Jetfire

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Jetfire is also a variety of miniature daffodil.

Jetfire (sometimes referred to as Skyfire, known in Italy as Aquila) is the name of several fictional characters from the Transformers universes. He is nearly always depicted as an Autobot with jet or space shuttle alternate mode.

Generation One

The American version of the original Generation 1 Jetfire toy was one of the best articulated of the first Transformer toys: it has fully poseable shoulder and hip and elbow and knee joints, and even poseable sacroiliac joints.

Swiftest Autobot. Daring in battle... believes victory will come via technological advancement. Adds twin scramjet modules and liquid hydrogen fuel tanks to escape Earth's gravity. Flies halfway around the world in 30 minutes. Carries 4 particle-beam cannons and heat-seeking photon missiles. Prone to mechanical failures due to advanced technology.

The early Generation 1 Transformers were drawn from pre-existing toylines. Jetfire was unique as his was the only toy licensed from Bandai - a VF-1S Super Valkyrie Fighter, itself a version of an identical toy that had earlier been issued by Takatoku before the company went bankrupt. Hasbro produced the toy in the US with a new colour scheme, new decals and even slight alterations with later editions to conform to US toy safety laws. His unique licensing situation led to legal problems when the accompanying Generation 1 animated series was exported to Japan. Hasbro's Japanese sister company Takara could not manufacture the toy, nor promote it through the animated series as the mold was owned by their competitor Bandai. Consequently, Jetfire's animation model was completely redesigned so as to no longer resemble the Valkyrie toy, and the cartoon character was renamed Skyfire. The redesigned animation model was used as the basis for the character in the Marvel comic book series, but the character still retained his original name of Jetfire.

It should be noted that in the original Transformers commercial that introduced Jetfire and Shockwave, Jetfire was called Jetfire and his animation model looked like the toy, but this commercial was only shown a few times before being pulled.

Jetfire only saw a few American production runs, as the show the original toy was based upon, The Super Dimension Fortress Macross, was exported to America to become the first third of Robotech. As with other pre-Robotech borrowings from Macross (for instance, Battletech), the licensing situation for the toy became murky with two different companies (Big West and Tatsunoko) asserting exclusive rights to license Macross merchandise in America. Due to these legal issues, Jetfire has not been amongst the Transformers toys reissued in the 21st century - a fate he shares with fellow Generation fan favourite Shockwave.

Animated Series

On Cybertron before the war, Skyfire was a scientist and explorer working with Starscream. Together they investigated an uncharted planet (Earth), where they failed to find any signs of intelligent life. Skyfire wished to scrutinise the planet further, and moving in close enough to the planet a polar wind storm swept him up and buried him beneath the arctic ice. Starscream searched for his friend, but was unable to locate him and returned to Cybertron alone.

About 6-million years later in 1984, the Decepticons excavated the frozen Skyfire while draining heat energy from the Earth's core and reactivated him. Reunited with his old friend, Starscream, Skyfire joined the Decepticon ranks. When the Autobots arrived, Skyfire engaged in battle with them, but then saved Sparkplug and Spike when they became stranded on an ice flow. Naively he took the two to Megatron under the impression he would not harm them, but when Megatron took them as prisoners, Skyfire started to question his allegiance. When Starscream ordered him to destroy the captured Autobot search party, he refused, and Starscream turned his weapons on him, leaving him heavily damaged. Repaired by Ratchet, he joined the Autobot side and engaged in a dogfight with Starscream which ended when he sacrificed himself to stop the core drain, burying himself in ice once again in the process.

A short time later, however, Skyfire was recovered by Wheeljack and Sideswipe and immediately participated in an attack on the Decepticons in Peru, where they were once again attempting to use the Earth's core energy for their own ends.

Skyfire made semi-regular appearances in the immediate future, usually when required to transport troops across large distances, but was eventually phased out of the show early in its second season, in accordance with the series bible's request that he not be used. His animation model did appear once more, in jet mode in the episode, "Dark Awakening," where he was destroyed - but it is not clear if this was intended to actually be Skyfire, or if it was a ship that simply reused his design. Despite being phased out of the series so soon, though, he remained one of the most popular characters.

