Buzzsaw (Transformers)
Buzzsaw is the name of several fictional characters in the fictional Transformers universes.
Contents
Transformers: Generation 1
Buzzsaw is a Decepticon Transformer which transforms from a mechanical golden condor into a microcassette tape.[1] He works in tandem with his partner Soundwave, and fellow cassettes Laserbeak, Ravage, Rumble, Frenzy, and Ratbat. Buzzsaw's name derives from his micro-serrated beak, which can slice through most materials. He excelled in espionage due to his small animal form, and is far braver than the cowardly Laserbeak. [2]
The Soundwave exclusive with Buzzsaw was voted the #5 top toy exclusive at SDCC 2009 by Wired Magazine.[3]
Marvel Comics
Buzzsaw was one of the original ten Decepticons that crashed to Earth in the Ark. After being reactivated and given the Earthen mode of a condor, Buzzsaw would participate in many of the early battles against the Autobots, seemingly taking Laserbeak's place as Shockwave's pet — until a disastrous raid by Megatron led to Buzzsaw, along with Starscream, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Rumble and Frenzy, getting deactivated by Omega Supreme. Buzzsaw was eventually rescued, along with the other captive Decepticons by Ratbat's forces. He would then participate in the battles against Scorponok's Decepticons and then against the Autobots, toppling Omega Supreme, using their united force. None realized, however, that it was all a ruse by Starscream to gain the power of the Underbase for himself. The Autobots and Decepticons would then unite to stop him, but Starscream's power was too great, and Buzzsaw was one of those deactivated. He was not seen again. Interestingly, Buzzsaw was capable of speech in the comic book, unlike the cartoon.
Animated series
Buzzsaw would occasionally appear in the animated series, usually partnered with Laserbeak on spying or attack missions. However, he was featured far less than Laserbeak, likely because Buzzsaw was included with the Soundwave toy, so featuring Laserbeak would boost Laserbeak's sales.
Buzzsaw also appeared in several episodes of the Japanese Transformers: The Headmasters series, being one of the cassettes who recovered Soundwave's body after his fatal duel with Blaster, rebuilding him into Soundblaster. He went on to battle Twincast (the similarly rebuilt Blaster) and his cassettes on several other occasions.
Books
Buzzsaw was featured in the 1985 Find Your Fate Junior book called Battle Drive by Barbara Siegel and Scott Siegel.[4]
Devil's Due Publishing
In the third G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers crossover from Devil's Due Publishing, Buzzsaw (in his golden color scheme) was one of the Decepticons under Serpent O.R. who attacked Autobot Capital City. He appeared again as part of the Decepticon reinforcements sent to stop an Autobot/G.I. Joe breakout. With the eventual defeat of Serpentor, Buzzsaw's fate is unknown.
Fun Publications
In the 2006 BotCon story and the accompanying tech spec for the Laserbeak toy released at the convention it was revealed that after the end of the Great War, Divebomb of the original Predacons had rebuilt Laserbeak, Buzzsaw and Ravage into Predacons as part of a secret project to overthrow the Maximals. Ravage swiftly grew discontented and left to work for the TriPredacus Council. When Megatron and his crew stole the Golden Disc, Divebomb, knowing of his plans to alter history, ordered Laserbeak and Buzzsaw's ship to assist them. They badly damaged the Axalon, but were distracted by the Maximal ship Chromia 10 long enough for the Axalon to find their weak spot and destroy them, ending Buzzsaw's career at last.
IDW Publishing
Buzzsaw made his first appearance in the IDW Publishing continuity in issue #2 of The Transformers: Megatron Origin, where he, Ravage and Laserbeak were shown to be already working with Soundwave, unlike Rumble and Frenzy. Accompanying Soundwave to a clandestine meeting with Megatron, leader of the underground gladiator games. When they realised Autobots had tracked them, Laserbeak and Buzzsaw took out one while Ravage dealt with the other.
Toys
- Generation 1 Buzzsaw (1984)
- Buzzsaw was a Transformer which transforms from a mechanical golden condor into a microcassette tape.[5][6]
- One of the earliest Transformers toys. [7] Buzzsaw was packaged with Soundwave. He shares a mold with Laserbeak and Garboil.[8] He was re-released as a SDCC exclusive in 2009. [9][10]
- Timelines Basic Buzzsaw (2005)
- A redeco of Energon Divebomb.[11]
Beast Wars
In the Beast Wars toy line, Buzz Saw is the name of a Predacon, a recolor of the Waspinator toy.
