Predacon (G1)
From Transformers Wiki
| The name or term "Predacon" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Predacon (disambiguation). |
- The Predacons are a Decepticon subgroup from the Generation 1 continuity family.
The Predacons are a subgroup of Decepticons who transform into powerful, savage animals.
The subgroup is composed of:
- The ever-patient Razorclaw (leader)
- The cheerful Divebomb
- The stubborn Headstrong
- The easily distracted Rampage
- The wrathful Tantrum
They combine to form the deadly Predaking.
The group also may include:
They are also the namesake of these Predacons.
Contents |
Fiction
Generation 1 cartoon continuity
The Transformers cartoon
At the behest of the Quintessons, nominally allied with the Decepticons, the Predacons were sent to Jupiter's moon Io to retrieve Metroplex's Transformation Cog from Blurr, Wheelie, and Sky Lynx. Oddly, despite being constantly touted as the most fearsome and vicious warriors in the galaxy, the Predacons were beaten off fairly easily by this small band of Autobots, unable even harm their human ally Marissa Faireborn. The terrifying Predaking proved a bit more of a challenge, but was soon dispatched by Sky Lynx. The separated Predacons fell back in disarray as the Autobots made their escape. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5
The Predacons later served directly under Galvatron. The Predacons appeared in many of Galvatron's schemes in the ensuing year, ranging from oppressing the people of Paradron, Fight or Flee to mining death crystals on the planet Dread, where they got their first rematch with Sky Lynx. Though they proved effective in the planet's jungle environments, and managed to knock Sky Lynx out of the battle, they were unable to stop Kup from commandeering Galvatron's death crystal cannon. Chaos.
They also found themselves ensnared in a bizarre dream-fueled world as part of a Quintesson plot, forcing them to cooperate - or at least tolerate - the Autobots trapped there with them. Nightmare Planet
Ghost in the Machine The Quintesson Journal
The Predacons were part of a large Decepticon squad fighting Autobots on the Moon, when a voice from space called them away. Abandoning the battle, the Predacons and a variety of other bestial Transformers boarded Trypticon and rocketed off into space to answer the call. Along the way, the Predacons stirred up some trouble and had a brawl with the Dinobots. Arriving on an ancient world, they learned that the creator of Unicron had unleashed a new all-destroying energy creature... which soon arrived and attacked. Razorclaw ordered the assembled Transformers to split up to evade the creature, but later the Predacons decided it would be better to make a stand instead of running. Merging in to Predaking, they fearlessly faced their foe, but were quickly dispatched. Call of the Primitives
The Predacons were among the many Transformers were infected by the Hate Plague - Headstrong got it from Brawl, and soon spread it to Razorclaw. Later, having formed Predaking, they were moments from destroying the still-healthy Galvatron when they were quickly shooed away by some passing Autobots. The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1 Back on Earth, the separated Predacons were among a group of infected Transformers who broke into Autobot City and were on the verge of destroying the inert Optimus Prime when the Autobot leader awoke and used the Matrix of Leadership's energies to cure them all. The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2
Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity
Transformers 2010 story pages
The Predacons were built through cooperation between the Decepticons and the Quintessons. Though they work for the Decepticons, they are commanded by the Quintessons. Part 3 and Part 4
Legends comic
The Predacons were created by the Quintessons. As this was done without Vector Sigma, the Predacons did not achieve the same intelligence as other Transformers. The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 3
The Headmasters cartoon
Zone cartoon, manga, and story pages
Seeking to create a Decepticon Zone to counter the Autobot Zone, Decepticon Emperor Violengiguar gathered together the Nine Great Demon Generals, upgrading them with powerful new armor and weaponry, then sent them forth to conquer planets. The Predacons were among the selected, but only in the form of Predaking. Zone Part 1 Zone Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!
Generations Selects Special Comic
After escaping from their temporal prison to Dinobot Island, the Quintessons used the Recreator to resurrect Predaking in a new and larger form to subdue the Dinobots. The Dinobots were able to form a counterpart combiner in Volcanicus and split Predaking into his components. The Predacons fled quickly afterwards. Volcanicus comic 1
Wings Universe
Splitting off from the Decepticons in the wake of the Pax Cybertronia, the Predacons formed their own faction, supplementing their forces with Transformers from stasis pods which Sky-Byte pilfered from Jhiaxus's secondary laboratory. A Common Foe
Marvel Comics continuity
Summoned to Earth by Megatron to help him hunt down and destroy an isolated and vulnerable Optimus Prime, the Predacons travelled across the space bridge and (after showing off their skills by doing some target shooting on Motormaster) were quickly approved of by their new employer. Before leaving on their mission, however, they were approached by Shockwave, who convinced them to turn on Megatron and destroy him instead. Their attempt at treachery would result in both Megatron and Optimus being transported to Cybertron and believed dead by their respective teams for some time. Prey!
