Rhinox
Encyclopedia : R : RH : RHI : Rhinox
Rhinox is the name of several fictional characters from various Transformers Universes.
- 1
- 2
- 2.0.1
Transformers character 
Rhinox Allegiance Maximal (Cybertron), but was brielfy a Predacon (Destron). Sub-Group Deluxe Beast, later Transmetal Deluxe Beast Function Defense, later Strategic Defense. Motto None officially, but has said "What? Now I've got to be a Miracle Worker too?" Alternate mode Rhino, later transmetal Rhino in the toy line. Fiction Appearances Transformers: Beast Wars cartoon Voiced by Richard Newman (English)
Daiki Nakamura (Japanese)
A Rhinox statue made to look like the TV show character.
Rhinox's character in the Beast Wars television series is very different from how the toy was depicted. As one of the first year toys, the toy of Rhinox was created before the television series came along, and his character was written by Hasbro. These characterizations were largely thrown out the window by the television series producers.
Original Tech Spec: The ground shakes with a terrible thunder as jungle trees snap like twigs. The noise draws closer in a cloud of dust and dirt. A herd of stampeding elephants? No. It's Rhinox, defending his territory from Predacon attackers! Courageous and cunning, had never backed down from battle, nor been injured in any way. Not even double-barreled laser cannons can cut through his triple-thick, steel-plated skin! If he comes your way, run for cover, fast!
Transmetal Tech Spec: Following the quantum surge, Rhinox emerged in the form of a massive mechanized rhinoceros. He soon discovered that his new beast structure gave him an added conversion: a heavy treaded all-terrain vehicle. To a big, powerful and slow Maximal like Rhinox, the enhanced mobility is like a dream come true. He perfected new battle moves like pulling wheelies and devastating Predacons at high speed. Also, a new animalized robot mode improves his fluidity and skill on the battlefield.
10th Anniversary Tech Spec: Maximal second-in-command and chief science officer, Rhinox prefers to remain aboard the Axalon to engaging in battle, but that doesn't mean he can't fight. On the contrary, his triple-plated steel skin and wide array of medium range and hand-to-hand weapons make him dangerous to even the toughest opponent. There's a good reason Rhinox is the last line of Maximal defense, after the perimeter is breached and all weapons systems are offline - no one's ever got past him.
Rhinox was a Maximal and Optimus Primal's oldest friend. His beast mode is in the form of a large brown rhinoceros (that rarely appears in the second season, and wasn't seen in the third). He has two machine guns as weapons, which fans have named the Chainguns of Doom. He usually stays in the base and acts as an engineer. Rhinox created the Maximal base's automated defense system, dubbed Sentinel.
Rhinox seems generally as capable of leadership as Optimus Primal, and Optimus Primal has told him as much. However, Rhinox abhors the babysitting and loss of independence that come with being a full-time leader. He is indisputably loyal to Optimus Primal; their mutual respect is so strong that Rhinox is the only Maximal that Optimus Primal seeks advice from (causing mild, intermittent jealousy among a few other Maximals). Though never confirmed, it is implied that Rhinox might be older than Optimus Primal, and a once-great (but burned-out) ex-leader. Rhinox's true abilities come out when, in the episode "Dark Designs", he is reprogrammed into a Predacon- only to outwit and damage every other Predacon, to the dismay of Megatron. Rhinox is the only Maximal whose form does not change or evolve for the duration of the series, though in the toyline he did become a Transmetal. He spent much of the second and third season minding the Maximal bases rather than going out on missions.
Rhinox is probably one of the most under-appreciated characters in the entire Beast Wars series. He has a brilliant mind, a thirst for peace, and an astounding vigor and resolve to do whatever it takes to maintain that peace. He does whatever it is that is asked of him, even though the requests often made of him are impossible. For example, in the episode "Chain of Command", Optimus Primal becomes trapped in an alien device. Rhinox is then left with the task of, using only the available technology from their ship, constructing an instrument to extract their trapped Commander from a device of alien design. Being the ever resourceful engineer, Rhinox finds a way. Rhinox also contributes in countless other ways. Even though Rattrap is considered to be Second-in-Command to Optimus Primal, Rhinox often becomes the enforcer, keeping the troops in rank. His great size and strength is another one of his advantages, in addition to his incredibly quick thinking. These attributes have saved the Maximals countless times throughout the series.
