Technobots

The Technobots are a subgroup of five Autobots that transform into futuristic vehicles in the Transformers universe. Their counterparts are the Terrorcons.

Transformers: Generation 1

Computron

Computron box art
Autobot
Japanese name	Computicon
Sub-group	Combiners, Technobots
Function	Super Warrior
Rank	7
Motto	"Complete data analysis is essential for the synthesis of successful strategy."
Alternate Modes	Five Technobots
Series	Transformers: Generation 1
English voice actor	Bert Kramer
Japanese voice actor	Yoku Shioya

The five Technobots combine into Computron.

• Computron
  The combined form of the Technobots.
  Voiced by Bert Kramer.
  • Scattershot
    He transforms into a spaceship / battle station.
    He is the leader who forms the torso of Computron.
    His solution to the Decepticon problem is to empty as many weapons in their direction as possible. He refuses to stop until he is defeated or out of ammunition. He resorts to name-calling when others disagree with him.
    Voiced by Stephen Keener.
  • Lightspeed
    He transforms into a car.
    He forms the left leg of Computron.
    Despite his popularity and blazing speed as a car, he longs to be converted into an interstellar spacecraft.
    Voiced by Danny Mann.
  • Strafe
    He transforms into a space fighter. He forms the right arm of Computron.
    He is a trigger happy fighter who's as much a danger to friends as he is to enemies.
    Voiced by Steve Bulen.
  • Nosecone
    He transforms into a Cybertronian drill.
    He forms the right leg of Computron.
    He is very intelligent, but slow and methodical about completing a given task.
    Voiced by David Workman.
  • Afterburner
    He transforms into a motorcycle.
    He forms the left arm of Computron.
    He is known for frequently arguing with authority figures.
    Voiced by Jim Cummings.

While the Technobot team utilizes the same combining technology earlier used by the Aerialbots, Stunticons, Combaticons, and Protectobots, Computron is one of the few combiners with only one consistent combination. This is due to several of the smaller Technobots being different sizes when forming a leg or arm. Lightspeed and Nosecone are consistently the left and/or right legs, and Afterburner and Strafe are consistently the right and left arms. As Computron, the team's group dynamic allows them to create a super-intelligent gestalt whose mind and thought processes have been compared to "500 supercomputers". However, due to the various differences in viewpoint and procedure of the five Technobots, Computron can often take a long time to reach a conclusion, sometimes too late to put it to use.

Marvel Comics

The Technobots were among the Autobots who joined Fortress Maximus in leaving Cybertron for the planet Nebulos (Transformers: Headmasters #1). However, a crew of Decepticons under Maximus' rival Scorponok pursued them and the war began anew on Nebulos. Assisting the Autobot Headmasters Brainstorm and Hardhead against the Terrorcons and Horrorcons, the Technobots were first seen combining to form Computron in Transformers: Headmasters #3. They once again battled the Terrorcons as Abominus, defeating him and forcing the Decepticons to flee. Realising the damage the war was doing, the Autobots, including the Technobots, departed Nebulos for Earth (Transformers: Headmasters #4).

When Maximus' forces linked up with the Earthbound Autobots, they encountered resistance from Autobot leader Grimlock, who was unhappy they might resurrect Optimus Prime and topple him. Scattershot was present when Grimlock fought Blaster for leadership of the Autobots on Earth's moon. The Autobots were then attacked by the Decepticons led by Ratbat (Transformers #41), although Scattorshot was not seen to be killed. The Technobots were last seen trying to stop the Underbase powered Starscream in issue 50, as they were all taken out and deactivated. The Technobots were never seen again in the U.S. Marvel Transformers series. While they may have been destroyed by Starscream, many of the other characters he disabled in that issue eventually returned to the series.

Animated series

The Technobots first appear in the season 3 episode "Grimlock's New Brain". After biting through a computer's cables located inside Cybertron's core, Grimlock becomes super-intelligent, and creates the Technobots to combat the Terrorcons. The Terrorocons combine into Abominus and to combat him, Grimlock transferred his vast intellect into Computron, the Technobots' combined form. This leaves Grimlock in the same mental state as before. Computron defeats Abominus quickly.

The Technobots appear on numerous other occasions, including when they are assigned to destroy a Quintesson base on Titan with the help of Marissa Fairborne. While the Quintessons control the Terrorcons they have them unite into Abominus to face the Technobots. The Technobots quickly form Computron and are successful in defeating the Terrorcons and Quintessons.^[1]

They try to stop the Terrorcons from stealing a special heat-resistant alloy. The two teams merge into their combined forms, but Computron's need to analyse every strategy before committing himself leads to Abominus swiftly defeating him.^[2]

The Technobots also appear in the season 4 episode "The Rebirth Part 1". They are on Earth when the Decepticons attack Autobot City.

The Technobots appear numerous times in the Headmasters series, first seen in the third episode.