Shockwave, who was seeking to rid himself of an addled and insane Megatron (driven mad by the recent death of Optimus Prime), contacted the Predacons and hired them to ambush and kill the Decepticon leader. (It was explained to the Predacons, who were understandably concerned about having to deal with Megatron yet again, that their target had recently lost his memory, and thus would not recall meeting them before, or their subsequent betrayal of him.) The Predacons eagerly agreed to the mission, seeing it as a possible challenge for their skills, and disguised themselves as Autobots in order to convince Megatron that Optimus Prime was not only still alive, but had been the one who sent them. Gone but Not Forgotten!
Deciding to stay on Earth, the Predacons quickly grew bored with the lack of any real sport there. Their previous encounters with Optimus and Megatron had been so exciting that they had expected to find the planet a little more challenging. While rampaging randomly across the country, they soon encountered the Dinobots, and found them to be worthy opponents. Both teams were closely matched in terms of power, and were strongly devoted to "looking after their own". Furthermore, it was revealed that Divebomb and Swoop were actually old enemies from their days back on Cybertron. As the battle ended, the Predacons looked forward to causing their new rivals no end of trouble in the future. Grudge Match!
New Decepticon leader Ratbat dispatched the Predacons to raid a chemical storage facility outside of Huntsville, Alabama for rocket fuel. Having succeeded, they joined Ratbat for an assault on I.I.I.'s Oregon headquarters, in order to examine the corpses of the Throttlebots, whom Triple-I had recently executed. After making short work of the RAAT forces guarding the base, they located the crushed Autobot bodies, only to find that their brain modules had been removed. Ratbat and the Predacons tracked the brains (which had been transplanted into toy cars) to Witwicky Auto Repair, which they destroyed, and then to a local mall, where they were out manoeuvered and defeated by the "toy soldiers" and their human allies, Buster Witwicky and Walter Barnett. Toy Soldiers!
Under Ratbat's command, the Predacons participated in the full-scale attack against the Autobots on the moon, Totaled! as well as two major battles in the Arctic, facing both Scorponok's Decepticons and later the Autobots who had been lured there in a trap. Shortly after, the Predacons were part of the combined Autobot-Decepticon team to stop the Underbase-fueled Starscream from destroying Tokyo, but were easily destroyed by him. Dark Star
Earthforce
Razorclaw and Rampage were on a reconnaissance mission for Shockwave when they found Grimlock, right at the moment he found out he had been the victim of an April Fools' Day joke. They laughed. That was stupid of them. Snow Fun! Grimlock's warning that there were Predacons in the area fresh in his head, Skydive assumed that they were responsible for the disappearance of Wheeljack. Mystery!
When Megatron and Shockwave attempted to reunite their disparate forces, the Predacons attended the Enclave. It didn't end harmoniously thanks to the intervention of the Earthforce. The Bad Guy's Ball! Later, they attacked the Earthbase under Soundwave's command, but were driven off. Divide and Conquer!
