Astrotrain
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Astrotrain (Triplex 1 in Italy) is the name of a fictional character in the Transformers universes.
Transformers: Generation One (1986)
| Transformers character | |
 | |
| Astrotrain | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance | Decepticon (Destron) |
| Sub-Group | Triple Changer |
| Function | Military Transport |
| Motto | "In confusion, there is opportunity." |
| Alternate Modes | Locomotive / Space Shuttle |
| Comic Appearances: | Marvel, Dreamwave, IDW |
| Cartoon Appearances: | Sunbow Productions |
| Voiced by: | Jack Angel (English) Takuro Kitagawa (Japanese) |
Toy [Gallery (Hasbro)] [Gallery (Takara)]
Originally a Diaclone mold; in Transformers, Astrotrain appeared in three different color schemes. The Hasbro version was colored light grey, purple, and black. The Takara version being white and black which was later reissued in Japan during 2004. Also during 2004, eHobby offered a dark grey and purple "anime-accurate" color scheme as shown in the cartoon and box artwork.
Bio
(From Dreamwave's More Than Meets The Eye Profile Book)
Astrotrain revels in the confusion he is able to cause as a Triple Changer. Flashing between robot, locomotive, and space shuttle modes almost instantaneously, he is an expert at picking out the moment of utter perplexity in his opponent's eyes. It's at that moment that Astrotrain strikes without mercy. The fact that Astrotrain's prey don't have any idea what hit them is particularly pleasing to the murderous Decepticon. The idea that his victim's last thoughts were a tangle of fear and panic keeps Astrotrain happy when performing his more mundane tasks, such as transport between battles.
Based on his actions during Transformers: The Movie, we can tell that Astrotrain is not an ambitious character. After Megatron's injury and subsequent ousting from the Decepticon community, Astrotrain was in the perfect position to assert himself as the new Decepticon leader, but did not seize the opportunity. In particular, the question of leadership took place while all of the Decepticons were riding inside of Astrotrain's shuttle mode. He could easily have asserted himself as leader by threatening to transform and crush them all if they did not submit to him. By choosing not to do so, Astrotrain was condemned to be a follower for the rest of his existence.
Astrotrain is one of the first Decepticons modified by Shockwave into a Triple Changer. Able to change between three alternate modes at almost twice the speed of the average Transformer. In train mode, has maximum speed of 400 miles per hour, range of 1,700 miles. In shuttle mode, expands his size and cargo bay area by shifting his parts further out and creating more empty space, allowing him to carry several Transformers within him. On his own power, Astrotrain can reach escape velocity, traveling at 20,000 miles per hour in orbit and 50,000 miles per hour in space. With sufficient Energon, capable of interstellar flight. In robot mode, he uses an ionic displacer rifle that can permamently destroy circuitry. Due to the tight compression of his parts when in robot mode, he has great physical strength.
Astrotrain exhibits no known physical weaknesses.
| TECH SPECS | Strength | Intelligence | Speed | Endurance | Rank | Courage | Firepower | Skill |
| Generation One | | | | | | | | |
Television Series/Movie
Astrotrain first appeared in season 2. Part of Megatron's forces on Earth, Astrotrain would not be very important in the scheme of things, excepting one incident where he and Blitzwing froze Megatron and Starscream and took leadership of the Decepticons for themselves. They ended up defeated and forced to return command to Megatron - at gunpoint. He was present at the Battle of Autobot City but was not wounded. He transported the defeated Decepticons back to Cybertron. He would continue to make sporadic appearances throughout season 3.
Marvel comics
Astrotrain would first appear in the Transformers comics in US Issue 29. Sent to Earth along with Blitzwing and Octane to retrieve a crashed shuttle which was carrying fuel for one of Ratbat's operations. However the shuttle was infected with Scraplets, a plague of sentient micro-robots that ate metal and the dying pilot then accidentally infected them. After battling with Blaster and Goldbug they became infected as well. Goldbug eventually found the cure - water, but Blaster refused to let Goldbug spray them, reluctant to save the Decepticons. The Scaplets took matters out of his hands, however, and formed into one huge creature. Options spent, Goldbug cured all four Transformers and let the heavily-armed Decepticons deal with it. The three Triple-Changers then escaped with the cargo.With the influx of new toys, like Headmasters,Targetmasters and Pretenders, older Decepticons like Astrotrain appeared less. He was part of Ratbat's forces, battling Scorponok's Decepticons and then the Autobots. He was then deactivated by the Underbase-powered Starscream and did not appear again in the U.S comics, although he appeared in the Earthforce stories as part of the Decepticons of Megatron and Shockwave's forces, in one notable instance leaving Octane to be blasted by the U.S army after it was revealed he had simply been chasing a car out of sheer spite - unaware that the car was actually Jazz.
