Jazz (Transformers)

For other uses, see Jazz.

Jazz is the name of several fictional characters from the Transformers series. The first Jazz was an Autobot special operations agent who turned into a race car introduced in 1984.

Transformers: Generation 1

Jazz
Transformers character
Generation 1 Jazz in box
First appearance	Transformers #1 by Marvel Comics
Voiced by	Scatman Crothers
Information
Aliases	Meister (Japan)
Species	Transformer
Abilities	Flight Shapeshifting Superhuman durability Superhuman strength
Affiliation	Autobot
Alternate mode	Car, Cybertronian car
Function	Special Ops. Agent
Motto	"Do it with style or don't bother doing it."
Series	Transformers: Generation 1 Transformers: Generation 2
Sub-group	Action Masters, Deluxe Vehicles, Legends, Pretenders
Tech specs	ST05 IN09 SP07 EN07 RN08 CO09 FB05 SK10

Reception

Jazz was one of the favorite Autobots of IGN.

Fictional biography

Profile: Jazz would be cruising down Bourbon Street in New Orleans or be double-parked outside a cellar club in Greenwich Village soaking up the local sounds if he weren't in the middle of a war. He's a confirmed Earthen culture junkie - he can talk fluently about ballet or break-dancing (although he prefers the latter), and he's always on the lookout for more stuff to turn on to. His knowledge of Earthen ways and his easy adaptability to Earthen environments make him the indispensable right-hand man of his commander, Optimus Prime. He's often given the most dangerous assignments, and, with characteristic coolness, usually pulls them off using something out of his seemingly bottomless bag of tricks. He'd rather dazzle you with style than accomplish a mission the easy way.

Abilities: In robot mode, Jazz can use his solar-powered photon rifle with deadly accuracy up to a distance of .9 miles from target, and he can shoot it from virtually any physical position he may be in with equal effectiveness. He can also use a combination of his overhead flame-thrower (maximum range of 250 feet), full-spectrum front grill beacon and 180 dB stereo speakers to create a spectacular, disorienting light and sound show. He has been known to glide for more than 3000 feet using his rear-mounted ailerons. His biggest asset is the versatility and cleverness he possesses in using the resources at his disposal.

Weaknesses: Although Jazz's firepower and strength are weak relatives to that of some of the other Autobots, he more than compensates with his daring and skill. He's prone to be distracted from his primary assignment by Earthen behavior patterns that he finds interesting. This sometimes leads to disastrous consequences.

Animated series

The Transformers

Jazz was among the Autobots who followed Optimus Prime on his mission aboard the Ark. They were attacked by Megatron's ship, the Nemesis, and crash landed on Earth, where all on board were preserved in emergency stasis. Four million years later, in 1984, a volcanic eruption awakened the Ark's computer, Teletran-I, and it repaired all on board. It reformatted Jazz in the form of an Earth race car. Jazz then became a regular character throughout the show's first two seasons serving as Optimus Prime's second-in-command (Ironhide and Prowl seemed to share this role with him though).

In the episode "Attack of the Autobots", he and Bumblebee were the only Autobots to avoid being brainwashed. But thanks to his new sound system and Sparkplug's attitude exchanger, the Autobots were able to be cured and the Decepticons' plans were foiled.

In the episode "The God Gambit", Cosmos collected data in space on a potential new power source, but was attacked by Astrotrain, Thrust and Starscream. Crashing on Saturn's moon Titan, the local priests worshipped the Decepticons as "Sky Gods", but rebels were able to reactivate Cosmos and call for aid from the Autobots. Optimus Prime sent Omega Supreme along with Perceptor and Jazz. Astrotrain set himself up as the chief god of the moon and forced the natives to gather energy crystals. The trip to Titan drained Omega of most of his energy, but Perceptor and Jazz were able to gather enough crystals to reactivate Omega and defeat the three Decepticons. Vowing to not let the Autobots gain the crystals, Astrotrain set up a chain reaction destroying them. The Autobots aided the natives to escape the explosion and helped them settle in another area of the moon.

