Hound (Transformers)

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Hound is the name of seven fictional characters from the Transformers series. The first Hound was an Autobot scout who turned into a Jeep and was introduced in 1984. From 2007 a character called Hound appeared in the supporting games and toy lines for the Transformers live action films. These appearances depicted Hound as being much like his original self, but in 2014 for the Age of Extinction Hound was redesigned into a character more closely resembling Prime Bulkhead.

Transformers: Generation 1

Hound
Transformers character
G1HoundLegensGame.jpg
Hound Artwork from Transformers Legends Game
First appearance

Transformers #1 by Marvel Comics
Created by

Hasbro
Voiced by

Ken Sansom (English)
Ramon Valdez (Spanish)
Kenyu Horiuchi (Japanese)
Information
Species Transformer
Abilities

Affiliation

Autobot
Alternate mode

Mitsubishi J59 Military Jeep, power scoop, Cybertronian car, Jeep Wrangler, train car
Function

Scout, Commando
Motto

"Observe everything, remember even more."
Series

Transformers: Generation 1
Transformers: Generation 2
Transformers: Alternators
Transformers: Universe
Transformers: Timelines
Transformers: Generations
Sub-group

Autobot Car, Autoroller, BotCon exclusives, Deluxe vehicles, Legends
Tech specs

ST07 IN09 SP07 EN09

RN09 CO09 FB04 SK09

Hound is an Autobot scout. He sometimes forms part of the Lynxmaster and Sky Reign combiners.

Fictional biography

Profile: Hound would just as soon be sniffing around the Grand Canyon or Big Sur as he would a secret Decepticon base. Perhaps more than any other Autobot, Hound takes pleasure in being on Earth. Unlike his home planet, which is entirely composed of metal and machinery, he finds the natural wonders of Earth endlessly fascinating, and uses his topographical skills to store every sight he sees within his memory circuits. Hound's bravery, fearlessness, and loyalty are unwavering, like any good advance scout. But his secret desire is to be human.

Abilities: While in his jeep mode, Hound uses his turret gun to sweep over the landscape from horizon to horizon, like a radar scope, and, with the help of internal 3-dimensional simulation circuitry, stores this information as a topographical map. Error distortion is no more than one inch per 150 feet distance from point of data collection. In robot mode, Hound's turret gun becomes an infrared radiation collector. It can detect heat differentials as small as .02 degrees Centigrade, and he uses this ability in tracking machines as well as humans. Hound's shoulder-mounted hologram gun can project 3-dimensional grid laser light images of terrain maps stored in his memory. He sometimes also can use it to cast simple illusions.

Weaknesses: Hound's infrared tracking ability can be countered by thermal interference. High frequency electromagnetic waves can distort or completely destroy his map-making ability. Sophisticated manipulation of such waves can even result in the recording of false images within his memory circuits.

Animated series

During the first season of the cartoon, Hound served as the Autobots' primary scout and recon soldier, a role which suited him well because he quickly grew to love the varied natural landscapes of Earth. Hound was also instrumental in the creation of the original 3 Dinobots, as he captured holographic images which served as rough blueprints for construction of Grimlock, Slag, and Sludge. However, after a spurt of early appearances - perhaps most notably in relaying the pilot's backstory to Spike - Hound became increasingly absent from the show, showing up only when his holographic powers were necessary.

Hound's first appearance came in "More Than Meets the Eye", a three-episode pilot created to launch the toyline onto television. Oddly enough the role of Spike's companion was filled by Hound in these episodes rather than Bumblebee. Hound was the first to introduce Spike to the concept of "transforming" and also gave Spike a tour of the nearby desert while beguiling him with tales of Cybertron. Hound would also end up being rescued by Spike, who nearly drowned in the process of saving him. While resuscitating Spike on the shore, Hound makes the mistake of thinking that the human Spike had "flooded his engine". Hound would be among the main cast of the pilot, almost playing as large of a role as Optimus Prime himself.

This changed however when the show moved into its regular season. Bumblebee became Spike's companion, and Hound took a backseat. However he was not without his notable appearances.

In "Heavy Metal War", Hound is responsible for providing a hologram of a large, menacing robot designed to intimidate Devastator. This helped turn the tide in the battle against the Decepticons in that episode.