Dreamwave Generation One continuity
Eons ago, the Predacons were Decepticon warlords who had been banished from Cybertron to the planet Beest. While on the planet, the Predacons' higher functions degraded, causing them to become feral. Megatron tracked down the exiled Predacons on Beest and, with the aid of three members of the Aerospace Extermination Squadron, subdued and rebuilt them, allowing them to combine into the fearsome Predaking. Welcome to the Jungle
Their first target was Shockwave's base on Cybertronian Wastelands, where the Predacons drew out and attacked Astrotrain and Blitzwing, killing the latter. Before Shockwave could properly react to this turn of events the Predacons had taken over the base and subdued the rest of his troops. Lost and Found
Later, Megatron returned to Earth, and entered the Nemesis to punish Starscream for shooting him in the void of space. War and Peace The Predacons were sent to fight Starscream's elite squad, the Combaticons, while the latter were training on the island of Guadalcanal. Predaking's firepower forced the Combaticons to combine into Bruticus, and the warriors significantly damaged each other. However, while Bruticus was strong and determined, Predaking had superior intelligence compared to the slow-witted Combaticon combiner, and he savagely defeated Bruticus, putting him in stasis lock. The Route of All Evil
G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers
Divebomb was among Shockwave's troops as they waited patiently for Ultra Magnus's force field around Teletran 3 to dissipate. G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #2
Following the defeat of Shockwave, the Predacons were forced to live in the Gladiator Zone, where they created their own territory and were none too pleased with Nautilator intruding on it. When the Seacon joined with his comrades to form Piranacon, the Predacons formed Predaking and fought him. Predaking came out on top, but before he could finish the Seacons off, he was stopped by Serpent O.R., who told both subgroups that he was the offspring of Megatron. The Art of War #2
Joining Serpent O.R.'s new Decepticon army, the Predacons helped capture a group of Autobots and G.I. Joes and argued with the Terrorcons during a meeting. As Predaking, they later attacked an Autobot peace ceremony and took out Omega Supreme. The Art of War #3 He spent the rest of the battle hunting down innocent civilians before returning to the Decepticon headquarters, where Divebomb and Rampage failed to notice that their former prisoners were sneaking up on them. Meanwhile, Tantrum and Headstrong were among the Decepticons preparing to defend their base from a major Autobot/G.I. Joe assault. The Art of War #4 Alongside several other subgroup leaders, Razorclaw protected Serpent O.R. from a furious Optimus Prime, but was killed when Cobra Commander took control of Serpent O.R.'s body. The Art of War #5
Dawn of Future's Past
After the end of the Great War, the Decepticon army was no more, so Razorclaw formed the greater Predacon faction to continue the battle against the Autobots. However, the Tripredacus Council ended Razorclaw's life, or so many believed. Timelines Razorclaw bio By the era of Maximals and Predacons, Divebomb was still active and had recruited several ex-Decepticons for the Predacons.
Some time after the Great Transformation, Razorclaw returned as leader of the original Predacons. They swore revenge against the Maximals. Dawn of Future's Past
2005 IDW continuity
Before the war, the Predacons were trained in the arts of combat by Kup. The Iron Klaw They soon found their calling in the underground gladiatorial pit fights that dominated the Cybertronian underworld; though they quickly climbed the ranks thanks to their fighting techniques, they remained wary of the powerful Dynobots. Megatron Origin #3 Like many gladiators, they joined Megatron's budding Decepticon faction during the uprising against the Senate. Megatron Origin #4
When Megatron was overthrown by Scorponok early in the war, the Predacons refused to serve a new leader and left Cybertron on a hunting trip, killing native species for sport across many worlds before they ran out of prey and fuel on Canis Tor. They then turned on each other, but before they could get to cannibalizing their own teammates, Starscream showed up and let them know Megatron had returned. Primacy #2 The Predacons rejoined the Decepticon army and participated in an assault on Iacon, where they killed Slinger and battled the Dynobots. Primacy #4
During the war, the Predacons became a Tactical Assault Unit loyal to Megatron. Shockwave prepared himself for a possible Predacon attack while enacting the Regenesis project, and was caught off-guard when he was instead attacked by the Dynobots. Spotlight: Shockwave At some point, the Predacons attempted to modify themselves into a combiner team, but failed. The Iron Klaw
After the Battle of Thunderhead Pass, Razorclaw was involved in a Decepticon scheme to demoralize the Autobots and claim as much of their territory on the planet as possible. Soundwave used Bombshell to subvert the will of Beachcomber, forcing the Autobot to make an assassination attempt on Blaster, "The Voice" of the Autobot cause. And so, just as the Autobot forces were gathering around their transmitters, waiting for the pre-scheduled broadcast that would never come, Razorclaw caught them off-guard with a massive full-frontal assault on the enemy trenches. Besides his Predacons, he led Darkwing, Dreadwind, Needlenose, Spinister, and even the mighty Trypticon himself into battle. Although details are slim, this offensive was apparently a major blow to the Autobot cause. Spotlight: Blaster
