Chromedome (Transformers)

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Transformers character
Chromedome-boxart.jpg
Box art for Chromedome with Stylor
Name Chromedome
Autobot
Series Transformers: Generation 1
Transformers: Timelines
English voice actor Frank Welker (The Transfomrmers), Zach Dyer (fan dubs)
Japanese voice actor Hideyuki Hori
Information
Alternate modes Cybertronian Car, possibly meant to be a modified Lamborghini Silhouette.
Function Computer Programmer
Gender Male
Motto "A battle plan is only as good as its programmer."
Partner Stylor
Rank 7
Sub-group Headmasters

Chromedome is a fictional character in the Transformers series introduced in 1987. He is an Autobot Headmaster computer programmer who turns into a car. He was a regular character in the Transformers: The Headmasters anime.

Transformers: Generation 1

Chromedome is an Autobot introduced in the 1987 Headmasters sub-line of Generation 1.[1] He has the Headmaster partner Stylor and he turns into a Cybertronian car. He is a computer programmer who worked as a number cruncher at Cyberton's Institute for Higher Programming for several thousand years before it was destroyed in a Decepticon attack. Stylor is an egotistical Nebulon more concerned with appearance than warfare.[2]

Chromedome leader the Autobot Headmasters.[3] According to an interview with Kaneda Masumi, Chromedome was chosen to lead the Headmasters in the animated series because he was an automobile like Optimus Prime and Rodimus Prime. [4]

Fictional biography

Profile: Chromedome spent several thousand years crunching numbers at Cybertron's Institute for Higher Programming before a Decepticon attack reduced it to a smoking pile of microchips. Forcibly dragged into the war in this way, Chromedome turned his skills to limiting the potential for violence by reprogramming many of his Autobot colleagues to be able to outsmart their foes. But this only began an ever escalating strategic brain race during which each side furiously competed to apply the latest in software to military purposes. Disillusioned and frustrated, Chromedome eagerly joined Fortress Maximus's expedition in search of a peaceful world upon which to live. Although, much to his chagrin, the war soon followed him to Nebulos, Chromedome still devotes much of his time to academic pursuits - after all, he now has a whole new world to learn about. But he is also now resigned to the idea that the war with the Decepticons can not be avoided, only won. He's as scholarly and reserved as he ever was, but now he's also a stalwart warrior.

Stylor, Chromedome's binary-bonded Nebulan partner, is more concerned with appearance than warfare. He spends more time primping himself and polishing Chromedome than he does preparing for battle. In Nebulan society circles, he is renowned for his exquisite taste in clothes and dashing good looks. He is not much of a ladies' man, however - few Nebulan women are interested in a guy who tries to look prettier than they do. He's charming, cheery and egotistical. Many suspect the reason Stylor volunteered to become a Headmaster was because it was the fashionable thing to do at the time.

Abilities: In car mode, Chromedome's twin fuel-injected, turbo-charged, side-mounted engines give him a maximum speed of 478 mph on a flat road. His range is 630 miles. His hood-mounted infrared rangefinder automatically targets his roof-mounted dual lasers, which he also uses in robot mode.

Weaknesses: Chromedome does not travel well on rough surfaces in car mode. Stylor's preoccupations with himself often impede Chromedome's effectiveness, particularly during combat.

Animated series

The Transformers

Chromedome first appeared in the episode "Rebirth Part 1". Decepticons successfully stole the key to the Plasma Energy Chamber and opened the ancient device, a group of Autobots and humans included Chromedome were blasted across the galaxy by the energy release, crash-landing on the planet Nebulos. Quickly siding with a group of rebels engaged in a war against the planet's evil rulers, the Hive, they deduced a process by which they could combine the best of their minds and bodies together, becoming Headmasters.

Transformers: The Headmasters

Hardhead, Chromedome and Punch in Transformers: Headmasters

Whereas "The Rebirth" served as an ending for the cartoon series in the west, in Japan, it was decided to continue producing new episodes. To that end, "The Rebirth" was discarded, and in its stead, a new 35-episode series titled Transformers: The Headmasters was created, along with a new Japanese concept for Headmasters which differed distinctly from their Western counterparts. There would be no Nebulons or humans here - instead, the heads were small Cybertronians, and the bodies were lifeless constructs called "Transtectors" to which these small robots connected themselves, and which they controlled. Although the Japanese toyline, like the West, gave the Headmaster components different names to the larger Transtectors the animated series used only one name for both the head and the Transtector.

