Slugslinger
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Slugslinger is a name of three fictional characters from the Transformers series. In all instances, it was for a Decepticon who turned into a dual-cockpit jet.
Contents
Transformers: Generation 1
Slugslinger is a Decepticon Targetmaster jet. Slugslinger sometimes help form Sky Reign.
Fictional biographt
A brawling, swaggering braggart, claims he'll challenge anyone to a duel, but prefers sneaking up and shooting enemies in the back. When his ammunition runs out, so does his courage. Paired with Caliburst, one-time Nebulan leading actor who only does this for the money. As an automatic machine gun, Caliburst can shoot armor-piercing shells at 1200 rounds per minute. In jet mode, maximum speed: 2400mph.
Reception
Slugslinger has been specifically criticized for having an explicitly violent characterization, function and motto.[1]
Marvel Comics
Note: Events exclusive to the Marvel UK Transformers comics appear in italics.
Slugslinger and Caliburst first appeared in Transformers: Headmasters #4 when the Decepticons under Scorponok's leadership. With the Autobot Headmasters captured by their Decepticon counterparts, the Decepticons ran rampant over the planet Nebulos, a group of the remaining Autobots on the planet joined with a group of Nebulons branded as criminals by Nebulon's political leader, Lord Zarak - partner of the Decepticon, Scorponok - in order to protect the Nursery, Nebulos's primary agricultural research facility, against Decepticon attack. Through bio-mechanical engineering, the Nebulons were given the ability to transform into the guns of the Autobots, and, as Targetmasters, they fended the Decepticons off. Within several days, the Decepticons had duplicated the process with five of their own troops.
One of his most prominent actions during this period was to ambush the Autobot Headmasters in the Fortess of Despair alongside the other Decepticon Targetmasters. The Decepticons captured Highbrow, planning to use him to perfect their own Headmaster process. The plan failed when Highbrow forced Scorponok to flee. (Transformers UK #130-131)
After this, Slugslinger and the other Decepticons followed Maximus' group to Earth, where they soon wound up in battle with Ratbat's earthen faction, and later against the Earthen Autobots, where he was one of the aerial Decepticons that battled Swoop and the Aerialbots. He appeared less after this, aminly as one of Scorponok's troops, without any prominent actions. Slugslinger last appeared in Transformers #61.
Slugslinger had a Transformers: Universe profile published in the back of issue #60 if the U.S. Marvel Transformers series.
Animated series
Slugslinger and Caliburst were introduced in "The Rebirth", the three-part fourth-season finale to the original Transformers animated series. When the Decepticons attempted to seize the power of the Plasma Energy Chamber in 2007, a group of Autobots were blasted across the galaxy to the planet Nebulos by the ancient foundry's energies, where they took up with a group of rebel Nebulons. To fight the Hive, the evil rulers of Nebulos, some of the Autobots and Nebulons bonded their bodies a minds together, becoming Headmasters, serving up a definitive defeat to the Decepticons pursuing them. This group of Decepticons was then approached by the Hive, who sought to replicate the Headmaster process with them, but Cyclonus was able to bargain them down to taking only half the Decepticons' heads, offering up the weapons of the others as alternatives. Using Nebulan technology, the guns were engineered into a transforming exo-suits which were donned by five members of the Hive, creating the Targetmasters, giving their Transformer wielders ten times the accuracy and firepower.
The Decepticon Targetmasters overcame the Autobots and reclaimed the key to the Plasma Energy Chamber, but in the struggle, the Autobot Brainstorm was able to scan Cyclonus's partner, Nightstick, and that data was used to duplicate the Targetmaster process with the remaining Autobots and Nebulan rebels, creating the Autobot Targetmasters. Their power, however, was nothing in the face of the Decepticons' newest weapon, the super robot, Scorponok, who transported the Decepticon forces back to Cybertron, where their plans were foiled by Spike Witwicky and Fortress Maximus.
Although The Rebirth marked the end of the Transformers cartoon in the US, in Japan, a different direction was taken - ignoring the events of "The Rebirth", a brand new, exclusive 35-episode series, Transformers: Headmasters, was produced to take its place, which introduced the Targetmasters towards its conclusion. Notably, in Japan, the 1986 characters were not re-released as Targetmasters - only the six new characters featured in Headmasters.[2]
In the world of Transformers: Headmasters, there are no Nebulons - the Headmasters themselves are simply small Transformers, who, having settled on the planet Master, learned to transform into heads and connect to lifeless larger bodies named Transtectors. It was to Master that the Decepticon forces returned after the Autobots forced them to flee Earth, and consequently, a ship was dispatched by the planet's inhabitants to alert the Earth-bound Autobots to the Decepticon invasion. At the same time, the youthful Autobot, Wheelie, had summoned three of his old superior officers - Pointblank (Blanker in Japan), Sureshot and Crosshairs - to Earth to aid in the clean-up operation currently going on, when Autobot Headmaster Chromedome accidentally activated one of the plasma bombs the Decepticons had left behind. Heading out into space so that the bomb might harmlessly explode out in the void, the Autobots then crossed paths with the approaching Master ship, which was being pursued by the Decepticon Sixshot and three new troops - Slugslinger, Misfire and Triggerhappy. As Pointblank and his men tangled with the Decepticons, the Master refugees offered their help by transporting away the plasma bombs, only to have the bombs detonate in the middle of the battlefield. Recovering from the explosion, Pointblank, Crosshairs and Sureshot discovered that the six Master refugees had been fused to their arms. Although Fortress was able to surgically remove them, a bond now existed between the larger Transformers and the Master refugees, who could now freely attach and detach to their wrists as guns. Unfortunately for these new Targetmasters, the same had happened to Slugslinger and his fellows. The Targetmasters joined up with Fortress's crew on the mission to Master, but quickly clashed with the Headmasters - Pointblank and his men were hard, experienced warriors who thought little of the Headmasters, and Pointblank spent a good deal of time attempting to soothe Chromedome's fiery temper to improve his battle ability.
