Hightower (ROTF)

Hightower is a Decepticon Constructicon from the Revenge of the Fallen portion of the live-action film continuity family.

Now why was this not acknowledged in any way except as a Legends toy for ten years?

Hightower transforms into a gigantic truss crane. When combined with his fellow Constructicons, he forms the left arm of Devastator and sometimes needs help from one friend or another if his combiner limb mode is short a hand. When not combined, it is heavily disputed as to what his actual robot mode looks like.

Fiction

Revenge of the Fallen film

Best known as "Supplier of at least one of Devastator's balls."

During the climactic battle in Egypt between the Autobots, their human allies and The Fallen's Decepticons, Hightower appeared in a quarry with the other Constructicons before merging into Devastator to attack former Sector Seven agent Seymour Simmons, Leo Spitz, Skids and Mudflap. As Devastator smashed away at the Great Pyramid of Giza after shrugging off Skids and Mudflap, Simmons called upon the United States Navy to fire upon the giant Decepticon. The USS Kidd fired her experimental rail gun, smashing one of his arms to pieces and destroying Devastator. Revenge of the Fallen

IDW movie comics

Hightower's body type was one of the early "construction drones" used to build Star Harvesters. One of the Hightowers joined the Fallen's original Decepticons. He tried to battle the turncoat Jetfire and was quickly taken out. Tales of the Fallen #3

Toy bios

Hightower was present in Egypt during Operation: Firestorm. He combined with his fellow Constructicons to form the mighty Devastator, forming the left arm. Studio Series Constructicon Hightower

Kre-O cartoon

Spinister whistled up the four Constructicons to form Devastator, to help with the robbery of the Autobot City Bank. Quest for Energon, Part 1 Hightower helped complete Megatron's weapon so the Decepticons could make their leader a grilled cheese sandwich. He and the other Constructicons were later splattered with molten cheese and tied up in a net by the Autobots. Quest for Energon, Part 2

Toys

Revenge of the Fallen

Legends Class

He comes with a Hannibal Lecter facemask.

• Hightower (EZ Collection DX, 2009)

• ID number: D7
• Release date: July 23 2009
• Known designers: Hironori Kobayashi (TakaraTomy)

Part of the Takara "EZ Collection" series, Hightower transforms from a truss crane into his weird, squatty, concept-art robot mode, with a grippy claw hanging off his "tail". He can also combine with the other six Constructicons (sold separately) to form a tiny little Devastator: Hightower becomes the combined mode's right forearm.

This mold was also used to make Hook.

• Constructicon Devastator (Legends Class multi-pack, 2010)

In Hasbro's markets, the Legends-class Constructicons were sold together in a 7-pack. They are otherwise identical to the prior Takara releases. In the United States and Canada, said exclusive lies with Walmart. In the United Kingdom, the set was only available through Argos.

This set also included Long Haul, Mixmaster, Overload, Rampage, Scavenger, and Scrapper.

Supreme Combiner Class

So...do I have a robot mode or not?

• Constructicon Devastator (Supreme Combiner Class, 2009)

• Known designers: Takio Ejima (TakaraTomy), Shogo Hasui (initial concept)

Hightower transforms from a truss crane to one of Devastator's arms. In fiction and in the instructions, he forms the left arm. Like the other Constructicons in this set, he cannot transform into robot mode due to pricing, accuracy and stability concerns. He has the number "40777" next to his Decepticon symbol.

Mega Power Bots

• Constructicon Devastator (Mega Power Bot, 2009)

Mega Power Bots Devastator is a simple toy for younger children, featuring plenty of playing sounds and flashing lights. His limbs have limited swivel articulation and do not detach into separate vehicles. He has a distinctly more humanoid stature than normal.

Unlike regular Power Bots, and unlike other portrayals of the character in general, Devastator features a transformation! It consists of putting his arms up and laying him flat on his stomach, which lets him roll around using the wheels on his limbs.

Pressing down the Decepticon shield on his crotch (!) spins the vortex in his chest, lights up his eyes and makes him utter one of many Welker-recorded phrases, including "Prepare for extermination!", "Crush Autobots!" and "I am Devastator!" Pressing on the crane of his excavator arm makes a cannon blast sound effect, while pressing the cab of his loader arm turns the scoop into claws.

