal II Prowl appears in the BotCon 2015 exclusive comic story Cybertron's Most Wanted as a member of the Axiom Nexus security forces who arrest Batteltrap, Boombox, Heavyweight, Megatron, Nebulan, Scalpel and Stepper.

IDW Publishing

Prowl 2 in the Beast Wars Sourcebook #3

Prowl appeared in the 2006 IDW Beast Wars: The Gathering comic series. He was among the Maximal protoforms from the Axalon which was recovered by Magmatron's Predacons and infected with a Predacon shell program. Unbeknownst to Magmatron, his technical expert Razorbeast was a Maximal double-agent and had managed to modify the program so a significant number of those infected emerged as Maximals. He has no apparent connections with his original Beast Wars toy. He appeared among a flock of Maximal flyers along with Air Hammer, Nightglider and Sonar. After the defeat of Magmatron's Predacons the united group of Maximals awaited rescue from Cybertron.

He appears among the Maximals on the cover of the first issue of the sequel Beast Wars: The Ascending. In the beginning of Beast Wars The Ascending Razorbeast speaks to Prowl and Wolfang about how he feels there is no rescue mission coming for them from Cybertron as Grimlock hunts in the nearby woods. In Beast Wars: The Ascending #4 Prowl was among the Maximals and Predacons returned to Cybertron to battle Shokaract.

Prowl had a biography printed in the Beast Wars Sourcebook by IDW Publishing.

Toys

  • Beast Wars Transmetal II Prowl white (1999)
The second Beast Wars Prowl, a transmetal II great horned owl released in 1999.[1]
  • Beast Wars Transmetal II Prowl black
Prowl was also released later in a black variant.
  • Binaltech BT-15 Prowl (Honda Integra Type R) (2005)
A blue recolo of the Binaltech figure as a civilian vehicle instead of a police car. Instead of the police lights, this figure is equipped with a rear spoiler similar to the one used on the real Honda Integra Type-R.[2]


Transformers: Robots in Disguise

Prowl
Transformers character
Prowl-rid-card.jpg
Robots in Disguise Prowl on card
Created by

Hasbro
Voiced by

Information
Aliases Mach Alert
Species Transformer
Relatives Sideburn (brother), X-Brawn (brother)
Abilities

Affiliation

Autobot
Alternate mode

Function

High-Speed Chaser
Partner

Sideswipe
Series

Sub-group

Autobot Brothers, Deluxe vehicles, Spy Changer
Tech specs

ST08 IN?? SP10 EN10

RN10 CO07 FB08 SK07

The first new character in a distinctly alternate universe to bear the name of Prowl, this character was known as Mach Alert in Car Robots, the original 2000 Japanese version of 2001's Transformers: Robots in Disguise toyline and animated series. As the middle Autobot Brother, Prowl is the most intelligent of the three, and transforms into a Lamborghini Diablo police car. He is equipped with a double-barrelled flame-thrower which can serve as booster jets for high-speed pursuits. Prowl can use his electronic systems to jam radios or hack into systems, and his ultra-sensitive scanners can detect the hum of an enemy circuit from clear across a city, and he will not give up until he's got his man.[4] In his role posing as an ordinary human police car, Prowl has become a model officer dedicated to the preservation of law and order - even when it occasionally conflicts with his duties as an Autobot. He also frequently clashes with his brother Side Burn, whose reckless and care-free attitude contrasts sharply with Prowl's discipline.

Animated series

With the appearance of Megatron's forces on Earth, Prowl was forced to emerge from hiding alongside his brothers, X-Brawn and Side Burn, to engage the villains in a series of battles. As the most level-headed of the Autobot Brothers due to his police training, he was the one who rarely got himself involved in solo battles, instead fighting as part of a team for maximum effect. Prowl's authoritarian attitude shapes much of who he is and what he does - he spent a lot of time keeping Side Burn in line, often catching him breaking the rules of the road in his pursuits of red sports cars, and imparted those same rules to Tow-Line, who followed them with even greater zeal than Prowl himself. So entrenched in his role as a police car, Prowl at one point was even unwilling to disguise his "uniform" so that he could save Side Burn from a Decepticon trap.

When Ultra Magnus, came to Earth and forced Prime into a combination that allowed him to share the power of the Matrix, Magnus's link to the Matrix resulted in him inadvertently channelling its energy in the midst of a battle. That energy involved Prowl, Side Burn and X-Brawn, "supercharging" them into newly colored, more powerful bodies. After a brief amount of training, Prowl and the others were soon able to control this new ability, shifting to "Supercharge Mode" when an extra power boost was needed in battle. Their supercharged modes afforded them no advantage in their final battle with Galvatron, however, as they were strung up and had their energy drained by the villain, until Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus challenged him to a final battle at the Earth's core, and defeated the power-hungry maniac.

During the course of the show, the vehicle based Autobots wear license plates with their Takara serial numbers on them (in Mach Alert's case "C-003"). When "supercharging" in car mode, his front license plate is seen changing from "C-003" to "C-025" (Super Mach Alert's serial number) without explanation.

Comics

Dreamwave Productions

The character also put in a brief appearance in one comic book story in the Dreamwave Summer Special, presented as being in-continuity with the animated series. RiD lost a contest between itself and Beast Wars to gain a mini-series, but before that mini-series, or any further RiD stories, could be published, Dreamwave went out of business.

