Ultra Magnus (Transformers)
Ultra Magnus is the name of several fictional characters from the Transformers series. One major use of Ultra Magnus was in the American cartoon series Transformers Animated where he was protrayed as the leader of the Autobots on Cybertron. The latest character to carry the name Ultra Magnus was a character who appeared in the Transformers: War for Cybertron video game, where he is protrayed as a large Autobot who carries a hammer. This version of Ultra Magnus also appeared in the Transformers: Exodus novel.
Contents
Transformers: Energon
It was in the second installment of the trilogy, Transformers: Energon, that the Overload toy was repainted into Ultra Magnus's blue, white and red colors and released in the west under the name "Ultra Magnus" in a limited production run.[1]
The Energon version of Ultra Magnus, like all the recolorations of Armada toys featured in the early stages of the toyline, never appeared in the TV show, or the Dreamwave comic.
Although Transformers: Cybertron, the third installment of the "Unicron Trilogy" timeline, saw Robots in Disguise Magnus enter its timeline, it was not without its own characters bearing the name. The Transformers: Armada toyline was the first to re-use Magnus's name, although not in the west - in Japan, where the character known as Overload in English was named Ultra Magnus. It was not an ill-fitting name, as the first, unpainted pictures of the toy had caused speculation that it was intended to be a new version of Magnus, bearing as it does his stylistic shoulder design.
Fun Publications
Ultra Magnus 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 is commander of various Autobot ships sent to other planets in search for the Cyber Planet Keys. He also serves 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 Ultra Magnus (2004)
- This version of Ultra Magnus is a recolor of Armada Overload. It was released in 2004 and came with a recolor of the Armada Space Mini-Con team.
Transformers: Universe (Spy Changer)
A new version of Ultra Magnus was created for the Transformers: Universe storyline.
3H Enterprises
This character appeared in the 2004 BotCon voice actor play, and was seemingly yet another new Ultra Magnus 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
- Universe Spy Changer Ultra Magnus with Ironhide (2004)
- The toy for this version of Ultra Magnus is a recolor of the Robots in Disguise toy and came packaged with Spy Changer Ironhide. This package was a Walmart store exclusive in 2004.
Transformers: Universe (Deluxe)
In addition to the slightly repainted incarnation of Robots in Disguise Magnus, the multiple-reality-spanning Transformers: Universe toyline featured several other Ultra Magnus characters from other universes.
The Deluxe version of Ultra Magnus has yet to make any appearance in fiction. The only information known about him is that he is a rival of Universe Treadshot.
Toys
- Universe Deluxe Ultra Magnus with Over-Run (2004)
- The toy for this version of Ultra Magnus is a white recolor of the Armada Deluxe Optimus Prime and Over-Run toy. There was an error in the assembly of the toy where the lower parts of his arms were swapped with each other, meaning he could not bend his arms up at the elbows fully, unless they are fixed.
Transformers
In 2007 USA today polled people as to which Transformer they want to appear in the next Transformers film. Ultra Magnus came in tied for fourth with Shockwave.[2]
Ultra Magnus was considered to appear in Transformers: Dark of the Moon in the role that was eventually given to Sentinel Prime.[3]
Shattered Glass
This version of Ultra Magnus is the evil mirror universe version of the character.
Fictional biography
Ultra Magnus shouldn't be happy. He lost his face and freedom due to a failed attempt to replace his brother Optimus Prime as leader of the Autobots. His co-conspirators in the coup betrayed him. His old rival, Treadshot, seeks his death with ceaseless vigor. Magnus shouldn't be happy... and yet he is. Things are finally going to be exciting again. After centuries of quietly manipulating events from his exile on Paradron, everything is falling into place. Now he has everything he needs: an army, the legendary Terminus Blade, a copy of his brother's newly augmented body and the means to make everyone pay.
An unrepentant hedonist and libertine, Magnus eternally seeks greater thrills and excesses from life. Now jaded and bored, he finds his distractions where he can, whether it be in Treadshot's assassination attempts, in the humiliation of his brother, or in simple universal conquest.
Fun Publications
Although he did not appear appear until 2012, Ultra Magnus was mentioned numerous times in related fiction, establishing his character. He is the brother of Optimus Prime who attempted a failed takeover of the Autobots and was banished to Paradron.
Ultra Magnus appears in Invasion Prologue by Fun Publications.[4]
Ultra Magnus appears in the 2012 BotCon Invasion lithograph by Casey Coller and Josh Perez. In this story he escapes Paradron with the aid of Wheeljack, taking Tracks and Wreck-Gar with him. They invade the Ironworks base on Classicverse Earth and end up destroying that universe with the Terminus Blade. The planet earth is transported to the Shattered Glass universe.[5]
Toys
- Universe Deluxe Ultra Magnus and Over-Run vs. Treadshot and Nightbeat (2004)
- A "Battle in a Box" set.
- Timelines Deluxe Ultra Magnus (2012)
- A remold of Reveal the Shield Deluxe Optimus Prime. Ultra Magnus was part of the 2012 Botcon box set packaged together with Gigatron, Tracks, Soundwave and Treadshot.