In the episode "Prime Target", the big game hunter Lord Cholmondeley captured a secret Soviet jet, leading to panic or possibly war. Cholmondeley then set his sights on the ultimate trophy, the head of Optimus Prime. In order to lure Optimus in, Cholmondeley captured the Autobots Tracks, Bumblebee, Jazz, Beachcomber, Grapple, Blaster and Inferno. Windcharger and Huffer were able to avoid being trapped. When Cosmos learned of the location where Cholmondeley was keeping the captured Autobots, Optimus Prime accepted Cholmondeley's challenge to meet him alone. Although interrupted by Astrotrain and Blitzwing's attempt to ally the Decepticons with Cholmondeley, Optimus defeated the big game hunter and freed the Autobots. Cholmondeley and the stolen jet were given over to the Soviets by the Autobots as punishment for his actions.

When Starscream was exiled from the Decepticons and created the Combaticons (in "Starscream's Brigade") his first act was to capture the Autobots Cliffjumper and Jazz during the unveiling of a statue of Optimus Prime.

Towards the end of 1985, Jazz was among the team of five Autobots who disguised themselves as the Stunticons in "Masquerade". (Jazz, a Porsche 935 turbo, was made to resemble Dead End, the Stunticon Porsche 928.) Penetrating the Decepticons' camp, the Autobots ran into trouble when the real Stunticons arrived, trying to prove their identities by forming Menasor. With a combination of Windcharger's magnetic powers and Mirage's illusion-creating ability, the Autobots were able to appear as Menasor too. Though the deception was soon revealed, they were still able to thwart the Decepticons' plans.

During the time between the film's release and the start of season 3 of the TV show, Jazz's voice actor, Scatman Crothers, died. The movie release was the last time that Jazz spoke. However, Jazz made minor cameos throughout the season in the episodes "Five Faces of Darkness" where he competed in a race and won, and fought alongside Perceptor and Rodimus Prime.

In the episode "Dark Awakening", he briefly stood beside the reincarnated Optimus Prime and in the episode "Call of the Primitives", he was seen for the final time.

After the animated series ended in the US, Jazz appeared in animated form in the commercials for the Classic Pretenders, Action Masters, and Hot Rod Patrol.

Transformers: The Headmasters

Prowl, Ultra Magnus, Inferno and Jazz in Transformer: The Headmasters

Jazz appeared in the Japanese exclusive Transformers: The Headmasters animated series. He was among the Autobots stationed on Earth.

Books

Jazz is featured in the 1984 Marvel Books story Battle for Cybertron.

Jazz was featured in the 1985 Find Your Fate Junior book called Battle Drive by Barbara Siegel and Scott Siegel.

Jazz was featured in the 1985 Transformers audio books Autobots' Lightning Strike and Autobots Fight Back by John Grant, published by Ladybird Books.

Jazz was featured in the 1993 Transformers: Generation 2 coloring book "Decepticon Madness" by Bud Simpson.

Comics

Dreamwave Productions

In 2002, Jazz returned along with his fellow Autobots when Dreamwave Productions acquired the Transformers comic license and launched a brand new continuity.

When civil war broke out on the planet Cybertron between the Autobots and Decepticon factions, Jazz 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. Jazz 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). When Shockwave led a force of Decepticons against the Autobot capitol of Iacon, Jazz was among the Autobots who defended the capitol (War Within #3).

When Megatron and Optimus Prime disappeared in an accident with a Space Bridge, the Autobot and Decepticon forces splintered into smaller factions. Jazz stayed with the Autobots under the leadership of Prowl. Learning that the Decepticons were testing a new mobile command base at the Praetorus Wharf, Prowl lead Cliffjumper, Gears, Jazz, Skids and Sideswipe to investigate. What they discovered was Trypticon (Transformers: The War Within - The Dark Ages #3). Only Shockwave calling the giant away to combat the Fallen saved them. When the Fallen attacked the Autobot base in order to capture Blitzwing, Jazz was among the Autobots who futilely tried to stop him.

Jazz was among the Autobots who followed Optimus Prime on his mission on board the Ark. They were attacked by Megatron's ship, the Nemesis and 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 Jazz in the form of an Earth car.

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 Cybertronians back to Cybertron, along with some human companions, but the ship exploded shortly after takeoff. The human allies were killed, but the Cybertronians were lost in the ocean, again in statis lock.

