Long Haul

Long Haul is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes.

Transformers: Generation 1

Transformers character
name =Long Haul


caption =deletable image-caption
affiliation =Decepticon
subgroup =Constructicons
rank =4
function =Materials Transport
partner =
motto ="A battle front is only as good as its supply line."
alternatemodes =Dump Truck
Crane (Classics)
series =


engvoice =Gregg Berger
japanvoice =

Long Haul is a Decepticon dump truck and is a part of the Constructicon team. He is able to combine with his team to form the giant robot Devastator.

Long Haul is not fond of his role as transport, ferrying construction materials to and fro on a Constructicon building site, and although he accepts its importance, he would much rather be a full-time warrior. He transforms into a dump truck and forms Devastator's lower torso. [ [http://www.seibertron.com/database/character.php?view=&char_id=44 Long Haul (Decepticon Constructicons, Transformers G1) ] ]

In a children's coloring book, Long Haul is once mistakenly referred to by Scrapper's early name, Gravedigger. Long Haul is called Costo in Canada and Macigno in Italy.

Marvel Comics

Long Haul first appeared in issue 10 of the U.S. Marvel Transformers comics and last appeared in issue 41.

Fun Publications

The "Transformers Classics" comics published in the Official Transformers Collectors Club magazine is set in the Marvel Comics continuity, but in a timeline where the events of "Generation 2" did not occur. Long Haul appears among Megatrons troops, reformatted into a crane.

Dreamwave Productions

In Dreamwave Productions's 21st century re-imagining of the Generation One universe, it was revealed gradually that the Constructicons were responsible for pioneering the the Combining process through a series of experiments on themselves, thus creating Devastator. The plans to Devastator's combining process were eventually stolen by the Autobots and refined, resulting in Superion as a counter. This in turn led to more Special Teams being built by both sides.

In the initial "War Within" series the Constructicons were responsible for activating Cybertron's planetary engines, under the command of Megatron eight million years ago. When Megatron disappeared into the depths of the planet fighting Optimus Prime, Starscream temporarily took command and had Scrapper prepare a process for the resurfacing of Cybertron, which would transform it into a mobile war-world. Scrapper cautioned against such an action, but Starscream ignored him, and prevented him from stopping it when the process was underway. 1.5 million years later, when Megatron and Optimus Prime were thought to have died in an early test of the Space Bridge transport system, and the Autobots and Decepticons splintered into several smaller factions, the Constructicons broke the treaty that had downgraded the combining teams to non-combat status by siding with Ratbat's Ultracons and battling Defensor. The various "War Within" series showed that the Constructicons' alternate modes were the Cybertronian variants of their Earth designs.

It is apparent that the Constructicons were not aboard the Ark when it crashed on Earth four million years ago, but they did eventually find their way to Earth and joined Megatron's forces there after they awoke in 1984. All the Transformers were rendered inactive in the explosion of the Ark II in 1999, but when they reactivated in 2001, Devastator was the main weapon in Megatron's attack on San Francisco. Rampaging through the city, he battled and defeated Superion, but was defeated by Optimus Prime through a point-blank blast to the face, which toppled the giant. His remains were recovered by the Earth Defence Command, and dissected and studied in their underground base. The ultimate fate of Devastator was not revealed, however, as a result of Dreamwave's closure.

Toys

*Generation 1 Long Haul (1985):Based on a Diaclone toy. The toy is US parent number D289069. [http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPATD289069]

*Generation 2 Long Haul:Long Haul is a repaint of the original Generation One toy. His toy was released in two different color schemes - orange and yellow.

*Transformers: Energon Demolishor:Energon Demolishor is a homage Generation 1 Long Haul.

*Transformers: Classics Long Haul (2007):Long Haul is no longer a dump truck and is now a crane - a repaint of the toys Wideload and Duststorm.

Transformers: Energon

Long Haul is the Japanese name for the Decepticon Duststorm.

Transformers: Universe (2004)

Transformers character
name =Long Haul


caption =Universe Micromaster Long Haul toy
affiliation =Decepticon
subgroup =Micromaster
rank =
function =
partner =
motto =
alternatemodes =Dump Truck (Terex_Titan)
series =
voiceby =Although neither toy has received official tech specs or profiles, both are believed to be new forms to the original character.

Toy [http://www.seibertron.com/toys/gallery.php?id=346&size=0&start=0 Gallery]

Over a decade later, Long Haul returns as a Micromaster. Again he is a dump truck - a repaint of a toy named Treader; previously only available in Japan. Long Haul is able to become a leg to the combined robot Devastator.

Although this Long Haul lacked any bio of his own, the Japanese bio for Treader states that Decepticon soldiers fear this taciturn 'bot's great fighting strength. Spark and Leif adore him like a big brother. Apparently, long ago, he incurred a debt to Crush-Bull that he could never repay and now serves him loyally.

Transformers: Universe (2006)

Transformers character
name =Long Haul


caption =Universe Deluxe Long Haul toy
affiliation =Decepticon
subgroup =Deluxe Vehicles
rank =
function =
partner =Hightower
motto =
alternatemodes =Dump Truck
series =
voiceby =Long Haul is a recolor of the Transformers: Robots in Disguise toy named Heavy Load. He is packaged with Hightower. Without any supporting fiction it is unknown if this Long Haul is a new character, or somehow related to the other Long Hauls or Heavy Load.

References