Gallery
Timelines Ultra Magnus with Dr. Wu Ultimate sword
Transformers Animated
In the Cartoon Network series Transformers Animated, Ultra Magnus serves as the Autobot commander on Cybertron and Optimus Prime's superior, and he sees Optimus as a born leader.[6] His head resembles that of the Generation 1 character's super robot mode. He wields a large war hammer called the Magnus Hammer, which can discharge massive amounts of electricity and command lightning bolts (sort of similar to the Marvel Comics hero Thor). He turns into an 8-wheeled missile launcher truck.[7] In doing Ultra Magnus' voice, Jeff Bennett emulates the voice of the late Robert Stack, who voiced Magnus in The Transformers: The Movie.
Animated series
A bust of Ultra Magnus appeared in Master Yoketron's dojo as a member of their Cyber Ninja Corps in the episode "Five Servos of Doom" during a flashback of Prowl's training during the Great War.
During Ratchet's flashbacks in "Thrill of the Hunt", Ultra Magnus is shown ordering Ratchet to get Arcee and her access codes back no matter what. Then, Ratchet has more flashbacks during "Transwarped" when he remembers after getting Arcee's access codes, he followed Ultra Magnus and Highbrow to where Omega Supreme was built. Ultra Magnus informed Ratchet that Omega was built to be a doomsday weapon and the they have to do anything to win the war.
In the pilot of Transformers Animated Ultra Magnus learned that Optimus Prime's crew had discovered the Allspark and ordered them to stay put until it could be retrieved. He also told Prime not to try to be a hero; unfortunately Optimus disobeyed and had the Ark take off anyway, stating that "Ultra Magnus wasn't carrying the Allspark".
He comes to Earth personally in the episode "The Elite Guard" with his fellow Cybertron Elite Guard members Sentinel Prime, and Jazz. He took on an Earth-vehicle mode. After the battle against some out-of-control police droids and a fragment of the Allspark was retrieved, Ultra Magnus began to respect Optimus Prime as a commander and told Sentinel Prime that he can learn a thing or two from him.
He briefly appears at the end of "Return of the Headmaster" talking to the Primes about what happened, and then going to inform Cybertron Command about some important matters.
During "Mission Accomplished", he informs Optimus and his crew to pack up and get ready to head back to Cybertron. After Jazz detects an Allspark fragment, the latter character and Ultra Magnus head out to investigate. They fail and they get delayed getting to the train station where he get seriously ticked off at Optimus for disobeying and, for a while, not providing proof that there are Decepticons on Earth. When Starscream falls out of the sky, Ultra Magnus orders everyone to stand back and before the Decepticon blast him in the face at point blank range. He recovers and later takes Sentinel Prime and Jazz back to Cybertron to fight a Decepticon uprising.
He would later inform the earthbound Autobots of the escape of the traitor Wasp, telling them to keep an optic sensor out for him during "Autoboot Camp."
He appears in "Transwarped" in present time battling the Deception uprisings and then back on Cybertron where he figures out that the uprisings were too organized and deduced that Cybertron may have a double agent. He then sends Sentinel and Jazz to Earth to get an update from the Earthbound Autobots.
His next appearance is in "Where is thy Sting?", assuring Longarm Prime (Shockwave) that Sentinel, Jazz, Jetfire, and Jetstorm could proceed with their mission. Later, with Longarm's cover being blown, Shockwave savagely attacks him off-screen, leaving him gravely injured, and stealing his hammer. He is barely able to reveal the identity of his attacker to Ironhide. According to Alpha Trion in "Decepticon Air," Ultra Magnus is currently on 'spark-support.' By this time, Sentinel Prime takes over as the new Magnus. In "This Is Why I Hate Machines," the attack by Shockwave and the image of Ultra Magnus in the infirmary are used as propaganda in Sentinel's fanatical government policies. While on spark-support, Ultra Magnus is nearly destroyed by his own hammer when Shockwave attacks the infirmary, but is saved by Ratchet, who takes the hammer with him to Earth and promises to return it once Ultra Magnus recovers.
In a series of flashbacks by Optimus Prime during "Endgame Part 1," it is revealed that Ultra Magnus was the one who had expelled Optimus from Autobot Academy, pertaining to his involvement with the loss of Elita-1. However, due to his special fondness for the cadet, plus suspecting that Sentinel wasn't telling the entire truth about the incident, Ultra Magnus spared Optimus from total disgrace. Ultra Magnus pulled some strings to have Optimus assigned to a group of Autobots, (namely Ratchet, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and later, Prowl), and put in command of a starship, (later revealed as Omega Supreme). He also gave Optimus the rank of Prime.
For a time, Ultra Magnus's ultimate fate was not revealed before the end of the series, but Derrick J. Wyatt stated that if a fourth season of the show was made, Magnus was to have died from his injuries.
Toys
- Animated Leader Ultra Magnus (2008)
- The first toy for this version of Ultra Magnus was released in 2008 and transformed from a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck to robot. He came with a spring-loaded Magnus Hammer and is armed with numerous guns mounted on his shoulders. The figure emits two sound effects and phrases as voiced by Jeff Bennett.