Prowl would make one further surprise appearance in Dreamwave's Transformers: Armada series. With Optimus Prime having disappeared to an alternate dimension devastated by Unicron the Autobots attempted to locate their leader. As Jetfire attempted to locate him through Spacebridge links to other dimensions, one of these clearly shows RiD Optimus Prime and Prowl.

Fun Publications

In the comic story found in issue 8 of the Transformers Collectors Club magazine Cybertron/Robots in Disguise Optimus Prime told the story of the last battle he was in, set in the Transformers: Universe storyline. Alongside 10th Anniversary Optimus Primal they attacked the last of Unicron's forces when Unicron suddenly disappeared, and they barely escaped. Among the Autobot forces were Universe Fireflight, King Atlas, Universe Night Slash Cheetor, Universe Longhorn, Universe Prowl, Universe Repugnus, Rhinox, Universe Side Burn, Sideswipe, Universe Silverbolt, Sunstreaker, Tap-Out, Trailbreaker, Cybertron/Robots in Disguise Ultra Magnus and Universe Whirl. Among the Decepticons were Universe Blackaracknia, Nemesis Strika, Universe Obsidian, Universe Razorclaw, Reptilion and Universe Skywarp.

Prowl appears in the BotCon 2015 exclusive comic story Cybertron's Most Wanted as a member of the Axiom Nexus security forces who arrest Batteltrap, Boombox, Heavyweight, Megatron, Nebulan, Scalpel and Stepper.

Prowl 2

Additionally, although the character did not feature in the animated series, the Robots in Disguise toyline featured a Spy Changer figure named Prowl 2, based on a previously unreleased mold originally intended for use in Generation 2. Prowl 2 transforms into a 1994 Chevrolet Impala SS police interceptor (ironic, because the 1994-96 Impala SS itself is an upgraded civilian version of Chevrolet's Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 Police Interceptor). Later, in 2004, this figure was recolored to resemble the original Prowl, and released in an unnamed sub-line of Spy Changers along with several other similar figures, which were later made part of the Transformers: Universe line. This figure was also recolored a second time, this time bearing the colors of Autobot Security Director Red Alert (his robot mode features remained the same as ones for his G1 Prowl homage). However, the homage of Red Alert is called Prowl.

"Ask Vector Prime" later expanded on the history of this character, revealing that he was born from a secondary Binaltech unit created for G1 Prowl, which was embedded with his memories. It was later found by Fire Convoy during his preparations to pursue the Destronger on the orders of the Convoy Council, and granted life by Vector Sigma and reformatted as a member of the Spy Changers. Unfortunately, the risk of a temporal paradox caused by his presence was too great to change, and so he remained in the future while his comrades traveled back in time.

Toys

  • Car Robots Deluxe Mach Alert (C-004) (2000)
The original Japanese release of the Deluxe-sized toy. Transforms from a Lamborghini Diablo patrol car to robot. Decorated in black and white Japanese police markings with silver-colored wheels.[5]
  • Car Robots Deluxe Super Mach Alert (C-026) (2000)
A repaint of Mach Alert to depict his "supercharged" mode. Decorated in a more western-style police paint scheme in blue and white with gold-colored wheels.
  • Car Robots Kabaya Gum Mach Alert (2000)
The Kabaya Car Robots gum toy series consists of a stick of gum and an easy-to-assemble kit. The completed robot is non-transformable, but is fairly poseable and has translucent plastic parts.[6]
  • Robots in Disguise Deluxe Prowl (2001)
Similar to Mach Alert, only with the addition of the Autobot insignia on the hood.[7]
  • Robots in Disguise Deluxe Super Prowl (2001)
Similar to Super Mach Alert, only with the addition of the Autobot insignia on the hood.[8]
This figure was remolded (without his roof lights) and repainted into the Sideswipe and Sunstreaker toys available exclusively at BotCon 2003 (as their original incarnations also transformed into Lamborghinis). This altered version of the mold was later repainted again in the color scheme of the original Red Alert (another Lamborghini) for Transformers: Universe, but was released in the line under the name of Inferno.
  • Robots in Disguise Spy Changer Prowl 2 (2001)
A smaller figure of Prowl that transforms into a Chevrolet Impala police car, based on an unused Generation 2 Go-Bots figure. Bundled with Spy Changer Side Swipe.
  • Universe Deluxe Prowl (2004)
A slight repaint of Deluxe Prowl, with added red decals and a larger Autobot symbol. This character appeared in the BotCon 2004 voice actor play.


Transformers: Armada

Prowl
Transformers character
Emergencyteam-box.jpg
Armada Emergency Team on card
Release number

MM-21
Information
Species Transformer
Abilities

Affiliation

Mini-Con
Alternate mode

Cybertronian car/gun
Motto

"If it exists, I'll find it."
Partner

Firebot, Makeshift
Series

Transformers: Armada
Sub-group

Mini-Con Emergency Team
Tech specs

ST08 IN10 SP08 EN10

RN07 CO10 FB06 SK09

Fictional biography

Biography: Prowl specializes in the "search" part of the Emergency Team's search and rescue missions. After a battle, it's his job to locate any Transformers or human casualties that need assistance, and he loves it. Like the rest of the team, Prowl gets a tremendous kick out of helping others, but he's especially fond of using his skills to locate what others might miss. When he finds something that his friends overlooked, Prowl doesn't hesitate to point out that he's more adept than his teammates at noticing details. In fact, he's slightly vain overall about how useful his detective abilities are, but that's just because he fancies himself an expert investigator and wants others to agree. He spends his free time perusing Earth's pulp crime novels and imagining himself solving great mysteries.

