Breakdown (Transformers)
Encyclopedia
Breakdown is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes
Transformers universes
is an entertainment franchise. It began with the Hasbro Transformers toy line, centered on two factions of warring alien robots which are called the Autobots and the Decepticons...

. He should not be confused with the Autobot Brakedown
Brakedown
Brakedown is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers: Cybertron series. They should not be confused with Breakdown, a Decepticon from the Generation 1 toy line and fiction, who was a member of the Stunticons....

.

Transformers: Generation 1

Breakdown, a Lamborghini Countach
Lamborghini Countach
The Lamborghini Countach is a mid-engined supercar that was produced by Italian automaker Lamborghini from 1974 to 1990. Its design both pioneered and popularized the wedge-shaped, sharply angled look popular in many high performance sports cars...

, was one of the Stunticons in Transformers G1 and formed one of the limbs. Breakdown has a version of paranoia and this affects him in his work. He is a vain Decepticon who thinks everyone looks at him. He despises traffic jams and would prefer to be a human so he could fit better; a strange trait for a Decepticon. His engine emits vibrations in car mode that cause mechanical failures in other devices. His Tech Spec bio says that he is prone to leaky fuel pump.

Like all Scramble City style combiner limbs, he can form any limb of any combiner or combine with Metroplex.

Marvel comics

Wildrider and the Stunticons are not major characters in the comics. They were featured in issue #22, Heavy Traffic, where they battle the Aerialbots
Aerialbots
The Aerialbots are a group of Autobots that transform into aircraft and combine to form the giant robot Superion. They were introduced into the Transformers toyline in 1985 and sold as a Superion gift set, and then sold separately in 1986 in most department stores...

 as well as Circuit Breaker
Circuit Breaker (Transformers)
Circuit Breaker is a fictional comic book character in the 1980s Marvel Comics Transformers series.-Fictional character biography:After being severely injured in a raid for Earth oil by the Decepticon Shockwave, computer genius Josie Beller was left paralyzed in both legs and one arm...

 and RAAT troops.

Breakdown makes an appearance in the Decepticon forces under the command of Megatron in issue #7 of the Marvel Generation 2 comic series, in a story called "New Dawn." Megatron leads his Decepticons against Jhiaxus
Jhiaxus
Jhiaxus is a fictional character in the Transformers universes. He is an evil Decepticon jet.-Transformers: Generation 2:Unlike most of the notable characters in the Transformers comics, Jhiaxus is not based on a toy...

' second generation Cybertronians near the moon of Tykos. The Decepticons are defeated and Megatron left injured, presumed dead, but swearing revenge.

Animated series

Breakdown first appears in the two-part episode "The Key To Vector Sigma". Like the other Stunticons, he is created after Megatron commissions Rumble
Rumble (Transformers)
Rumble is a fictional character in the Transformers universes. In order to trademark the name, Hasbro referred to the Alternators character as Decepticon Rumble.-Transformers: Generation 1:...

 to find him some vehicles to be turned into Decepticon warriors, in order to more effectively battle the Autobot
Autobot
Autobot, a faction of sentient robots from the planet Cybertron, are usually the main protagonists in the fictional universe of the Transformers, a collection of various toys, graphic novels, paperback books, cartoons and movies first introduced in 1984. In all but one Transformer story, the...

s on the roads. Megatron modifies the cars so they can transform into remote-controlled robots, and then takes them to Vector Sigma
Vector Sigma
In the fictional universe of the first Transformers animated series, Vector Sigma is the "mega-computer" that gives sentience to non-sentient robots, and is used by the Quintessons to endow their robotic creations with the true life that eventually leads to their rebellion...

 so they can be given personalities of their own. He returns to Earth with the other Stunticons and engages in the destruction of a military base, before being called on to form Menasor to battle the new Autobots, the Aerialbots
Aerialbots
The Aerialbots are a group of Autobots that transform into aircraft and combine to form the giant robot Superion. They were introduced into the Transformers toyline in 1985 and sold as a Superion gift set, and then sold separately in 1986 in most department stores...