For the similarly named Fuzor Predacon; see Buzzclaw
The CGI artists used the "mutant" head as a model for Waspinator's animated appearance. Many of the first season toys came with a "mutant" head optional along with the robot's normal head. In the comic, the artist choose to draw Buzz Saw's normal robot head to differentiate him from Waspinator.
IDW Publishing
Buzz Saw did not appear in the animated series, but made an appearance in the IDW's Beast Wars: The Gathering comics series in 2006. Instead of being partnered with Waspinator as on his tech specs, he worked with Lazorbeak. This comic team-up may be a reference to the G1 Buzzsaw and Laserbeak who both served under Soundwave, or possibly a homage to the fact that Waspinator and Terrorsaur often teamed up in the Beast Wars animated series.
Buzzsaw appeared in Beast Wars: The Ascending #2. Leo Prime lead The Pack to Earth 70,000 B.C. to rescue Razorbeast. The Pack were reformatted into beast modes and landed in the middle of a fight between the Maximals and Predacons. Once on Earth Longrack attacked Buzzsaw, throwing him into Transquito.
Buzzsaw had a biography printed in the Beast Wars Sourcebook by IDW Publishing.[12]
Toys
- Beast Wars Buzz Saw
- Buzz Saw's toy was a redeco of Waspinator. In Japan it was packaged individually or paired with Wolfang.[13][14]
Beast Machines
In the Beast Machines toy line, Buzzsaw is the name of a Maximal who transforms into a technorganic wasp, who was saved from Megatron's virus by Rattrap. It has been heavily speculated that he may in fact be the Predacon character from Beast Wars. This character did not appear in the TV series.
3H Enterprises
Although there was no toy of Buzzsaw in the Transformers: Universe toy line, the character of Beast Machines Buzzsaw appeared in the Transformers: Universe comic book.
Toys
- Beast Machines Buzzsaw
- This figure was based on drawings by Hasbro designer Tim Bradley.[15]
Transformers Armada
In the Transformers: Armada series, Buzzsaw is the name of a Mini-Con, a member of the Destruction Team. He transforms into a bucket-wheel excavator.
Animated series
Oval, Buzzsaw and Knock Out repaired Tidal Wave in episode #30, "Runaway."
Dreamwave Productions
In Transformers: Armada #9-11 by Dreamwave Productions the Destruction Team were among the Mini-Cons survived crashing on Earth's moon. Under the leadership of Dualor they built a fortress there and defended it from an attack by Megatron, Starscream, Thrust and Cyclonus. Once Megatron overpowered the base the Mini-Cons escaped to Earth.
The Destruction Team went on to bargain with Megatron, offering the strength of their combined service in exchange for a position of power in the Decepticons. Megatron allowed the three Mini-Cons to demonstrate their power with Cyclonus, who was burned up and driven made by their powerlink. Although their eventual fate is unrevealed, series author Simon Furman said that it can be assumed Megatron shot the three Mini-Cons into the sun for their betrayal.
Toys
- Armada Mini-Con Buzzsaw
- He was later recolored green as part of the "Road Assault Team" and as numerous Japanese-exclusive repaints. In addition, the mold was also used later for the Japanese promotional "Megalo Micron" named Zigzag, and the Cybertron Mini-Con Landslide. The entire destruction Team could bond with Cyclonus.[16][17]
- Various special 6 packs of Mini-Cons was released in the Energon line. One contained the Night Attack and Road Wrecker teams. The toys were identical to the Armada versions.
Transformers: Cybertron
In Transformers: Cybertron (Transformers: Galaxy Force in Japan), Buzzsaw is again the name of a Decepticon.
He has chest-mounted machine guns.
Animated series
Buzzsaw appeared in the Cybertron television series during the announcement at the "Great Race" on Velocitron in one episode, but he never took on robot mode or was named.
