Rampage (Transformers)

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Rampage is the name of five fictional characters in the Transformers series.

Transformers: Generation 1

Transformers character
Name Rampage
Decepticon
Series Transformers: Generation 1
English voice actor Laurie Faso
Information
Alternate modes Mechanical tiger
Function Gunner
Motto "Those who conquer act; those who are conquered think!"
Rank 5
Sub-group Predacons

Rampage is a fictional character of the Transformers Predacons, with his alternative form being a mechanical tiger.

Rampage is "little more than a raging psychopath", in a constant state of rage that leaves even the other Predacons afraid of him. Rather oddly, there is one way of keeping Rampage under control - he is easily distracted by mindless television entertainment. He combined with his fellow Predacons to form Predaking.[1][2]

Fictional biography

Profile: Like an elemental force of nature, Rampage barrels through life with unabated, uncontrolled fury. He has difficulty talking coherently for more than a few seconds at a time before he reverts to his "normal" state, violently lashing out at anything or anyone nearby, even fellow Predacons. Wherever he goes, he leaves a trail of wreckage that's as clear-cut as a black line on white paper. Although feared by his comrades, he's appreciated even more so for the unequaled ferocity with which he fights. Strangely enough, the only thing that has any calming effect on this mechanical menace is television. The more mindless the program, the more Rampage is entranced. He's been known to stare for hours at rock music videos.

Abilities: In tiger mode, Rampage can leap to a height of 300 feet over a distance of 500 feet. He's incredibly strong - a kick from one of his forelegs can crumble a cinder block wall. He has four twin gun-ports, one mounted above each of his legs, and each capable of shooting 300 rounds of small-caliber ammunition per minute. In robot mode, he also uses a powerful lightning rifle, which shoots beams of 60,000-volt electricity. He also has a thermo-sword, which has a blade that heats up to 5000 degrees Centigrade, allowing it to cut through most metals like butter. He combines with his fellow Predacons to form Predaking.

Weaknesses: As a consequence of the punishment they take from his constant leaping, the springs and suspension system in Rampage's four legs often break down and require near-constant maintenance.

Animated series

The Transformers

Rampage first appeared with the other Predacons in the third season of the animated series. Rampage and the other Predacons quickly proved themselves a formidable threat, especially in their combined mode of Predaking. Rampage accomplished few notable actions on his own, but as part of the team battled Sky Lynx numerous times, was at the forefront of the Decepticon invasion of Paradron, teaming up with their Autobot rivals to fend off monsters from Daniel Witwicky's imagination and battling the energy monster Tornedron alongside the other "Transformers Primitives". He was infected by the Hate Plague, but was cured when Optimus Prime released the power of the Autobot Matrix of Leadership.

Transformers: Headmasters

Rampage continued to put in short appearances in 1987's Japanese-exclusive spin-off series, Transformers: The Headmasters, usually fighting alongside and against the other combiner teams as part of Predaking in various battles. In 1990's Transformers: Zone, Predaking was one of the nine Deception generals in the service of the mysterious insectoid Violenjiger, and met his end when Autobot leader Dai Atlas cleaved his body in two (somewhat bizarrely revealing what appeared to be an organic brain within him).

Comics

Devil's Due Publishing

Rampage returned in the third G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers crossover from Devil's Due Publishing. As part of the Predacons, he battled the Seacons until interrupted by Serpentor. As part of his army he took down Omega Supreme as part of Predaking, and was assigned as a guard to watch the various Autobot and G.I. Joe prisoners. He was seen showing a desire to head to Earth and cause destruction - but he was taken out by Grimlock.

Dreamwave Productions

Dreamwave Productions' 21st century re-imagining of the original universe had little time to focus on the Predacons before the company's closure. It was revealed that in their version Rampage and the other Predacons were once warlords on Cybertron who were cast into exile in space. Settling on Planet Beest, home of the Battle Beasts, the Predacons sank into a feral state, and lived as inhabitants of that world for untold years, until Megatron arrived. He defeated all the Predacons, and reengineered them to combine as Predaking.

They then headed to Earth, defeating Bruticus - but Dreamwave went into bankruptcy from there.

Fun Publications

The 2006 BotCon tale would expand on the reference in the Gathering, indicating that not only did the Predacons have something to do with the founding of the faction, but they had been working behind the scenes in order to advance their own cause. Divebomb is revealed to have been responsible for reformatting Laserbeak, Buzzsaw and Ravage into Predacons. He also ensured the success of Megatron's history altering plan to steal the Golden Disk. Later, after Megatron's death at the end of Beast Machines, Razorclaw announced his intentions to actively lead the Predacons to victory once again. It is interesting to note that the Predacons' robot modes here resemble more organic versions of their original robot modes.

