Ironhide
Ironhide is the name of five fictional characters from the Transformers series. The first Ironhide was an Autobot head of security who turned into a red van introduced in 1984. The second Ironhide, also called Ox in Japan, was a heroic ninja who turned not a pickup truck introduced in 2000.
Contents
Transformers: Generation 1
Ironhide (Rhino in Canada, Falco (meaning "hawk") in Italy, Vasököl (Ironfist) in Hungary, Bronevik in Russia) is portrayed as a strong and toughened old Autobot warrior who has seen his fair share of battle.
Ironhide has occasionally been depicted as a combiner, forming part of Betatron, Magnaboss or Optimus Maximus when called on.
Reception
Ironhide was one of the favorite Autobots of IGN.[1]
Fictional biography
"Go chew on a microchip!" is Ironhide's slogan. Prefers action to words. Oldest, toughest, most battle-tested Autobot. Bodyguard to Optimus Prime. In charge of guarding anything of importance. Gruff, but kind. Trithyllium-steel skin makes him nearly invulnerable to attack. Shoots variety of liquids from supercooled nitrogen to superheated lead. Has sonar, radar, radiowave detector. Slowest and most fragile of the group.
Animated series
In the "More Than Meets The Eye" three parter that launched the animated series, Ironhide was shown taking down Soundwave aboard the Ark before it crash landed on Earth and later assisting Bumblebee in stopping a Rumble-created flood. He quickly grew tired of the Autobots constantly being a step behind the Decepticons and impetuously took off after them - only to be brought back down to Earth with a bump by a teleporting Skywarp. Ironhide's most prominent appearance was in the second season episode "The Immobilizer". Distracted by Spike's friend Carly (who was a big fan of the Autobots) while on guard duty, Ironhide inadvertently allowed the Decepticons to steal Wheeljack's latest invention - a weapon that could freeze anything including Transformers. Guilt-ridden and believing himself to be too old to be of any further use, Ironhide resigned from active service, against the wishes of Optimus Prime. However, when Carly was captured by the Decepticons the veteran Autobot went to her rescue and saved her from the Decepticon base. After being frozen and unfrozen by the Immobilizer (after Carly and Brawn sabotaged it) Ironhide personally destroyed the device and returned to active duty.
Ironhide fully fulfilled his role as Prime's bodyguard in the episode "Transport to Oblivion". While battling Megatron at a power plant, Prime accidentally knocked the Decepticon leader into a generator giving him a temporary power boost. Megatron took complete advantage of this by knocking Prime down and temporarily stunning him. He then transformed into his gun mode, ordering Soundwave to destroy the Autobot leader. Ironhide leaping forward, took the shot himself saving Prime's life. Rather than pursue the withdrawing Decepticons, Optimus ordered the team back to base because of how badly Ironhide had been hit. The grouchy Ironhide was not at all pleased with needing some "R&R" (what Ratchet said was needed for one of his components "removed and rebuilt"). Ratchet humorously threatened to disconnect Ironhide's vocal circuits if he kept complaining. Ironhide made a full recovery and was available for duty soon thereafter.
In "A Prime Problem", Ironhide took temporary leadership of the Autobots when they could not decide on which Optimus Prime was which, as Megatron had made a perfect clone of Optimus Prime to fool the Autobots into venturing down into a dangerous chasm.
In "The Search for Alpha Trion", when Optimus Prime returned to Cybertron alone to save Elita One, Ironhide leads Inferno and Powerglide after him. On Cybertron the Autobots are briefly reunited with Chromia, Moonracer and Firestar to defeat the Decepticons.