Marvel Comics

Jetfire was constructed by Shockwave on Earth to be one of his new Decepticon troops, given life through the powers of the Creation Matrix, tapped from the captive Autobot leader, Optimus Prime. However, before Shockwave could accomplish this, Prime transferred the Matrix into the mind of the Autobots' human ally, Buster Witwicky. Shockwave programmed Jetfire's lifeless shell to recover Buster, but Buster was able to use the Matrix to disassemble Jetfire before he could accomplish his goal. He then reconstructed Jetfire and Optimus Prime bestowed life upon him, and Jetfire joined the Autobots, receiving the Rite of Autobrand (the formal induction into the Autobot ranks) once Optimus Prime had been rescued and the Decepticons routed.

Jetfire went on to make semi-regular appearances in both the US and UK Transformers titles.

Jetfire's last appearance in the US comic was in issue #50 when he was among the Transformers attacked and disabled by Starscream with power of the Underbase.

Dreamwave Comics

In Dreamwave's 21st century reimagining of the Generation 1 Universe Jetfire was friends with Starscream before the Great War started. As the war broke out, Jetfire was slow to choose an alliegance, eventually siding with the Autobots. His hesitance caused his Autobot allies to regard him with a certain degree of mistrust.

When Megatron and Optimus Prime disappeared in a spacebridge accident, the Autobot and Decepticon forces splintered into smaller factions. Jetfire stayed with the Autobots under the leadership of Prowl.

When Grimlock learned that Jetfire had arranged a meeting with the current Decepticon leader Shockwave, Grimlock suspected that Jetfire had betrayed the Autobots to the Decepticons (Transformers: The War Within - The Dark Ages #3).

Jetfire was among the Cybertronians who were kidnapped by the Fallen and used in an arcane ritual, but he was freed by Grimlock and helped defeat the Fallen.

When Optimus Prime and his crew on the Ark disappeared in space, Jetfire was part of a mission to find them, along with Omega Supreme, Countdown and Groundshaker. When the mission to find Optimus had two different possible star systems to follow, the mission split up. Omega and Jetfire investigated the Sol system. They were attacked by unknown forces on the planet Earth and were forced into emergency stasis lock until the early 21st century, when they were discovered and revived.

Jetfire then confronted the powerful and crazed Decepticon Sunstorm alongside Starscream and several Autobots.

IDW Comics

Jetfire and the Technobots will appear working together in the first issue of the upcoming IDW comic book series Stormbringer, due for release in July 2006.

Generation Two

Jetfire was released in 1995 as a smaller Cyberjet toy in Generation Two, a repaint of the Decepticon Hooligan.

Function: Air Guardian

Motto: "Among the mysteries of science lies the key to victory."

Bio: Daring risk taker with unparalleled speed. Maintains a passion for scientific research, believing that only through advancements in Autobot technology will victory be achieved. Swing-wing design, supersonic combustion modules and liquid hydrogen fuel tanks allow for a top speed of Mach 4.2. Armor-piercing missiles spell doom for Decepticons!

Generation 2 Jetfire did not appear in any media.

The character of

(Micron Legends)

First appearing in the episode Tactician. First Comic appearance Issue #10

Jetfire serves as Optimus Prime's 2nd in command. His cheerful disposition belies a cool, composed judgment that has saved his team from numerous predicaments.

Jetfire in the Armada comics lead a team of Autobots consisting of Blurr, Sideswipe, Rhinox, Overload as well as the Triple Changer Dropshot. This team squared off against an invading force of Unicron's Herolds in the World's Apart storyline. Jetfire defeated the Decepticon martial artist Bludgeon.

In the cartoon after fighting Nemisis Prime Jetfire and company are upgraded to his more powerful powerlinx versions.

In the comic series after being exposed to the Mini-Con Matrix on a different planet Jetfire was upgraded to Powerlinx Jetfire.

(Superlink)

Jetfire (Skyfire in Japan) 1serves as Optimus Prime's 2nd in command. His cheerful disposition belies a cool, composed judgment that has saved his team from numerous predicaments. He could power-link with Optimus to give his friend more power.

Ten years after Armada, Jetfire got an upgrade in his design and could power-link with other Autobots, usually Ironhide. During the final battle with Unicron, Jetfire was evolved into a super form by Primus.

Jetfire has a gold spark of combination and has two Mini-Con ports. More so than his previous Armada form, this Jetfire is a homage to Generation 1 Jetfire, with his red jet boosters resembling those from the original toy.

Jetfire's recolor was released Overcast in the US toy line, supposedly Jetfire's brother.

