Dreadwing (G2)
From Transformers Wiki
| The name or term "Dreadwing" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Dreadwing (disambiguation). |
- Dreadwing is a Decepticon Triple Changer from the Generation 2 portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.
Is punishing
His Gatling gun is illin'!
This Decepticon bomber's a
Transformer-rama,
A three-in-one villain that's chillin'!
Combat tank and sonic jet
Transform into double-trouble robots
Their missiles go boom
Spelling certain doom
As they take apart the awesome Autobots!Rap lyrics from the Generation 2 Dreadwing commercial
Contents |
Fiction
Marvel Generation 2 comic
Darkwing was badly damaged while defending his commander against the returning Megatron. Tales of Earth Part Two After resuming leadership of the Decepticons, Megatron allowed repairs to be performed on Darkwing. Tales of Earth Part Three The Decepticon jet was rebuilt in a much larger and more powerful form. Darkwing made his debut with the new body by obliterating the inoffensive Rheanimum miners of Tykos. New Dawn
Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity
G-2 pack-in manga and story pages
Dreadwing was a pacifist by nature. He loathed war and chose not to get involved. However, once he realized that the wars on Cybertron would never end, he was forced to take a stand. Not being of outstanding intelligence, Smokescreen was able to manipulate him into siding with the Decepticons. He coerced Dreadwing into believing that if he helped the Decepticons win the G-2 wars, then all war would end on Cybertron. Secretly, Smokescreen preferred neither side and desired to obliterate them all. G-2 Part 3
During a decisive battle between Megatron and Optimus Prime, Megatron managed to gain the upper hand after a surprise attack by Hooligan crippled Prime's weaponry. Defenseless, Megatron ordered an aerial assault from Dreadwing and Smokescreen. The pair swooped down and bombarded Optimus Prime with missiles, nearly killing him. Their enemy virtually dead, they left the killing blow to Megatron. G-2 #10
Later, when Megatron commanded his all-out assault on the Autobots, Dreadwing joined in. After Megatron's defeat, Dreadwing fled into deep space with the rest of the Decepticons. G-2 Part 6
15 Go! Go!
As Jetfire sought out Battle Convoy with Teletraan 15 and Steeljaw aboard, Steeljaw Volume Dreadwing and his partner Smokescreen attacked them in the hopes of being led back to the other Autobots. Battle Convoy appeared and ended the battle by cutting off one of Dreadwing's wings with his sword. Battle Convoy Volume
Legends comic
At some point, Dreadwing was embroiled in a battle around Metroplex. Bonus Edition EX Metroplex He and Smokescreen later joined up with Galvatron II and participated in his attack on Beast. The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 3 Upon witnessing the Monsterbots wield Beast Power, they deemed it too dangerous as it might fuel further conflict and attempted to destroy the Autobots, only to be defeated by Repugnus. Bonus Edition EX Repugnus While the disgraced Galvatron was rejected by his master, Unicron Neo, Smokescreen and Dreadwing remained loyal to Unicron and were reformatted into new bodies. LG-EX Big Powered Prologue Part One Even the revelation that Unicron Neo was actually Dark Nova didn't bother them as long as his goal was to destroy the Transformers, and they assisted in Dark Nova's attack on the Z Planet where they battled Land Powered. LG-EX Big Powered Prologue Part Two
In the aftermath of Dark Nova's defeat, Smokescreen and Dreadwing witnessed the resurrection of the Legends World, still believing that peace between Transformers was a transient illusion. They were approached by Devcon, whose words and cooperation with Slizardo and the Skuxxoid moved Smokescreen enough to rejoin the Autobot fold. Dreadwing was still unconvinced, but Smokescreen changed his mind by pointing out that they themselves were proof that cooperation between an Autobot and a Decepticon could exist. Epiloge
Generations Selects special Comic