Ironhide is killed in The Transformers: The Movie as the Decepticons invade an Autobot shuttle in which Ironhide, Prowl, Ratchet and Brawn are traveling to Earth. Before the shuttle departed, Spike asked Ironhide to tell his son Daniel that he misses him and that he will be coming home as soon as they kick Megatron's tail clear across the galaxy. Despite the heavily concentrated armor of his front section, he falls as a result of a number of blasts from the invading Decepticons and several shots to the chest from Megatron in his gun mode wielded by Starscream. When Megatron reveals to Starscream how he is going to attack Autobot City on Earth and wipe them out forever, a wounded Ironhide clutches at Megatron's leg and yells, "No!!". Megatron responds with the now famous words: "Such heroic nonsense" and kills Ironhide offscreen with a point-blank blast to the head from his fusion cannon. A few scenes later, Ironhide appears to be attacking Autobot City with the Decepticons but this is actually a mis-colored Reflector error.
Note: In the Transformers: Prime episode "Toxicity", Bulkhead explains to Agent Fowler about the dangers of Tox-En, a toxic form of Energon. In his flashback, a Transformer resembling Ironhide is seen dead.
Books
Ironhide was featured in the 1985 audio adventures Megatron's Fight For Power, Autobots Fight Back and Laserbeak's Fury by John Grant, published by Ladybird Books.[2][3]
Comics
Devil's Due Publishing
In this alternate-continuity crossover between Transformers and G.I. Joe, the Ark was discovered by the terrorist group Cobra, and all the Transformers inside were reformatted into Cobra vehicles remotely controlled by Tele-Vipers (Cobra's communications officers). In this storyline, Ironhide turned into a Cobra HISS (HIgh Speed Sentry) tank.
Ironhide appeared in the second Devil's Due comic series, this time reformatted by Teletran-3 into a 1970s car and also in the third crossover, where he was part of the combined Autobot/G.I. Joe force that attempted to rescue Optimus Prime. Although his alternate mode is not shown, his body resembles that of the classic G1 look, indicating his alternate mode is now the familiar Nissan.
Fun Publications
Ironhide was been depicted in numerous stories by Fun Publications in different continuities. He has appeared as an old Autobot in their Beast Era stories, as well as appearing in the Classicverse and Wings of Honor settings.
Descent into Evil
A remold of the Energon Autobot Tow-Line, the original Ironhide makes his first appearance as a new toy in ten years as a BotCon exclusive. His body has been reconfigured by Optimus Prime and the Matrix into a form resembling a more advanced version of his old body (his Timelines toy). In the accompanying comic, Descent into Evil, set in a possible future he leads a group of Autobots, including his old friend Ratchet. Sent to investigate Deathsaurus' activities, they discovered his plan to create a massive army of Insecticon clones. After his team had been captured Ironhide took on Deathsaurus himself, hoping to distract him long enough to allow Ratchet to free the others. He failed and was captured by the larger Decepticon. However, he and Ratchet were freed by Ricochet, who was in fact an agent of Bumblebee, and had infected the Insecticons with a virus that slowly destroyed their clones. Ironhide was then instrumental in leading Autobot reinforcements to victory over the Decepticons.
Classicverse
In At Fight's End Dirge, Ramjet and Thrust under the orders of Megatron. The city was defended by Ironhide, Jetfire, Optimus Prime and Sunstreaker.[4]
Ironhide appears in "Beast Wars Shattered Glass Chapter One: Shattered Time" by Fun Publications. In this story Ultra Magnus and the Autobots aboard the Graviton battle Megatron and the Decepticons aboard the Talon. Both ships are pulled through a vortex into the past of Shattered Glass Earth. Crashing they discover that dangerous energon readings outside the ship will place them in stasis lock. The Autobots devise organic alternate modes to protect them from the energon. The Decepticons create energon-absorbing armor for protection. Ironhide takes on the alternate form of an elephant (his Beast Wars toy).[5]
Ironhide appears in the story arc Beast Wars Shattered Glass by Fun Publications. Ultra Magnus and his Autobots discover that their ship's high security storage rooms were damaged in the crash and the Autobot bodies in stasis pods were lost. They head out to recover the pods when they are attacked by Dirge and Seawing. They find the pods, but also discover that Megatron has gotten to them first. He's converted the three Autobots into Autojetter, Autolauncher, and Scylla, who are loyal to him. The Decepticons attack the Autobots, who are only saved thanks to the intervention of Depth Charge. Ultra Magnus orders the retreat, as there is nothing left for them to recover. Depth Charge informs the Autobots of his mission to save the multiverse.[6]
Wings Universe
Ironhide is among the Autobots present when Megatron attacks Iacon with his new weapon, Devastator.[7]
Marvel Comics
Ironhide's first appearance is in the comics resembled his toy but was soon updated to his more anthropomorphic animated form. In US Transformers #4, with the Autobots low on fuel and facing an imminent Decepticon assault, he was chosen by Optimus Prime alongside Huffer, Bluestreak and Mirage to be given all the remaining fuel and stand against the Decepticons. While Megatron's soldiers collapsed at the last moment due to poisoned fuel, the Autobots were abruptly offlined and the Ark captured by Shockwave.
