Overdrive (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.

Overdrive is the name of several fictional characters from the Transformers series. The original Overdrive was introduced in 1985 and was one of the Omnibots.

Transformers: Generation 1

Transformers character
Overdrive-toy.jpg
The Generation 1 Overdrive toy
Name Overdrive
Autobot
Series Transformers: Generation 1
Transformers: Alternators
Information
Alternate modes Ferrari 308, Honda S2000
Function Flying Trooper
Gender Male
Motto "The race is not important; the finish line is."
Sub-group Omnibots

Overdrive is an Omnibot who turns into a car.[1][2][3]

Overdrive's Dreamwave bio described him as incredibly fast, both physically and mentally – which, unfortunately, had brought with it a severe case of arrogance. Even the other Omnibots have to suffer his continuing put downs and superiority complex. Because of this other Autobots shun him, and hope he can get his ego under control before he is abandoned entirely.

Original show bibles discovered in 2007 revealed the biography written by Bob Budiansky. This biography describes as a road racer who will do anything to win, including fly right off the road.[4]

Reception

Overdrive is the most popular of the Omnibots among collectors.[5]

Comics

Dreamwave Productions

Overdrive and the other Omnibots made a brief cameo appearance in the second G1 miniseries from Dreamwave Productions. Their bodies were seen as victims of Menasor's rampage.

Manga

In the Transformers Manga #5 Galvatron and his Decepticons attacked the Prime Energy Tower. Galvatron ordered the Decepticons to form Menasor, Devastator and Bruticus and attack. Rodimus Prime counted this move by ordering in Superion, Omega Supreme and Defensor. Galvatron then ordered in Predaking, knowing that Sky Lynx was elsewhere and couldn't counter them. Rodimus ordered the Omnibots to attack Predaking's legs. Tripping up the giant he fell into the other Decepticon giants, winning the day for the Autobots.[6]

Transformers: Binaltech

Binaltech Overdrive is among the various characters to appear in a simple flash fighting game available on the Japanese Honda web site.[7]

Toys

  • Generation 1 Omnibot Overdrive (1985)
Originally part of the Diaclone toy line. The three Omnibot toys were offered exclusively as mail order items by Hasbro in the US, obtained by sending in collectable Robot Points off boxes plus $5 shipping. During 1985 the number of orders for Omnibots exceeded expectations by Hasbro, who extended the offer. They had nearly 50,000 orders for Camshaft alone by July. [8]
  • Binaltech Overdrive
Overdrive transforms into a 1:24 scale Honda S2000. The figure is surrounded in some controversy, as Takara's Overdrive version includes a long gun barrel that forms the car mode's driveshaft, while Hasbro's Windcharger version had the barrel deleted. Windcharger's gun was otherwise unchanged, and still includes the connecting point for the absent barrel.
Another source of confusion is the Head sculpt for the Decepticon retooled from the convertible S2000, Decepticharge. Decepticharge's head resembles the original (Generation 1) Windcharger's animated version, and is the source of rumors that the 2005 Ford Mustang GT robot used to create Grimlock and Wheeljack was intended to be Windcharger's body.

Transformers: Super Link

Overdrive was the Takara name for the Autobot Cliffjumper.

Aligned Continuity

In Transformers: Rescue Bots, Overdrive was one of the aliases used by Quickshadow during her time as an undercover operative.

References

  1. Alvarez, J.E. (2001). The Unofficial Guide to Transformers 1980s Through 1990s, Revised & Expanded 2nd Edition. Schiffer Publishing Ltd.. p. 34. ISBN 0764313649. 
  2. Bob Budiansky, Don Figueroa (2007). Transformers: The Animated Movie. IDW Publishing. http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=KYC9kOrpvbsC&oi=fnd&pg=PA6&dq=Overdrive+Transformers+hasbro&ots=x9cj6-sQvI&sig=G6c8w_8W9M5Fwdn3psgcOPWazjw#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved December 24, 2010. 
  3. James McDonough, Don Figueroa, Adam Patyk, Guido Guidi, Pat Lee (2008). Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye, Volume 1. IDW Publishing. http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=svTqvFMWOqEC&oi=fnd&pg=PA9&dq=Overdrive+Transformers+hasbro&ots=MqCmq0hJr1&sig=n5LZtfaFNoCe_M35DuEMLy2j_oc#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved December 24, 2010. 
  4. "Transformers Universe UNUSED Bios – Overdrive". The Allspark Forums. Archived from the original on December 30, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071230230902/http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=40994. Retrieved December 24, 2010. 
  5. Bellemo, Mark (2007). Transformers Identification and Price Guide. Krause Publications. p. 60. ISBN 978-0-89689-445-7. 
  6. "Transformers comics, cartoons, toys and everything else!". TFArchive. http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/japanese/trans155.php. Retrieved December 24, 2010. 
  7. Template:Ja icon Honda トイタウン|トランスフォーマー国技館
  8. "Patience Pays off Twice for Transformers Fan", The Palm Beach Post, July 16, 1985