In the frozen Arctic, a man named Lazarus began resurrecting the lost Transformers and planned to control these giant metal warriors and sell their services in war to the highest bidder. The American government had recovered Optimus Prime and used him to rescue several Autobots from their Arctic prison, including Jazz. After they had recovered their friends from Lazarus, Jazz led a group of Autobots to stop the spread of Megatron's deadly virus in the Canadian Northwest territories.

As the Autobot and Decepticon war continued on Earth, an escape pod beacon drew their conflict to the Arctic. The pod contained the rogue Decepticon Scourge. The battle between the Autobots and Decepticons ceased long enough to find the new Cybertronian commander, Shockwave, had arrived in pursuit of Scourge and to arrest Optimus Prime and Megatron. Jazz was ordered by Prime to remain on Earth with a small Autobot task force.

When Ultra Magnus came to Earth claiming that the Earth-based Autobots were Cybertronian criminals, Optimus Prime surrendered and with the majority of Autobots returned to Cybertron. Jazz was left in charge of the Ark, with Brawn, Ratchet, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Wheeljack and Windcharger assigned to him.

Returning to Earth with the Combaticons, Starscream reformatted them into Earth-style vehicles and attacked the Autobots remaining on Earth. Forming Bruticus, the Combaticons defeated Jazz, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Wheeljack and Windcharger. Only Ratchet and Brawn escaped capture, but as they made their way back to the Ark, they discovered its defenses on automatic, and had to fight their way inside. Bruticus followed them and Ratchet had to destroy the Ark in failed attempt to destroy Bruticus. Starscream eventually captured Ratchet and Brawn, right as an Autobot shuttle and Sunstorm arrived on Earth (Transformers: Generation One vol. III #1).

Jazz, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were repaired by the Earth Defense Command. In return, Jazz commanded Sunstreaker, Sideswipe and Bumper in investigating the Insecticons for the Earth Defense Command. Eventually they rejoined Windcharger and Wheeljack,and all rejoined Ratchet on board the Autobot ship Orion (Transformers: Generation One vol. III #9).

Landing in Alaska, Jazz and the other Autobots met Prowl's team back from Cybertron. They were shown the site of construction for the new Autobot City (Transformers: Generation One vol. III #10). Brawn, Grapple, Hoist, Jazz, Omega Supreme, Prowl, Red Alert, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were among the Autobots who continued work on Autobot City (Transformers: Generation One vol. III #13).

In Dreamwave's More Than Meets the Eye, an in-universe encyclopedia of all of the characters, Bumblebee notes that Spike would have thought that Jazz's Pretender shell would have looked different.

Fun Publications

Classicverse

Jazz appeared in Solar Requiem, where he is seen meeting the native Decepticons of Shattered Glass Cybertron.

Wings of Honor

Jazz appears in the 2013 Transformers: Timelines story Termination, where he is assigned as a city commander by Obsidian. He takes the form of his Generations toy in the comic.

Marvel Comics

In the early Marvel Comics, Jazz was portrayed easily and productively making contact with humans. He was also responsible for the long-standing relationship between the Autobots and G. B. Blackrock, pledging that the Autobots would defend his property from the Decepticons in return for fuel, and battled Circuit Breaker.

Marvel U.K.'s "Man of Iron" saw him befriending (as well as abducting) a young boy in rural England, helping the Autobots locate a lost ship under Stansham Castle; Jazz personally destroyed it to stop the Decepticons retrieving it.

Jazz passionately opposed Prowl's idea to use the Creation Matrix to create dedicated war machines to crush the Decepticons; he labeled such creations abominations. This ethically questionable move was staved off and Jazz continued to serve the Autobots well on Earth. Following the arrival of Galvatron in Target: 2006, he was captured and his mind viciously reprogrammed to make him a zombie servant. This left him incapacitated for a long while. He was eventually repaired, but soon met deactivation once more against the Underbase-powered Starscream.

