Nightbeat (Transformers)

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Nightbeat is the name of five fictional characters from the Transformers series. The first Nightbeat was an Autobot Headmaster detective who was introduced in 1988.

Transformers: Generation 1

Nightbeat
Transformers character
Nightbeat-g1boxart.jpg.jpg
Generation 1 Nightbeat box art
First appearance

Transformers #62 by Marvel Comics
Created by

Hasbro
Information
Species Transformer
Abilities

Affiliation

Autobot
Alternate mode

Porsche 959, Cybertronian Car, Aston Martin Vanquish
Function

Detective
Partner

Muzzle
Series

Transformers: Generation 1
Transformers: Generations
Transformers: Timelines
Sub-group

Deluxe Vehicles, Headmasters
Tech specs

ST05 IN08 SP07 EN06

RN07 CO09 FB07 SK09

Nightbeat is an Autobot Headmaster who turns into a car. His Nebulan partner is named Muzzle.[1]

Fictional biography

Profile: Nightbeat is a tough, no-nonsense type who is not afraid to break the rules to get what he wants. And usually what he wants is the solution to some complicated mystery... and he'll go anywhere to get it. He feels as comfortable driving down a dark alley as he does cruising along a six-lane super-highway. He has an intuition for finding the truth that defies all known theories of programming. In trying to account for Nightbeat's remarkable talent, Optimus Prime suspects that the circuitry in the digital detective's logic center may accidentally have been wired in a way contrary to accepted robotic engineering procedures. But the Autobot Leader is still at a loss to explain why Nightbeat thinks the way he does. Nightbeat prefers to work alone. Most partners don't understand his methods and his reasoning, and often wind up hindering his investigations more than helping them. But being a good soldier, he doesn't complain about his fellow Autobots... instead he tries to compensate for their investigatory deficiencies by working even harder.

He is binary-bonded to Muzzle, a human who worked as a detective on Nebulos until he was framed in a scandal that put him out of business. When he found out that an Autobot with training in detective work was looking for a Nebulan partner, Muzzle immediately volunteered. He considered this an opportunity to continue doing what he loved to do the most. After undergoing the bio-engineering procedure that allows him to convert to an Autobot head module, Muzzle quickly discovered that he and Nightbeat have one of the smoothest-working binary bonds among all the Headmasters. Muzzle's eye for detail makes Nightbeat an even better detective than he was without him.

Abilities: Nightbeat carries two photon pistols and a high-powered plasma blaster with infra-red sight. He also has enhanced audio and video sensors that aid in his investigatory work. From five miles away, he can hear a screw fall and count the threads on it. In car mode he can travel at speeds of up to 620 miles per hour and has a range of 1500 miles.

Weaknesses: Nightbeat's overconfidence in his abilities typically persuades him that he can handle almost any situation by himself. Given his preference for working alone, he often suffers damage that a more team-oriented Autobot might avoid.
Nightbeat can sleuth out the truth behind any mystery. He's a relentless detective who's not afraid to chase clues wherever they lead, even if it means getting himself into trouble with enemies much bigger and stronger than he is. When Nightbeat unites with other bots, he gives them exceptional tracking ability.

Reception

Nightbeat was voted the 9th top Transformer who was bad ass only in the comics by Topless Robot.[2]

Nightbeat was named one of the 3rd top unfortunately named Transformer by Topless Robot.[3]

Nightbeat was named the 3rd most useless Transformer by Cracked.[4]

Animated series

Although the US animated series was canceled before Nightbeat was released, he did appear in animated form in Transformers commercials.

Comics

Dreamwave Productions

Nightbeat appeared only in the Dreamwave comics "War Within" series as one of the Autobot rebels during the age of internment. This was before he became a Headmaster or was reformatted into an Earth-style car. Muzzle didn't appear in the Dreamwave comics except in a one page biography of Nightbeat and Muzzle.