At one point on Cybertron, the Predacons hunted down and killed two squads of Autobots, leaving Tracks and Jazz the only survivors. Between the two, they managed to defeat four out of the five Predacons, but Razorclaw got the better of Jazz in a one-on-one battle and was about to execute him when Autobot reinforcements arrived and forced him to back off. Spotlight: Jazz
After Thunderwing's reactivation and subsequent return to Cybertron, the Predacons were dispatched to ensure that his defeat was final this time, with Megatron giving Razorclaw explicit instructions: if Cybertron must die, then so be it. Razorclaw started a countdown on an orbital bombardment powerful enough to destroy Cybertron, but stood at the console with his finger on the button, ready to cancel it in the event that Thunderwing was defeated. He remarked that he was hesitant to destroy Cybertron unless it was absolutely necessary, but was willing to do it if it was. During the Autobots' battle with Thunderwing, Razorclaw sent two assault teams under Divebomb and Headstrong to assist the Autobots, but ordered them to retreat when Thunderwing revealed his "ultra-mode". Razorclaw cancelled the countdown with one second remaining after Optimus Prime defeated Thunderwing. Stormbringer #4
Following Megatron's defeat on Earth, Starscream took leadership but feared that Razorclaw would challenge him. Uneasy Lies the Head This did not happen, as two years later, Razorclaw was overseeing the hundreds of Decepticons gathered on a desolate planetoid somewhere, rather enjoying it when they turned to cannibalism. All His Engines The other four Predacons were left behind on Earth, where they formed an alliance with the Chinese government to defend their nation in exchange for energon. Hawk Among the Sparrows Led by Rampage, they clashed with the Autobots (allied with Skywatch) and Combaticons (allied with North Korea), but ultimately the Chinese energon factories were destroyed, and the Predacons saw no need to stick around any further. All My Sins Remembered As for Razorclaw, he tried to defend the Decepticon base from Hot Rod only to fall victim to a cerebro-shell and forced to turn on Starscream. Heart Like a Wheel
After the war against D-Void, the Predacons were reunited on Cybertron, where they were imprisoned by the Autobots and fitted with I/D chips. The Autonomy Lesson Like most Decepticons, they went on a riot when Megatron returned. City on Fire They were among the disenfranchised Decepticons on Cybertron who joined up with Galvatron when he took leadership of the faction and swore to conquer Earth. However, Galvatron's troops were defeated in Shanghai in a three way war between them, the Autobots and the Chinese military. Once Upon a Time on Earth
Remaining on Earth, the Predacons fell into the employ of the villainous human "Iron Klaw", who used Garrison Kreiger's technology to forcibly brainwash them into loyal soldiers. He also improved on their botched combiner technology, allowing them to form Predaking. As Predaking, they were deployed to defend Iron Klaw's castle from an infiltration by Kup, Mayday, and Action Man, but separated when Snake Eyes smashed the machinery keeping them brainwashed. While the team was left confused, Razorclaw attempted to take revenge by killing any nearby humans and was in turn shot in the head by Kup. The Iron Klaw
Despite this seeming setback, the Predacons, including Razorclaw, returned to duty during Unicron's attack on Earth, forming Predaking to defend Venice from Maximal invasion. Ceremony
Games
Transformers Roleplaying Game
The Predacons were a team of elite trackers and hunters who preferred to stay in their beast modes. Decepticon Directive
Toys
The Transformers
- The Predacons were sold boxed in 1986 and 1987. They are by far the largest combining team of the G1 toyline, as all five members are the same comparatively large size. They share a unified color scheme of red, orange, yellow, gray and black. Each transforms from a robot armed with a sword and handgun to a chunky mechanical animal; the five toys combine together to form Predaking. Some of Predaking's add-on kibble is used by his individual components as weaponry.
- In late 2004, the Predaking giftset was reissued in Japan to much rejoicing of people who could not afford the after market prices on a vintage piece. This reissue used metal parts, and the pieces that were originally soft plastic were now hard plastic.
- Gnaw (Decepticon, 1986)
- For some reason, Gnaw was considered an Animatron in Japan. This toy was not available as part of the normal retail assortment, despite its semi-prominent fictional appearance. At first, it was a promotional item as part of a Beastformers giveaway. It was later made available in limited quantities, seemingly in U.S. packaging, as a mail-away during 1988's Super-God Masterforce series.
Universe (2008)
- Special Team Leaders (Legends of Cybertron, 2008)
- Razorclaw
- Razorclaw is a redeco of the Cybertron Legends of Cybertron Leobreaker toy, transforming into a robotic lion. This mold was also used to make Classics Leo Prime.
Timelines
- Razorclaw (BotCon attendee figure, 2009)
- Razorclaw is a retool and redeco of Cybertron Leobreaker, featuring a new head. Razorclaw transforms into a mechanical lion. Each forelimb/arm has a Cyber-Key-released spring-loaded claw, and his tail becomes a blade-whip for robot mode. He can also transform into a massive clawed arm that can attach to the Leader-class Cybertron Optimus Prime and Megatron toys. Razorclaw came with a translucent Golden Disk Key.