Four million years ago, Fortress was the leader of one of the many groups of Autobots who fled Cybertron to escape the wars. Things took a turn for the worse, however, when their spaceship crashed on the planet Master, the harsh environments of which killed many members of the crew. In order to survive the dangers inherent to life on Master, the Autobots created the lifeless bodies known as Transtectors, and underwent rigorous training to master the transformation technique and merge with them. Their training also allowed them to developed considerable mental powers such as telepathy and telekinesis.

However, a member of the group known as Zarak chafed under Fortress's leadership, and he and three of the Headmasters loyal to him turned on him, only to be defeated and forced off of Master. Zarak subsequently teamed up with Decepticon leader Galvatron, and when they attacked Cybertron in the year 2011, Fortress and his men - Chromedome, Brainstorm, Hardhead and Highbrow - returned to their home planet aboard Fortress's battleship, Maximus, and joined the war once more. Chromedome established himself as the leader of the group, often impulsively leading them into battle against superior odds.

Chromedome acted as Fortress' second-in-command and had a rivalry with Sixshot, who had killed one of his friends in a previous encounter - a hatred only deepened when the sixchanger killed Ultra Magnus on Earth, and later forced Chromedome himself to kill one of his human friends to save Fortress Maximus. Although the two eventually fought it out, with Chromedome and the other Headmasters battling Sixshot's six modes, a bomb planted by Scorponok to kill Sixshot then detonated, forcing them to work together to save Daniel Witwicky. Chromedome continued to appear, battling the Decepticons under Maximus and even making peace with Sixshot, participating in the final battle against Scorponok's forces. He also displayed an infatuation with Arcee.

Chromedome appeared in two episodes of this Japanese exclusive series. In episode 4 a recording of Chromedome was shown, and it was explained that he sent the six Transtector bodies who would become the Headmaster Juniors to Metalhawk on Earth. 3 of the Transtectors were stolen by the Destrons. Chromedome's final appearance would be in episode 23, "Expose the Destrons' Dark Trap".

Books

Autobots Strike Oil cover with Chromedome

Chromedome is among the Autobots who appeared in the 1988 Ladybird Books story Autobots Strike Oil by John Grant.[5]

Comics

Dreamwave Productions

Although Chromedome didn't appear in the Dreamwave Transformers comics before they closed down, Chromedome and Stylor did get a one page biography in their More Than Meets The Eye series.

Fun Publications

Wings of Honor

Spark commands an Autobot shuttle crewed by Blaze, Hubcap, Sideswipe, Streetstar and Windbreaker into space where they intercept a distress call from Spike Witwicky on the planet Nebulos. When the Autobots arrive on Nebulos they meet Spike and Carly Witwicky, Chip Chase and the Autobots Brainstorm, Chromedome, Crosshairs and Highbrow who inform them that the Nebulan scientist Hi-Q is missing. They learn from Hi-Q's assistant Hi-Test that Hi-Q had security monitors and through them discover the scientist was kidnapped by the Decepticons Runabout and Runamuck.[6]

Manga

Chromedome appears in Headmasters manga #8. In this story Soundblaster remained behind on Earth after the other Decepticons left and he uses Slugfest and Overkill to take Spike, Carly and Daniel Witwicky hostage in his fight against Chromedome. Daniel was able to blind Slugfest and get him to attack Overkill as Chromedome defeated Soundblaster.[7]

Chromedome appears in the Generations 2011 issue #2 "The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos" where he is part of a team lead by Stepper to obtain a cure for nano-virus which is effecting some Autobots. When the Autobots arrive on Nebulos they are attacked by a group of Decepticons lead by Straxus. The Autobots are able to obtain the cure and bring it back to Earth, where Ricochet's team is commended by Optimus Prime.[8]

Marvel Comics

Before the war began, Chromedome was a computer programmer. Joining the Autobots after the Decepticons destroyed his workplace, Chromedome served loyally. Eventually, disillusioned and frustrated, Chromedome eagerly joined Fortress Maximus's expedition on the Steelhaven in search of a peaceful world upon which to live. Chromedome was among the Autobots who joined Fortress Maximus in leaving Cybertron for the planet Nebulos. Chromedome was among the Autobots who gave up their heads to the Nebulans in hopes of showing their peaceful intentions (Transformers: Headmasters #1). However, greeted with distrust by the local Nebulans, Chromedome was amongst those who removed their heads as a gesture of goodwill. When Scorponok's Decepticons began their attacks, Chromedome joined with Stylor, an appearance obsessed Nebulan, to become a Headmaster.