- Animated Leader Roadbuster Ultra Magnus (2010)
- This toy was later recolored in a green, black, and orange theme, in homage to Generation 1 Roadbuster. The version released in Japan in 2010 had metallic paint and Japanese voice clips.
Transformers: Prime
Leader of the Wreckers. Ultra Magnus is an Autobot who turns into a truck. He is the leader of the Wreckers.
Animated Series
Ultra Magnus appears in the third season of Transformers: Prime, entitled Beast Hunters. He is revealed to be Optimus Prime's second-in-command, who survived the war for Cybertron. He is a by-the-book commander, requesting that the Autobots, with the exception of Ratchet, and even the humans address him as "sir".
He arrives at Earth in "Scattered" and meets with Arcee and Jack.
In "Prey," Ultra Magnus tells Jack and Arcee that he detected five Autobot life signatures that remained online. Ultra Magnus also mentioned that he had encountered other Autobots during his travels, many of which perished in Decepticon attacks. Later, he helps Bulkhead, Wheeljack and Miko escape from the Predacon named Predaking before finding Ratchet, Bumblebee and Raf at the Harbinger and meeting Agent Fowler and June Darby. Ultra Magnus decides that the Autobots must defeat Megatron once and for all and, after taking command, offers them a large supply of weapons to assist in the fight.
In "Rebellion", Ultra Magnus leads the assault on Darkmount, where Predaking is sent through a Ground Bridge into the Antarctic. Magnus goes after Megatron, but is defeated. Before the Autobots can be executed, a recently repaired Optimus Prime arrives and destroys Darkmount. Later, Magnus gives Optimus command over the Autobots again.
In "Project Predacon", Ultra Magnus' vehicle form is revealed, a nearly all-blue version of Optimus' semi-truck form. It is also revealed that he was put in charge of the Wreckers on Cybertron during the war, as he felt there needed to be someone to keep them in order. Once again taking charge of the Wreckers on Earth, Ultra Magnus also takes the Forge of Solus Prime as a new weapon, as it had no more power and wanted to give it a "practical use".
Books
Appears in the novel Transformers: Exodus.[8]
Games
Ultra Magnus appears as a character in the Nintendo DS game Transformers: War for Cybertron - Autobots. He is a level boss that must be defeated, which unlocks him as a playable character. He is also available in the Decepticons version of the game. If the sewer level with Motormaster is played with Autobot characters, Ultra Magnus is used to replace Motormaster.
Like the Animated version of the character, this Ultra Magnus carried a hammer.
Toys
- Generations Deluxe Ultra Magnus (2012)
- A recolor of Generations Optimus Prime with a new head.[9]
- Prime Cyberverse Commander Ultra Magnus (2012)
- A new mold. Comes with a hammer accessory.
- Prime Voyager Class Ultra Magnus (2012)
- A new mold, based off the character's design in the show, he transforms into a blue truck that resembles his G1 and Animated counterparts. He comes with a large gun that doubles as a hammer, and a missile.
- Prime Beast Hunters Voyager Ultra Magnus (2013)
- A remold of "Prime Voyager Class Optimus Prime" with two shoulder-mounted missile launchers added. Comes with the "Forge of Solus Prime", and a removable jetpack.
- Prime Beast Hunters Weaponizer Ultra Magnus (Platinum Series) (unreleased)
- Recolor and mold of the Prime Weaponizer Optimus Prime figure. Comes with the "Forge of Solus Prime Battle Hammer".[10]
Gallery
Generations Ultra Magnus and FansProject City Commander
References
- ↑ Untitled-1
- ↑ http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2007-07-18-Transformers_N.htm 'Transformers' fans make some noise for Soundwave, By Anthony Breznican, USA TODAY, 7/23/2007
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ Pete Sinclair & Jesse Wittenrich (w), Will Mangin (p), Jake Isenberg (i). "Invasion Prologue" Transformers Timelines (March, 2012), Fun Publications
- ↑ http://tformers.com/transformers-botcon-2012-transformers-invasion-box/17534/news.html
- ↑ Robots in disguise come back from '80s obscurity, University Wire, January 7, 2008, by Anton Skerl
- ↑ Seibertron.com - The Ultimate Transformers Resource
- ↑ Alexander C. Irvine (2010). Transformers: Exodus - The Official History of the War for Cybertron. Del Rey Books. ISBN 978-0345522528.
- ↑ http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/conventions-15/botcon-2012-panel-hasbro-brand-team-the-hasbro-panel-174899/
- ↑ [2]
- Furman, Simon (2004). Transformers: The Ultimate Guide. DK Publishing Inc.. p. 111. ISBN 1405304618.
- Furman, Simon (2004). Transformers: The Ultimate Guide. DK Publishing Inc.. p. 38. ISBN 1405304618.
External links
- 3H Enterprises characters
- Autobots
- Elite Guard
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- Fictional characters introduced in 2004
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- Headmasters (Transformers)
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