Ghost

Spooky!

When humans or Transformers die, sometimes their spirits remain in the form of ghosts. This new state may render the deceased incorporeal, but they can be seen and heard, usually instilling the living with feelings of dread and/or terror. Often they can influence their environment: manipulating physical objects, possessing the living, riding motorcycles, or shooting lasers at people. On rare occasions, a ghost can be resurrected into a new physical form, allowing the deceased to return to the land of the living.

Some humans like to tell ghost stories to frighten their friends. Humans are weird.

Fiction

Generation 1 continuity family

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Transformers cartoon

Following the destruction of his body by Galvatron, Starscream somehow continued to exist as a wraithlike figure. He was able to take possession of the still living, and used this ability to work with Octane to try and overthrow Galvatron. Starscream's Ghost He later struck a bargain with Unicron, who desired to possess Cybertron as his new form. During the affair, Unicron provided Starscream with a new body of his own, and the Air Commander was once again rendered corporeal. Ghost in the Machine

When Galvatron tried to use the Matrix of Leadership, ghostly images of former Autobot leaders appeared to haunt him, though it's possible these were projected by the Matrix itself. The Burden Hardest to Bear

The Headmasters cartoon

Alpha Trion manifested as a ghost to guide Optimus Prime through the inner bowels of Cybertron The Mystery of Planet Master leading him to the chamber holding Vector Sigma. Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime

Kiss Players

Shizuku Amaō died when Galvatron crashed down on Tokyo. I, You, and the Spinning Earth She later manifested as a spectral image riding on a Legion. Kiss Players #32 She was seen accompanying them several more times, until they finally broke into the Genital System under EDC headquarters, where Shizuku's mother Hitoshizuku Amaō was attempting to resurrect her in the body of Atari Hitotonari. Kiss Players #37 The plan failed, and Shizuku's ghost was last seen standing by her mother as the laboratory collapsed on top of them. I, You, and the Spinning Earth

e-HOBBY comics

After being killed by Galvatron, Starscream ended up in limbo with dead versions of himself from other realities. They pooled their resources to create a flip-soul, which Starscream was able to use to return to the physical plane as a ghost. MP-3G Destron Air Commander / Starscream Ghost Ver.

Unite Warriors

When Galvatron II's body was destroyed, his spirit remained in the world as a ghost thanks to the power of the Creation Matrix he held. Ruination Chapter, Part Two

Marvel comics continuity

After Starscream was resurrected as a Pretender, Zarak was shocked by his appearance. Starscream slyly suggested perhaps he was a ghost. Later events disproved the theory. Skin Deep

On Christmas Eve, Dreadwind was visited by the ghost of the past which resembled Grimlock, the ghost of the present which resembled Blaster, and the ghost of the future which represented a future version of Dreadwind himself. As a result, he abandoned his post as letters page answerer. Dreadwind's Xmas!

A version of Galvatron II was able to persist as a ghost after being blown up by Metroplex due to his possession of the Creation Matrix. LG-43 Trypticon Project Chapter Ruination Chapter, Part Two As a ghost, he was able to possess other Transformers as hosts, doing this to Cyclonus Grand Galvatron Chapter and attempting this on Megaempress, but unfortunately, Grand Scourge was able to bothandle him due to Galvatron's Matrix energy. Ruination Chapter, Part Two

2005 IDW continuity

Kup mistook a hologram of Springer to be a ghost, when it was simply part of an attempt to rescue him. Spotlight: Kup An apparition of the deceased Rewind appeared on the Lost Light, and as a result Nightbeat theorized that it was a "data ghost". Words Hang in the Air When a quantum duplicate of Rewind was later discovered on another Lost Light, Nautica put the earlier appearance down to the collision of quantum realities. The Road Not Taken

Hearts of Steel

The Lone Gunmen encountered a team of ghost hunters in New York. The X-Files: Conspiracy: The Transformers

Transformers vs. G.I. Joe

After Destro made a killing in arms manufacturing, a rumour arose that his home was haunted by the ghosts of his victims. As a result, he had Castle Destro ghost-proofed when he moved it to California. Stick To Your Guns

Prime Wars Trilogy cartoons

What's the matter? You look like you've seen a me.