In episode 27 of Headmasters, "Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters Part 1" the combined might of Computron, Defensor and Raiden is used to destroy the abandoned Decepticon base on Earth.

Manga/book/novel

In the Japanese book/ novel (manga) "Big War" Chapter 2, the Autobots Rodimus Prime, Grimlock, Kup and Wheelie, along with their human allies Spike Witwicky and Daniel Witwicky send Computron into battle against Galvatron's new warrior combiner Abominus. The Terrorcons spit "corrosive control liquid" against Computron, taking control of him and turning him into a Decepticon. Spike luckily uses his new Exosuit to free Computron with "defense spray." Defeated, Galvatron retreats.^[3]

Dreamwave Comics

Scattershot and the Technobots received biography pages in Dreamwave Comics' More Than Meets the Eye and War Within series, however they did not appear in any other Transformers series due to the company's closure.

IDW Comics

Jetfire and the Technobots appeared working together in IDW Comics' comic book miniseries, The Transformers: Stormbringer. They investigated a mysterious energy spike on the deserted surface of Cybertron. Jetfire, Lightspeed, Scattershot and Strafe went down to the surface to investigate, but were ambushed and taken out by Bludgeon's troops. Nosecone and Afterburner's ship was shot down, but they managed to launch a distress beacon first and get to an escape pod. The three captured Technobots were cannibalized for their parts, while Bludgeon revealed his true plan—to reanimate Thunderwing. Nosecone and Afterburner were left on the surface on Cybertron, and were about to be killed by Centurion drones when help arrived—the Wreckers, who saved them both. The Wreckers subsequently attacked Bludgeon's cult, and rescued the Technobots. They then helped Jetfire to decode Bludgeon's data, helping shut Thunderwing down for good. They are unable to merge into Computron at this point, as the Combining technology has not yet become widespread.

Other media

The Technobots are a favorite toy of the character Lucas in the book The Annoyance Bureau By Lucy Frank.^[4]

Toys

• Generation 1 Technobot Computron (1987)

The toys were first released in 1987 and continued to be sold in 1988. They were sold separately but also available together as a gift set. They are red, orange or brown with white highlights.

Transformers: Generation 2

The Generation 2 Go-Bots were sold under the name "Tecnobots" in some European countries, however they were not related to the original Generation 1 Technobot characters. Strafe for a new toy for Generation 2, but was no longer a Technobot, he was now a Cyberjet.

Transformers: Timelines

Computron

Shattered Glass Computron
Autobot
Sub-group	Acolytes of Alpha Trion, Combiners, Technobots
Function	Siege Engine
Motto	"Infinite intelligence is infinitely unstoppable!"
Alternate Modes	Five Technobots
Series	Transformers: Timelines

This version of Computron is from a mirror reality where the Autobot are evil and the Decepticons heroes.

• Computron
  The combined form of the Technobots.
  • Scattershot
    He transforms into a spaceship / battle station.
    He is the leader who forms the torso of Computron.
  • Lightspeed
    He transforms into a car.
    He forms the right leg of Computron.
  • Strafe
    He transforms into a space fighter.
    He forms the left arm of Computron.
  • Nosecone
    He transforms into a cybertronian drill.
    He forms the left leg of Computron.
  • Afterburner
    He transforms into a motorcycle.
    He forms the right arm of Computron.

Fun Publications

Computron was created as a combiner for the Autobots. Although the individual Technobots are all geniuses in their fields, when united they formed a highly ambitious super genius called Computron who suppressed all their individual flaws. In his arrogance Computron attempted to grant enhanced intelligence to Grimlock. The experiment backfired and it brought out the flaws in each Technobot, resulting in insanity for Computron. Optimus Prime enjoyed the new Computron and refused to repair him. Alpha Trion was then able to sway Computron to his side.^[5]

The Technobots are among the acolytes of Alpha Trion who respond to his return to their world.^[6] When Breakaway, Landquake, Skyfall and Topspin escape Alpha Trion Scattorshot offers to have the Technobots hunt them down, but Alpha Trion instead assigns them to help relocate his base.^[7] The four rogue robots are eventually uncovered by Computron. Although Computron chases the quartet, they escape to the Decepticons headquarters, and Computron faces off against Abominus.^[8]

References

1. ^ Transformers episode "Money is Everything"
2. ^ Transformers episode "The Return of Optimus Prime
3. ^ http://tfarchive.com/comics/japanese/trans182.php
4. ^ The Annoyance Bureau By Lucy Frank
5. ^ Transformers Collectors Club Magazine #27
6. ^ Reunification Part 1 by Fun Publications
7. ^ Reunification Part 2 by Fun Publications
8. ^ Reunification Part 4 by Fun Publications

External links

• Transformer's Online Encyclopedia:Technobots
• Unicron.com: Computron
• Champions Role Playing Game character of Computron.