Dead End (Transformers)
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Dead End is the name of six fictional characters from the Transformers series. The original Dead End was introduced in 1986 and was a member of the Stunticon team, who turned into a car. Since then other Transformers characters named Dead End have been introduced.
Contents
Transformers: Generation 1
Dead End was one of the Stunticons - a group of five car-themed Decepticons who were able to combine to form a larger robot - Menasor. Pessimistic and fatalistic, Dead End believes the Autobot-Decepticon war is more or less pointless, as ultimately every Transformer gets deactivated anyway. It is, therefore, extremely difficult motivating him to fight. However, he is also vain, and constantly polishing himself. It is speculated by the other Stunticons that, when he dies, he at least wants to leave a nice wreck.[1]
While the Dead End toy was able to form any limb of Menasor, he was always shown in the G1 cartoon as the gestalt's left arm - although the box art and instructions for the Menasor toy showed Breakdown in that position, and Dead End as the right leg.[2] In addition, in the cartoon and Marvel Comics, he was depicted as having a mask-like faceplate while in the post-Marvel comics and box art he had a normal, unmasked face. He can become the left arm of Destron Super Scramble.
Marvel Comics
Dead End and the other Stunticons were not major characters in the Marvel Transformers comics. They were featured in issue #22, Heavy Traffic, where they battle the Aerialbots as well as Circuit Breaker and RAAT troops.[3]
Dead End made an appearance in the Decepticon forces under the command of Megatron in issue #7 of the Marvel Generation 2 comic series, in a story called "New Dawn." Megatron lead his Decepticons against Jhiaxus' second generation Cybertronians near the moon of Tykos. The Decepticons were defeated and Megatron left injured, presumed dead, but swearing revenge.[4]
Animated series
Dead End's personality in the Generation 1 cartoon matched his tech specs. He first appeared in the two-part episode "The Key To Vector Sigma". Like the other Stunticons, he was created after Megatron commissioned Rumble to find him some vehicles to be turned into Decepticon warriors, in order to more effectively battle the Autobots on the roads. (In Dead End's case, Rumble took a Porsche 928 that was being used as a getaway vehicle in a bank robbery). Megatron modified the cars so they could transform into remote-controlled robots, and then took them to Vector Sigma so they could be given personalities of their own. Speaking with an upper-class British accent (something he shared with Sky Lynx and Hoist, amongst others), his first words were a morose "I'm Dead End. I guess I'll have to do what you say." He returned to Earth with the other Stunticons and engaged in the destruction of a military base, before being called on to form Menasor to battle the new Autobots, the Aerialbots. The Aerialbots combined into Superion, but Menasor was winning until a rebuilt Omega Supreme arrived and defeated him.
Before season 2 of the cartoon series was out, Dead End also cropped up in the episode "Starscream's Brigade" (where he appeared content to let Starscream take over the leadership of the Decepticons, and was reluctant to battle Bruticus) and then again in the episode "Masquerade". Like the other Stunticons, Dead End was badly damaged and captured by the Autobots, and given some fine miserable dialogue as he contemplated his fate alongside Drag Strip. The Autobots then disguised themselves as the Stunticons. Because they both transformed into Porsches, Jazz (a 935) painted himself as 928 Dead End.
Dead End also appeared in the post-movie five-part episode "Five Faces of Darkness", where he woefully declared no matter what the Decepticons did, they were doomed.
Dreamwave Productions
Unlike previous series Dead End and the other Stunticons were not portrayed as recently created characters, but were Decepticons from Cybertron millions of years ago, like most other Decepticons. Initially just five individual Decepticons, the five who would become Stunticons were chosen in an experiment to improve on the combiner process which had created Devastator. Their combined form was called Menasor.
The Stunticons appeared in the second Generation 1 mini-series where Menasor was revived by Rumble and Frenzy, killing the Omnibots, Roadbuster, Whirl, and damaging the Protectobots (combined as Defensor) before battling and being defeated by Ultra Magnus on Cybertron. With the closure of Dreamwave, the fate of the Stunticons is unknown.