The episode "City of Steel" featured another major role for Hound. He and a few other compatriots were charged with tracking and collecting the missing parts of the Optimus Prime. These parts had been disconnected and used in various parts of Megatron's reconstruction of New York.

Hound made a brief cameo appearance in The Transformers: The Movie where he, along with Sunstreaker, stood next to Optimus Prime before Prime confronted the Decepticon forces.

Hound was last seen in Takara's Japanese only Transformers: The Headmasters series, that included archive footage of TF:The Movie. The Autobot also has some lines on the first episodes. Japanese Transformers guides thus report that Hound has in some way survived the movie, however, because it also features Transformers that were pronounced deceased, that is considered speculation.

Books

Ladybird Books

Hound was featured in the 1985 Transformers audio books Autobots' Lightning Strike and Laserbeak's Fury.[1]

Hound appeared in the 1985 story Autobots Fight Back by John Grant, published by Ladybird Books.[2]

Hound appeared in the 1986 Ladybird Books story Decepticon Hideout by John Grant.[3]

Marvel Books

Hound is featured in the 1984 Marvel Books story Battle for Cybertron.[4]

Hound appeared in the 1984 sticker and story book The Revenge of the Decepticons written by Suzanne Weyn and published by Marvel Books.

Comics

Devil's Due Publishing

Hound also appeared in the first G.I. Joe vs the Transformers crossover from Devil's Due Publishing. Here the Ark was discovered by the terrorist Cobra Organization. Here Hound turned into a Cobra armoured car. After the Transformers were freed, Hound tried to assist Bumblebee and Wheeljack in reaching Megatron's energon producing facility, but was confronted by its guardian - Devastator, who blew Hound in half with one blast. His death was soon avenged, as the giant combiner was mobbed and taken down by the other Autobots and G.I. Joes.

Dreamwave Productions

When civil war broke out on the planet Cybertron between the Autobots and Decepticon factions, Hound joined the Autobot cause. After Decepticon leader Megatron killed the Autobot leader Sentinel Prime, a new Autobot leader was chosen by the Council of the Ancients. Hound was present when Optronix was given the Matrix and reformatted into Optimus Prime. Three Decepticon assassins attempted to kill Optimus, but were unsuccessful. Optimus then ordered a planet-wide evacuation of Cybertron (Transformers: The War Within #1). Hound was among those who reluctantly prepared for the evacuation (Transformers: War Within #2).

When Megatron and Optimus Prime disappeared in an accident with a space bridge, the Autobot and Decepticon forces splintered into smaller factions. Hound stayed with the Autobots under the leadership of Prowl. When Prowl and his team of Autobots confronted Trypticon, Hound, Tracks, Trailbreaker and other Autobots showed up as reinforcements (Transformers: The War Within - The Dark Ages #4).

Hound was among the Autobots who followed Optimus Prime on his mission on board the Ark. They were attacked by Megatron's ship, the Nemesis. After being boarded the Ark crash landed on Earth, where all on board were preserved in emergency stasis. In 1984 a volcanic eruption awakened the Ark's computer, Teletran-1, and it repaired all on board. It reformatted Hound in the form of an Earth Jeep.

Eventually the combined forces of the Autobots on Earth, and their human allies were able to capture the Decepticons. A ship called the Ark II was built to take the Cybertonians back to Cybertron, along with some human companions. Optimus left a small portion of his Matrix with human Spike Witwicky, promising to return with Spike's father from Cybertron one day. The Ark II exploded shortly after takeoff. The human allies were killed, but the Cybertonians were lost in the ocean, again in statis lock.

Hound and others were recovered by a rogue military unit and reprogrammed as slave war machines. Megatron broke free and then freed his fellow Decepticons and Grimlock. Hound and the other Autobots who were found by Lazarus were abused by Megatron's troops, but were eventually freed by Optimus Prime.

Hound returned with most of the Autobots from Earth to Cybertron as prisoners of Ultra Magnus. Prowl's team returned from Cybertron and Hound aided with construction for the new Autobot City in Alaska (Transformers: Generation One III #10).

Fun Publications

Hound appears in the BotCon 2015 exclusive comic story Cybertron's Most Wanted as a member of the Axiom Nexus security forces who arrest Batteltrap, Boombox, Heavyweight, Megatron, Nebulan, Scalpel and Stepper.