Chromedome went on to fight in many more battles against the Decepticons, including being lured into a trap at Scorponok's fortress of despair, resulting in a battle with the Decepticon Targetmasters (Marvel UK #130-131). Realising the damage they were doing, Maximus' forces fled Nebulos for Earth, with Scorponok's troops in hot pursuit. Chromedome joined up with Optimus Prime's forces on Earth.

He first appeared in issue #38 when Fortress Maximus's crew came to Earth. Chromedome was seen in issue #69 with a leg missing and joking about it with Hot Rod. His last appearance in the US Marvel comics was retreating from Unicron, in issue #75.

TFcon comics

Chromedome appeared in the comic released for the 2011 TFcon, called "Changes in War". This story is set on the planet Master before the events of Transformers: The Headmasters. Chromedome is among the Autobots who try and fail to stop Scorponok and his allies from escaping.[9]

Transformers: Mosaic

Chromedome and Stylor appeared in the Transformers: Mosaic story "The Sting of Scorponok" by Josh “Richter” van Reyk.[10]

Chromedome appeared in the Transformers: Mosaic story "Once Was" by Martin Fisher.[11]

Other comics

Chromedome is one of the characters appearing in the unlicensed comic book Transformers Chronicles Book One by Hirofumi Ichikawa.

Games

Chromedome is a playable character in the Japanese Famicon video game Transformers: The Headmasters.

Toys

  • Generation 1 Headmaster Chromedome with Stylor (1987)
In Japan a prototype of Chromedome repainted as Headmaster Arcee was made, but the toy was never released. [12][13]
  • Generation 1 Lucky Draw Headmaster Chromedome with Stylor (1987)
A Japan-exclusive chrome silver remold of the Headmaster toy, offered in the 1987 Lucky Draw campaign by TV Magazine.[14]
  • Timelines Chromedome with Stylor
A subscription service exclusive to the Transformers Collectors Club. Chromedome is a remold of Prime Deluxe Wheeljack, while Stylor is a recolor of Arms Micron S.2. Chromedome turns into a car. Stylor turns into a crossbow.

Gallery

Shattered Glass

Shattered Glass Chromedome is a evil mirror universe counterpart of the Generation 1 character.

References

  1. Bellemo, Mark (2007). Transformers Identification and Price Guide. Krause Publications. p. 145. ISBN 978-0-89689-445-7. 
  2. Alvarez, J.E. (2001). The Unofficial Guide to Transformers 1980s Through 1990s Revised & Expanded 2nd Edition. Schiffer Publishing Ltd.. p. 68. ISBN 0764313649. 
  3. Jim Sorenson & Bill Forster (July 22, 2008). Transformers: The Ark II. IDW Publishing. pp. 12-13. ISBN 978-1600101809. 
  4. http://web.archive.org/web/20050207000229/www.tfpulp.com/archive/interview/interview.html
  5. John Grant (1988). Autobots Strike Oil. Ladybird Books. ISBN 0721410693. 
  6. Jesse Wittenrich & Pete Sinclair (June/July 2012). "A Flash Forward Part 3". Transformers Collectors Club Magazine 1 (45): 6-11. 
  7. http://tfarchive.com/comics/japanese/trans307.php
  8. Simon Furman (w), Guido Guidi (p). "Generations 2011" The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos 2 (2011), Japan: Takara Tomy
  9. Daniel Arseneault ] (w), Alex Milne (p), Josh Perez (col). "Changes in War" Tfcon (July 29th, 2011), TFCon
  10. http://transformers-mosaic.deviantart.com/art/THE-STING-OF-SCORPONOK-93734755
  11. http://transformers-mosaic.deviantart.com/art/ONCE-WAS-94471285
  12. Toy buying guide by Judy Braiman-Lipson, Deborah Fineblum Raub, Consumer Reports Books, 1988
  13. Alvarez, J.E. (2001). The Unofficial Guide to Japanese and International Transformers. Schiffer Publishing Ltd.. p. 29. ISBN 0764312820. 
  14. TFW2005.com - Lucky Draw Chromedome

External links