Dreamwave Comics
The Triple-Changers would appear again in Dreamwave's reiterpretation of the Generation One Universe - this time with a greatly expanded origin. Astrotrain would first appear as part of Starscream's Predacon faction. Later, during the Civil War on Cybertron Shockwave envisioned a Transformer with multiple alternate modes, studying Astrotrain and Blitzwing. However, the Great Shutdown meant his plans could go no further - until Unicron's servant Scourge located Cybertron and reactivated him for study. But when Shockwave was attacked by Sharkticons Scourge saved him, only to be shot in the back by Shockwave. Shockwave then proceeded to examine and study him, using the secrets gleaned to create first the Duocons and then the Triple-Changers - Astrotrain, Blitzwing, Octane and at least two others - appearing to be the Autobots Sandstorm and Broadside (interestingly, in the Micromasters mini-series by Dreamwave, Blitzwing and Astrotrain are suffering from severe physical changes. As this is before the Great Shutdown this might imply that the change was a natural one rather than a result of experiments). The Triple-Changers then served as Shockwave's bodyguard, accompanying him to Earth to capture Optimus Prime and Megatron's troops, with Blitzwing taking down Megatron, leaving him vulnerable for a follow-up attack by Shockwave. They were unable to prevent him from being stopped by Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus back on Cybertron, but Astrotrain and Blitzwing accompanied Shockwave on his exile in the wastes of Cybertron, where his experiments resulted in Sixshot. However, the arrival of Megatron and the Predacons resulted in Shockwave having his arm severed by Megatron. The rest of Shockwave's troops surrendered, including Astrotrain, although Blitzwing was killed by Razorclaw.
IDW Comics
Astrotrain will also apparently be appearing in the mini-series Evolution: Hearts of Steel. According to early designs Astrotrain will be reconfigured as a steam train with a third flying train mode. http://idwpublishing.com/titles/transformers/hos.shtml
Transformers Club (2006)
The cancelled [[Transformers: Universe]] toy Spacewarp (a repaint of [[Transformers: Armada]] Jetfire) finally gets released as a club store exclusive under the name Astrotrain, with some slight color alterations and a different head. The new head is based on a design by artist Dan Khanna and resembles the head of the original G1 Astrotrain. The character is not related to the original Astrotrain and appears in the [[Transformers: Cybertron]] series. Astrotrain's Mini-Con is a repaint of the Mini-Con Comettor; the identity is as yet unknown and should be unveiled shortly.
Bio
''(From [Transformers Collectors Club] front page)
From the far reaches of space comes a deadly new foe on the side of evil. Loyal to no one but himself, this insidious bounty hunter has joined the Decepticons to further his own power. Armed with a vast array of weaponry including his powerful Ionic Pulse Blaster, he and his loyal following tear through space as he transports Decepticons and Mini-Cons on their galactic hunt for the mythical Cyber Planet Keys. As a force to be reckoned with, no Autobot is safe as long as this Decepticon warrior is loose!
Transformers: Classics (2006)
A prototype of the upcoming Transformers Classics Astrotrain toy was made available on the Internet during early 2006. As before, he is still a triple changer; his space shuttle mode being sleeker and his train mode now resembles a bullet train. Pictures of the robot and shuttle modes may be seen on the Hasbro web site [link]. The colour scheme is mostly white, with some blue and red decoration. His bio is as follows:ASTROTRAIN thrives on panic and fear. Though he is mainly used as a transport vehicle for moving warriors and supplies, he only truly feels at home pounding AUTOBOT® warriors into scrap metal. His ionic displacer rifle can scramble AUTOBOT sensors, causing confusion in the enemy ranks, and his huge bulk casts a terrifying shadow across a battlefield. Those AUTOBOTS® who survive a fight with ASTROTRAIN often need only hear the echoing boom of his engines in the distance to once again quake in fear.
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