Dreamwave Comics

Transformers: Energon #22 - On Cybertron Optimus Prime gets the signal 4 hours later and gathers Hot Shot, Inferno, Jetfire and Ironhide. They all travel to Earth, but while in the space bridge Optimus is again spoken to by Megatron. As the Decepticons being to mine for energon the Autobots arrive. Although the Terrorcons initially seem more powerful than the Autobots, Optimus Prime is able to hold his own against Scorponok by going to super-mode. Rad and Alexis try to get away but are chased by Battle Ravage. During their escape they set off an explosion of the energon. With the energon gone, the Terrorcons leave. As the battle ends Prime hears Megatron's voice saying he is now ready.

Transformers: Energon #26 – Jetfire has to speak to the High Council. Although council member Leviticus does not wish to assign the Autobots more troops and energon on Earth, council member Avalon comes to Jetfire’s aid and convinces the council to do as asked.

Transformers: Energon #27 – A strike force is readied, including Beachcomber, Bulkhead, Cliffjumper, Downshift, Hoist, Landmine, Landquake, Prowl, Quickstrike, Red Alert, Rodimus, Scavenger, Thrust and Towline, lead by Jetfire. Perceptor also volunteers and they take the Space Bridge to Earth. Jetfire leads Bulkhead, Cliffjumper, Landquake, Perceptor and Tow Line to Los Angeles as the others travel to the other cities. On Cybertron council member Avalon schemes with Alpha Quintesson.

Transformers: Energon #28 – Hot Shot contacts Jetfire and they all agree they are loosing when suddenly Megatron appears above Toronto.

Transformers: Energon #29 – In Toronto the Autobots and Thrust are shocked to find the new Megatron helping them against the Divebomb clones. Divebomb and his clones fall back. Megatron turns back the Insecticon clones and tells Jetfire to look for Optimus Prime in the belly of the beast.

A repaint of Armada Jetfire packaged with repaints of the Space Mini-Con team was planned for the Transformers: Universe line as a Decepticon named Spacewarp, but was canceled before it was released.

In late April 2006

(Galaxy Force)

Jetfire is the sincere vice-commander who is very reliable. He is also a realist who clearly can advocate objections from a clear point of view to make difficult judgments & simultaneously manages the given command exactly when it is given. When they arrived on Earth, Jetfire was the one who proposed scanning vehicle modes so the Autobots would not attract attention from Earth's governments. Jetfire's main phobia is install shots, which are the Cybertronian equivalent of vaccinations.

Interestingly Jetfire speaks with Austrailian accent in the TV series. According to the Hasbro web site this isn't an Australian accent at all, but a Nebulan accent he pick up while visiting the planet between the series.

During the series Jetfire and Thundercracker develop a rivalry as to who is the best flyer.

In the final episode of Optimus Prime leads a mission from Cybertron to build a new Space Bridge system. He appoints Jetfire the commander of Cybertron in his absence.

The Jetfire toy was repainted as a Decepticon named Sky Shadow in 2006. According to his bio Sky Shadow is actually Jetfire under cover as a Decepticon.

Galaxy Force Dreadrock (Dreadlock)

In the Galaxy Force television series in Japan Jetfire is called Dreadrock (or Dreadlock) and is supposed to be an original character, not a new form of the Energon/Superlink character.

Function: Deputy Commander

Motto: "I will fly everywhere to accomplish my duty!"

Galaxy Convoy File: The Cybertron troops deputy commander who shows the mind of sincerity and dignity which are faithful to me, the Commander in Chief. His personality is a mixture of his subordinates, he is the soldier I trust the most. His ignition using the Force Chips burns with the flames of justice.

He is voiced by Hideo Ishikawa (Galaxy Force) and Brian Drummond (Cybertron).

Robot Masters R-Blade in robot mode.

The character of R-Blade in the 2004 Robot Masters toyline was a repaint of the 1995 Generation Two cyberjet Hooligan (who was repainted later that year as Jetfire), painted in the colors of Generation One Jetfire.

It is unclear why the toy was named R-Blade and not Jetfire. Takara was not avoiding using the name for legal reasons as they had already released a Jetfire toy as part of the Micron Legend line in 2003. The toy's bio makes him out to be fairly similar in character to Generation 1 Jetfire, though whether he was intended to be the same character is also unclear.

A member of the Cyberjets, an aerial combat team who have weapon-firing Gauntlet Frames for right arms. His Sonic Lance is loaded with a variety of scientific weaponry. Normally devotes himself to diplomacy with Earthlings as a consulate.

Transformers: Titanium

The second wave of 6 inch will include a War Within style Jetfire toy.

Transformers: Classics

A new version of Jetfire is scheduled for the line.

 

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