- The original version of this mold was also used to make Nemesis Breaker and was separately retooled into Universe Leo Prime.
Transformers (2010)
- Released on November 27, 2010 as part of TakaraTomy's Welcome to Transformers 2010 line, Predaking featured significant differences from the previous releases. His yellow plastic was replaced with gold plastic, most of which was painted over gold. The orange, red, black, and gray plastic was replaced with metallic fleck equivalents. Nearly every sticker has been redesigned from the original, and an optional label sheet to be applied to the robot, beast, and combined mode eyes has been included.
Kre-O
- Predaking (Micro-Changer Combiner, 2013)
- Set number: A2227
- Pieces: 79
- One of the first Kreon Micro-Changer combiner sets. The four component Kreons, Razorclaw, Headlock, Torox, and Divebomb, can be rebuilt into their alternate modes. They can also be rebuilt into Predaking by taking them apart and combining their pieces.
- Decepticon Rampage (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2013)
- Collection: 1
- Bag number: 22851 45
- Accessories: Logo brick, 2 small pistols, blade
- Part of the first normal wave of Micro-Changer Kreons, Rampage is a blindpacked-bagged mini-figure, though a stamped ID number can be found on the back of the bag, top-right corner. He comes with extra parts to convert him into a tiger (we guess), including a new generic beast-like head piece.
Platinum Edition
- Predaking (Gift set, 2014)
- This reissue of Predaking is similar to the 2010 release, complete with die-cast metal parts and the five sheets of labels from the 2010 release. Different this time, though, is Predaking's sword being reused from Beast Hunters Voyager Class Optimus Prime's Star Saber.
Power of the Primes
- Predaking (Titan Class, 2018)
- TakaraTomy ID number: PP-31
- Known designers: John Warden and Lynsey Urban (Hasbro), Robby Musso (concept artist)
- Power of the Primes Predaking is a Titan Class Combiner set comprising five Voyager-sized figures: Razorclaw, Torox (a renamed Tantrum due to trademark availability issues), Rampage, Headstrong, and Divebomb. He also comes with the Onyx Matrix, containing Onyx Prime, a Prime Master. The Matrix can be attached inside Predaking's chest, under Razorclaw's beast head.
Merchandise
Forms Robo
- Predaking (1987)
- Predaking was also among the ten characters who were rendered as part of the Forms Robo line of oversized keshigomu figures. He came individually packaged in a plastic baggie, and was available in red, yellow, green, or blue. Of the various Forms Robo figures, Predaking is easily the hardest to find, rarely appearing on the secondary market.
Titanium Series
- Predaking (3" Robot Masters, 2006)
- As part of the Titanium series 3" line, Predaking is constructed of mostly die-cast metal and plastic parts, but cannot transform and has very limited articulation. His sculpt and colour scheme is based upon the original G1 toy, but has Rampage and Divebomb occupying each other's positions, like the cartoon and comic model.
Robot Heroes
- Ricochet & Predaking (Robot Heroes, 2009)
- Robot Heroes Predaking is a small, super deformed and absolutely adorable figurine with articulated shoulders. He was only available in a two-pack with Ricochet. While the United States release of this two-pack was been cancelled, it has been found in other markets such as Singapore, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
Notes
- The Predacons appear to be based on the Anibots, a group of five Autobots who appeared in an early version of the script for the 1986 movie. These Anibots had the same animal modes as the Predacons (with the minor difference of a leopard instead of a tiger), and would also have combined into a larger robot, albeit a robot dragon. Based on early internal model sheets that were offered on eBay in 2016, it would appear that they had their faction changed first, briefly going by the interim name "Anicons", before being given their final team name.[1]
- According to the 1986 vendor catalog, the gold plastic swords were originally intended to be gold chromed.
- In Japanese media, Gnaw is labeled an Animatron.
- Unlike the situation with the "dinosaur" Swoop, there tends to be little fandom discussion that two members of this team do not have predatory animals as alternate modes.
Foreign names
- Japanese: Animatron (アニマトロン Animatoron)
- French: Predacan (Europe, cartoon dub)
- Mandarin: Lüèshí Jīngāng (Taiwan, 掠食金剛, "Predator Vajra"), Jù Zhēngníng (China, 巨狰狞, "Giant Malevolent")
- Russian: Vredikon (Вредикон, "Hurtcon")
References
- ↑ Early model sheets at The Allspark.