In 2005 the original Rhinox toy was one of the toys selected for the Beast Wars 10th Anniversary toyline. He was repainted in more show-accurate colors. He came packaged with one of the six pieces used to make the Transmutate toy.
Season One
Rhinox was defense officer of the Maximal ship called the Axalon, commanded by Optimus Primal. Their mission was one of exploration and to get rid of the abomination called Protoform X, but things didn't go as planned. With crewmates Cheetor and Rattrap, the Axalon chased the Predacon criminal Megatron through transwarp space after the theft of the Golden Disk. The Maximals and Predacons crashed on prehistoric Earth, where high energon levels threatened to destroy the crew unless they adopted organic alternate modes. Rhinox was given the form of a rhino (Beast Wars Part 1). The Axalon's cargo of Maximal protoforms in stasis pods had been launched into orbit before the crash, but eventually Tigatron's pod fell to Earth in the northern sector. Both the Maximals and Predacons observed the landing. Optimus Primal decided to fly alone in an attempt to get to it first, but Dinobot warned of an ambush. Primal insisted on going and was attacked by Waspinator and Terrorsaur who disabled Primal. Primal was placed in the cryo-regeneration chamber by Dinobot as Rhinox, Cheetor and Rattrap raced to get the pod. Realizing the Maximal base would be nearly unguarded, Megatron sent his flyers to get the pod while the rest of the Predacons attacked the Maximal base. As the Predacon flyers were outpacing the Maximals to the pod, Megatron arrived at the Axalon where he attempted to entice Dinobot into returning to the Predacons, but Dinobot refused. He used the automated defenses of the Axalon to ward off Megatron, Scorponok and Tarantulas. Using the moon to reflect a laser pulse communication, the Primal and Dinobot were able to send a signal to the pod to activate. The pod than scanned a nearby white tiger, and Tigatron emerged as a tiger himself greeted the animal. Megatron raced to get to the pod himself as Primal emerged from the cryo-regeneration chamber and placed Dinobot in it. When the Predacon flyers arrived at the pod they didn't realize it was already empty and they worked to open it. The Maximal ground party and Megatron arrived at the pod. Megatron threatened to destroy two nearby tigers if they Maximals didn't back off. Opening the pod the Predacons found it empty and one of the tigers revealed himself as Tigatron. As the fight joined by Optimus Primal the Predacons were chased off. Tigatron was invited to return to the Maximal base, but he felt with his identity circuits damaged, he preferred to be with the tigers. He agreed to act as scout for them and the Maximals returned to base (Fallen Comrads).
Blackarachnia's pod fell to Earth. Optimus Primal and Dinobot attempted to retrieve the pod, but it was taken by Scorponok, Terrorsaur and Waspinator. Captured by the Predacons, the protoform was infected with a Predacon shell program and given the alternate mode of a black widow spider by Tarantulas. Megatron welcomed the new Predacon. Noticing that the Predacons were one step ahead of them, Optimus Primal convinced Rattrap to act like he betrayed the Maximals. Rattrap was sent to scout energon in a dangerous sector. The Predacons, having broken the Maximal transmission codes with a recovered Maximal communications chip, sent Terrorsaur to attack Rattrap. Rattrap let Terrorsaur defeat him so he could ask to switch to the Predacons. Terrorsaur returned to base and attempted to take over the Predacons by having Rattrap ambush Megatron and disable his servoes. Although Scorponok remained loyal to Megatron, Blackarachnia and Tarantulas saw no loyalty to their old leader. Both Rattrap and Megatron were placed in cells in the lowest levels of the Dark Side, but they each promptly escaped. Optimus Primal, Rhinox, Dinobot and Cheetor waited outside the Predacon base to attack. Rattrap discovered the chip being used overhear the Maximal transmissions, stole it, and after a run-in with Tarantulas, signaled Optimus Primal to being the attack. During the fight Megatron allowed Terrorsaur to lead to prove what an incompetent leader he was. Rattrap joined the battle seemingly on the Predacon side but then shot Terrorsaur and left with the Maximals. Megatron firmly took back the leadership of the Predacons. At the Maximal base Optimus explained how Rattrap's ruse allowed him to gain access to the Predacons ship and recover the Maximal chip (Double Jeopardy).