Weapons and Abilities: Subject has great intelligence and analytical abilities. His ability to notice insignificant clues helps make him a competent detective; additionally, Subject is able to process 30% more detail through his optic sensors than most Mini-Cons. His other senses are all incredibly acute, plus he has a short-range radar system that is accurate at distances up to 100 feet. In addition to his vehicle mode, he can also transform into a weapon mode.

Weaknesses: Subject's radar array is susceptible to combat damage, making it inoperative until repairs are made. His slight arrogance makes him unwilling to question his own judgment.

Dreamwave Productions

Prowl appeared among the Mini-Cons in issue #18 of the Transformers: Armada comic book who aided Over-Run using the Mini-Con Matrix in the defeat of Unicron.

Prowl did not appear in the animated series, but eventually received characterisation when Dreamwave Productions crafted a profile for him. Prowl fills in the "search" role of the Emergency Team's search and rescue missions, using his acute senses and radar capabilities to locate survivors in the aftermath of battles. Prowl enjoys the act of helping others, but at the same time, he is somewhat vain about his abilities and is particularly fond of using them to discover things that others might miss. He fancies himself an expert detective, and spends his free time on Earth reading the planet's crime novels.

Toys

  • Armada Mini-Con Emergency Team (2003)
A set of new molds. The three Mini-Cons turn from robots to vehicles or guns.
Prowl was recolored into Superlink Kingbolt and Groove and Cybertron Checkpoint.
  • Armada Mini-Con Emergency Team recolor (2003)
A recolor set of the Mini-Con Energency Team. Prowl is colored to resemble Generation 1 Smokescreen.
  • Armada X-Dimension Mini-Con Emergency Team (2004)
A set of recolors released exclusively in Japan. X-Dimension Prowl was repurposed into Shattered Glass Nightstick.


Transformers: Energon

Prowl
Transformers character
Prowl-energon-card.jpg
Energon Prowl on card
Created by

Hasbro
Voiced by

Alistair Abell
Information
Species Transformer
Abilities

Affiliation

Autobot
Alternate mode

Formula One style police cruiser
Function

Head of Security
Motto

"You can run from justice, but it'll catch you!"
Partner

Checkpoint
Series

Transformers: Energon
Sub-group

Deluxe vehicles
Tech specs

ST07 IN09 SP07 EN09

RN07 CO09 FB04 SK09

Despite occurring in the same universe as Transformers: Armada and its Prowl, Transformers: Energon introduced its own Prowl (known in Japan as Red Alert). This Prowl is head of security for several strategic bases, and in both robot mode and in his alternate mode as a formula one style police car similar to G1 Mirage, he is faster than any of his comrades. His hand weapon fires twin beams of energy which act like restraining cables, wrapping around an opponent and immobilising them. Endowed with the Spark of Combination, Prowl can "Powerlinx" with other, similarly enabled Autobots, becoming either a torso or legs, allowing for the best configuration in any given his situation. Prowl is a true team player, but his suspicious nature prevents him from completely trusting any of his teammates: with the exception of his most frequent Powerlinx partner, Rodimus.

Animated series

In Transformers: Energon Prowl was among the Transformers who departed Cybertron under Rodimus's command ages ago, voyaging through space. Even after many of their companions settled on another world and became the Omnicons, Prowl stayed by Rodimus, along with Landmine, and eventually, they encountered Alpha Q, and learned of his plan to use the power of Energon to reconstitute all that had been destroyed by the planet-eater, Unicron. They pledged themselves to Alpha Q's plan, and returned to Earth, clashing with Optimus Prime and his Autobots there after an initial misunderstanding, and later, Optimus's own wariness over Alpha Q's plan. Rodimus and his team put themselves under Optimus's command when his misgivings proved accurate, and an Energon reaction caused by Megatron tore open a rift in space through which several Transformers, including Prowl, Powerlinked with Hot Shot, were pulled. In this new region of space, Alpha Q's plan had come to fruition, and all the worlds Unicron had destroyed were recreated, but soon had to be defended against the Decepticons, and the reactivated Unicron himself. With the destruction of Unicron's body, the battle seemed over, but one more challenged stood in the way as Megatron was possessed by Unicron's mind and upgraded into Galvatron. In order to defeat the Unicron-possessed Galvatron, all the Autobots, including Prowl, took Powerlinking to the ultimate extent, using their Sparks of Combination to transform into energy and fuse with Optimus Prime, who battled Galvatron before he shook off Unicron's control and plunged himself into the sun in sacrifice.

Pack in comics

In the second Transformers: Energon pack in comic Prowl, Inferno and Landmine discover some hills on Earth that are rich with energon and call in to Optimus Prime that they should put an energon tower up. Optimus warns the Autobots that Decepticon activity has been scanned nearby. Megatron attacks with a horde of Divebomb Terrorcon clones. The Autobots attempt by fight back by having Mirage and Inferno Powerlinx while Landmine goes into brute mode, but they are overwhelmed when Insecticon Terrorcon hordes join in the attack. The Autobots retreat and Megatron takes the energon for himself.