Marvel Comics

Rampage appeared as part of a team sent to Earth by Shockwave to get rid of his former leader Megatron. Their attempt failed, as Megatron defeated them all. Megatron would apparently perish in a Space Bridge explosion, and Rampage would join Shockwave's army on Earth.

During the events of the Underbase saga, he battled Apeface, ripping his arm off - only to be bludgeoned with it in return. He was deactivated by the Underbase powered Starscream.

Toys

  • Generation 1 Rampage (1986)
Came with two guns and a sword.[3]
  • Timelines Rampage (unreleased)
This proposed exclusive toy for BotCon 2006 was a recolor of Energon Battle Ravage in the colors of Generation 1 Rampage. Only a hand painted prototype figure was made.
  • Generation 1 reissue Predacon Predaking (not released yet)
A Takara reissue of the five Predacons in metallic finish.[4]


Beast Wars

Transformers character
Name Rampage
Maximal, later Predacon
Series Beast Wars
English voice actor Campbell Lane
Japanese voice actor Nobuyuki Hiyama
Information
Alternate modes Giant Transmetal Coconut crab/Tank Destroyer
Function Warlord
Motto "My Spark feeds on terror."
Rank 9
Sub-group Transmetals, Triple Changers

Rampage was a Predacon from the Beast Wars Transformers universe. His beast mode is a Transmetal crab and his vehicle mode is a tank. He is portrayed as one of the most powerful Transformers in the series, being able to withstand most forms of conventional weaponry with his thick and durable armor, in addition to the explosive firepower he possesses along with his rapid healing abilities.

Animated series

The Beast Wars variant of Rampage first appeared during the Transmetal story arc of season 2, in the episode "Bad Spark". He was depicted as intelligent and articulate but also a murderous and cold blooded killer who loved causing death and destruction. His back story was covered over the course of several episodes, mostly through narrative by Optimus Primal, Depth Charge, and Rhinox.

According to back story provided by Primal in "Bad Spark", Rampage was created as the subject of an experiment by the Maximals to duplicate Starscream's mutant indestructible spark. However, while the experiment was successful in replicating some, if not all, of the properties of Starscream's spark, the creature that it created (dubbed "Protoform X") had proven to be violent. Still known as Protoform X, he went on to escape from the elders and destroyed Colony Omicron before being recaptured 4 years later. Finding themselves unable to destroy his spark, the Maximal elders were forced to reduce Protoform X to a protoform which was then loaded aboard Primal's ship for disposal on an uninhabited world. This mission was interrupted by Megatron's theft of the Golden Disk, and the events of Beast Wars Season 1, which saw Protoform X being jettisoned into orbit around a prehistoric Earth, along with the Axalon's cargo of Maximal protoforms.

Protoform X's statis pod was knocked out of orbit during the events of "Other Voices", and was eventually located long after Protoform X takes on a crab mode as he was made into a transmetal with an alternative tank mode. Though originally thought to have died, Rampage was in stasis as he is revitalized by an Energon storm before ripping Tarantulas into pieces. After attacking both Maximals and Predacons, he is stopped by the combined forces of Primal, Cheetor, Silverbolt, and Blackarachnia, who force him off of a cliff. Before he can regenerate, Protoform X is intercepted by Megatron, who cuts out half of his spark with an Energon blade and places its core in a cage lined with Energon needles, which he subsequently uses to control him while giving him the name "Rampage".

For the rest of season 2, Rampage served with the Predacons but displayed open hatred and contempt for them. According to the bio supplied with his toy, Megatron's possession of the spark core was the only thing preventing him from being torn apart by Rampage.

In the season 3 premier "Optimal Situation", Rampage is instrumental in the destruction of the Maximal base, forcing them to relocate to the Ark.

Further details of Rampage's past are revealed during "Deep Metal", when his old foe Depth Charge arrives seeking revenge. Depth Charge was the security chief of Colony Omicron, and was the only survivor of Rampage's massacre. Depth Charge tracked Rampage after the colony's destruction and then handed him over to the elders. He was not pleased that the elders were unable to execute Rampage, and he maintained a grudge against Primal for letting Rampage loose. At the end of "Deep Metal", Rampage destroys Depth Charge's ship, stranding him on Earth.

Later on in the season episode "Feral Scream (Part 1)", Megatron uses the half of Rampage's spark he has to create a Transmetal 2 clone of Dinobot. Rampage is visibly disgusted with the hybrid which is able to inflict the same torture on him that Megatron once could.

Rampage finally meets his end in the episode "Nemesis (Part 1)". Ordered to defend the Nemesis, Rampage again encounters Depth Charge. The two battled with shards of raw energon as swords. Depth Charge appears to gain the advantage, pinning Rampage to the ground with a shard of Energon almost piercing his spark, but is unable to push it home. Laughing, Rampage releases his grip, allowing Depth Charge to stab his spark. The subsequent explosion detonating the surrounding Energon deposits. Both Rampage and Depth Charge are destroyed, however, unlike previous occasions in which he suffered injuries, Rampage does not regenerate. At the moment of Rampage's death, Transmetal Dinobot is seen to be visibly shaken. He comments that his spark feels "whole".

