Magnificus (G1)

Magnificus is a Decepticon from the Generation 1 continuity family.

"And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next."

Magnificus (マグニフィカス Magunifikasu) is a former Decepticon military consul of Mebion, wrongly ousted by his rivals. Sent into pit-fighting arenas, Magnificus has developed an incredible level of fighting skill.

He has teamed with Ga'mede, a kindred spirit whom he rescued from a death at the hands of betrayers himself, and together they wreak a terrible revenge on those who wronged them. The two have amassed an impressive arsenal of destructive weapons over the course of numerous campaigns. But his most impressive piece of technology is undoubtedly his matter-enlarging scope, capable of actually pulling microscopic objects through it and increasing their size once they come out the other end, the very tool that enabled him to save Ga'mede's life.

Fiction

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

Probably not a Headmaster.

A black Perceptor was one of several clones created by Shockwave in the same program that produced Sunstorm. While in a tube, he was discovered by the Battlechargers, who released Sunstorm. The laboratory the clones were stored in was soon destroyed by Sunstorm. Night of the Combaticons Prowl viewed a recorded image of the clone during his investigation of Shockwave's cloning experiments. The Omega Effect

Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

e-HOBBY

Magnificus was the Decepticon Military Consul at the base known as Mebion. He was framed for unknown crimes by his own command staff and exiled to a remote region of space as a gladiator. Magnificus's ability to summon items from microscopic size somehow linked him to a microverse, inadvertently extracting Ga'mede of the royal family of Xeptos into the macroverse. Magnificus had accidentally rescued Ga'Mede from circumstances very similar to his own, and together the pair became strong allies working to survive together.^[1]

In the year 2034 in Iron Town, Magnificus and Ga'mede were attacked by the Decepticon bounty hunter Oilmaster. The Decepticon outlaw dispatched Oilmaster's shell with a Mebian warhead, before being saved from the inner robot by "Hawk". He offered Magnificus employment in a different band of Decepticons, led by Scrash. Badlands

Legends comic

In 2040, Magnificus and Hawk located Scrash, who years ago had been trapped in the body of Assaultmaster. Scrash accepted the Decepticon Skyquake as his new host, and the three prepared to tear down the Cybertron Alliance. Before they could escape, however, they were confronted by the united team of Optimus Prime and Megatron themselves! Epiloge

Selects bio

At some point, Magnificus travelled to the Legacy World in search for Ga'mede. Magnificus bio

Wings Universe

"At my signal, unleash gorillas!"

Magnificus was part of the joint Autobot/Decepticon resistance on Cybertron against Jhiaxus's Cybertronian clone army. He was stationed at Uraya under the command of Backstreet. However, the city fell under attack and the troops were forced to evacuate the city. Termination Regrouping, Magnificus and other Decepticons were part of the successful battle against the Cybertronians. Magnificus in particular carried around a miniaturized Oilmaster, who he enlarged once they hit the battlefield. A Common Foe

Toys

Collector's Edition

Master of dark science oooOOOOooo

• Magnificus & Ga'Mede (2-pack, 2005)

• ID number: 68
• Accessories: "Ion Rifle", "Spear Gun" missile launcher, 3 missiles

Collector's Edition Magnificus is an e-HOBBY exclusive redeco of the original Perceptor toy, using the color scheme of the mold's original pre-Transformers release from Micro Change. He transforms into a "working" microscope, though his magnification rate is, uh, not great. Nor is the lens very clear. He can also transform into a sorta-tank that Microman figures, like his partner Ga'mede, can ride (albeit not very securely).

His hand-held spring-loaded missile launcher weapon is fully functional, thanks to different safety standards for projectile launchers in Japan as compared to the US.

He came in a two-pack with Ga'mede, which shipped to buyers in July 2005.

This toy was later repurposed as Shattered Glass Perceptor. This mold also served as the model for the comic-only character Chairman.

• More information on Magnificus at TFU.info

Generations (Japan)

• Magnificus (September 2013)

Generations Magnificus is an e-HOBBY-exclusive redeco of Reveal the Shield Deluxe Class Perceptor in black, silver, and red, using the tooling's pre-existing alternate head. He transforms into a generic "scientific expedition" vehicle with the front half resembling a modern off-road vehicle similar to a Land Rover Defender or a Jeep Commander, while the rear section features treads instead of wheels, making it a half-track vehicle. The light rack on top of Magnificus's truck mode can also be turned into a small microscope in a nod to his original toy's alt mode, and his chest door can open. His hands are compatible with 5 mm posts, such as the ones on the guns of his original toy.

Preorders from e-HOBBY were open from March 26 to May 8, 2013, and Magnificus shipped in September.

The toy was also available for sale through the Transformers Collectors' Club website.

• More information on Generations Magnificus at TFU.info

Generations Selects

The first Studio Series mold used in Gen Selects... and it's Magnificent.

• Magnificus (Deluxe Class, 2023)

• TakaraTomy name: Magnificus (マグニフィカス)
• TakaraTomy release date: 2023 May 27
• Accessories: Gun
• Known designers: Evan Brooks^[2]

A Generations Selects add on for Legacy: Evolution, this rendition of Magnificus is a redeco using the alternate head tooling of Studio Series Perceptor. The body sculpting is heavily based on Perceptor's animation model, with the toy-based addition of the tank-treads on the backs of his legs. He transforms into both a microscope and a goofy mortar cannon mode.

While both ends of his scope are fitted with translucent plastic "lenses", it does not have any actual functionality as a microscope unlike the original. He comes with a modestly-sized blaster which can be pegged into the side of his scope/cannon in either alternate mode.

Early listings showed that he was a Target exclusive, but he would go on to be revealed as a standard Generations Selects release. Magnificus was released as a TakaraTomy Mall exclusive in Japan.

• Machine translation of Generations Selects Magnificus's TakaraTomy bio

Merchandise

Transformers Character Card

• Magnificus & Eagle Eye Set (August 14, 2023)
  • ID number: 53 & 54

Released as part of the eighth wave of the e-HOBBY exclusive Transformers Character Card series, this pair of holographic trading cards depict super-deformed art of Magnificus and Eagle Eye along with character profiles and tech specs.

• Translation of Magnificus's Transformers Character Card

Notes

• Magnificus's coloration is based on the mold's original pre-Transformers Microman colors. This toy was designed to work with the then-current Microman figures. The set of Magnificus and Ga'mede is a celebration of Transformers and Microman's shared history with Takara.
• His backstory is strongly evocative of the 2000 film Gladiator, about a military general who is wrongly accused of crimes and sold into slavery where he becomes an accomplished pit fighter. Oh, and he was named Maximus in case you still haven't seen the movie.

References