Fun Publications

Ultra Magnus appeared in the text story from Fun Publications called Force of Habit. This story explained where he was during the events of the Cybertron story. Ultra Magnus was the commander of various Autobot ships sent to other planets in search for the Cyber Planet Keys. He also served as captain of the Iron Hope which was crewed by Bonecrusher, Grimlock, Ironhide, Knock Out, Overcast, Prowl, Quickstrike, RipTide, Skyblast, Smokescreen, Swoop, Wreckage and the Sky Scorcher Mini-Con Team.

Toys

  • Energon Deluxe Prowl (2004)
A new mold, which transforms into a racing car in police livery. He can combine with Energon Rodimus into a larger robot, with him forming either the upper torso or the lower legs.
  • Energon Deluxe Prowl and Checkpoint
A black and white recolor of the Energon toy, one half of a SWAT Team along with Checkpoint (a similarly recolored Rodimus).
  • Energon Starscream vs. Prowl
A recolor of the Transformers: Armada Red Alert toy, in Energon Prowl's color scheme.


Transformers: Universe (Spy Changer)

Transformers character
240px
Name Prowl
Autobot
Series Transformers: Universe
Information
Alternate modes Chevrolet Caprice Fire Chief Car
Partner Optimus Prime
Sub-group Spy Changers

The multiple-universe-spanning Transformers: Universe 2004 line has featured several different Prowls from assorted universes. While most of these Prowls were based on previously seen characters with that name, the version of Prowl which was a Spy Changer who turned into a fire chief car seemed to be an original character.

This character also appeared in the 2004 BotCon voice play.

3H Enterprises

2004 Voice actor play plot: Rhinox has built a device to deflect Unicron's attempts to pull victims from other dimensions with his tractor beam. The Autobots deflect two attempts and the victims end up on a frozen planetoid instead of with Unicron. Maximals Rattrap and Silverbolt and the Predacon Waspinator are sent to help the victims, but Reptilion, Sunstorm, Ruination and Perceptor are sent to get them for Unicron. As a side effect of the device Rhinox built, a vortex opens which sucks in an Autobot shuttle from the past piloted by Bumblebee, Tracks and Cosmos. Thrust attacks the Maximal ship, but they are saved by being transported to the Autobot shuttle. The Autobots and Maximals then go to the planet where they save the victims from the Decepticons. On the planet are two groups of Autobots. One is from the Robots in Disguise story, with Landfill (Wal-Mart recolor), Side Burn (Universe recolor) and Prowl (Universe recolor). The other is from another parallel world with Spy Changer Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Prowl and Ironhide. They all fight off the Decepticons. The Autobot shuttle is sent back to its own time.

Toys

  • Universe Spy Changer Prowl (2004)
A redeco of Robots in Disguise Spy Changer Prowl 2, in the color scheme of the original Red Alert. Packaged together with an Optimus Prime Spy Changer. They were a Walmart store exclusive.

Transformers: Universe (Micromaster)

Transformers character
240px
Universe Prowl Micromaster toy
Name Prowl
Autobot
Series Transformers: Universe
Information
Alternate modes Police Car
Sub-group Micromasters, Protectobots

A Micromaster bearing the name - a Western release of the figure formerly exclusive to Japan from 1992, known as Road Police. This Prowl naturally transforms into an Honda nsx police car, and combines with the other Micromaster Protectobots to form Defensor. This Prowl appeared in Transformers: Universe comic #2 as part of Defensor.

3H Enterprises

This version of Prowl appeared only in his combined form of Defensor in issue 2 of the Transformers: Universe comic as one of the Transformers escaping Unicron's captivity.

Fun Publications

According to the Fun Publications Ask Vector Prime stories this Prowl comes from Aurex 1104.30-DB Zeta, part of the Unicron Trilogy series. Defensor was born from Doctor Brian Jones's attempts at reverse-engineering Maximus combiner technology and applying it to Mini-Con anatomy. Superion, Defensor, and Rail Racer fought Devastator in the Combiner Wars during the Unicron Singularity crisis.

Toys

  • Universe Prowl (2004)
Prowl is the U.S. name of former Japanese exclusive toy Road Police. A Kaybee toy store exclusive.


Transtech

Transformers character
Name Prowl
Autobot
Information
Sub-group Transtechs

Transtech Prowl had a biography printed by Fun Publications.[9]

Fun Publications

Prowl appeared in Invasion Prologue by Fun Publications.[10]

Prowl appears in "A Flash Forward Epilogue" by Fun Publications. He discusses the recent dimensional problems with Rhinox.[11]

Transformers

Transformers character
ProwlAOEbio.jpg
Age of Extinction Prowl toy on card
Name Prowl
Autobot
Information
Alternate modes Police car, Cybertronian vehicle
Sub-group One Step Changers

Producer Tom DeSanto stated that Prowl was part of the original lineup pitched for the Autobots in the live action Transformers film, along with Optimus Prime, Arcee, Ironhide, Jazz, Ratchet, Wheeljack and Bumblebee.[12] He was featured in the script, but as the writers loved the subversiveness of a Decepticon police car (which became Barricade), he was removed.[13] As of Transformers: Dark of the Moon, he is the only Autobot character intended to appear in the original lineup that has not made a film appearance.

