Impactor (Transformers)

From WikiAlpha
Jump to: navigation, search
The below content is licensed according to Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License contrary to the public domain logo at the foot of the page. It originally appeared on http://en.wikipedia.org. The original article might still be accessible here. You may be able to find a list of the article's previous contributors on the talk page.

Impactor is the name of several fictional characters from the Transformers series.

Transformers: Generation 1

Transformers character
Impactor-foc-carded.jpg
Generations Fall of Cybertron Impactor on card
Name Impactor
Autobot
Series Transformers: Generations
Information
Alternate modes Cybertronian APC
Gender Male
Sub-group Combiners, Wreckers

Impactor was the leader of the Autobot commando squad known as the Wreckers, and was introduced in UK 78 - the prologue for the "epic" story Target: 2006, which ran until UK 88. Impactor later returned in UK 166, though in a very different form.[1]

Impactor was mostly purple and gold, an unusual colour scheme for an Autobot. His head was shaped like a crested Roman or Greek helmet and in place of his right hand he sported a harpoon weapon. On his shoulder was a hexagonal barrel, hinting at a tank or gun alt-mode, although he was never seen to transform in the comics.

He combines with several of his fellow Wreckers to become Wreckage, where he usually forms the right arm.

Reception

Owing a great deal to his character as a tough, no-nonsense soldier, and also to his heroic deaths, Impactor has remained a popular character in the UK Transformers fandom despite his brief run in the comic. Although the Wreckers returned in Dreamwave's War Within: The Dark Ages and IDW's Stormbringer, neither Impactor nor the conjoined Rack'n'Ruin were included in the line-up. However, he does make a return in IDW's Last Stand of the Wreckers.

Comics

Fun Publications

Impactor biography

Impactor had a one-page biography printed in issue 68 of Transformers Collectors Club The Official Magazine. His Generations Combiner Wars self appeared in the Transformers: Timelines story arc Transformers: Of Masters and Mayhem,, in which he appears as the last surviving member of the Wreckers. Due to the growing threat of Thunder Mayhem, he is reluctantly forced to assemble a new Wrecker team made up of some unusual candidates, such as the former double agent Counterpunch, Predacon scientist Fractyl, and the monstrous Toxitron. He and his new teammates also have the ability to combine into Wreckage.

IDW Publishing

Impactor appeared in the comic 'Last Stand Of The Wreckers' where it is finally revealed that his alternative mode is a battle tank.

Marvel Comics

Impactor was portrayed as a gruff veteran, who valued and was respected by the troops under his command, but did not get on so well with his commander, Emirate Xaaron, referring to the latter as a "wily old buzzard". Having carried out several successful missions including the assassination of the warlord Trannis, his team was responsible for executing Operation Volcano, a planned ambush of the Decepticons' fiercest warriors using Xaaron as bait, although when Ultra Magnus was transported to Earth to investigate the disappearance of Optimus Prime Impactor's commitment to the mission wavered and he refused to deploy his team without Magnus there as back-up. Xaaron convinced him that Springer, Broadside and Sandstorm were an adequate replacement for Magnus - by having them disguise themselves as Decepticons and beat Impactor into submission - and Volcano was on again.

All proceeded smoothly until Megatron recalled his warriors to Earth, overriding all other commands. The Wreckers heard of the Decepticons' retreat and were somewhat stood down when a lone assassin called Macabre, ignoring Megatron's orders, fired upon Xaaron. Impactor was the first to react and pushed Xaaron out of the way, taking the shots meant for him. The other Wreckers killed Macabre, but Impactor was fatally wounded. With his last words he named Springer to take over the leadership of the Wreckers, before again calling Xaaron a "wily old buzzard".[2]

Impactor was not seen again until UK #166 when a rogue Autobot scientist named Flame discovered a way to reanimate dead Transformers. Flame was holding the Wreckers and Emirate Xaaron hostage, guarded by his "zombie" hordes when Springer attempted an escape. He found his route blocked by a zombie Impactor, and the two fought before Springer managed to talk Impactor into remembering his past life. Impactor then sacrificed his life again when he stopped Flame's reactors from turning Cybertron into a giant weapon in UK #169.

Toys

  • Hasbro Transformers Generations Fall of Cybertron Deluxe Impactor (2013)
A remold of Generations Deluxe Onslaught. Turns from robot to missile truck or forms the torso of Ruination.
This toy was used to represent Generation 1 Impactor in the Japanese Cloud stories.
  • Hasbro Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Impactor and Bluestreak (2016)
The final pair of figures for the fourth Transformers Subscription Service were Impactor, a remold of Rook, and Bluestreak, a remold of Dead End. The form the right and left arms of Wreckage.


Transformers: Generations

Transformers character
Impactor-foc-carded.jpg
Generations Fall of Cybertron Impactor on card
Name Impactor
Autobot
Series Transformers: Generations
Information
Alternate modes Cybertronian APC
Gender Male
Sub-group Combiners, Wreckers

Impactor is leader of the Wreckers and forms the torso of the Ruination combiner.

Toys

  • Generations Fall of Cybertron Deluxe Impactor (2013)
A remold of Generations Deluxe Onslaught. Turns from robot to missile truck or forms the torso of Ruination.
This toy was used to represent Generation 1 Impactor in the Japanese Cloud stories.

References

  1. Powerplay: toys as popular culture, Page 130 by Dan Fleming, 1996
  2. Marvel graphic novels and related publications: an annotated guide, Page 93 by Robert G. Weiner, 2008

External links