IDW Publishing

Generation 1

Hound appeared in issue #2 of Megatron Origin. In this story, set on ancient Cybertron he was a member of an Autobot security force in the city of Kaon. His squad was hunting the operators of gladiatorial contests in the degenerate slums, particularly Megatron.

Hound made his first IDW Publishing appearance in the Spotlight issue on Galvatron, where it was revealed that he had been put in charge of guarding Thunderwing's inert corpse with Leadfoot, Skram, Road Rocket, Warpath and Sideswipe under his command. Clashing with Sideswipe over his desire to find his brother Sunstreaker, Hound soon had other things to worry about as a mysterious Transformer arrived and decimated his unit. While Hound survived, he had failed in his duty, as Thunderwing's body had disappeared. This version of Hound is more officious and serious than in other continuities.

Hound appeared in Spotlight: Doubledealer where he was among the Autobots fighting Thunderwing on the planet Corata-Vaz.

Hearts of Steel
Hound, Trailblazer and Ratchet combine to form a train in Infestation 2: The Transformers #1

Hound was among the Autobots who opposed the Decepticons serving the elder gods in the IDW Publishing Infestation 2: Transformers comic.[5]

Marvel Comics

Hound also appeared in the Marvel Transformers comic, where his role was much the same as in the animated series. During the UK-only story Crisis of Command, Hound and Mirage combined their special abilities to capture the Decepticon spy, Ravage. Later, during the Target: 2006 story arc, a spy mission alongside Jazz went badly awry, resulting in the capture of Jazz. From then on, Hound was an outspoken critic of Jetfire's headstrong tactics against Galvatron. Later, in the full US/UK continuity, he was among the scores of Autobots deactivated by the Underbase-powered Starscream.

Hound's body was seen among the deactivated Autobots Ratchet was doing his best to revive in Transformers #56, "Back from the Dead".

However, he was resurrected at some point (presumably with Nucleon), as he appeared in the Transformers: Generation 2 comic as one of the few Transformers not dominated by the hate-inducing parasites. It is unknown if he survived the final battles against Jhiaxus and the Swarm.

Games

Hound is one of eight playable characters in the 1986 Commodore 64 video game Transformers: The Battle to Save the Earth.

Toys

  • Hasbro Transformers Hound (1984)
A new mold based on a Diaclone toy. Turns from Jeep to robot.
  • Hasbro Transformers: Generation 2 Hound (unreleased)
A recolor of Generation 2 Roadblock. Turns from scoop loader to robot.
  • Takara Binaltech Hound (2004)
A new mold.
  • Hasbro Alternators Hound (2004)
  • Hasbro Transformers Universe Classic Series Legends Autobot Hound (2008)
A new mold.
  • Hasbro Transformers Universe Deluxe Autobot Hound with Ravage (2008)
A new mold.
This toy was recolored into Timelines Turbomaster and Shattered Glass Ravage.
  • Takara Henkei! Henkei! C-13 Deluxe Hound with Jaguar (2008)
  • Hasbro Transformers Timelines Sergeant Hound with Dia and Cline and General Optimus Prime (2015)
Hound with Dia and Cline is a recolor and remold of Generations Scoop. General Optimus Prime is a recolor of Generations Roadbuster.
This is an exclusive to BotCon 2015.
  • Hasbro Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Deluxe Hound (2016)
A remold of Generations Rook. Turns from off road vehicle to robot or becomes a limbs of a Combiner Wars combiner.

Gallery


Transformers: Energon

The 2004 Energon Autobot Treadbolt came with a Mini-Con partner named Rollbar, which was a recolor of Armada Rollbar done in the colors of Generation 1 Hound. Although this Mini-Con was also called Rollbar as a toy, he was called Hound in fiction and treated as a separate character from Rollbar.

Live-action film series

Hound
Transformers character
Hound-aoe-boxed.jpg
Age of Extinction Voyager Hound in box
First appearance

Transformers The Game (2007)
Created by

Hasbro
Voiced by

Daniel Ross (2007 video game)
John Goodman (Age of Extinction)
Information
Species Transformer
Abilities

Affiliation

Autobot
Alternate mode

Jeep, Oshkosh Defense Medium Tactical Vehicle
Series

Transformers
Transformers: Age of Extinction
Sub-group

Legends, Voyagers
Tech specs

ST08 IN08 SP05 EN08

RN07 CO08 FB04 SK09

The film series version of Hound initially appeared in a 2007 video game for the live action film series as a variation of his Generation 1 self. In 2010 a toy was released that also resembles the original. In 2014 the Hound name was given to a character whose design more closely resembled the Prime Autobot Bulkhead in the Age of Extinction film.