Following his destruction during the Combiner Wars, Starscream's ghost emerged from his body and was left adrift, unable to control itself. However, a higher power forced his spirit into the body of Trypticon, causing the Titan to be revived. Aftermath and Rebirth. Later, thanks to the power of the Matrix of Leadership, Starscream's ghost was freed from Trypticon, and he claimed to feel reborn as he vanished. All Things Must Pass Despite seemingly fading away, Starscream's ghost still lingered, observing Optimus Prime and Optimal Optimus from afar. Saga's End

Transformers/Ghostbusters

A full torso apparition, and it's real!

When Gozer attacked Cybertron, Kremzeek the Scavenger approached Decepticon High Command and turned them into ghosts so they could live (so to speak) through Cybertron's destruction. In return for this, Kreemzeek demanded their aid in finding the AllSpark so he could absorb it. When Megatron, Shockwave, and Soundwave refused, the electrical entity absorbed their spirits into his being, sending Starscream to hunt for the artifact, taken away from Cybertron aboard the Ark. Ghosts of Cybertron Part 2 Ghosts of Cybertron Part 4

A thousand years later, on the planet Earth, ghosts were such a common occurrence that a special team, the aptly named Ghostbusters, was formed to combat and contain these supernatural horrors. One night, after the Ghostbusters had contained a massive tentacled ghost, Starscream's spectre appeared before them and asked them to leave so he could speak to Ectronymous Diamatron in private, only to be sucked up by one of their ghost traps. Ghosts of Cybertron Part 1 Ectronymous, mistaking the ghost for a hologram, deactivated the ghost trap and released the Seeker who told an edited version of his tale to the Autobot and the Ghostbusters, asking for their help in obtaining a new body. Ghosts of Cybertron Part 2

Haven't we seen this before?

Though Starscream was brought back to the Ghostbusters firehouse, the cynical Peter Venkman doubted the Seeker's motivations and locked him in another ghost trap. As the Ghostbusters waited for Optimus Prime to arrive, they responded to a disturbance caused by an electrically charged ghost, with Ectronymous – now dubbed "Ectotron" – modifying a ghost trap to contain the spectre. When the humans met Optimus, it was found that Starscream had escaped. Ghosts of Cybertron Part 3 Tracking the Seeker to the Grosbeak Generating Station, they were met by Kremzeek, who proceeded to absorb Starscream's ghost as a form of punishment, before engaging Optimus Prime in a duel for the AllSpark. Unable to match Kremzeek's power, the Ghostbusters released the electrical ghost, its ravenous hunger drawing it to Kremzeek and dispelling both entities. Though this ended the threat posed by Kremzeek, it also released the ghosts of the Decepticons. Ghosts of Cybertron Part 4

Though Optimus offered to use the AllSpark to resurrect Decepticon High Command, Megatron's rage drove him to attack his arch-foe. Starscream, seeking revenge on Peter Venkman, attacked the Ghostbusters with Soundwave and Shockwave, deciding that they had nothing better to do, joining him. When the latter two were absorbed by ghost traps, Starscream decided to return another day. As Optimus and Megatron duelled, the latter was sent stumbling back and possessed Ectotron's body, using the Autobot scientist to attack Optimus before a canister of mood slime forced him out. Rematerializing in a more monstrous form, Megatron leapt at Optimus Prime, hoping to possess him and use the Autobots to rebuild the Decepticon Empire. A second before he could, Ectotron managed to restrain and capture him. In the aftermath, Ectotron decided to become the first interstellar Ghostbuster, intent on locating any more Cybertronian ghosts that might be scattered throughout the galaxy, unaware that he was being trailed by Starscream's ghost. Ghosts of Cybertron Part 5