Megatron had Scorponok create a viral-mine in the form of one of his cyber-bees. The virus in it was intended to reduce the courage of it's victim, making him afraid of everything. The bee also kept the target from transforming and was set to kill it's victim and explode if removed. Scorponok ambushed Optimus Primal and Dinobot while they were on a scientific mission and used it on Primal. Although Dinobot returned Primal to the base where Rhinox placed Primal in a cryo-regeneration chamber and diagnosed the damage. Rhinox discovered the virus was flawed and it made Primal hyper-aggressive instead of cowardly. Primal bashed his way out of the C.R. chamber, but was subdued and locked in a holding cell. Dinobot hoped to use Primal as a weapon, but Rattrap worried this would get him killed. Believing Primal had his rage under control, Cheetor freed him from the cell, but soon the rage took over and Primal blasted his way out of the base intent on destroying the Predacons. Cheetor attempted to negotiate for the cure with the Predacons, but failed. Upon arriving at the Darkside, Primal penetrated the hull and defeated Tarantulas, then Waspinator. Rhinox, Rattrap, Cheetor and Dinobot attacked the Predacon base in an attempt to help distract the Predacons as Optimus attacked, while Terrorsaur and Blackarachnia mounted a defense. In Scorponok's lab Primal found Megatron holding the anti-virus, and offering to allow Primal to join the Predacons, but Primal refused. Ripping the bee off his chest, he threw it Megatron, just as Cheetor made it in time to inject Primal with the anti-virus and save him from shutting down. The bee then exploded, damaging Megatron, Scorponok and the ship as the Maximals made their escape. Back to the Axalon, Primal healed from his wounds (Gorilla Warfare).
In order to better protect the Axalon from Predacon attack, Rhinox created Sentinel, a security computer. Due to damage taken to the computer when Dinobot and Rattrap were fighting, Sentinel went haywire and attacked the Maximals, chasing them from their ship, but eventually Rattrap was able to take Sentinel down. After that Sentinel worked properly (A Better Mousetrap).
Airazor's pod fell to Earth inside Predacon controlled terratory. The pod was spotted by the Tarantulas and Megatron, as well as by Rhinox and Cheetor. Cheetor told Tigatron to contact base with the news. Blackarachnia and Scorponok were sent by Megatron to retrieve the pod. Rhinox was the first to arrive at the crash site and discovered the pod was damaged and the protoform was dying. Cheetor then arrived to help Rhinox save the protoform. On his way back to base, Tigatron discovered Scorponok and disabled him, but was in turn ambushed by Blackarachnia. Rhinox replaced the damaged locking chip in the protoform with one donated by Cheetor. Cheetor confronted Blackarachnia, keeping her from getting to Rhinox and the protoform. Cheetor then tried to lure Waspinator and Terrorsaur away from the pod, but Terrorsaur got the best of him. Rhinox had to run the sequencer program for the protoform through his own processor to keep it alive. This knocked Rhinox into stasis lock, but started the DNA scanners for the stasis pod. The protoform was formatted to the form of a falcon which was flying overhead just as Terrorsaur arrived. The newly born Airazor was able to defeat Terrorsaur. Rhinox took her back to the Axalon, introducing her to Optimus Primal and Rattrap (The Spark).
Rhinox conducted tidal research on the planet and discovered that one of the moons seemed to have too low a mass, as if it was hollow. Tigatron made his weekly radio report to Rattrap at the Maximal base when he was attacked by Terrorsaur and Waspinator. During the battle the three stumbled across a flying island with a weapons system tower which nearly destroyed the Predacons. Optimus Primal checked out the scene of the fight, but found nothing. Terrorsaur and Waspinator limped back to base where they reported on the island to Megatron. Airazor then reported to the Maximals that she saw the Predacons flyers return to base severely wounded. As Megatron sent Scorponok and Blackarachnia to find the island, Airazor followed them. Tigatron discovered the island had traps and that the weapons system fired at any use of energy weapons. Scorponok found the island using one of his cyber-bees, although Tigatron captured it. Blackarachnia used her line gun to get them up to the island. Discovering they were being watched, Scorponok shot Airazor from the sky. Tigatron found Airazor and reprogrammed the cyber-bee to return to the Maximal base with a message. Cheetor found the cyber-bee. In the message he warned the Maximals of the island and it's potential power to destroy them if it fell into Predacon hands (The Trigger Part 1).