In 2050, Smokescreen and Dreadwing defended humans and Selectors that were attempting to flee the chaos of a Quintesson invasion and Angolmois Energy eruptions. Abominus comic 2
2005 IDW continuity
- First appearance: Drift #1
Dreadwing was present during the earliest days of the Decepticons, looking on during Megatron's first meeting with Senator Shockwave. Shockwaves
Thousands of years ago, Dreadwing served under the command of Turmoil when their second-in-command Deadlock violated orders. Deadlock attacked the Autobots when Turmoil ordered him not to, and then executed a fellow Decepticon who planned on reporting his insubordination. Deadlock tried to rally Dreadwing and several other soldiers from Turmoil's forces under his new leadership. Dreadwing and his comrades refused, and turned Deadlock over to Turmoil to answer for his attempted mutiny. Drift #1
When Megatron got a new body, Dreadwing took on a similar form in his honor. Shockpoint After the Chaos War, Dreadwing was among the Decepticons on Cybertron when they, the Autobots, and the NAILs attempted to rebuild their society. When Megatron returned to lead the Decepticons and rise up against the new government, however, Dreadwing and his former captain Turmoil were among the 'Cons who joined him Before the Dawn Before he could participate in the uprising, though, Dreadwing was requisitioned by Shockwave to accompany him to the former site of Crystal City. Tempted by Shockwave's promises that he'd get everything he desired and disappointed in Megatron's failures to bring about a Decepticon victory, Dreadwing changed loyalties to follow the rogue scientist. Finest Hour On arrival, Dreadwing was shocked to discover the city was still standing, despite the fact that it should've been destroyed at least twice over. He was more surprised when Shockwave shot him in the back, killing him. He was even MORE surprised when he was immediately restored to life by the unique properties latent in Crystal City thanks to Shockwave's experiments with Ore-14. Shockwaves
Shockwave then ordered Dreadwing to attack the intruding Soundwave, which he did with glee, rejecting the communications expert's peace offers and mocking him for not bringing his cassettes. In response, Soundwave killed Dreadwing with a barrage of firepower, but the Ore-14 was quick to resurrect him again. Shockpoint Soundwave then revealed he did bring the cassettes, which he released to keep Dreadwing busy while he himself faced down Shockwave. Soundwaves After Soundwave's retreat, Dreadwing assisted Shockwave in his scheme to bring Waspinator and his Metrotitan into Crystal City and create a space bridge to the Dead Universe. Dark Dawn Soundwave had not given up, however, but returned with a joint team of Decepticons and Autobots to free Shockwave's captive, Megatron. Dreadwing tried to stop Skywarp from breaking Megatron's bonds, but his efforts were unnecessary as Skywarp was becoming increasingly intangible anyway. Finest Hour
Dreadwing remained with Shockwave's forces as they continued to grow, with Galvatron emerging from the Dead Universe and Jhiaxus, Bludgeon, and the Monstructor Six finally arriving from Gorlam Prime. The Dead are Not Enough He stood by as Shockwave sat unperturbed by the defeat of the Dark Titan by Metroplex. Finis Temporis Dreadwing then assisted Shockwave and Jhiaxus as they made final preparations on the chronal drive. The Becoming When Galvatron questioned his loyalties, Dreadwing confidently remarked that Shockwave was the biggest brain around, and he had promised Dreadwing everything he ever wanted. Still, Dreadwing's confidence fled him quickly when he was actually confronted by an angry Megatron laying siege to Crystal City. He barely managed to choke out a threat before being shot down by Megatron's fusion cannon. Black Planet
In the aftermath, Dreadwing escaped from Crystal City alongside Galvatron and Skywarp, and seemed poised to reclaim a position in the Decepticons under their new leadership. ...And the Damage Done Instead, Galvatron left him behind when he went to Earth.
