Tentakil

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Tentakil is the name of two fictional characters from the Transformers series. The first is a Seacon Targetmaster who turns into a squid monster who was introduced in 1988 as part of Generation 1. Tentakil was also one of the drones used by the villains in the anime series Transformers: Super-God Masterforce. The second Tentakil is his heroic mirror-universe counterpart from the Shattered Glass story.

Transformers: Generation 1

Transformers character
Tentikil-boxart.jpg
Box art of Tentakil
Name Tentakil
Decepticon
Series Transformers: Generation 1
Transformers: Timelines
Transformers
Information
Alternate modes Squid monster/twin lightning rifle (Generation 1), squid monster/mass-compression cannon (Timelines)
Function Underwater Demolition (Hasbro), Mine Attack Soldier (Takara)
Gender Male
Motto "Embrace your enemies... until they're terminated." (Generation 1), "Let the bodies hit the ocean floor." (Timelines)
Partner Nautilator, Overbite, Seawing, Skalor and Snaptrap
Rank 6
Sub-group Seacons, Targetmasters

The first Tentakil is a Scramble City style combiner, able to form a limb of any Scramble City gestalt robot or combining with Metroplex or Metrotitan, but most commonly forming a limb of Piranacon. He forms the left leg of Piranacon on the toy instructions. Like all the Targetmaster Seacon limbs he can also form a weapon. Also becomes part of Scramble 7.

Fictional biography

Generation 1: Crushes submarines like they were soda cans. The more benevolent he appears, the crueler he becomes. Electomagnetic tentacles add super strength to his vise-like grip. Electrically-charged feelers short circuit and stun on contact. In robot mode, carries dual slime lasers that shoot globs of highly-adhesive gelatinous goo. In weapons mode, transforms to twin 50,000 volt lightning rifles. Also able to burst away in a cloud of viscous black grease that hinders his pursuers.

Timelines: Tentakil no longer masks his cruelty as he once did. Still bitter about being taken offline by the treacherous Starscream, Tentakil will often fight with his fellow Decepticons if there are no Autobots to tangle with. Having come very close to leaving his team shortly after coming back online, he has since accepted the role the team will play in the coming battle. That doesn't mean he has to like it! Tentakil's Targetmaster mode is a mass-compression cannon. The energy field this weapon generates crushes targets from all sides with pressure equal to the deepest ocean trenches.

Transformers: His insidious charm lulls enemies into a terminal complacency. At the moment when the defenses are relaxed, Decepticon Tentakil strikes with his cruel and crushing grip. He takes a perverse pleasure in getting close enough to his victims to observe their dismay as they realize the lethal consequences of taking him at his word.

Reception

Tentakil was named the 28th top unfortunately named Transformer by Topless Robot. [1]

Animated series

Transformers: Super-God Masterforce

Tentakil from Transformers: Super-God Masterforce

Tentakil was the model for Decepticon drones seen in the Transformers: Super-God Masterforce anime series. Tentakil drones first appeared in episode 1 "Rise Up!! Pretenders" where the Decepticon Pretenders took Go Shooter hostage. They were defeated by the four Autobot Pretenders.[2]

Transformers: Zone

King Poseidon appeared in the pilot episode of Transformers: Zone as one of the nine Decepticon Generals. He attacked the Earth looking for the Zodiac and was destroyed by Dai Atlas.

Books

Tentakil was among the Decepticons featured in the 1988 book and audio adventure Autobot Hostage by Ladybird Books. In this story he captured the Autobot Highbrow on Nebulos and brought him to Scorponok.[3][4]

Comics

1984 Marvel Comics

Events exclusive to the Marvel UK Transformers comics appear in italics.

With the US Transformers animated series having come to a close the previous year, it fell to the comic book series from Marvel Comics to provided supporting fiction roles for the Seacons. However, their comic book debut came not in the pages of the US title, but in its sister across the Atlantic, the UK's official Transformers comic, which interspliced its own stories with the US material.