Although Rampage is shown to be cruel and to enjoy inflicting suffering and fear on others, Rampage was revealed to have some goodness in him in the episode "Transmutate". In the episode an accident causes a protoform to become the powerful but misshapen Maximal Transmutate. Rampage, knowing what it was like to be feared and rejected, was shown to feel empathy towards Transmutate, and claimed to understand its pain. When it was accidentally killed during a battle between himself and Silverbolt, he held its head in his hands and let out an anguished cry. In another episode, when told by Blackarachnia he would "live to regret this", Rampage responded "I regret everything, my sweet" .

Comics

IDW Publishing

Rampage had a biography printed in the Beast Wars Sourcebook by IDW Publishing.[5]

Manga

In the Beast Wars Metals Manga on Bonbon magazine, Rampage was portrayed as a cannibalistic monster who attacked Optimus Primal, Airazor, and Rattrap when they investigated the vicinity of where his stasis pod was located. It was by sheer luck that they managed to jettison him into space, oddly taking him out of the story for good.

Toys

  • Beast Wars Rampage (1998)
The toy of Rampage was later repainted as BotCon exclusive Shokaract.[6]

Transformers: Armada

Rampage is the Japanese name for the Decepticon character Wheeljack.

Shattered Glass

Transformers character
Name Rampage
Decepticon
Series Transformers: Timelines
Information
Alternate modes Mechanical Panther
Function Gunner
Motto "Thought preceding action equals success."
Partner Sideswipe and Whisper
Sub-group Micromasters, Mini-Cons, Predacons

A Botcon 2008 exclusive toy, Rampage is a member of the evil Decepticon forces who oppose the heroic Autobots .

Rampage's mind is always working furiously. During his time as one of Razorclaw's students, he would often begin on a new assignment before finishing the previous one. The war did not diminish his enthusiasm; it allowed him to simply reorient his focus on warfare. He would often destroy twice as many Autobots as Razorclaw or Divebomb by constantly trying out new and more efficient ways of dispatching with his enemies. Watching alien transmissions tend to calm him down. It was Rampage who presented Razorclaw with transmission showing predators that became the basis for the alternate mode designs of the Predacons when they joined the Decepticon army.

Although he is a redeco of the Mini-Con mold, this character was never called a Mini-Con in his biography, and it was stated on the Transformers Collectors Club message board that the Shattered Glass Predacons were actually Micromasters.

Fun Publications

Rampage appeared in the 2008 April Fool's comic Shattered Expectations by Fun Publications.

Rampage also appeared in the "Shattered Glass" story. He helped disable the Autobot guards on the Autobot's Ark before the Decepticon attack. During Megatron's attack on the Ark the Predacons teamed up to attack Grimlock.[7]

In Do Over the Predacons and Whisper were sent to rescue Megatron when he had been captured by the Autobot Targetmasters Ricochet, Scoop and Crosshairs. The Predacons fought Ricochet, Crosshairs and Optimus Prime.[8]

Toys

  • Timelines Rampage (2008)
Rampage is a recolor of Classic Snarl. He was sold only at Botcon 2008 where he was packaged together with Sideswipe, Whisper and Blurr.


Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Transformers character
Name Rampage
Decepticon
Series Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Transformers: Robot Powered Machines
Voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson(Credited as Skipjack)
Information
Alternate modes Caterpillar D9T Bulldozer/Devastator's left foot/Jackhammer
Motto "Fear is the perfect way for enemies to live."
Partner Megatron, Sideways, Hightower, Long Haul, Mixmaster, Overload, Scavenger, Scrapper, Ravage, Payload, Skipjack, Scrapmetal
Rank 2
Sub-group Constructicons, Deluxe Vehicles, Micro Vehicles

Rampage appears as one of the Constructicon models in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.[9] His alternate form is a Caterpillar D9T bulldozer. Rampage was once intended to form the left foot of Devastator, but this was dropped and Devastator was dependent For Requiring the rest of the Constructicons, and formed by the ten vehicles with individual robot modes, although several of the vehicles are identical to the alternate forms used by the other Constructicons, including Rampage's bulldozer form. Rampage moves around by jumping on the tip of his snake-like body, which is called "jackhammer mode" in his Deluxe toy. He stands about 20 feet tall.[10][11]

Fictional biography

The stink of diesel fumes and hot tar follows Rampage wherever he goes. His treads are packed with metal shards stripped from his victims and the countless scratches covering his chassis are testament to hundreds of brutal battles. He lives to pound his enemies into submission and thinks of little else. His idea of beauty is the sun glinting off the raw edges of shredded Autobot armor.