Transformers (2010)

• Constructicon Devastator (Legends Class multi-pack, 2010)

A Toys"R"Us-exclusive Generation 1-themed redeco of Legends Devastator and his components. Unlike Takara's go at the same idea, Hightower (who retains his identity, unlike the Takara version which made him Hook) and the other Constructicons are mostly just lime green and gray, with the only bits of purple being their windshields. They do, however, have brown paint operations on and around their treads/wheels to simulate dirt.

Kre-O

Here where the blood is spilled, the arena's filled, and giants played their games

• Destruction Site Devastator (2012)

One of the four "sub-models" in the Devastator set, Hightower can be built as either a tracked crane or a robot, each with a working winch and wrecking ball. Hightower's parts can also be used with Drill Bit, Scavenger and Scrapper to build the super robot Devastator.

• Autobot Assault Devastator (2012)

The Toys"R"Us-exclusive version of the Devastator set has a Hightower indistinguishable from the normal version.

Movie Advanced Series

• Devastator (Gift set, 2014)

• ID number: AD13

Released as part of Takara's Movie Advanced Series Devastator set, Hightower is a redeco of the ROTF Legends Hightower to closely resemble his on-screen portrayal.

Studio Series

The framework for dinosaur animatronics everywhere.

• Constructicon Hightower (Deluxe Class, 2019)

• Movie: Revenge of the Fallen
• Hasbro ID number: 47
• TakaraTomy ID number: SS-37
• TakaraTomy release date: August 31, 2019
• Accessories: Crane boom, claw, "Pyramid Desert Battle" backdrop (2nd version)
• Known designers: Mike Booth (Hasbro), Shogo Hasui (TakaraTomy)

Released to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Revenge of the Fallen, Studio Series Constructicon Hightower is a Deluxe-sized mold that transforms from a grabber-equipped truss crane into a bestial robot mode partially based on a piece of concept art. He comes with a cardboard backdrop display depicting Operation: Firestorm.

Hightower can be combined with the rest of the Studio Series Constructicons to form Devastator, joining Scrapmetal as the left arm. His claw also detaches and connects to his neck to serve as a thumb for the combined mode.

Due to his unique design, Hightower comes mistransformed and partially disassembled to fit in his package. His crane boom, which comes detached in the packaging, attaches via a 5 mm post.

Like the majority of the Studio Series Constructicons, he lacks a Decepticon symbol.

• Devastator (Gift set, 2020)

• Movie: Revenge of the Fallen
• ID number: 69

This boxset contains 8 of the Studio Series Constructicons seen in the Revenge of the Fallen film. In order to keep Devastator accurate to his on-screen appearance, Skipjack is included in the set, completely omitting Rampage, as he was busy elsewhere.

This release of Hightower features little to no difference to the release mentioned above.

The gift set first saw release in Thailand without any announcement from Hasbro, with it later being officially revealed on the October 16th Fan First Friday.

Merchandise

Burger King

Who wants some butter?

• Devastator (2009)

An extremely-simplified version of Hightower's vehicle mode is included as part of Burger King Devastator. Though his ball socket is compatible with any of Devastator's limb connections, it's marked with a B to indicate he forms Devastator's left arm. Hightower seems to be the least movie accurate of the four limb

Notes

The initial concept art revealed, which was not translated into a toy.

• Like fellow Constructicon Overload, Hightower had a robot mode designed for him at the concept stage, but he never transformed into robot mode in the movie itself, and indeed, artists for licensed work such as IDW Publishing's Revenge of the Fallen comic adaptation were unaware that he even had a robot mode. All the references they were provided with simply listed the Truss crane as having "no robot mode".
• On November 6 to November 8, 2009, a second piece of concept art of Hightower similar to his Legends toy (with small T. rex arms and a claw on his tail) was displayed at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia to promote the DVD release of Revenge of the Fallen.^[1]

Foreign names

• Japanese: Hightower (ハイタワー Haitawā)

References