Once reactivated, he was part of the team sent on a failed mission to prevent the Decepticons contacting Cybertron and battled the Constructicons for the first time.
He later worked alongside Jetfire in the Dinobot Hunt and learned to trust him despite his Decepticon origins; and he fought the Constructicons again at a demolition derby while working as a bodyguard for Buster Witwicky. Things took a darker turn when, in Target: 2006, Galvatron arrived and Optimus Prime was sent to Limbo. Losing to the future Decepticon and having taken a humiliating beating, it was Ironhide who made the decision to dig up & reactivate Megatron and have him assume command against Galvatron.
Ironhide was sidelined as a character in subsequent issues, though he was drawn as fighting against Ratbat's forces on the moon and in the Time Wars.
He was later deactivated, presumably during the Underbase battle, and reactivated by Grimlock using nucleon.
In the latter-day black-and-white UK stories, he was one of five Autobots who Galvatron accidentally reactivated whilst trying to find Autobots with flaws that he could exploit to gain as troops. It was revealed Ironhide had once thwarted a terrorist siege only for the police to almost mess it up, leaving him feeling frustrated with humans. The five defeated him and Ironhide became part of the Autobot Earthforce, where he went on to thwart Decepticon attempts to create an Actionmaster Devastator and help Jazz prevent Megatron & Shockwave from uniting their two factions.
Ironhide appeared in the Marvel Generation Two comics in his Generation 1 form, seemingly dying alongside Smokescreen.
TFcon comics
Ironhide appears in the TFcon 2012 live script reading prelude comic Days of Wreckening. In this story he appears on future Cybertron as a Maximal leader and refuses to let Depth Charge go after Protoform X.[8]
Games
Ironhide is among the characters who appear in the TRANSFORMERS CVBERVERSE Battle Builder Game.[9]
Toys
- Generation 1 Autobot Car Ironhide (1984)
- Generation 2 Power Master Ironhide
- Beast Wars Mangaboss
- A 3-pack includes Deluxe Ironhide, Basic Prowl and Basic Silverbolt.
- This set was recolored into Beast Wars Second Magnaboss.
- Timelines Deluxe Ironhide (2005)
- A BotCon exclusive remold of Energon Towline. Came packaged in a box set with Chromia, Fallback, Ricochet, Buzzclaw, Deathsaurus and Dirge.
- Universe Classic Series Deluxe Ironhide (2008)
- Turns from robot to van. This toy was recolored and remolded into Universe Ratchet and Timelines Soundwave.
- Generations Combiner Wars Deluxe Ironhide (2015)
- A remold and recolor of Generatons Combiner Wars Deluxe Offroad.
Gallery
Optimus Maximus with Generations Combiner Wars Deluxe Ironhide as his leg
Betatron with Generations Combiner Wars Deluxe Ironhide as his arm
Transformers: Robots in Disguise
Ironhide is the strongest of the Spy Changers. Usually a peaceful intellectual until he gets pushed to the limit, then stay out of his way. He's an expert in materials transport and carries a shockwave rifle. Like the original this Ironhide has a Southern accent.