Fun Publications

The Fun Publications 2008 Timelines Summer Special, entitled "Cheap Shots", features Autobots Nightbeat, Slag, Sludge and Siren.[5] In this story Nightbeat's crew are hired by a sentient ship named Amory to relocate her pilot. After investigating they find the whole job is a trap set by the Decepticon Ruckus, now leading the Mayhem Attack Squad. Ruckus is holding the pilot hostage, but Slag cuts Ruckus' arm off and recovers the pilot, for which Amory pays them.

Nightbeat appears in At Fight's End.

IDW Publishing

Nightbeat would receive a starring role in the The Transformers: Spotlight: Nightbeat one-shot. The story focuses on Nightbeat's investigation of the first Ark thousands of years before. This leads him to a trader offering to sell him the original flight recorder from the Ark. The trader's subsequent murder leads Nightbeat to a gigantic metallic underground sea, where he is ambushed by an unfamiliar group of Transformers (The Micromaster Sports Car Patrol) and captured. A shadowy figure (implied to be Galvatron) oversees the implantation of a device in his brain, and then wipes his mind. The purpose of this device is as yet unknown. Unaware of what has occurred, Nightbeat is summoned to Earth by Optimus Prime.

Nightbeat arrived as part of the reinforcements summoned to counter Megatron's Ore-13 enhanced Decepticons. Nightbeat urged caution as Hot Rod and Hardhead insisted on heading down to Earth to assist Prime's unit against Megatron. Although he didn't accompany them personally, Nightbeat provided situation updates to Optimus Prime, warning him of the radio blackout - just as Prime was confronted by Megatron transforming from gun mode. Nightbeat then prepared to transport Hot Rod back to the Ark, but the impetuous Autobot was jumped by Skywarp and Thundercracker. Nightbeat teleported him out, but not in time - Hot Rod was badly damaged, and the facsimile killed. However, as the facsimile appeared to be alive when Hot Rod teleported, it is possible that the mind-controlled Nightbeat killed him first.

Nightbeat continued to serve on Earth, surviving Sixshot's attack on the Ark and the subsequent battle against the Decepticon living weapon. Asked by Hound to look into Leadfoot's death (killed by Galvatron in his Spotlight issue), he became suspicious of the method of death, realising he'd seen it somewhere before (on Gorlam Prime). Looking through his records, he received the transmission from Gorlam Prime he had stored. Realising something was wrong, he called on Hardhead for help. (Spotlight: Cyclonus)

Marvel Comics

In the comics published by Marvel Comics in the United States, Nightbeat first appears in issue #62, Bird of Prey. The issue is a pastiche of The Maltese Falcon with Nightbeat in the Sam Spade role and various aliens filling out the cast. An obese creature named "Gutt" fills the role of Kaspar Guttman, and a greasy robot named "B'gdad" is a stand-in for Joel Cairo. The Falcon-analogue is in fact a powerful mystical artifact; by replacing it, Nightbeat and his assistants, Siren and Hosehead, restore the run-down alien planet to a beautiful paradise. The victory is short-lived, as the trio are ambushed by the Decepticon Thunderwing.

In issue #63 of the series, Thunderwing uses a device to scan Nightbeat's mind, revealing information about his true mission; to recover the long-lost Autobot Matrix of Leadership. Nightbeat and his assistants remain Decepticon prisoners until issue 66, when they escape and assist in the defeat and destruction of Thunderwing, since driven mad by the Matrix. Nightbeat reappears in issues 69 and 70, leading the search for missing Autobot Ratchet and Decepticon leader Megatron, lost in an explosion some time ago.

In issue #72, Nightbeat pulls a gun on Decepticon commander Scorponok and forces him to listen to Optimus Prime. A peace treaty is almost reached in issue 73, but the intervention of the human Neo-Knights results in Nightbeat being knocked unconscious. Nightbeat appears in the background throughout issues #74 and #75. Nightbeat's last appearance in the Generation One comic is in issue 79, where he tells Prowl to "cool it". However, his wreckage was seen as part of the rout of the Autobots on Klo. He was presumably resurrected by Optimus Prime and the Last Autobot.