Devil's Due Publishing
The Stunticons first appeared in the second G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers miniseries from Devil's Due. After Cobra Commander and Cobra, followed by G.I. Joe, had journeyed to Cybertron, weapons fire caused a critical malfunction in Teletran 3, causing numerous Autobots and Decepticons to become time-displaced. Among these were the Stunticons, who were dumped in 1930s Earth and reformatted into period cars. They were eventually defeated and returned to the present by a combined force of G.I. Joe and COBRA members, as well as another Transformer lost in that time - Optimus Prime
The Stunticons would also appear in the third mini-series, being recruited by SerpentO.R, a human military-created cyborg with Megatron's memories, and would participate in the ambush that killed Bumblebee. Seen in group shots where Serpentor is gathering the Decepticon army, their next major role would be in the assault on Capital City, assisting Predaking and Piranacon in taking down Omega Supreme. Breakdown and the Seacon Nautilator were the ones assigned to guard the human captives, but Snake-Eyes used his ninja powers to take control of Breakdown and had him shoot Nautilator, freeing them. Razorclaw and Motormaster were the ones who stopped Prime's attack on Serpentor, beating him near death, but were then killed by the Cobra Commander-controlled Serpentor.
IDW Publishing
The Stunticons made their first IDW Publishing appearance in issue 3 of The Transformers: Megatron Origin, appearing amongst Megatron's gathering of gladiators that would eventually become the Decepticons.
Fun Publications
Although not appearing in any Fun Publications fiction, Dead End is mentioned in the Tech Spec biography for Timelines Breakdown. It states that the other Stunticons were left in stasis lock after a pitched battle with Defensor.
Mosaic
Dead End appeared in the Transformers: Mosaic story "Downcast" by Mike Priest.[5]
Toys
- Generation 1 Dead End (1986)
- Dead End was sold in 1986 by itself, and later with the other Stunticons as a giftset.
- Generation 2 Dead End (unreleased)
- During the final part of the toyline, Hasbro had intended to release a Generstion 2 redeco of the original Stunticons. However, because of attention redirected to the upcoming toyline Beast Wars, the toy was never released however a few packaged examples do exist. In April of 2008 rare prototypes of this toy were sold on ebay and garnered bidding of over $2000 U.S. dollars.[6]
- Alternators Dead End (2004)
- The first prototype images shown on the internet during 2004 of a remolded Alternator Side Swipe led to speculation that it would be the Autobot Sunstreaker who would be next to receive the Alternator treatment. This is because the head sculpt of the toy resembled the Generation One form of Sunstreaker; also there was an Autobot insignia on the toy's torso.
- Because of an increasing desire at the time for there to be Decepticon Alternators, this toy became Dead End, the first Decepticon Alternator. This was not popular with the online fandom who expected and wanted a Sunstreaker Alternator. Also, the color scheme of the toy did not match the original Stunticon toy. Whereas Dead End was first a maroon Porsche, the Alternator Dead End's alternate mode is a black 2003 Dodge Viper Competition Coupe. Dead End's weapon is identical to Side Swipe's in appearance - the engine in his vehicle mode becomes a hand-held gun.
- Universe Spy Changer Dead End (unreleased)
- First announced in Previews magazine for January 2003 were a set of 5 Stunticon Spy Changers - Breakdown, Drag Strip, Motormaster, Dead End, and Wildracer.
Beast Wars Neo
In the Japanese exclusive Beast Wars Neo series, Dead End is the name of a Destron (Japanese term for Predacons) who transforms into an ammonite. He appeared in the TV anime series.
Dead End is a model soldier who loves battle. Being cool and solitary of temperament, he doesn't care for joint operations. His cruelty is such that he can bring his enemy to a halt with the Spiral Bomb attack, which launches the shell off his right shoulder, then smile as he delivers the final blow with his Dead Gun.[7][8]
IDW Publishing
Dead End had a biography printed in the Beast Wars Sourcebook by IDW Publishing.[9]
Toys
- Beast Wars Neo Dead End
- A new mold.[10]
Transformers: Armada
In the Transformers: Armada series, Dead End is the Mini-Con who came with the Unicron toy. In the cartoon, it was shown that Unicron had a whole swarm of these, called "laser pods," which functioned as part of his defense system. The toy version was intended to transform into a moon.
Toys
- Armada Unicron with Dead End
- Energon Unicron with Dead End
- Energon Dead End was included with the recolor of Unicron.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Dead End (Detour in some markets) is a Decepticon. His tech specs describe him as "creepy", stating that even other Decepticons are disturbed by his odd behavior. His specs go on to note that he seldom speaks and prefers to walk on all fours, even when in robot mode.
IDW Publishing
Dead End is among the Decepticons who arrive on Earth under the direction of Soundwave in Transformers: Alliance #3. He arrives in San Francisco with Swindle and takes on the form of a compact car. He is then ordered to distract the Autobots, so he starts to attack cars - hoping it would draw the Autobots out. In issue #4, the Autobots arrive in San Francisco to stop the Decepticon attacks. Optimus Prime kills Dead End by ramming him, while Bumblebee dispatches Swindle with a blast through the back with his gun.