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

To stop Megatron, Autobot medic Ratchet later restored Jazz as a Classic Pretender, along with Grimlock and Bumblebee. They remained on Cybertron and were an inspiration to the Autobot rebels, leading multiple raids on the Decepticons and also fighting several of the demons that lived beneath Cybertron. When a return trip to Earth was interrupted, the Classic Pretenders found themselves in front of the sleeping Primus and, after battling the Mayhem Attack Squad, witnessed him awaken. Jazz would go on a last mission as a Classic Pretender in the "Matrix Quest", heading to the moon of VsQs to retrieve the lost Matrix, though Thunderwing got to it first. He was later among the united Autobot and Decepticon forces who opposed Unicron's assault on the planet Cybertron in 1995 (Transformers #75). Immediately prior to this, Jazz was seen as one of the few surviving Autobots in the alternate 2009 seen in the story "Rhythms of Darkness". Here he fought Galvatron to give Spike time to attach the American flag to the Deception stronghold in New York and persuade the European Coalition to call off their nuclear attack. Jazz was saved from death by the arrival of Hook, Line and Sinker, who forcibly transported Galvatron back to the "present" of the regular timeline. He briefly reappeared during the battle on the planet Ethos in the Generation 2 comic.

Jazz was also one of the main Autobots in the Earthforce unit of Marvel U.K.'s Earthforce stories. The annual story "The Magnificent Six" revealed that four million years ago, Jazz was teamed with Inferno, Ironhide, Wheeljack and Sunstreaker and had been tortured by the sadistic Decepticon Megadeath in the Stanix region. He and the others faced Megadeath once again in the present and defeated him.

Jazz would appear in the U.K. Marvel comic issue #234, "Prime's Rib!" This story is set in the near future, 1995, where Optimus Prime, Jazz and Hot Rod introduce the latest Autobot, Arcee, to the human feminists. She was met with displeasure by the humans, being called a token female and disliked for her pink color. They were then attacked by Shockwave, Fangry, Horri-Bull and Squeezeplay, who thought the Autobots would be unvieling a new weapon. The Autobots fought off the Decepticons, who escaped, but nothing seemed to please the human feminists.

Films

In The Transformers: The Movie, set in the year 2005, Jazz was assigned to Moonbase One along with Cliffjumper. Jazz was responsible for monitoring Decepticon activity on Cybertron using the base as a secret staging ground for planning the liberation of Cybertron. After the Autobot City invasion of Earth, Moonbase One came under attack by the planet eater, Unicron. Jazz radioed to Earth for assistance and his faint signal was received by the Autobot Blaster who relayed the distress signal to Ultra Magnus. Jazz and Cliffjumper attempted to escape, however the shuttle could not achieve escape velocity and was swallowed by Unicron. During the assault on Unicron led by Hot Rod and Ultra Magnus, Daniel Witwicky encountered a smelting pit inside Unicron, where other Transformer-like beings were being sent to be melted into a liquid substance. Jazz, Cliffjumper, Bumblebee and Spike were about to be cast into the pit but Daniel managed to rescue them in the nick of time. Jazz and the others escaped Unicron before the planet-sized Transformer exploded from the effects of the Autobot Matrix.

Games

• Generation 1 Jazz for the Champions RPG

Toys

• Generation 1 Autobot Car Jazz (1984)

The toy that was to become the Autobot Jazz was originally released as part of the Japanese Diaclone series in 1983. He was later released in 1984 by Hasbro in the U.S. under the Transformers brand.

• Generation 1 Classic Pretender Jazz (1989)

Jazz was released as a Classic Pretender in 1989.

• Generation 1 Action Master Jazz (1990)

Jazz was released as an Action Master in 1990.

• Universe Spy Changer Jazz (2004)

Transformers: Universe Spy Changer in 2004—a repaint of Robots in Disguise Spy Changer Side Burn painted to resemble Generation 1 Jazz. Initially sold exclusively at KB Toys, then repackaged for discount chains. Two packaging versions of this toy existed—a KB version which did not attribute the toy to Universe and was packaged in vehicle form, and a version for discount stores which did and was packaged in robot mode.

His function is Special Operations Expert. Clever, cool, and adaptable, Autobot Jazz takes on the riskiest missions with trademark flair, dazzling enemies with spectacular sound and light displays. His vast knowledge of Earth culture makes his especially valuable in Earth operations. Equipped with photon rifle, flame-thrower, full-spectrum beacon and 180db stereo speakers.

• CybCon Jazz (2005)

An exclusive toy available at CybCon 2005, this original molded toy was supposed to represent Jazz's Cybertronian form before coming to Earth.