Nightbeat appeared in three separate stories in the UK Transformers comic, his appearances there pre-dating his more notable Marvel US appearances. "The Big Shutdown" was another hard-boiled detective pastiche, this time featuring Nightbeat investigating the murder of an Autobot washed up on a Californian beach. This led to an encounter with Siren, Hosehead and a (rapidly dispatched) cannon-fodder Autobot named Horsepower, who were Autobot prisoners let loose on Earth from Cybertron to be hunted down by Thunderwing (in their first encounter), as a trial-by-fire to become Decepticon Commander. Nightbeat defeated Thunderwing, igniting the fuel tanks of the murdered Autobot to take the warlord offline, and would later face Thunderwing again when he launched a revenge attack on the Ark. He made a final appearance when the powerful Deathbringer arrived on Earth, wiping out a small city; Nightbeat was able to work out the truth behind the being, and that the Creation Matrix was involved in creating it. (Although a UK only story, it was shown in flashback in a US issue.)

There was no Nightbeat toy in the Generation Two toyline, however he did appear in the comics. Nightbeat appears twice in the Transformers: Generation 2 comic series. In issue #10, he is seated at a computer console when an explosion rocks him out of his seat. In issue #12, he is killed when he and Dirge self-destruct in an attempt to stop the Swarm.

TFcon comics

Nightbeat appeared in the unlicensed mini-comic released for the 2011 TFcon, called "Changes in War". This story is set on the planet Master before the events of Transformers: The Headmasters. Nightbeat is among the Autobots who try and fail to stop Scorponok and his allies from escaping.[6]

Toys

  • Generation 1 Headmaster Nightbeat with Muzzle (1988)
In Japan, the same toy was recolored and released as Headmaster Junior Minerva in the Super-God Masterforce series, a completely different character from Nightbeat.[7]
  • Timelines Deluxe Nightbeat (2008)
Released as a Transformers Club exclusive with the Seacons and was featured in a Timelines comic. This Nightbeat is a remold of Energon Hot Shot with a new head.
  • Generations Deluxe Nightbeat (2014)
A remold and recolor of Generations Deluxe Bumblebee.


Transformers: Armada

Nightbeat
Transformers character
Nightbeat-armadatoy.jpg
Armada Nightbeat toy
Created by

Hasbro
Information
Aliases Cha (Japanese)
Species Transformer
Abilities

Affiliation

Mini-Con
Motto

"Never trying means never succeeding."
Partner

Side Swipe, Treadshot
Series

Transformers: Armada
Transformers: Universe

Nightbeat is the name of the Mini-Con partner of the Autobot Sideswipe. His first comic appearance was in issue 18 of Dreamwave's Transformers: Armada comic.

According to Hasbro officials the names of Side Swipe and his Mini-Con partner were accidentally swapped, meaning the larger blue and yellow Autobot was intended to be Nightbeat and the small Motorcycle was to be Side Swipe.

Fictional biography

Nightbeat knows that he's small, even for a Mini-Con, but that doesn't stop him from trying to perform feats of bravery befitting much larger and more powerful warriors. In his own innocent way, Nightbeat leads Side Swipe into even more trouble by egging him on to try increasingly daring acts to impress their superiors. Prodded by the insistent Nightbeat, Side Swipe has landed himself in a series of embarrassing and often dangerous situations. Nightbeat can't help it-the ambitious, good-natured Mini-Con wants to be as much of a hero as the biggest Autobots, and he's willing to take any risk to achieve that goal. Side Swipe really identifies with his Mini-Con's need for approval and acceptance, and the two have gotten into more trouble together than any other Autobot recruits in recent memory. Their well-meaning but irritating antics have even led Optimus Prime to consider separating the duo, much to their dismay. Subject possesses below-average strength, speed, and endurance. Despite his meager physical attributes, his courage and creativity in the face of danger are boundless. Subject is also limited by his arm configuration, which makes it impossible for him to grasp objects or perform actions requiring delicate - motor functions.