Months later, Galvatron sent Needlenose and Brawl to help Dreadwing spread the word among the discontented, ghetto-dwelling Decepticons. They were good at whipping up anger and intimidating Prime evangelists, but Dreadwing was unconvinced of Galvatron or Soundwave's commune plan, finding the whole idea laughable. That didn't stop him flanking Needlenose on stage at a Decepticon rally! The Transgressors Later, the trio approached Starscream about getting unfettered access to the space bridge for their people. Aphelion That night, they led a Decepticon march through Iacon Spaceport 1. The bridge brought Dreadwing and the others to the Ark-7 where they confronted the Autobots trapped inside Blackrock's force field. Lagrange
Dreadwing went back through to Cybertron to rally the remaining Decepticons fighting the Autobots behind them, when the space bridge suddenly shut down. Unperturbed, Dreadwing ordered the remaining Decepticons to attack, and briefly scuffled with Windblade and Wheeljack, only to suddenly get caught off guard by Victorion's gravitation powers. Dreadwing and the other Decepticons were subsequently rounded up and taken into custody by Starscream's forces. Perihelion
Dreadwing was somehow able to escape and rejoin Galvatron on Earth nonetheless. He and some other Decepticons were deployed to defend the underwater Nemesis from an Autobot attack when Galvatron used the energies of the Enigma of Combination to forcibly merge them into Galvatronus, a combiner whose torso was formed by Dreadwing. It's Beginning To And Back Again The combiner proved short-lived, as Superion learned to access the Enigma's code and used it to split Galvatronus back into his components. As Above...So Below Dreadwing was soon seen being taken into custody by the combined Autobot and Decepticon force. White Light When the Earth Defense Command attacked, Dreadwing was loaded onto Sky Lynx for transport. White Heat
Dreadwing returned to Cybertron where, after Onyx Prime's return, Soundwave recruited him as part of retinue to interrogate Liege Maximo. Though despairing of how prolonged contact with Optimus had changed Soundwave and feeling Onyx's return would mark the return of a Prime dictatorship, he agreed to follow. When Soundwave expanded his powers to read the thoughts of the Prime of Lies, he sensed that Dreadwing believed him to be weak. After an explosion ripped through the Spire, Another Mine Dreadwing was among the casualties. Tracks attempted to revive him, to no avail. The Ground
War for Cybertron Trilogy cartoon
Dreadwing was a former Seeker who defected from the Decepticons to become an Energon scavenger for Soundblaster. At some point, he met Bumblebee and revealed to him that Seekers knew how to navigate the Sea of Rust. Siege episode 5
Commercial appearances
Dreadwing and Smokescreen flew over an empty street to harass a pitiful young human, who fled in terror at the sight of them. Dreadwing, to cement how menacing he was even further, transformed into his tank mode and smushed a parked car. Two Autobots responded to the boy's cries for help, only for Dreadwing and Smokescreen to start tossing them around with ease. Dreadwing and Smokescreen commercial
Games
Transformers: Battle Tactics
Dreadwing participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was an Uncommon character who could be recruited after collecting 35 units of Cybermetal and 16 units of Transmetal. Transformers: Battle Tactics
Toys
Generation 2
- Dreadwing (1994)
- Hasbro EU name: Stealth Assault
- Takara ID number: TRF-10
- Accessories: 12 missiles
- Known designers: Takio Ejima (TakaraTomy), Masakatsu Saito (concept artist)
- Generation 2 Dreadwing transforms into a "flying wing" style stealth bomber similar to a Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit with underslung six-missile gatling cannon, and an additional six missiles mounted on his wings that can be released as bombs. In jet form, he can combine with his pack-in partner Smokescreen's jet mode to make a complete aircraft. When you remove Smokescreen he begins a partially automatic transformation into tank mode -- his wings flip up automatically, and his treads can be made to spring-load open with the press of a button. For some reason he came with an Autobot-style instruction book that instructed you to put Smokescreen's forehead sticker on the center of Dreadwing's face.
- Dreadwing's gatling gun, while tremendous fun, has the fatal flaw that the missiles don't lock into it. This means if you bump him in robot mode or swoosh him around in jet mode all his missiles will fall out. This is not what one would usually call "illin'". This led to every subsequent release of the mold being independently retooled, slightly differently each time, to allow their missiles to lock into the gatling gun.
- Dreadwing was sold in parts of Europe (including the United Kingdom) under the name "Stealth Assault", and in other markets under the name "Ace Evader". Neither version acknowledged Smokescreen as a separate individual.