As Blackarachnia and Scorponok discovered the secrets of the island, Airazor and Tigatron worked to get to the weapons system first. Optimus Primal took Rattrap and flew to the island, but they were intercepted by Terrorsaur and Waspinator. During the battle Rattrap was able to capture Terrorsaur and ride him to the island. Tigatron and Airazor triggered a booby trap on the island, but narrowly escaped. The Predacons got to the weapons system first. Blackarachnia used Terrorsaur to distract the weapons system and blast her way in. She planned to use the weapons system to destroy the Maximals and rule the Predacons. As Scorponok attempted to subdue her he fell victim to another booby trap. Blackarachnia took control of the island from it's command center and set course for the Maximal base. Optimus Primal ordered Cheetor, Rhinox and Dinobot to evacuate the base. Before she was able to bring the island within range, Tigatron fought his way into the weapons system and fired on it's power-core, causing the island to crash. After being destroyed, the weapons system tower sent a signal a similar tower on the moon, which sent another message into deep space. This turn of events worried the Maximals, as they wondered who built the island and how they would react to its destruction (The Trigger Part 2).
After they were all blinded in an exergon explosion, Rhinox guided the blinded Maximals Dinobot, Rattrap and Cheetor back to base while being hunted by the Predacons (Dark Voyage).
Rhinox was once infected with a program which turned him into a Predacon, but when Rhinox attempted to take over the Predacons, Megatron returned him to his normal state.
"You see I'm just a little too crafty for you so I get to be leader and you sail straight for the recycling bin YEESSSS!" - Predacon Rhinox.
Convention Comics
Rhinox was one of the stars of the 1997 Botcon Convention Comics, a story set near the end of season one of the Beast Wars television series.In the Convention Comics plot, Inferno and Blackarachnia watched as the Predacon scientist Fractyl attempted to invent energon armor capable of protecting them from energon build up. Although seemingly successful, the armor was stolen by the Maximal thief Packrat. Blackarachinia and Fractyl realized the energon armor was flawed and could destroy the planet if it came in contact with large amounts of energon. Inferno pursued Packrat, but since Packrat didn't need to assume beast mode with the armor on, he got the upper hand in the fight with Inferno. Hearing the battle, Airazor, Cheetor and Rhinox joined Packrat. Fractyl convinced Rhinox that the armor was a threat to them all. Rhinox was able to talk Packrat into giving up the armor, which Fractyl aided them in doing. When Blackarachnia arrived with Megatron, Packrat suggested that Fractyl pretend to be attacking the Maximals, who fled. Megatron was impressed with Fractyl's new found battle prowess.
Season 2
Rhinox and Waspinator in transmetal form, as they appeared in the Japanese Beast Wars video game.Rhinox was among those uneffected by the quantum wave which turned many Cybertronians into transmetals. It's theorized by fans that he didn't change because he was in a cryo-regeneration chamber at the time, and was protected from it. (Note: In the toy line he was released as a transmetal and his tech spec stated he was changed in the quantum surge, but due to limitation in the show production, they kept Rhinox in his original form.)
Rhinox ventured into the Matrix after Optimus Primal died, retrieving Optimus Primal's spark and placing it in a new body (Coming of the Fuzors Part 1-2)
When the Maximal stasis pod containing Transmutate fell to Earth, Optimus Primal guided her back to the Maximal base, but when Rhinox studied the damaged Maximal, the Maximals considered putting the powerful and slow witted mutant in stasis (Transmutate).
Season 3
Rhinox and his Chainguns of Doom.Rhinox and Blackarachnia restored the original Optimus Prime back to health after an attack by Megatron within the Ark (essentially saving time itself from implosion), and was the only one of the Maximals to act in the last episode of the series "Nemesis Part 2", driving one of the Ark's shuttle's Omega Delta into the "Nemesis", effectively ending Megatron's threat, and with it, the Beast Wars.
Rhinox was the only Maximal in the Beast Wars series who did not die or change his form, along with the Predacon Waspinator. However, in the toy-line based upon the series Rhinox became a transmetal during the quantum surge, with the vehicle mode of a snow-cat.
In Beast Machines, Rhinox's spark was taken by Megatron, becoming the Vehicon general Tankor.
Armada Rhinox and Overload in the Dreamwave Armada comics.