Films

Rampage is first seen in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen with Long Haul, Mixmaster, Scrapmetal and Ravage as they dive to the bottom of the ocean to recover Megatron's body. He is later seen holding Sam's parents captive. When Sam arrives with the Matrix of Leadership, Rampage holds a gun and demands him to hand it over. Bumblebee whistles to Sam. Sam stalls for a while, then yells Bumblebee's name. When the fighting is occurring, Ravage arrives to help Rampage, who is being beaten. Bumblebee then fights and kills him by tearing him apart. Rampage is killed when Bumblebee tears off his arms.

Games

Rampage is not a playable character in the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen video game but his combined form as Devastator's left leg is seen. He is killed when the player defeats Devastator.

Toys

  • Revenge of the Fallen Legends Rampage (2009)
A new mold. Can form robot or vehicle modes or combine into Devastator.[12]
This toy was initially sold individually in Japan, then as part of a 7 pack of Constructicons in the U.S.
  • Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe Rampage (2009)
A Deluxe class figure of Rampage. Aside from his bulldozer and jackhammer modes, Rampage has a mode with four legs, making him appear crablike - similar to his Beast Wars incarnation. This figure does not combine with the other Constructicons to form Devastator.[13]
  • Revenge of the Fallen Combiner Rampage (2009)
A bulldozer bundled with the other Constructicons. The toy can combine with other toys to form Devastator, but has no individual robot mode.
  • Robot Powered Machines Rampage (2009)
A non-transformable diecast bulldozer the size of a Hot Wheels car. Bundled with either Landmine or Autobot Jazz.
  • Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe Red Rampage (2010)
A redeco of Rampage with a film-accurate red color scheme. Released as part of the N.E.S.T. Alliance line.[14]
  • Revenge of the Fallen Legends Red Rampage (2009)
A Toys "R" Us Japan exclusive redeco of Rampage with a film-accurate red color scheme.[15]
  • Transformers Legends (Red) Rampage (2010)
A brand new mold of Rampage with a red color scheme; this new mold is more film accurate than the previous one and will not be able to combine with the previous Legends Constructicons to create Devastator.[16]
  • Transformers Rampage Among the Ruins Deluxe Rampage (2010)
A Toys "R" Us exclusive gift set featuring a redeco of Deluxe Cannon Bumblebee, a red/gold redeco of Deluxe Rampage and a silver/black redeco of Deluxe Ravage.[17]

References

  1. Alvarez, J.E. (2001). The Unofficial Guide to Transformers 1980s Through 1990s Revised & Expanded 2nd Edition. Schiffer Publishing Ltd.. p. 48. ISBN 0-7643-1364-9. 
  2. "Screening Room". GameAxis Unwired (Hardware Zone): 99–100. July 2007. http://books.google.com/books?id=sOoDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA99&dq=predacon+transformers&hl=en&ei=C7BATda_DoL58AbvoaH8Aw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CEwQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q&f=false. 
  3. Alvarez, J.E. (2001). The Unofficial Guide to Japanese and International Transformers. Schiffer Publishing Ltd.. p. 23. ISBN 0-7643-1282-0. 
  4. Figure King magazine issue 150 page 24
  5. http://www.monstersandcritics.com/books/comics/news/article_1343405.php/Creators_of_Transformers_Beast_Wars_The_Gathering_are_back
  6. 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
  7. Pete Sinclair & Benson Yee (w), Don Figueroa (p), Don Figueroa (i), Espen Grundetjern (col), Jesse Wittenrich (let), Pete Sinclair & Brian Savage (ed). "Shattered Glass" Transformers Timelines v2, 3 (Botcon 2008), Fun Publications
  8. S. Trent Troop and Greg Sepelak (2009). Do Over. Illustrator Yuki Oshima. Fun Publications. 
  9. First look: Robo-brawlers big, small in new 'Transformers' By Anthony Breznican, USA TODAY
  10. http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-movie-just-movie-31/revenge-of-the-fallen-constructicons-size-comparison-168152/
  11. http://www.gamesnewsi.com/transformers_database/classics/412/Rampage_Deluxe.html
  12. ToyWizard - Transformers Movie EZ Collection DX Devastator Set
  13. http://www.transformersclub.com/toyfair09/TFmainline09.html
  14. TFormers.com - Takara Tomy Announce New transformers ROTF Japan Releases
  15. TFW2005.com - ROTF Legends Class Red Rampage Toys "R" Us Exclusive
  16. Seibertron.com - Toy Images of Hunt for the Decepticons Legend-Class Rampage
  17. TFW2005.com - Rampage Among the Ruins Three-Pack to Be Toys "R" Us Exclusive in the US

External links