Fictional biography
The strongest of the Spychangers, Ox is normally peaceful and intellectual, but once he gets mad, no one can lay a manipulator on him. He is also a transport expert, and comes equipped with a shockwave rifle.
Animated series
In the television series, the Spy Changers received little characterization - usually acting in a group to attack or perform whatever mission they had been assigned. Ironhide's best friend was fellow Spy Changer Mirage which was the basis of one particular episode called "Mirage's Betrayal". After an incident where Mirage, fearing collateral damage, allowed the Predacons to get away, the others on the team accused him of failure. A furious Mirage walked out, realizing the Predacons had put a bug on him. Ironhide attempted to talk him out of it, but snapped and punched him when Mirage threatened to join the Predacons (unaware he was just doing it for show). Later, Mirage called the Spy Changers to Megatron's latest weapon, having ostensibly joined the Predacons. He managed to communicate his true intentions to the other Spy Changers, and they destroyed the laser. A guilty Ironhide demanded Mirage hit him to even things out between them - but Mirage simply prodded his friend, claiming they were now even before challenging him to a race back to base.
3H Enterprises
This character appeared in the 2004 BotCon voice actor play, and was seemingly yet another new Ironhide taken from a parallel dimension to that of the Robots in Disguise fiction.
The Voice Actor Drama was written for OFTCC 2004 by Simon Furman, set after the events in the comics. Spy Changers Optimus Prime, Prowl, Ultra Magnus, and Ironhide were among those taken from their world via teleportation beam by Unicron and his Decepticon minions. The Autobot forces opposing Unicron attempted to deflect the beam, which left them all trapped on an uninhabited ice-world. The Autobot forces teamed up to overcome the Decepticons led by Reptilion. Presumably the Autobots were then returned to their own worlds.
Toys
- Car Robots Ox (2000)
- A recolor of the Generation 2 Autobot Motormouth.
- Car Robots Ox rerecolor
- Robots in Disguise Ironhide (2001)
- An American release of the Japanese Car Robots toy named Ox.
- Robots in Disguise recolor Ironhide
- This toy was later recolored into several clear versions, one of which was repackaged as the second Universe Hoist.
- Universe Spy Changer Ultra Magnus with Ironhide (2004)
- The parallel-universe spanning Transformers: Universe line featured a black recolor of the Spy Changer version of Robots in Disguise Ironhide. This package was a Walmart store exclusive.
Transformers: Armada
In 2003 a new character named Ironhide was introduced in the Armada series. This Ironhide is a female Mini-Con who is the partner to the Decepticon Terrorsaur.
Dreamwave Productions
According to the biography given by Dreamwave Productions, Ironhide was a supporter of the Mini-Cons joining the Autobots, and was joined with an Autobot warrior until he was killed by Terrorsaur. When Terrorsaur was taken by Unicron she was freed but felt an emptiness in her life and now misses him.
She is particularly strong and tough for a Mini-Con as well as being very smart. Her main weapon is her machine gun which fires armor piercing rounds.
Ironhide is very emotionally needy.[10]
Toys
- Armada Deluxe Terrorsaur with Mini-Con Ironhide (2003)
- Ironhide is a recolor of fellow Mini-Con Dune Runner. This mold was recolored into Crunch and Kobushi.
Transformers: Energon
Ironhide is a young, reckless Autobot who idolizes Hot Shot. He's a good fighter, but lacks trouble. He most commonly powerlinx with Jetfire, becoming the lower (or upper) half of their combined form. Carries a laser cannon. In vehicular mode, he resembles a cobalt blue, then later green Mercedes-Benz W163
Also note that the Japanese name for the Decepticon Demolishor was Ironhide.