Fun Publications
In the Fun Publications story Force of Habit Brushguard lead a small team of Decepticons to the planet Combatron looking the Cyber Planet Keys. Among his troops were Buzzsaw, Hardtop, Runamuck and Swindle. On the planet they discovered a long lost weapons cache and attempt to bring it back to Megatron but they are opposed by Autobots lead by Longrack. During the story Buzzsaw found the Mini-Con Heavy Barrel and partnered with him. Heavy Barrel seems to be based on the Micron Booster Trigger, who in turn is a redeco of Armada Crumplezone, the original Mini-Con partner to Buzzsaw's mold.
Runamuck, Skywarp, Brushguard, and Buzzsaw appeared among Cannonball's troops in the Transformers Collectors Club exclusive story The Dark Heart of Sandokan by Benson Yee. When Buzzsaw scoffed at his captain calling the planet Sandokan was cursed Cannonball put him in his place.
Toys
- Cybertron Deluxe Buzzsaw (2005)
- This character transforms into a helicopter, and is a retool of the Armada Cyclonus toy, with a new head design, and is an homage to Beast Wars Buzzsaw. In Japan he was packaged with Cybertron Blurr, but in the U.S. the two toys were packaged separately.[18]
- The release of Buzzsaw in Cybertron Deluxe wave 3.5 was packaged with a DVD containing the third episode of Transformers: Cybertron, called "Hidden". Oddly, he did not appear in that episode.
- While his Mini-Con partner was left out of this remold of the toy, the Mini-Con was released separately in Japan as a blind packaged Micron Booster under the name of Trigger.
Transformers: Timelines
This Buzzsaw is an alternate good version of the Generation 1 character from the BotCon exclusive "Shattered Glass" comic, in which the Decepticons are on the side of good and the Autobots on the side of evil. He appears to be colored like Generation 1 Steeljaw. Presumably like all Decepticons of his world, he is heroic and opposed to the evil Autobots.
Fun Publications
Buzzsaw appeared as a member of Megatron's forces in the Transformers: Timelines story "Shattered Glass" story by Fun Publications.
Toys
No toy for this version of Buzzsaw was ever made, although his form appears to be a recolor of the Generation 1 Buzzsaw toy.
References
- ↑ Furman, Simon (2004). Transformers The Ultimate Guide. DK Publications. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-7566-3012-6.
- ↑ http://www.x-entertainment.com/articles/0773/
- ↑ http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/07/top-10-san-diego-comic-con-exclusives/ Top 10 San Diego Comic-Con Exclusives By Andrew Kardon
- ↑ http://www.gamebooks.org/fyf_tran.htm
- ↑ Bellomo, Mark (2010). Totally Tubular '80s. Krause Publications. p. 115. ISBN 1440212821.
- ↑ Alvarez, J.E. (2001). The Unofficial Guide to Japanese and International Transformers. Schiffer Publishing Ltd.. p. 29. ISBN 0764312820.
- ↑ Boy Toys, Lancaster New Era Lancaster, PA; August 10, 2007; by Laura Knowles
- ↑ Buzzsaw (1984) - Decepticon Spy - www.tfu.info
- ↑ http://www.toplessrobot.com/2009/07/tr_special_hasbros_sdcc_exclusives_rundown.php TR Special: Hasbro's SDCC Exclusives Rundown By Rob Bricken in Toys
- ↑ http://www.mania.com/sdcc-toy-shopping-bag_article_116206.html
- ↑ http://www.bwtf.com/toyreviews/timelines/dawn/buzzsaw
- ↑ http://www.monstersandcritics.com/books/comics/news/article_1343405.php/Creators_of_Transformers_Beast_Wars_The_Gathering_are_back
- ↑ Alvarez, J.E. (2001). The Unofficial Guide to Transformers 1980s Through 1990s Revised & Expanded 2nd Edition. Schiffer Publishing Ltd.. p. 121. ISBN 0764313649.
- ↑ http://www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/Transformers_Beast_Wars_Buzzsaw_Predacon.pdf
- ↑ Transformers - More Than Meets The Eye, Robots In Disguise - Transformers @ The Moon - www.transformertoys.co.uk
- ↑ http://www.bwtf.com/toyreviews/unicrontrilogy/armada/destruction
- ↑ http://www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/Transformers_Armada_Destruction_Mini-Con_3PK_(Dualor,_Buzzsaw,_Drill_Bit).pdf
- ↑ http://www.bwtf.com/toyreviews/unicrontrilogy/cybertron/buzzsaw/