He has a red V-shaped object on his forehead like his Generation 1 self.

IDW Publishing

Prowl appeared in the Transformers: Defiance series by IDW Publishing. In issue #2 he sided with Optimus against Megatron's order to counter-attack Cybertron's invaders. In issue #3 Optimus, Jazz and Prowl broke into Megatron's quarters while he was away looking for clues as to his current unusual behavior. What they found was an ancient artifact recently uncovered that Megatron had restored.[14] When Megatron learned that Optimus has broken into his room he sent Bumblebee, Camshaft, Cliffjumper, Jazz, Prowl and Smokescreen to arrest Optimus for treason. Optimus demanded to speak directly to Megatron, but when the group was traveling to Megatron's location they were ambushed by Barricade, Brawl, Crankcase, Frenzy, Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker who had orders to kill the lot of them. Smokescreen was able to cover Optimus and his group's retreat in the confusion of an explosion. In issue #4 Prowl aided Optimus in choosing the location for their new base, then was present when Ironhide joined the Autobots.

Prowl is among the Autobot forces who witness the launching of the Decepticon ship Nemesis.[15]

Prowl appears in his Cybertronian form in Transformers: The Reign of Starscream in a flashback before the events of the first film. In the story Optimus is blaming himself for the loss of the Allspark, but Prowl tells him they still have a fighting chance thanks to the decisions Optimus made.

Toys

  • Age of Extinction One Step Changer Prowl (2014)


Transformers Animated

Transformers character
Prowl-animated.jpg
Animated Prowl on card
Name Prowl
Autobot
Series Transformers Animated
Transformers: Universe
English voice actor Jeff Bennett
Japanese voice actor Koji Yusa
Information
Alternate modes Police Motorcycle, Cybetronian Hoverbike
Function Ninja, Spy
Motto "Through stillness you will find the truth."
Partner Ratchet
Rank 7 (Hasbro), 8 (Takara)
Sub-group Cyber Ninjas, Deluxe Vehicles, Micro Vehicles

Unlike most previous Autobots who used the name Prowl, who mostly became police cars, this character's earth alternate mode is a police motorcycle. On Cybertron, Prowl's alternate mode resembled a motorcycle but was longer and seemingly backwards. Despite the difference in appearance, Prowl's antenna on his forehead is similar to that of his G1 predecessor. Prowl appears in the Transformers Animated series in 2007-2008 as a skilled ninja. Prowl is very self-reliant, and often makes decisions without consulting his commander: Optimus Prime. However, he does care for the other Autobots and the creatures on Earth, but does not show that he does very often.[16]

He is a master of Circuit-Su: the Cybertronian-based form of martial arts. He can project a holographic driver in vehicle mode as well as multiple holographic projections of himself during battle. Prowl is an expert in camouflaging himself. He can turn virtually any object into a weapon, but carries a pair of shuriken, too. He also has keener senses than the other Autobots. He has a retractable face plate which he sometimes uses in combat. Prowl has jets on his shoulders he can use to assist him in leaps or so seemingly fly for short distances, particularly useful in low gravity situations. It is also revealed in "Home Is Where the Spark Is" that Prowl is talented at playing Twister. He can also turn his legs into wheels to move quickly in robot mode over flat surfaces. His appearance in armor from the episode "A Fistful of Energon" makes him look like a samurai; in vehicle mode with his armor as a sidecar, he looks exactly like Kamen Rider Kaixa's Side Basshar[17] His armor grants him increased strength, agility, and power, jump jet boosters, a sonic staff and arm shields among its powers. While he discarded the suit after realizing how it easily tempted him, Prowl takes full possession of another version of the armor as of "Five Servos Of Doom", along with the helmet of his mentor Yoketron.

Prowl is very reserved in nature, but does care for his teammates. Even when they think he's gone totally insane or vice-versa. Still even his reserved nature doesn't stop him from making an occasional joke or accusation. Like his fellow Cyber-Ninja Jazz, Prowl is fascinated by human culture and the simple, yet complex nuances of organic life. In "Human Error" Parts One and Two, Prowl's human form is basically the driver he projects in vehicle mode, a forty-year-old Caucasian male. He is the first to break Soundwave's control, and pretends to remain under the mind control during the final battle, possibly to test Sari. At the end, when Sari realizes that Prowl could've been helping her, she scolds him with "you, you big faker." Prowl responds with "I wasn't just faking."