Fictional biography

Autobot Hound might only be a single soldier, but he prides himself on being able to do the jobs of ten. Whether the objective is a tactical deployment, recon mission, or infiltration and sabotage, Hound can get the job done. Heavily armored, he isn't about to back down from an all-out firefight if one comes his way. Some bots might see that versatility as showing off. To Hound, it's all in the line of duty.

Films

Hound appears in Transformers: Age of Extinction as an Oshkosh tactical defense vehicle. He first appears when he shoots the skies trying to signal the Autobots to that Optimus Prime has arrived. He then appears when Optimus introduces the Autobots and is happy to see the gang back together. Then, when Cade hacks into a KSI drone, Hound sees footage of humans killing Leadfoot. Hound seemed the saddest one. He's then seen when the Autobots destroy the KSI laboratory in Chicago. Hound also helps save Optimus from Lockdown's ship along with Bumblebee, Crosshairs, and Drift. He was about to shoot Crosshairs in the head because he wanted to retreat. Hound then looked at an alien trapped in one of Lockdown's pods, which spit its green goo at him, so Hound killed it. Hound is then seen in Hong Kong fighting alongside Bumblebee and then he goes commando, using all his weapons to fight the KSI drones, including a two-headed drone, and is able to avoid enemy fire. He's then ordered to leave the city to protect Joshua, who has the seed, from the KSI drones that want it. Optimus later orders him to protect the Yeager family before he departs to space.

Games

Hound is a playable character in the PSP version of Transformers: The Game. Also in the game is a billboard advertisement sign that spells his name.

Hound and his partner Trailbreaker are asked by Optimus Prime to implant a virus on a satellite that the Decepticons Thundercracker and Shockwave send to call in Decepticon drones. Hound's mission is to find a dish to transmit the virus while protecting Trailbreaker. They find a dish, but it is easily destroyed by the drones. They find and repair another dish. Because a wave of Decepticons is coming, Hound decides to stay and hold the satellite in position while Trailbreaker transmits it. They successfully transmit the virus, which destroys all of the Decepticon drones, but Hound is electrocuted in the process. Hound, weakened, asks, "Did it work?", to which Trailbreaker begins to reply, but before he can, Hound "looses his spark" and dies in his brother's arms.

Toys

  • Transformers Legends Tracker Hound (2010)[6]
A black/gold recolor of the Universe Legends Hound figure.[7]
  • Age of Extinction Voyager Class Autobot Hound (2014)
An all-new Voyager Class mold of Hound.[8]
  • Age of Extinction Cyberverse Autobot Hound (2014)


Shattered Glass

Hound is an evil Autobot in the Shattered Glass stories. He first apppeared in 2008.

Animated

The Animated version of Hound first appeared in Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II in 2010.

Kre-O

Hound
Transformers character
240px
Hound Kreon
Created by

Hasbro
Information
Species Transformer
Abilities

Affiliation

Autobot
Alternate mode

None
Series

Kre-O Transformers
Sub-group

Kreons

Hound first appeared in a Kre-O comic in 2011. In 2014 several Kreons name Hound were released.

Toys

  • Kre-O Transformers Custom Kreon Autobot Hound (2014)


Fall of Cybertron

Hound appeared as a character in the Fall of Cybertron video game and it's sequals starting in 2011.

References

  1. TF Books
  2. Grant, John (1985). Autobots Fight Back. Ladybird Books. ISBN 0-7214-0942-3. 
  3. Decepticon Hideout. Ladybird Books. 1986. ISBN 0-7214-0989-X. 
  4. Siegel, Scott (1984). Battle for Cybertron. Marvel Books. ISBN 0871350165. 
  5. Chuck Dixon (w), Guido Guidi (p), John Wycough (i), Joana Lafuente (col), Chris Mowry (let), Bobby Curnow (ed). Infestation 2: The Transformers 1 (February 2011), IDW Publishing
  6. TFW2005.com - HFTD Scout and Legends Wave 2 Released in the Philippines
  7. TFSource.com - Legends Tracker Hound
  8. [1]

External links