• Reveal the Shield Deluxe Special Ops Jazz (2010)

A new mold announced at BotCon 2010. Features speakers that are retractable in both car and robot modes.

The mold for this figure is also used for the BotCon 2012 exclusive Deluxe Treadshot and Kick-Out/Kick-Over.

• United Deluxe Autobot Jazz (Takara Tomy) (2010)

The Japanese version of Reveal the Shield Special Ops Jazz by Takara Tomy is in a metallic finish with silver wheels.

Shattered Glass

Transformers character
Timelines Jazz toy
Name	Jazz
Autobot
Series	Transformers: Timelines
Information
Alternate modes	Bugatti Veyron
Function	Bodyguard / Special Operations
Motto	"Destroy it with style or don't bother destroying it at all!"
Partner	Goldbug, Grimlock and Optimus Prime
Rank	9
Sub-group	Convention Exclusives, Deluxe Vehicles

This Jazz is an evil mirror-universe version of the Generation 1 character According to his tech specs, Jazz and his brother Ricochet serve as Optimus Prime's powerful and merciless bodyguards. He and his brother were created in an experiment by Optimus Prime. Jazz's speech mannerisms ("I pity the tool that thinks he can force me to climb a tower.") are based upon those of Mr. T. He seems to dislike heights, a possible reference to Mr. T's character on the A-Team series.

Fictional biograhy

Autobot Jazz and his brother Ricochet serve as Optimus Prime's powerful and merciless bodyguards. While the Seeker unit is designed to hunt down and destroy targets, Jazz and Ricochet stay with Optimus Prime to protect him against any and all threats. Jazz is one of Optimus Prime's most loyal and trusted aides. He only wishes to serve the glorious future that Optimus laid out for the Autobots and he is completely convinced of his cause. Recently, Jazz intercepted a series of transmissions from a planet called Earth. While garbled, he managed to decode and translate enough to become enamored with the planet's culture. As a result, he gave himself a new design pattern with his own special modifications. Everything he does has to be with style, from talking to simply transforming. While Optimus Prime finds this behavior strange, he allows Jazz some latitude from standard Autobot military practice as long as he remains loyal to him.

Reception

The BotCon 2008 set was chosen as the "Action Figure Digest Hot Pick."

Fun Publications

Jazz appears in the 2008 April Fool's comic "Shattered Expectations" by Fun Publications where he, Goldbug, and Grimlock attempt a raid, but are confronted by Starscream and Razorclaw, who in turn call in the 'Mayhem Suppression Squad'.

Jazz appears as a member of Optimus Prime's forces in the Transformers: Timelines story "Shattered Glass". He is seen witnssing the execution of Rumble and then laughing when Optimus Prime shoots Cliffjumper. Jazz later takes part in the defense of the Ark launch site from a Decepticon attack, where he expressed concern at being bombed by a plane.

Jazz appears in the fiction "Dungeons & Dinobots" among the Autobots who attack the Arch-Ayr fuel dump. He is later sent to capture rogue Dinobots for the Autobots. He is part of the group that captures Swoop.

In "Do Over" Jazz reportes that the launch of the Ark will happen on time to Optimus Prime, but then lets it slip that his brother Ricochet has captured Megatron, leading to Optimus Prime rushing off to destroy his adversary personally just before the Ark launch.

Toys

• Timelines Shattered Glass (2008)

A BotCon 2008 exclusive gift pack.

Jazz is a white recolor of Cybertron Crosswise and Smokescreen with a new head that resembles his Generation 1 counterpart. Much like the original Jazz toy, his car mode is decorated with Martini Racing-style livery, with the addition of labels that read "Massacre Racing" and "Kill to Win".

This figure is 13 centimeters long in vehicle mode, whereas a real Bugatti Veyron is 447 centimeters long, so the toy is at a scale of about 1:34. The toy stands about 14 centimeters tall in robot mode, which means Jazz would stand about 481 centimeters (15 feet 10 inches) tall.

The mold of this figure was also used for Jazz's partner Ricochet, which was given as a freebie to pre-registered guests at BotCon 2008.

External links

• Generation 1 Jazz at TFU.info
• http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/BCJazz/jazz.htm