According to art director Derrick J. Wyatt the early designs for Prowl had him colors more like Generation 1 Prowl, but they wanted to move him away from the white colors, since Ratchet was also primarily white. Instead, they used colors inspired by the motorcycles in CHiPs television series.[18]

Animated series

Originally a hot-headed Autobot who protested the war, Prowl was sent to the Autobot stockade for draft-dodging, and would have remained there were it not for Circuit-Su master Yoketron. In spite of Prowl's outlook, Yoketron explained that by saving Prowl he has done something for him, and then said that if Prowl can make it to the door without being caught he was free to leave. After failing to leave, Prowl became Yoketron's student and learned mostly everything from him, save for the complex and advanced "ninjabotsu discipline" of "processor over matter". Yoketron then explained to Prowl that the mission of the CyberNinja is to protect a vault of Autobot protoforms, sending Prowl on an "optics quest" in the hopes of him fully mastering "processor over matter". While Prowl was away, Lockdown led a Decepticon raid on the vault and fatally injured his former mentor. Prowl tried to use the last remaining protoform to house Yoketron's spark. Disappointed that his prized student would sacrifice the future to hold on to the past, Yoketron died voluntarily. It was while going under another optics quest that Prowl encountered the Space Bridge repair group under Optimus Prime. With his ship accidentally destroyed by a cube of Energon exploding after Ratchet dropped it, a distraught Prowl agreed to help the group in their work for a ride back to Cybertron, only to get caught up in the chaos that followed when they found the Allspark.

In episode 1-3,"Transform and Roll Out", Prowl severed Megatron's right arm during the Autobots' melee with the Decepticon leader aboard their ship. After arriving on Earth, Prowl took on the alternate form of a police motorcycle. Prowl was badly injured in his initial heroic actions on Earth and became the first Autobot to be healed by Sari's Key.

In episode 6, "Blast from the Past", Prowl took Bulkhead to a remote island in order to train him in the hope that this will instill more self-control and coordination in the large Autobot. After the Autobots subdued the Dinobots, Prowl freed them and, with the help of Bulkhead, but without Prime's knowledge, relocated them to a secluded island off the coast of Detroit.[19]

In episode 12, "Survival of the Fittest", after Lugnut and Blitzwing arrived on Earth, Prowl attempted to teach Sari self-defense before she was kidnapped by the Dinobots. Prowl and Bulkhead headed to Dinobot Island to investigate - with a highly suspicious Captain Fanzone on their tail. After discovering that the Dinobots were being forced to kidnap the Sari by the criminal scientist Meltdown, Prowl helped capture Meltdown while realizing that Sari may need not his training as he had thought. In this episode Prowl proves the fact that, though he gets easily frustrated with her, he does care for Sari.

In episode 14, "Nature Calls", Prowl, Bumblebee and Sari got more than they bargained for when they headed out to the remote woods to investigate a mysterious energy signal, which turned out to be space barnacles that assimilated with a construction vehicle to become a techno-organic monster. Even though he and Bumblebee destroyed the space barnacles, they were infected but were saved by Sari, who sprayed hot water on them through a fire hose.

In "Megatron Rising Part 1", Prowl revealed to Optimus that he had relocated the Dinobots away from civilization. He then took Optimus and Bulkhead to Dinobot Island for Optimus to ask the Dinobots for assistance against the upcoming Decepticon threat, to which the Dinobots rejected.

One of the most prominent episodes with Prowl's "starring" is the episode 23, "A Fistful of Energon". Here he goes off on his own to capture Starscream, who had escaped from Autobot Elite Guard custody. While pursuing the runaway Decepticon, he lands on the Moon. There Prowl discovers and handcuffs Starscream in the wrecked Decepticon spaceship, but also he finds competition in the form of Lockdown, who is going for the bounty set by Megatron on his former "right hand". The two tough transformers engage in battle with each other meanwhile their prisoner succeeds in releasing his stasis cuffs and in running away. After that, agreeing to a temporary alliance, Prowl is given by Lockdown an armour upgrade, which transforms into a sidecar for his bike mode. So they set off in pursuit of Starscream and soon spot him on Earth (actually one of his clones). Thanks to the extra power and agility his upgrades give him, Prowl brings Starscream down easily and handcuffs him again. But when he gets to know Lockdown's intention to hand Starscream over to Megatron, he makes a strong protest. However, Lockdown binds Prowl and tows his "prize" away, promising to return and "try their discharges on each other". The other Autobots find Prowl and set him free. But, much to their surprise, Prowl becomes increasingly arrogant and reckless, until he accidentally destroys a bird's nest during a battle with a second Starscream clone, regaining his composure as he sacrifices his armor to launch two self-destructing Starscream clones away from Detroit.

In "A Bridge Too Close", it was revealed that Prowl did not complete his cyber-ninja training and was trying to master "Processor Over Matter", which was thought to be used only by a fully trained cyber-ninja. Despite that, he managed to break out of his stasis cuffs and free Optimus during the melee between the Decepticons, Starscream's clone army and the Autobots.

During the events of "Transwarped", after hearing Isaac Sumdac's story of how he found Sari, Prowl snuck into Sumdac Tower to perform his own investigation that led him to confirm Sumdac's story and Sari's Cybertronian origin. He then had to save an upgraded Sari from herself and then battle Omega Supreme. To save Omega, went inside him and battle Megatron, and then Starscream on the virtual level.

In "Five Servos of Doom", Lockdown captured several Decepticons and traded them to Sentinel Prime in exchange for parts of the Autobot Elite Guard ship. All throughout the episode, Prowl had flashbacks of his past as a hotheaded Autobot undergoing cyber-ninja training. Learning the truth behind his mentor's death, Prowl demanded that Lockdown return Yoketron's helmet, which he wore during his deal with Sentinel Prime. Lockdown complied, but revealed that he booby trapped the helmet to capture Prowl. Prowl managed to use "processor over matter" to free himself from the helmet's constricting ribbons and defeat Lockdown with a copy of the sidecar armor he lent him during their last encounter. Lockdown managed to escape but Prowl kept the armor and helmet, with Jazz commenting that he looks good in it.