The Seacons were brought to Earth by Shockwave to put their undersea adeptness to use fortifying the Decepticons’ sub-aquatic island headquarters. Outfitted with Earth modes by Shockwave, the Seacons were going about their task when they met with their first challenge, which also proved to be one of their greatest – they were ordered to defend the island against the insane, time-traveling future Decepticon, Galvatron. The Seacons gave a good account of themselves, merging into Piranacon (misspelled "Pirranacon" in the story) for extra power, but ultimately, the team was defeated by their stronger adversary, only for Galvatron to reveal that he had not planned an attack at all, merely wishing to talk. Now, however, he claimed that Shockwave had made an enemy of him – although it was all part of a plan to destabilize his leadership. Seeking a weapon that could truly combat Galvatron, Shockwave sought out the former Decepticon leader, Megatron, who had been missing in action for some time. When what was believed to be his body (but was, in actuality, a clone of him) was located in the Thames river by entrepreneur Richard Branson, Overbite (called Jawbreaker in his UK appearances) was dispatched with some of the Decepticon jets to bring the body to Shockwave. Snaptrap subsequently repaired the clone’s physical damage, and aided Shockwave in using the psycho-probe to brainwash it into his service.

Following this, the Seacons made their US title debut, having departed from Shockwave's service and now under the command of Ratbat, the leader of the primary Earth-based Decepticon force. Ratbat had relocated the Decepticons' island base to the Florida Keys, disguising it as a holiday resort named "Club Con" to allow the Seacons to search the seabed for a sunken pirate ship, the treasure chest of which contained two Autobot tapes, Grandslam and Raindance. The recovery mission was successful, but the tapes were then stolen by the Autobot Blaster, and the holiday makers on the island had their peace and quiet rudely interrupted as the Seacons erupted from the ocean and attacked, searching for Blaster. In the ensuing battle, Blaster sent the tapes back to the depths of the oceans, encouraging the Seacons to call off the attack and head after them.[5]

The tapes, it was revealed, were sent to Earth centuries ago to warn the Autobots there of the approaching threat posed by the Underbase, a massive space-born information storehouse that could convey infinite power. However, first Ratbat's forces had to deal with a rival group of Decepticons under Scorponok, who had been called to Earth by Starscream, and the Seacons' combined mode of Piranacon was put to use in an attempt to destroy his ship. Conflict soon broke out between the two groups. Unfortunately the whole thing had been a ruse by Starscream, who managed to attain the Underbase's power, turning on Autobot and Decepticon alike and attempting to conquer Earth. The Seacons joined in the attempted defense of New York, striking at Starscream from the East River, but were all deactivated by the cosmically-powered villain.

Condor Verlag

In a story called "Memories of Bumblebee" from Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 15 by German comic publisher Condor Verlag Bumblebee views a recording of Optimus Prime where he identifies Autobots and Decepticons in battle using the Ark's computer. The Seacons are among those he displays.[6]

Devil's Due Publishing

The Seacons would return in the third Devil's Due crossover between G.I. Joe and the Transformers. Without Megatron or Shockwave's steadying influence the Decepticons had fallen apart in a series of internecine conflicts. One such was the Seacons taking on the Predacons. The Predacons seemingly had the upper hand, forcing Nautilator to flee into the water. The Seacons emerged as Piranacon and battled Predaking, until interrupted by a strange, tiny figure: Serpentor, a human military cyborg built with Megatron's memories. Using these memories to convince both combiners to join him, they then participate (along with the Stunticons) in the ambush that kills Bumblebee. They were then Serpentor's principal weapon, along with Predaking and Menasor, in the attack on Capital City, where the three of them defeated Omega Supreme. Several Predacons would die in the attack. Unfortunately Piranacon wouldn't have time to enjoy his victory, as he was deactivated by an out-of-control Sixshot smashing into his face. The Seacons would survive, but Nautilator was killed when the G.I. Joe ninja Snake Eyes uses his mental powers to convince the Stunticon Breakdown to shoot him.