- The back of the box on his Japanese release gives him three additional modes named Dread Roadblock (ドレッド・ロードブロック), Hover Stealth Mode (ホバーステルスモード) and Crab Ambush (クラブ・アンブッシュ). Only the Dread Roadblock mode got given life in the third chapter of "The Road to Legends' Rivival" in the Legends comic. This mode also requires the use of Smokescreen's missile launchers plugged into Dreadwing's hands.
| Generation 2 mold: Dreadwing | ||
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Transformers (2010)
- Dreadwing & Smokescreen (Multi-pack, 2010)
- Release date: July 17, 2010
- Known designers: Masu Yoshi (TakaraTomy, deco)
- Available exclusively at the Tokyo Toy Show 2010, this Dreadwing & Smokescreen set is a redeco of Revenge of the Fallen Voyager Class Mindwipe and Scout Class Skystalker respectively. TakaraTomy designer Masu Yoshi's inspiration for this set apparently stemmed from a desire to compete with BotCon 2010's Generation 2 theme for its exclusive toys.[1]
- Besides the obvious colour changes, the live-action movie Decepticon insignias have been replaced with Generation 2 Decepticon insignia.
- Dreadwing transforms from a bat-like robot into something similar to a F-117 Nighthawk stealth ground attack aircraft. He has two flip-out swords/daggers slung under his arms that he can deploy to use as weapons. As part of his transformation, bending his wings back in robot mode activates a Mech Alive gear-driven feature where the tips of the wings retract and four small blades reveal themselves along the edge of the wing. Although not noted in the instructions, his feet can pivot to make him more stable.
- In vehicle mode, Smokescreen can attach on top of Dreadwing's alternate mode via two pegs. This echoes the combination feature of the original toys.
- This mold was also used to make 2010 Transformers Strafe. In 2014, the boxset was re-released as a lucky draw prize for the Transformers Celebration 2014 event held at Ikebukuro Sunshine City store's Toys"R"Us, though this was very likely remaining stock.
Generations
- Dreadwing (Deluxe Class, Late 2013)
- Series / Number: 02 / #007
- Accessories: 2 wingtips/cannon
- Known designers: Joe Kyde (Hasbro)
- Dreadwing is a redeco/"pretool" of Generations Thrilling 30 Deluxe Class Megatron, using an alternate head included in the mold based on the original Dreadwing toy. He transforms into a stealth bomber based on the B-2 Spirit. His wingtips detach to combine and transform into a cannon that can peg into 5mm ports on his hands and forearms.
- He is packed in with a copy of IDW's Robots in Disguise #17.
- This mold was retooled with another head to make Timelines Krok, and then again with yet another head to make The Last Knight Megatron.
Merchandise
Transformers Character Card
- Smokescreen & Dreadwing Set (October 17, 2023)
- ID number: 61 & 62
- Released as part of the ninth wave of the e-HOBBY exclusive Transformers Character Card series, this pair of holographic trading cards depict super-deformed art of Smokescreen and Dreadwing along with character profiles and tech specs.
Notes
- Although his American and Japanese bios imply that he is a unique character, his physical model was repurposed as the basis for Darkwing's upgraded form in the Marvel Generation 2 comics.
- Dreadwing's instructions call him a "Heroic Autobot". This applies not only to the instructions included with his United States release, but also to both sets of instructions included with the Canadian release (English "Dreadwing" and French "Spectre"), as well as the European English/Spanish/Portuguese "Stealth Assault" and French/Dutch/German "Ace Evader" releases. Additionally, a German Toy Fair catalog refers to him as providing close air support for the Autobots. Chances are he was originally intended to be an Autobot, but was then given a faction change at the eleventh hour.
- AFCG Inc used Dreadwing for one of their print ads. The result is nothing short of amusing.
Foreign names
- Japanese: Dreadwing (ドレッドウイング Doreddouingu)
- Dutch: Ace Evader
- French: Spectre (Canada), Ace Evader (Europe)
- German: Ace Evader
- Portuguese: Stealth Assault
- Spanish: Stealth Assault