Unicron Trilogy

Energon cartoon

Bruticus Maximus was about to terminate Superion Maximus when the ghost of the latter's dead brother appeared, blowing off one of Bruticus Maximus's limbs. Though the ghost vanished as swiftly as it had appeared, its actions turned the tide of the battle in Superion Maximus's favor. Spark

Cybertron cartoon

Despite being destroyed, thanks to the Armor of Unicron, Megatron manifested as a shadowy form which Bud decided was a ghost. Unfortunately Coby was afraid of ghosts. Balance Megatron was eventually able to regenerate a corporeal form, and used the remnants of his ghost form to create Nemesis Breaker. Darkness

Transformers Legends

According to Alexis, Halloween originated from Irish folk who believed in ghosts. Something Robotic This Way Comes

Animated cartoon

During a slumber party, Sari Sumdac told ghost stories and used her AllSpark Key to provide special effects. It worked pretty well to scare Bumblebee. Home Is Where the Spark Is Bulkhead dressed as a ghost for Halloween. Along Came a Spider After Prowl merged his spark with the AllSpark, his ghostly form manifested long enough to rescue Optimus Prime from an exploding Lugnut Supreme. Endgame, Part II

Shattered Glass

Whisper attempted to scare Scoop by posing as the ghost of Boltax. Do Over

Crossovers

Ghost Rider is presumably a ghost of some sort.

Titan Magazines post-Revenge of the Fallen comics

Soundwave made the mistake of venturing into the Bermuda Triangle, and was attacked by ships and airplanes that had been missing for decades. The origin of these ghostly vessels is unclear, but they resulted in Soundwave fleeing from Earth. Making Waves

Rescue Bots cartoon

"Ah, not another hitchhiker."

Doc Greene created the Spectral Vapor Filter, a device intended to trap ghosts. Griffin Rock legends told of Charlotte Wayne, also known as the Lady of Griffin Rock, whose ghost was said to haunt the island. An appearance by the ghost resulted in Jerry running his truck off the road, and subsequently the town was overrun with the ghosts of famous island residents. Ultimately it was discovered that Evan and Myles had used the town's holographic systems to create the fake ghost epidemic; however, it later transpired that no hologram of Charlotte Wayne was in the computer system. The Haunting of Griffin Rock

Games

Transformers Legends

After his death, Starscream continued to exist as a ghost, though to manifest on the physical plane, he had to pass through a spirit portal from the ethereal plane. The Autobots were able to track his appearances with electromagnetic radiation detectors. Ghost in the Machine He was able to control both Cyclonus and Scourge to do his bidding. He was later provided with a new body by Unicron. Unicron Returns

Toys

Spooky and brittle!

• Starscream Ghost Version (e-HOBBY Exclusive, 2001)

The original Starscream mold was released in transparent plastic by e-HOBBY to represent his ghost form as seen in the cartoon.

• Starscream Ghost Version (Deluxe, 2009)

His Classics mold was likewise released in transparent plastic and offered through Transformers Generations 2009 Volume 2.

• Starscream Ghost Version (2010)

E-HOBBY also released his Masterpiece mold in transparent plastic.

• Ectotron (2019)

A clear plastic figurine of Ghostbusters character Slimer is included with Collaborative figure Ectotron.

• Optimus Prime Ecto-35 Edition (2019)

An opaque, painted redeco of the above Slimer figurine is included with Optimus Prime Ecto-35 Edition.

• Ectotron (2021)

In addition to the previously released Slimer figure, this release of Ectotron also includes a transparent plastic figurine of the character Muncher.

Merchandise

• Ghost Starscream (2001)

Starscream's Super Collection Figure was released in transparent plastic as a chase figure.

• Ghost of Starscream (Palisades, 2005)

Palisades released a ghost version of their Starscream polystone statue, limited to 300 pieces.

Notes

• Skullgrotes has a Ghost Horror Laser, however it does not involve actual ghosts.
• The human-built spaceship Ghost 1 was not a ghost either.
• Nor does the secret military organization G.H.O.S.T. have any ghosts in their employ.