Animated series
The youthful, impetuous Ironhide (Roadbuster) is the newest addition to Optimus Prime's team, and is desperate to prove himself to his commanders, particularly his idol, Hot Shot. Indeed, it is not generally the actions Ironhide performs on his own that define his character, but rather the actions taken in his relationships with others, the first such challenging being his partnership with the disagreeable human, Kicker. Neither Ironhide nor Kicker were happy about Optimus Prime's decision to force them together, but despite everything, the two eventually became good friends. Ironhide would also have to deal with the betrayal of Demolishor and the corruption of Scorponok, resulting in an emotional growth that saw him become the object of adoration himself, and leader of his own team. As a matter of fact, he broke the fourth wall when he said "What will happen next after the break? The world will never know" in the episode "Unicron Unleashed". Ironhide transforms into an SUV with roof-mounted cannons, and possesses the Spark of Combination, allowing him to combine with other Transformers. During the battle against Unicron, Ironhide was evolved into a more powerful form by Primus (the cartoons continued to refer to him by his original name, while the toys were released as Energon Ironhide and Roadbuster W in the U.S. and Japan, respectively).
Comics
Dreamwave Productions
Ironhide would also appear in the Dreamwave Productions Energon comic series, where his backstory was expanded on. In the years of the civil war Ironhide was a prisoner of the Decepticons, most notably the sadistic Tidal Wave, who killed other Autobots whenever Ironhide refused his orders, forcing him to make weapons. Before the events of Energon he had come to Earth under the command of Jetfire. However, his past would come to the fore once again in Energon #24 when he was attacked by Tidal Wave - now a Terrorcon, a group of former Decepticons enhanced by Unicron - who threatened Cliffjumper's life to get what he wanted. Forcing Ironhide to take him to a store of planet-destroying warheads to obtain one for the Terrorcons, Tidal Wave underestimated his prisoner's resolve as he activated the warhead and attacked Tidal Wave. The Terrorcon easily defeated him, but was forced to flee by the arrival of Jetfire and the seemingly imminent detonation of the bomb - unaware that Ironhide had rigged it not to go off.
He was subsequently on Earth for the arrival of the Omnicons, and was one of the defenders of the Autobot base alongside Overload and Dropshot, but was easily defeated by Scorponok. After Megatron surprisingly arrived and defeated the Terrorcon leader, he confronted Ironhide - but instead of destroying him he merely gave Ironhide a message to give to the Autobots: that Megatron was back.
Dreamwave went out of business before the end of Energon could be reached, so any further tales of Ironhide would remain untold.
Fun Publications
Ironhide appeared in the text story from Fun Publications called "Force of Habit". This story explained where he was during the events of the Cybertron story. Ultra Magnus was the commander of various Autobot ships sent to other planets in search for the Cyber Planet Keys. He also served as captain of the Iron Hope which was crewed by Bonecrusher, Grimlock, Ironhide, Knock Out, Overcast, Prowl, Quickstrike, RipTide, Skyblast, Smokescreen, Swoop, Wreckage, and the Sky Scorcher Mini-Con Team.
Toys
- Energon Mega Ironhide (2004)
- A Mega class toy.[11]
- Energon Mega Energon Ironhide
- A recolor of the original toy in green, with the color scheme designed to evoke Generation 1 Hound.
- Energon McDonalds Ironhide
- Available only in Europe as a toy in Happy Meals.
Transformers: Prime
Animated series
Ironhide was originally supposed to appear in the role that was later given to Bulkhead. Jeff Kline later stated in a bonus feature on the Darkness Rising DVD that because of the death of Ironhide in Dark of the Moon, the producers didn't want to confuse the kids with a living Ironhide. Concept art of what Ironhide would've looked like had he appeared on the show was later released over the internet.
Despite this, it was later said at BotCon 2012 that Ironhide would not appear in the show, but that he might show up in other places. During the episode "Toxicity", an Autobot resembling Ironhide is shown dead from Tox-En poisoning during Bulkhead's flashback explaining what the substance is to Agent Fowler.
Books
Appears in the novel Transformers: Exodus, Transformers: Exiles, and Transformers: Retribution.