In episode #29, "The Master Sword Is in Danger!!", the Autobot and Decepticon Targetmasters participated in a battle on the planet Master where Zarak first sent in the Decepticon Duocons. In this battle the Decepticons are able to obtain a computer disk that contains information on the Master Sword.[3]
In episode #30, "The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide" the Autobot Targetmasters follow Soundblaster to the planet Master where they are ambushed by the Decepticon Targetmasters. The Autobots are washed away when the Decepticons blast a dam above the Autobots during the fight. Surviving the flood the Autobot Targetmasters discover a cave entrance to the Decepticon base. Despite being discovered by the Autobots, the Decepticon are able to escape with their new weapon.[4]
Blackthorne Publishing
Slugslinger appeared in the Blackthorne Publishing The Transformers in 3D issue #3 as one of Galvatron's troopes.[5]
Books
Slugslinger appeared in the 1988 Ladybird Books story Decepticons at the Pole by John Grant.[6]
Slugslinger appeared in the 1988 Ladybird Books story Autobots Strike Oil by John Grant.[7]
Dreamwave Productions
Slugslinger's only appearance in Dreamwave comics was in the third War Within series on ancient Cybertron where he was one of Starscream's Predacons.
Caliburst never appeared in the storyline of Dreamwave comics before the company closed, but he did get a biography with Slugslinger in their Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye series.
Toys
- Generation 1 Targetmaster Slugslinger with Caliburst (1987)
- A new mold, Slugslinger came packaged with his partner Caliburst.
- Several parts for Slugslinger are available on Shapeways.
Transformers: Energon
In the Transformers: Energon series, Slugslinger is also a Decepticon who transforms into a dual-cockpit jet, although his robot mode bears little resemblance to the that of the original.
Biography: Slugslinger is a crude and vile Decepticon. His ariel speed and battle tactics are the two reasons that Megatron keeps him around. He takes just as much pleasure in starting trouble between his own teammates as he does fighting Autobots. In robot mode, this troublemaker possesses an impressive weapons arsenal. Many Autobots try to avoid a direct gun fight with him. In vehicle mode, Slugslinger's speed and endurance in the air are second only to Megatron.
Dreamwave Productions
This character did not appear in the cartoon series, but did appear in Dreamwave Comics Transformers: Energon series. He first appeared in Transformers: Energon #26, where he attacked the Omnicons alongside Mirage and Sharkticon in order to kidnap Kicker. However, they were eventually beaten by the powered up Omnicons.
He also appeared in the Dreawmave Summer Special. In the future, Megatron had retaken command of the Decepticons, and sent Snow Cat, Slugslinger and Sharkticon each on missions to steal copies of the plans for Omega Supreme from the Autobot's Ocean City. Each of the three attempted to break in - but each were defeated. Slugslinger attempted to get in via a waste disposal duct, but was flushed out by a tide of refuse.The three each made up stories as to their failure and Megatron appointed Slugslinger as his lieutenant as his lie was the most impressive.
He also appeared in Transformers: Energon Promotional Comic #3 where he was taken out by Omega Supreme.
IDW Publishing
Slugslinger formed the right leg of Sky Reign.
Toys
Energon Deluxe Slugslinger (2004)
- This toy was a Deluxe figure and a Hasbro exclusive for the Energon line.
- Although neither Slugslinger appeared in the Transformers: Universe series, a remold of Energon Slugslinger, done as a homage to Generation 1 Autobot Devcon, was planned. The toy was to be a Botcon exclusive collectable, but was never developed past concept drawings.
- Energon Slugslinger was remolded into Transformers: Timelines Airazor.
Shattered Glass
This Slugslinger is an alternate version good 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. Presumably like all Decepticons of his world, he is heroic and opposed to the evil Autobots. This version of Slugslinger seems to be colored as a homage to the Generation 1 Crosshairs.
Fun Publications
Slugslinger appeared as a member of Megatron's forces in the "Shattered Glass" story.[8]
References
- ↑ Miedzian, Myriam (2002). Boys Will Be Boys. Lantern Books. p. 276. ISBN 978-1590560358.
- ↑ Transformers: The Ark II, Volume 2, By Jim Sorenson, Nick Roche, William Forster, page 58
- ↑ "The Master Sword Is in Danger!!". Transformers: The Headmasters. No. 29, season 1.
- ↑ "The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide". Transformers: The Headmasters. No. 30, season 1.
- ↑ "The Transformers in 3D" The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3 3 (March 1988), El Cajon, California: Blackthorne Publishing
- ↑ John Grant (1988). Decepticons at the Pole. Ladybird Books. ISBN 0721410685.
- ↑ John Grant (1988). Autobots Strike Oil. Ladybird Books. ISBN 0721410693.
- ↑ 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
External links
- 1987 toys
- Blackthorne Publishing characters
- Combiners (Transformers)
- Decepticons
- Dreamwave Productions characters
- Fictional aircraft
- Fictional characters introduced in 1987
- Fictional characters who can fly
- Fictional characters with oxygen independence
- Fictional characters with superhuman durability
- Fictional characters with superhuman longevity
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- Fun Publications characters
- IDW Publishing characters
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- Predacons
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