Animated series

In episode #31 called "Past" Side Swipe used Nightbeat to activate his dragster mode.[8]

Dreamwave Productions

Nightbeat appeared among the Mini-Cons in issue #18 of the Transformers: Armada comic book who aided Over-Run using the Mini-Con Matrix in the defeat of Unicron.

Toys

  • Armada Deluxe Sideswipe with Mini-Con Nightbeat (2003)
The Mini-Con Partner of Side Swipe. This toy was later recolored as Micron Booster Gauge, who was repurposed as Skidmark by the Transformers Collectors Club.
  • Universe Deluxe Treadshot with Mini-Con Nightbeat (2004)
Nightbeat is the name of the Mini-Con partner of the Decepticon Treadshot, and is a recolor of Armada Nightbeat. The Mini-Con partner of the Decepticon Oil Slick, called Search & Destroy, was also a recolor of Armada Nightbeat.


2007 Transformers film

Transformers character
Nightbeat7-toy.jpg
Night Beat 7 toy
Name Night Beat 7
Autobot
Series Transformers
Information
Alternate modes MP3 player/robotic condor
Gender Male
Sub-group Real Gear

Night Beat 7 (this time with a space) is the name of an Autobot who turns into an MP3 audio player.

The Autobot Transformer Night Beat 7 makes it his job to expose Decepticons to the light. It constantly scans the world for evidence of evil, from the faint time particle trail left by Meantime to the sonic leftovers of the mischievous Booster X10.

Night Beat 7 is one of the few Real Gear Robots who is named after a legacy character. Most sport original names. Night Beat 7 is also currently the only Transformers designed for the 2007 Transformers film toy line to appear in fiction not related to the film.

Reception

GamesAxis Unwired Magazine said Read Gear Robots would make Soundwave turn over in his plastic grave.[9]

Fictional biography

Most of the other Real Gear Robots focus on covering their tracks, but Night Beat 7 makes it his job to expose them to the light. Using sophisticated reality-search software, he constantly scans the world around him for evidence that a Decepticon has been at work. He’s trained in finding the most obscure evidence from the faint time particle trail left by Meantime, to the sonic leftovers of the mischievous Booster X10.

Fun Publications

Night Beat 7 was a main character appearing in Fun Publications fiction Withered Hope, a text and comic based story set on Transtech Cybertron. Night Beat 7 was the personal MP3 and employee of Crystal Widow.

Toys

  • Transformers Real Gear Robot Night Beat 7 (2007)
A redeco of Booster X10. This toy was designed by Alex Kubalsky.[10]
In December 2007 oversized remakes of this toy started being sold out of China. Additionally a normal sized remake was sold which was in Generation 1 Nightbeat's blue and yellow.


Shattered Glass

Transformers character
Nightbeat-timelinestoy.jpg
Timelines Nightbeat toy
Name Nightbeat
Autobot
Series Transformers: Timelines
Information
Alternate modes Aston Martin Vanquish
Function Secret Police
Gender Male
Motto "Lies and screams are music to my ears."
Rank 7
Sub-group Convention Exclusives, Deluxe Vehicles

Shattered Glass Nightbeat is an evil counterpart of Generation 1 Nightbeat.

Nightbeat carries a stun gun and is able tell if he is being lied to with uncanny accuracy. He also suffers from reoccurring cosmic rust, which must be treated to keep it from flaring up.[11]

Nightbeat speaks with an accent inspired by the gangster characters of Edward G. Robinson. Nightbeat also sports an Autobot logo with a dagger through it, referencing the Empire symbol seen in the Star Trek episode "Mirror, Mirror".