Jazz later joined the earth Autobots, helping Prowl to complete his cyber-ninja training. In the series finale "Endgame", Prowl was able to materialize an Allspark fragment from out of thin air. Prowl later repeated this act with Jazz's aid to reassemble the entire Allspark during Megatron's attack on Earth. But unable to gather all the pieces in time, Prowl sacrificed his own spark to complete the Allspark. He sadly smiled at Jazz before dying. His spirit becoming a part of it as his final action saved Optimus from being contained with Megatron and the detonating Supreme clone. Soon after the fight, Prowl's sparkless body was brought to Cyberton for a proper burial.

If the fourth season had been produced, Prowl would've returned in one episode as a ghost.

IDW Publishing

Set shortly after the events of "Total Meltdown" was the Transformers: Animated comic issue #2 by IDW Publishing. In it Bumblebee and Prowl apprehended the Angry Archer as the villain attempted to steal money from a used car salesman. In doing so they revealed the holographic trickery of the Detroit super hero known as The Wraith. With the secret of his power revealed The Wraith lost much of the respect he used to command in Detroit. The Wraith attempted to stop Cyrus "The Colossus" Rhodes from escaping prison, but was unable to fool the villain now that the secret was public, forcing the Autobots to stop the Rhodes and making The Wraith look foolish. The Wraith then attempted to discredit Bumblebee at a college football game by trapping the Autobot with a car boot and using his holograms to make a fake Bumblebee attack the stadium. Bumblebee eventually escaped and the other Autobots helped capture The Wraith and he was placed in a mental institution.

Toys

  • Universe Animated Series Legends Prowl (2008)
A Micro class toy released in the Universe Legends line.[20]
  • Animated Legends Prowl (2008)
Almost identical to the Universe toy. The only difference is that it features a silver Autobot symbol instead of a red one. This figure was bundled with Deluxe Rescue Ratchet and Legends Starscream.[21]
  • Animated Deluxe Prowl (2008)
The toy comes with two robot-styled shuriken which are stored on the outer side of his lower legs, and a traffic light on a string (which Prowl never actually used; instead, Bulkhead used it as an improvised weapon once in the series).[22][23] This figure was sold later in a Walmart exclusive 2-pack with Deluxe battle damaged Megatron.
  • Animated Deluxe Samurai Prowl (2009)
First seen in the second season episode "A Fistful of Energon", this figure is a complete remold of Deluxe Prowl with more points of articulation and a sidecar that transforms into his samurai-themed armor. The sidecar's wheel transforms into a sword/shield combo. Unlike regular Prowl, Samurai Prowl's shuriken do not have retractable blades.[24]
  • Animated TA-05 Deluxe Prowl (Takara Tomy) (2010)
The 2010 Japan version by Takara Tomy sports a red Autobot emblem and chrome silver painted headlights.[25]
Also bundled with TA-13 Voyager Blitzwing.
  • Animated EZ Collection Translucent Prowl (Takara Tomy) (2010)
A Japan-exclusive remold of Universe Legends Prowl in clear smoke plastic. Offered at APiTA stores with the purchase of TA-01 Voyager Optimus Prime or TA-06 Voyager Megatron.[26]
  • Animated TA-34 Deluxe Samurai Prowl (Takara Tomy) (2010, not yet released)
Set for release in Japan on August 2010.[27]
  • Animated TA-05 Deluxe Elite Guard Prowl (Takara Tomy) (2010)
A Tokyo Toy Show exclusive redeco in white and gold.[28]

Transformers: Prime

Transformers character
Prowl-beasthunters-card.jpg
Beast Hunters Prowl on card
Name Prowl
Autobot
Series Transformers: Prime
Information
Alternate modes Police car
Function Tech Specialist, Police Enforcer
Sub-group Cyberverse, Deluxe vehicles

A Transformers: Prime design has been made for Prowl, but it has yet to be seen or mentioned in any episodes.

Books

Prowl appears in the novel Transformers: Exodus, its sequel Transformers: Exiles, and will appear in the upcoming novel Transformers: Retribution.

Games

Prowl is mentioned to appear in the online game Transformers Universe.

Toys

  • Transformers: Prime Cyberverse Legion Prowl with Justice Hammer (2013)
  • Transformers: Beast Hunters Deluxe prowl
A remold of Beast Hunters Smokescreen.


Kre-O Transformers

Transformers character
Prowl-kreo-box.jpg
Kre-O Prowl box
Name Prowl
Autobot
Series Kre-O Transformers
First appearance "Last Bot Standing"
Information
Alternate modes Police car
Gender Male

Prowl is an Autobot and is based on the Generation 1 version of the character.

Fictional biography

If we can dispense with all the "jokes" and "fun," and simply concentrate on doing our jobs, everything will get done much more quickly and pleasantly. Now please excuse me. I have a number of algorithms to calculate, and I’m too excited to wait any longer.

Biggest Fear: Shapes that aren't bricks. They just don't make sense!

Personal Hero: Block Samson – the best cybercop I ever met!