Dreamwave Productions

Each of the Seacons had a biography printed in issue 5 of the Dreamwave Productions Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye series.

Fun Publications

The Seacons appear in At Fight's End by Fun Publications. Under Megatron's orders the Seacons pretend to be loyal to Bludgeon the and frame the Terrorcons for betraying him. Once Bludgeon is distracted the Seacons form Piranacon and attack Bludgeon, finishing him off with Tentakil's mass-compression cannon weapon mode.[7]

Tentakil 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. They crash and the planet and Tentakil and Nautilator are sent on a scouting mission, where dangerous energon levels cause them to lock into stasis. Helpless, they are killed by a stampede of buffalo.[8]

IDW Publishing

In Infestation 2: Transformers Tentakil was among the Decepticons awakened to serve the elder gods in the north Atlantic.[9]

Toys

Timelines Tentakil in mass-compression cannon mode
  • Generation 1 Seacon Tentakil (1988)
Tentakil was sold in 1988 by itself, and later with the other Seacons as a giftset. He came with 2 guns and a 3-piece stand for his Targetmaster mode. This toy was recolored into Scylla.
  • Timelines Seacon Tentakil (2008)
Tentakil was sold in 2008 with the other Seacons as a giftset. A Transformers Collectors Club exclusive.
  • Transformers Seacon Tentakil (2010)
A commerative giftbox of the Seacons.
  • Reprolabels Generation 1 Piranacon
A set of replacement labels for the Generation 1 Seacons.[10]
  • Reprolabels Upgrade Set X8
A set of labels to enhance the Generation 1 Seacons.[11]
  • Reprolabels TFCC Piranacon
A set of replacement labels for the Timelines Seacons.[12]


Shattered Glass

Transformers character
Sgseacons.jpg
The Seacons
Name Tentakil
Decepticon
First appearance "Shattered Expectations" by Fun Publications
Information
Alternate modes Squid monster/rifle
Gender Male
Sub-group Mayhem Suppression Squad, Seacons, Targetmasters

The second Tentakil is the heroic mirror-universe counterpart to the original Tentakil. Little is known about him besides him being a member of the Mayhem Suppression Squad.

Comics

Tentakil appears in the 2008 April Fool's comic "Shattered Expectations" by Fun Publications.

Toys

  • Hasbro Transformers Timelines Piranacon (2008)
Tantakil was sold in 2008 with the other Seacons as a gift set. A Transformers Collectors Club exclusive. This set was repurposed as the Shattered Glass Seacons.
  • Reprolabels Heroic Decepticon Emblems (2009)
A set of Decepticon symbol labels in red. A Captured Prey exclusive.[13]

References

  1. Kevin Guhl (December 16th, 2009). "The 30 Most Unfortunately Named Transformers". http://www.toplessrobot.com/2009/12/the_30_most_unfortunately_named_transformers.php. 
  2. "Rise Up!! Pretenders". Writer Hiroyuki Hoshiyama. Transformers: Super-God Masterforce. April 12th, 1988. No. 1, season 1.
  3. http://www.green-ranger.com/stuff/ladybird/09-hostage/
  4. Autobot Hostage. Ladybird Books. 1988. ISBN 0721411185. 
  5. "Transformers" #47 (December 1988)
  6. Robert Mann (w). "Memories of Bumblebee" Transformers Comic-Magazin 15 (June 1991), Condor Verlag
  7. Pete Sinclair & Jesse Wittenrich (2009). At Fight's End. The Transformers Collector’s Club. 
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. http://www.reprolabels.com/Decepticons/piranacon.php
  11. http://www.reprolabels.com/Upgrades/upgradex8.php
  12. http://www.reprolabels.com/Misc/tfccpiranacon.php
  13. http://www.capturedprey.com/store/browsebycompany/co_capturedprey/heroic_decepticon_emblems

External links