Starscream (Beast Wars II)
Starscream is a fictional character in the Transformers series. He is a high ranking Predacon in the Beast Wars II anime series. Once upgraded in the series he became known as Hellscream.
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Beast Wars II
In the Japanese-exclusive animated series, Beast Wars II, a character named Starscream was one of Galvatron's most loyal minions (neither character, however, was meant to be the same as his Generation 1 namesake, as was the case in the original Beast Wars series; preexisting names were reused for entirely different characters). He was the only sophisticated member of the bunch, but used his hulking sidekick, BB, to back him up.
Like the Decepticon air commander who came before him, Starscream is both ambitious and deadly. He makes up for his lack of size with unmatched speed and maneuverability. Starscream desires power and lots of it. He hopes to one day dethrone Galvatron as the Predacon emperor of destruction and rule the universe himself. He is also slightly effeminate, often laughing and gesturing in a shaky way. Nevertheless, he is not a warrior to be taken lightly. He often psyches himself up for a battle by listening to music from the Earth composer Wagner. Along with his subordinate, BB, he is a Predacon one should never underestimate.
When transformed Starscream becomes a stealth fighter capable of soaring at speeds few can imagine. In fighter mode he can use the "Formation Scream" and combine with his partner BB to become a powerful air fighter. In robot mode his attack of choice are his "Screamwinder Missiles" which are strong enough to vaporize most opponents.
Starscream is often a little too ambitious for his own good. His attempts to gain power are not always subtle and occasionally backfire.
Though stronger as Hellscream, Starscream's lust for power still keeps him under the watchful eyes of his superior officers.
Animated series
Starscream first appears in episodes #1 of Beast Wars Second, called "The Birth of a New Army."
Starscream appears in episode #14, "The Combined Giant, Tripledacus." Upon arriving on Gaea the Jointrons briefly fight Bighorn, Diver, Tasmanian Kid, Starscream and BB. After chasing away the Predacons Tripledacus notices the remaining mechs are Maximals and becomes friends with them. Later, when Tripledacus confronts Megastorm, Starscream and BB the Maximals arrive to chase the Predacons away from their new ally.
In episode #31, "The End of Starscream," Starscream is unwillingly plunged into a lava crater riddled with Angolmois energy by Gigastorm. This evolves him into Hellscream, a cybernetic flying shark. Even more cruel and ruthless than before, Hellscream retains his hateful personality but with newfound abilities. He still has his Screamwinder missiles but has gained a new power, the "Terrorstorm". With this, he unleashes a hellish torrent of fire and missiles reducing any Maximal to ashes.
Comics
Manga
In The Maximal Brainwashing Project Starscream and BB were able to capture Diver and the Tasmanian Kid, brainwashing them into serving the Predacons. Meanwhile Leo Prime, Apache and Scuba were able to capture Dirge and Thrust. The shock of being damaged in capture had the side effect of making the Predacons think they were Maximals. Diver and the Kid were able to ambush the Maximals, allowing Galvatron to gain the upper hand on Lio Convoy, but the Maximals were aided by Dirge and Thrust. Furious that Lio had seemingly stolen his brainwashing idea Starscream had BB attacked the Maximals. Megastorm found the whole turn of events amusing and planned to use his main cannon to destroy all the Maximals and Predacons in the conflict, becoming the leader of the Predacons. His attack took so long to charge Diver was able to ruin it with a water geyser. The explosion was enough to shock the brainwashed Maximals back to their senses. Galvatron and the Predacons retreated with Dirge and Thrust in tow.
IDW Publishing
Starscream had a biography printed in the Beast Wars Sourcebook by IDW Publishing.[1] According to the Beast Wars Sourcebook Starscream saved BB from a Maximal reeducation camp, which is why BB is so loyal to him.
In Beast Wars: The Ascending Shokaract's heralds Hellscream, Max-B, Antagony, Thrustor and Hardhead defended their master on Cybertron until he was shunted into limbo by the Maximal Snarl. The heralds then retreated once there was no vessel for Unicron.
Toys
- Beast Wars II Starscream with BB (1997)
- In 1997 he was released as a black redeco of Generation 2 Smokescreen. He was packaged together with his larger partner BB. This same toy was recolored into Robot Masters Smokesniper.
- Beast Wars II Hellscream (1998)
- In 1998 he was released as "Hellscream", a remold of Beast Wars Cybershark. This second toy was eventually released with a slight color change in the US as Universe Overbite.
- Hellscream was voted the 9th strangest Transformers Beast Wars figure by Topless Robots.[2]
References
External links
- 1997 toys
- 1998 toys
- Beast Wars II characters
- Fictional aircraft
- Fictional characters introduced in 1997
- Fictional characters who can fly
- Fictional characters with superhuman durability
- Fictional characters with superhuman longevity
- Fictional characters with superhuman strength
- Fictional commanders
- Fictional sharks
- Film characters
- IDW Publishing characters
- Predacons