In the later series, which is a separate Transformers Universe from Beast Wars and Beast Machines, the transmetal Rhinox toy was recolored and released as an Autobot, partnered with the Mini-Con Armorhide. This Rhinox had a cameo appearance in the cartoon series, and in the Dreamwave Productions Armada comic book series he became one of the Four Horsemen of Unicron.Transformers character 
Rhinox Allegiance Autobot (Cybertron) Sub-Group Deluxe Beasts Function None Motto "Hard work never killed anybody." Partner Armorhide Alternate mode Transmetal Rhino Fiction Appearances Transformers: Armada Voiced by None (English)
None (Japanese)Bio: [from the troop assesment files of Autobot Commander Jetfire] Reliable and hard working, Rhinox is-scratch that... Rhinox was a key part of my command unit on Cybertron. He was an outspoken, take-charge warrior who exhibited many natural leadership qualities on the battlefield: courage, ingenuity, and old-fashioned spirit. Not only that, he was also an honest guy to hang out with on those rare occasions when we got a break from kicking Decepti-cans. Unfortunately, his tendency to use an overbearing, heavyhanded tone in battle often alienated the Autobots he worked with, limiting his advancement potential. Still, I value... valued his immense contributions to the Autobot cause. He will be missed.
Weapons and Abilities: Stocky and tough, Rhinox was definitely not someone a Decepticon wanted to go toe-to-toe with. In rhino mode, his charges were practically unstoppabie, and his scythelike horn got its fair share of action in his day. When needed, he could transform his hind legs into treads for even more traction and power. He was a smart warrior with good tactical skills but not much of a bedside manner with the troops.
Weaknesses: There wasn't much that could get through his thick hide physically, but it definitely hurt Rhinox to see his leadership tactics bothering the others, especially Armorhide...
Armada Rhinox appeared as a minion of Unicron in the Transformers: Energon comic book series.
Armada Rhinox also was set to appear in the unreleased issue 31 of the Transformers: Energon comic series.
Even with the death of Tankor in the Beast Machines storyline, Rhinox would return in the story of Transformers: Universe.
In Transformers: Universe #3 Alpha Trion and Primus claim they need Primal to choose his troops from any Cybertonians past or present, and he chooses Rhinox and Depth Charge, who are brought back to life. Although Rhinox is happy to have a second chance to redeem himself, Depth Charge isn't pleased with being brought back from the dead.
In the 2004 Botcon voice actor play Rhinox would appear again. Rhinox has built a device to deflect Unicron's attempts to pull victims from other dimensions with his tractor beam. The Autobots deflect two attempts and the victims end up on a frozen planetoid instead of with Unicron. Maximals Rattrap and Silverbolt and the Predacon Waspinator are sent to help the victims, but Reptilion, Thrust, Ruination and Perceptor are sent to get them for Unicron. As a side effect of the device Rhinox built, a vortex opens which sucks in an Autobot shuttle from the past piloted by Bumblebee, Tracks and Cosmos. Thrust attacks the Maximal ship, but they are saved by being transported to the Autobot shuttle. The Autobots and Maximals then go to the planet where they save the victims from the Decepticons. On the planet are two groups of Autobots. One is from the Robots in Disguise story, with Landfill (Walmart recolor), Side Burn (Universe recolor) and Prowl (Universe recolor). The other is from another parallel world with Spychanger Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Prowl and Ironhide. They all fight off the Decepticons. The Autobot shuttle is sent back to its own time.
In the comic story found in issue 8 of the Transformers Collectors Club magazine Cybertron/Robots in Disguise Optimus Prime told the story of the last battle he was in, set in the Transformers: Universe storyline. Along side 10th Anniversary Optimus Primal they attacked the last of Unicron's forces when Unicron suddenly disappeared, and they barely escaped. Among the Autobot forces were Universe Fireflight, King Atlas, Universe Night Slash Cheetor, Universe Longhorn, Universe Prowl, Universe Repugnus, Rhinox, Universe Side Burn, Sideswipe, Universe Silverbolt, Sunstreaker, Tap-Out, Trailbreaker, Cybertron/Robots in Disguise Ultra Magnus and Universe Whirl. Among the Decepticons were Universe Blackaracknia, Nemesis Strika, Universe Obsidian, Universe Razorclaw, Reptilion and Universe Skywarp.
Rhinox wouldn't get a toy in the Universe line, despite appearing in the fiction, however his 10th Anniversary toy came out in 2005 and is a perfect match for his appearance in the Universe story.
Botcon 2006
Botcon RhinoxA pre-Beast Wars Rhinox toy was made for Botcon 2006. The toy was a repaint of Transformers: Cybertron Landmine.
Warhammer
Warhammer Fantasy also has Rhinox ridden by Bull Ogres. [link]External links
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.