Games
Ironhide is a playable character in the 2010 video game Transformers: War for Cybertron.[12] He first appears leading the Autobot forces during the Iacon City battle at the Decagon and helps Optimus, Bumblebee and Ratchet get inside by lifting a giant stone pillar and tearing apart two brutes. He next appears alongside Optimus and Warpath in their attempt to free Omega Supreme and clear Cybertron's core of Dark Energon during which he expresses his disdain for Warpath's overly triggerhappy personality.
In the Nintendo DS game Transformers: War for Cybertron - Decepticons, Ironhide is unlockable by finding a data disk in one of the bonus levels. He is seen in the new trailer Transformers: Fall of Cybertron punching Starscream in the face when he tries to sneak up on Prime and Bumblebee. Moments later, he is seen standing on a high peak with Jazz and Optimus Prime watching the battle below.
Toys
- Prime Cyberverse Commander Ironhide (2012)
- A figure released in the smaller Cyberverse-scale toyline, with translucent blue arm cannons, and intended to interact with the Cyberverse playsets. This is the only Prime Ironhide toy to be released by Hasbro.
- This toy was remolded into Prime Huffer and Trailcutter.
- Prime Arms Micron AM-20 Deluxe Ironhide (2012)
- A Takara Tomy Japan-exclusive red redeco of Deluxe Sergeant Kup with an orange Micron figure that transforms into his cannon. Like the unrealized Earth-mode Animated Ironhide, Prime Ironhide transforms into a red 4x4 pickup truck, a combination of his G1 and live-action film appearances. The figure mold was originally designed to be Ironhide, but Hasbro changed it to a green color and released it as Kup. In Japan, Takara Tomy subsequently redecoed the figure back to red and released as its originally intended identity, Ironhide.
References
- ↑ Transformers: Our Favorite Autobots - IGN
- ↑ Grant, John (1985). Megatron's Fight For Power. Ladybird Books. ISBN 0-7214-0896-6.
- ↑ Grant, John (1985). Autobots Fight Back. Ladybird Books. ISBN 0-7214-0942-3.
- ↑ Pete Sinclair (w), Evan Gauntt (p), Jesse Wittenrich (let), Pete Sinclair (ed). "At Fight's End" Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club The Official Magazine 30 (December 2009/January 2010), Fun Publications
- ↑ Benson Yee, Pete Sinclair & Matt Frank (w), Matt Frank (p), Matt Frank (i), Thomas Deer (col), Jesse Wittenrich (let), Pete Sinclair (ed). "Beast Wars Shattered Glass Chapter One: Shattered Time" The Transformers Collectors Club 49 (February–March 2013), Fun Publications
- ↑ Benson Yee, Pete Sinclair & Matt Frank (w), Matt Frank (p), Matt Frank (i), Thomas Deer (col), Jesse Wittenrich (let), Pete Sinclair (ed). "Beast Wars Shattered Glass Part 2" The Transformers Collectors Club (April–May 2013), Fun Publications
- ↑ Pete Sinclair & Jesse Wittenrich (October–November 2011). "Battle Lines Part 5". Transformers Collectors Club Magazine 1 (41): 3.
- ↑ Phillip M. Gervais (w), Ninjatron (p). "Days of Wreckening" TFcon Live Script Reading Prelude Comic (July 25th, 2012), TFcon
- ↑ TRANSFORMERS CYBERVERSE Battle Builder Game | CYBERVERSE | Hasbro
- ↑ "Terrorsaur and Ironhide Image Gallery". http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/content.php?/pages/transformers-reviews/gallery/725/toys/Terrorsaur.html.
- ↑ "Fan page for Energon Ironhide.". http://www.seibertron.com/database/character.php?view=&char_id=2781.
- ↑ "Next Two Characters Revealed: Transformers War for Cybertron". IGN. http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/108/1085510p1.html. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
External links
- http://www.tfu.info/1984/Autobot/Ironhide/ironhide.htm
- http://www.tfu.info/2001/Autobot/Ironhide/ironhide.htm
- http://www.tfu.info/2012/Autobot/CommIronhide/ironhide.htm
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