Haywire (Targetmaster)

Haywire is an Autobot-aligned Nebulan Targetmaster from the Generation 1 continuity family.

I think we got to Scatman's Land.

One of the younger Nebulans to binary bond to a Transformer, Haywire (aka Hyperfire) is very much of the "act first, think later"-impulsive-teenage mold. In that respect, the relationship between Haywire and his partner Blurr is one where they get on like a house on fire, but also a classic example of the lack of planning in the early stages of Targetmasters bonding for how effective a combat team they would make. Transforming into an electro-laser cannon, Haywire is just as hyperactive as his partner in combat, often more concerned with how often he fires than where he's aiming or how effective his shots are.

Fiction

Marvel The Transformers comics

Haywire was among those Nebulans who at great risk to themselves, joined the outlawed Autobots during Zarak and Scorponok's reign of terror on Nebulos. After undergoing the bio-engineering process that allowed them to transform into replacement weapons, they partnered with the six Autobots who had surrendered their weapons some months earlier. In his case, he was binary bonded to Blurr in order to defend his planet from the Decepticon forces. He first saw action in the Autobots' unsuccessful defense of the Nursery; though the Targetmaster upgrade he had undergone allowed him to effectively push back the enemy, the ensuing firefight nonetheless left the facility in ruins. Shortly afterwards, the Autobot forces fled to join those on Earth in an attempt to lure their enemies away, and save Nebulos from further harm. Brothers in Armor!!

Haywire and Blurr went along with the other Autobot Targetmasters selected to accompany Fortress Maximus to Earth to rescue Buster Witwicky, brother of the newly binary-bonded Spike Witwicky, who proceeded to introduce his team to his father. The group's rescue attempt at the Decepticons island base was ultimately unsuccessful. The Desert Island of Space!

Let's see what you can see... This article is in need of images. Specifics: Comic appearances

The Transformers cartoon

Voice actor: Rob Paulsen (English), Jin Horikawa (Japanese), Bernd Simon (German, The Rebirth, Part 1), Serge Bourrier (European French)

I'm Green, but not Big & Mean.

A member of Gort's group of freedom fighters, Haywire took part in an ambush to capture beings whom the Nebulans assumed were Hive machines. He was quick to notice that the machines had humans with them and, as it turned out, the machines were actually heroic Autobots. Haywire mused aloud that if they had the physical power of the Autobots, the Hive machines would be no problem. The Rebirth, Part 1

When the Autobots stole Targetmaster technology from the Decepticons, Haywire volunteered to be binary bonded to Blurr. He greeted the Autobot leader Optimus Prime to Nebulos by boasting about his ability to hit a target from a distance of four thousand yards. The Rebirth, Part 2 Like the other Nebulans, he traveled to Cybertron with the Autobots, and helped to close the Plasma Energy Chamber and bring a new Golden Age to the planet. Afterward, they returned to Nebulos to rid the planet of the Hive's machines. The Rebirth, Part 3

Titans Return marketing material

Hyperfire was one of the ancient Titan Masters that once crewed the vast Titan robots at the dawn of time. His unique Spark possessed the power to grant the gift of enhanced speed to any being he joined with. This speed made him one of the few beings alive who could keep up with the Autobot Blurr and made him a target for power hungry Decepticons. Titans Return Blurr/Hyperfire toy bio

On the planet Velocitron, Hyperfire was driving Blurr, as the pair competed in the planet's biggest race against Wheelie. Before they were finished, Hyperfire found himself the target of Scourge and Crashbash, who tried to capture him. Titans Return: The Power of the Titan Masters

Beast Wars: Uprising

Haywire was one of the Autobot Targetmasters whom Hyperfire warned of the impending Targetmaster Extirpation. Trigger Warnings

Legends comic

Main article: White Lune

The Haywire Laser was a powerful laser gun and the ultimate MVP Weapon created by the Laser Beasts. Tigerburn brought it with him to the Legends World to defeat White Leo, only for White Lune to use the power of the Three Wise Ones' gems to merge with it. The Haywire Laser became White Lune's body, and in this form she was able to transform from a gun into a robot. Bonus Edition Vol. 51

Toys

The Transformers

• Blurr (Targetmaster, 1987)

Released in the fourth year of the Hasbro US The Transformers line (third year in Europe), Haywire is an armored humanoid that transforms into a pistol with a 5 mm post grip.

He was only available packed in with the retooled Targetmaster version of Blurr, replacing the Autobot's original gun (Blurr kept his shield, what with it being an integral part of his vehicle mode). The larger Autobot's fist-holes were widened to allow him to hold Haywire, plus a new hole was added just in front of his vehicle-mode windscreen so he can be attached in that mode.

This toy was only released in the Hasbro lines; Takara skipped all five of the retooled Targetmaster bots. And to this date, he is the only fourth-year Targetmaster weapon mold to never be released in Japan.

• More information on Haywire at TFU.info

United

You'd think a sniper'd want a better grip on his gun...

• Haywire (Targetmaster Micron, 2010)

• Release date: December 28, 2010

A redeco of Power Core Combiners Caliburst, United Haywire transforms from robot mode a hand-held rifle. HE is meant to complement the United Blurr toy. Though loose in the Generations Blurr's hands, Haywire fits snugly in the United version's hands.

His instructions only show the hand-held mode, but as he is a Power Core Combiners Mini-Con mold, he can also be converted into anti-aircraft artillery meant for vehicle-mode use (attached by his Powerlinx socket), plus an "armor" mode that connects to a Power Core Combiners Commander toy's chest or back-mounted Powerlinx plug for use in either of their robot modes.

He was an exclusive to Yamada Denki stores, a free gift with the purchase of over 3000 yen worth of United product starting on December 28, 2010.

This mold was also used to make Darkray.

Titans Return

Periscope activated.

• Hyperfire & Blurr (Deluxe Class, 2016)

• Known designers: John Warden (Hasbro)

Released as part of the first wave of Titans Return Deluxe Class figures, Hyperfire (presumably renamed for trademark reasons) is only available with his larger partner Blurr. He can sit in Blurr's cockpit in vehicle mode, or form his partner's head. He can also pilot Blurr's hood, which unfolds into a sort of tiny vehicle. Haywire is designed to interact with any Deluxe, Voyager, or Leader class figure from the same line, compatible with their various accessories and capable of forming their heads.

Hyperfire's robot mode is based on Generation 1 Stylor, and, unsurprisingly, he was retooled into Titans Return Stylor.

This toy also doubles as the independent Beast Wars: Uprising character Hyperfire.

Legends

• Targetmaster Doublecross (Deluxe, 2017)

• ID number: LG51
• Release date: November 25, 2017

Released in the twenty-third wave of TakaraTomy's Legends toyline, Haywire came packed in with the Deluxe Targetmaster Doublecross. He transforms into a gun that can be wielded by any figure that is 5 mm post compatible, but also has a third "cannon armor" mode that plugs onto Doublecross's chest in the larger Autobot's dragon mode.

In fiction, this toy represents White Lune in Targetmaster armor, but is kept on this page for informative purposes.

Notes

Foreign names

• Japanese: Haywire (ヘイワイアーHeiwaiā; ヘイワイヤー Heiwaiyā)
• French: Le Génie (European French dub; "The Genius")
• Russian: Esquire (Эсквайр Eskvair)