Fun Publications

Nightbeat first appeared as a member of Optimus Prime's forces defending the Ark launch site in the 2008 Fun Publications Transformers: Timelines comic story "Shattered Glass."

Nightbeat returned in the story Do Over where he reported to Optimus Prime that Rodimus and his traitors had stolen the Ark and went to Earth without Optimus and those loyal to the Autobot leader. "They... they got the drop on us, see? Threw us a fast one, pulled the plug on our optics, dumped us out of the ship! Everyone who they thought was too loyal to ya to threaten, nyeah! Me, Grimlock, Ironhide… lots of us, see?"

Nightbeat appeared in Reunification working on the Omega Doom project.

Nightbeat appeared in the Recordicons comic strip for April/May 2013. In this story Nightbeat tells Hosehead about how Wheeljack makes better legs than a torso while Soundwave and Ravage spy on them.

Toys

  • Timelines Deluxe Nightbeat (2008)
The BotCon 2008 customizing class exclusive. He is a redeco of the club exclusive Nightbeat figure, who in turn is a remold of Energon Hot Shot.
  • Captured Prey Evil Autobot Secret Police Emblams Purple
A third-party set of labels made exclusive to Captured Prey that reproduce the labels used by Shattered Glass Nightbeat.[12]


Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Transformers character
Nightbeat-rotf.jpg
Revenge of the Fallen Nightbeat toy
Name Nightbeat
Autobot
Series Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Information
Alternate modes Peugeot 9009 concept car
Gender Male
Rank 7
Sub-group Scouts

Nightbeat an Autobot car. He seems to be unrelated to the Autobot media player called Night Beat 7.

Fictional biography

The universe is full of puzzles. Nightbeat lives to solve them. Highly intelligent and curious, he prefers to work independently of the other Autobots since they usually just get in his way. He is a master of investigative techniques who prefers the boredom of a stakeout to the frantic pointlessness of a battle any day.

Toys

  • Revenge of the Fallen Scout Nightbeat (2009)
A redeco of the Decepticon Scout Dead End.[13] Pictures of him first appeared on the internet in May 2009.[14] The art on the back card of this toy doesn't have the chest fully transformed to robot mode.

External links

References

  1. Alvarez, J.E. (2001). The Unofficial Guide to Transformers 1980s Through 1990s Revised & Expanded 2nd Edition. Schiffer Publishing Ltd.. p. 79. ISBN 0764313649. 
  2. http://www.toplessrobot.com/2009/04/10_transformers_that_were_only_badass_in_the_comic.php 10 Transformers That Were Only Cool Badass in the Comics By Rob Bricken, Apr. 14 2009 By Kevin J. Guhl
  3. Kevin Guhl (December 16, 2009). "The 30 Most Unfortunately Named Transformers". http://www.toplessrobot.com/2009/12/the_30_most_unfortunately_named_transformers.php. 
  4. http://www.cracked.com/article_15301_the-7-most-useless-transformers-ever.html
  5. New Club Exclusive And Transformers Timeline #3 Announced!
  6. Daniel Arseneault ] (w), Alex Milne (p), Josh Perez (col). "Changes in War" ' (July 29th, 2011), TFCon
  7. Lee's Guide to Loose 1988 Transformers: The Autobots. Lee's Toy Review magazine, issue #207, February 2010
  8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtNJdncRvaw&feature=related
  9. Ismet Bachtiar (July 2007). "Action Stations: Transformers Prime Time". GamesAxis Unwired 1 (46): 110–111. 
  10. PingMag - The Tokyo-based magazine about “Design and Making Things” » Archive » Transformers’ Toy Design
  11. http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/174271-botcon-2008-customizing-class-figure-revealed-4.html#post2052175
  12. http://www.capturedprey.com/store/browsebycompany/co_capturedprey/evil_autobot_secret_police_emblems_purple
  13. http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/ProductsByBrand.htm?BR=496&SBR=415&ID=24858
  14. http://www.tf08.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=473