Most Prized Possession: My graphing calculator.

Animated series

Kreon Prowl appeared in the animated short "Last Bot Standing."[29]

Kreon Prowl appeared in the animated short "Bot Stars."[30]

Kreon Prowl appeared in the animated short "The Big Race."[31]

Games

Kre-O Prowl appears in the flash video game Kre-O Transformers Konquest. In this game Kreon Optimus Prime attempts to avoid bombs and collect parts to rebuild Kre-O Ratchet, Mirage, Prowl, Oprimus Prime and Bumblebee.[32]

Toys

  • Kre-O Transformers Prowl (2011)
A Lego-like building block kit of Prowl with 174 pieces to assemble in either car or robot mode. Comes with 2 Kreon figures of Prowl and a human.


Shattered Glass

Prowl
Transformers character
Prowl-sg.jpg
Shattered Glass Prowl art
Created by

Hasbro
Information
Species Transformer
Abilities

Affiliation

Autobot
Alternate mode

Police car
Sub-group

Deluxe vehicles

Shattered Glass Prowl is one of the evil Autobots of Optimus Prime. He turns into a police car.

Fun Publications

Following a particularly bad defeat on Earth at the hands of the Decepticons, Prowl was among the Autobots who left for Cybertron in Sky Lynx. When their ride announced they'd have to lighten their load, Prowl, being among the most badly wounded of the Autobots, was dumped out of the airlock along with Optimus Prime and a number of others. They subsequently found themselves in the presence of Unicron.

He was later reformatted into Checkpoint by Unicron.

Toys

Although no toy for Shattered Glass Prowl exists, his body design is based on Universe Prowl in the colors of the Mexican release of Generation 1 Prowl.

References

  1. Stalking The Prey: A Guide to Hasbro's Beast Wars by Nicholas R. Messina, Jr., Lee's Action Figure News and Toy Review #71, page 34-40, September 1998
  2. TFW2005.com - Binaltech BT-15 Prowl Honda Integra Type-R
  3. Lenburg, Jeff (2009). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Third Edition. Infobase Publishing. p. 657. ISBN 978-0-8160-6599-8. 
  4. TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE Returns! Hasbro Launches Product Line Based on Original '80s Theme; Fox Kids Series to Debut September 8th. Business Wire September 5, 2001
  5. Ben's World of Transformers - Mach Alert
  6. TFW2005.com - Kabaya Gum Mach Alert
  7. Seibertron.com - Prowl
  8. Seibertron.com - Super Prowl
  9. "The World of... Transtech". Transformers Collectors Club Magazine 1 (23): 8–9. October/November 2008. http://transformersclub.com/_images/TFmag15.pdf. 
  10. Pete Sinclair & Jesse Wittenrich (w), Will Mangin (p), Jake Isenberg (i). "Invasion Prologue" Transformers Timelines (March, 2012), Fun Publications
  11. Jesse Wittenrich & Pete Sinclair (w), Robby Musso (p), Matt Frank (i), Thomas Deer (col), Jesse Wittenrich (let), Pete Sinclair (ed). "A Flash Forward Epilogue" The Transformers Collectors Club (September 2012), Fun Publications
  12. Scott Marble (June 2007). "The Mind of Tom Desanto". Transformers Collectors Club Magazine. pp. 3, 10. 
  13. Roberto Orci (2007-06-07). "Roberto and Alex: Questions". Official site. http://boards.transformersmovie.com/showpost.php?p=371594&postcount=4533. Retrieved 2007-06-30. 
  14. http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0903/12/idwfirsts.htm
  15. John Barber (w), Andrew Griffith (p), Priscilla Tramontano (i). Transformers: Foundation 3: 14/1 (April 2011), IDW Publishing
  16. Cartoon Network and Hasbro Join Forces to Create TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED, Business Wire, June 25, 2007
  17. Character bios for Transformers Animated characters
  18. Derrick J. Wyatt's Blog - Hey, Everybody! It's Prowl!
  19. Transformers Animated Reviews: Episode-6-blast-from-the-past At TransformersAnimated.com
  20. Transformers Universe Legends Wave 3 - HASBRO - Transformers - Transformers at Entertainment Earth
  21. http://tformers.com/transformers-first-look-at-target-exclusive-rescue-ratchet-set/10068/news.html
  22. Toyfare Magazine #123, November 2007, page 40
  23. First Images of Transformers Animated Prowl and Packaging! (Updated with Bio!)
  24. http://www.tfw2005.com/resources/animated-autobots-190/prowl-samurai-1876/
  25. TFW2005.com - Takara Tomy Animated Deluxe Prowl Photo Gallery
  26. TFW2005.com - Translucent EZ Collection Exclusive Versions of Animated Prowl, Bumblebee and Starscream Announced
  27. TFW2005.com - Wingblade Optimus Prime and Hydrodrive Bumblebee Possibly Set for September Release in Japan
  28. TFW2005.com - Tokyo Toy Show 2010 Elite Guard Prowl Images
  29. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7sVJOl-eMw
  30. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRMBgjktWPQ
  31. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvzTuyfctN4
  32. http://www.hasbro.com/kre-o/en_GB/play/details.cfm?R=D811F020-5056-900B-108E-35F4CF2DAD32:en_GB

External links