Note: Although called Dead End, the car in the IDW comics is a purple compact car. It is unknown if this is a different Dead End, or merely a different form for the characters. This Dead End sports a paint job similar to Deluxe Class Jolt.
Video Game
Dead End appears as a playable character in the PSP version of the official video game.
Toys
- Revenge of the Fallen Scout Class Dead End/Detour (2009)
- A Scout-sized figure that transforms into a red sports car.[12]
- Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe Class Dead End (2009)
- A black redeco of Sideways with a different head sculpt. Much like Sideways, Dead End's car mode is an Audi R8, but with slight cosmetic changes because the figure is not licensed from Audi.[13] [14]
- Revenge of the Fallen Titanium 3 inch Cliffjumper vs. Dead End (2009)
- A Toys "R" Us store exclusive gift set featuring non-transforming figurines of Dead End (a redeco of Jazz and Cliffjumper (a redeco of Bumblebee).[15]
Transformers: War for Cybertron
Dead End is a downloadable character for the Transformers: War for Cybertron video game. [16]
Transformers Animated
Part of an exclusive set for Botcon 2011, this version of Dead End is from the Transformers Animated series. He is based on the Animated Deluxe Jazz mold, and colored to look like the Generation 1 Dead End toy.[17][18]
Fun Publications
Dead End appeared in the Transformers: Timelines story "The Stunt-Con Job". After the events of Transformers Animated the Stunticons set up a Stunt Convoy show in the city of Kaon and used it as cover to attempt to break Megatron out of his detention at Trypticon. Their efforts were thwarted thanks to the efforts of Cheetor, Optimus Prime and Sideswipe. The Stunticons were placed in detention with Megatron and an attempt to rescue them was made by the Decepticons Blot, Mindwipe, Oil Slick, Scalpel, Sky-Byte and Strika.[19]
Toys
- Timelines Animated Deluxe Dead End (2011)
- A BotCon 2011 exclusive magenta/yellow redeco of Transformers Animated Deluxe Autobot Jazz with a mustache painted on his face.[17]
References
- ↑ Figure King Magazine #74, June 2004
- ↑ Furman, Simon (2004). Transformers The Ultimate Guide. DK Publications. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-7566-3012-6.
- ↑ Marvel graphic novels and related publications: an annotated guide, Page 91 by Robert G. Weiner - 2008
- ↑ http://www.seibertron.com/comics/view.php?comic_id=113
- ↑ http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&global=1&q=Downcast+mosaic#/d13svnn
- ↑ http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/auction-for-rare-unreleased-g2-motormaster-and-mor/12751/
- ↑ http://www.seibertron.com/database/character.php?view=&char_id=1068
- ↑ The Transformers Beast Wars Sourcebook, Page 42 Simon Furman, Ben Yee, Don Figueroa
- ↑ http://www.monstersandcritics.com/books/comics/news/article_1343405.php/Creators_of_Transformers_Beast_Wars_The_Gathering_are_back
- ↑ http://www.cobraislandtoys.com/tf/1999/deadend.html
- ↑ http://www.cobraislandtoys.com/tf/2003/deadend-minicon.html
- ↑ ACToys.com - Scout Dead End
- ↑ TFW2005.com - Deluxe Dead End
- ↑ Figure King magazine, September 2009, page 91
- ↑ The Arker
- ↑ TFW2005.com - War for Cybertron Downloadable Content pack 2 Will Contain Dead End and Zeta Prime
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 TFW2005.com - Animated Stunticons Revealed as BotCon 2011 Exclusive Set - 1st Preview Figure is Dead End
- ↑ http://geek-news.mtv.com/2011/03/07/mtv-geek-exclusive-2011-botcon-tf-animated-stunticon-set/?xrs=share_twitter
- ↑ Marty Isenberg, Derrick J. Wyatt & Matt Youngberg (w), Marcelo Matere (p), Marcelo Matere (i), Thomas Deer & Jesse Wittenrich (col), Jesse Wittenrich (let), Pete Sinclair & Brian Savage (ed). ""The Stunt-Con Job"" Transformers: Timelines v2, 6 (Summer 2011), Fun Publications
External links
- ToyBin G1 Dead End gallery
- Seibertron.com G1 Dead End gallery
- Seibertron.com Alternators Dead End gallery
- BWTF Beast Wars Neo Dead End gallery
- BWTF Alterators Dead End Toy Review
- Transformers @ The Moon Beast Wars Neo Dead End Toy Review
- Transformers @ The Moon Binaltech Dead End Toy Review* Transformers @ The Moon G1 Dead End Toy Review