. The Aerialbots combine into Superion
Superion
-Transformers: Generation 1:Superion is the first Autobot special team to be created, and is the Autobots' first combiner, formed from five smaller robots who are able to transform into fighter-jets and planes.Members:* Silverbolt - Team leader.* Air Raid...

, but Menasor is winning until a rebuilt Omega Supreme
Omega Supreme
Omega Supreme is the name of a fictional character from the Transformers franchise. He is always an Autobot and is often depicted as a gigantic transformer with vast strength and/or overwhelming firepower.-Transformers: Generation 1:...

 arrived and defeats him.

Dreamwave Productions

Unlike previous series Breakdown and the other Stunticons were not portrayed as recently created characters, but were Decepticons from Cybertron millions of years ago, like most other Decepticons. Initially just five individual Decepticons, the five who would become Stunticons were chosen in an experiment to improve on the combiner process which had created Devastator
Devastator (Transformers)
Devastator is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. For legal-political reasons, Hasbro now adds a modifier to the character's name on newer toy packages, such as Constructicon Devastator....

. Their combined form was called Menasor
Menasor
Menasor is the name to several fictional characters in the Transformers universes. The original version was the combined version of the Stunticons. Since then, other characters have taken the name Menasor.-Transformers: Generation 1:...

.

The Stunticons appeared in the second Generation 1 mini-series where Menasor was revived by Rumble
Rumble (Transformers)
Rumble is a fictional character in the Transformers universes. In order to trademark the name, Hasbro referred to the Alternators character as Decepticon Rumble.-Transformers: Generation 1:...

 and Frenzy
Frenzy (Transformers)
Frenzy is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. Wired Magazine once nominated him as one 12 most ridiculous Transformers of all time.-Transformers: Generation 1:...

, killing the Omnibots
Omnibots
The Omnibots were three Transformers Generation 1 toys available only in the US as exclusive mail order items. They could be obtained by collecting "Robot Points" from other Transformers toy boxes and sending them to the manufacturer, along with $5 for shipping. During 1985 the number of orders for...

, Roadbuster, Whirl, and damaging the Protectobots
Protectobots
The Protectobots are a fictional emergency, search and rescue team of five Autobots in the Transformers toyline. They transform into civilian service and emergency vehicles and combine to form the combiner Defensor...

 (combined as Defensor) before battling and being defeated by Ultra Magnus on Cybertron
Cybertron
Cybertron is a fictional planet, the homeworld of the Transformers in the various fictional incarnations of the metaseries and toyline by Hasbro. In the Japanese series, the planet is referred to as "Cybertron" pronounced as セイバートロン Seibātoron...

. With the closure of Dreamwave, the fate of the Stunticons is unknown.

Devil's Due Publishing

The Stunticons first appeared in the second G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers miniseries from Devil's Due. After Cobra Commander
Cobra Commander
Cobra Commander is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe franchise. He appears in the toyline, animated series , comic books, video games, and movie as the usual principal antagonist. He is the supreme leader of the terrorist organization Cobra, and archnemesis of the Joes...

 and Cobra, followed by G.I. Joe, had journeyed to Cybertron, weapons fire caused a critical malfunction in Teletran 3, causing numerous Autobots and Decepticons to become time-displaced. Among these were the Stunticons, who were dumped in 1930s Earth and reformatted into period cars. They were eventually defeated and returned to the present by a combined force of G.I. Joe and Cobra members, as well as another Transformer lost in that time - Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime is a fictional character from the Transformers franchise. Prime is the leader of the autobots, a faction of transforming robots from the planet Cybertron. The autobots are constantly waging war against a rival faction of transforming robots called Decepticons...



The Stunticons would also appear in the third mini-series, being recruited by Serpent O.R, a human military-created cyborg with Megatron's memories, and would participate in the ambush that killed Bumblebee
Bumblebee (Transformers)
Bumblebee is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers universes. In most incarnations, Bumblebee is a small, yellow Autobot with the altmode of a compact car.- Transformers: Generation 1 :...

. Seen in group shots where Serpentor is gathering the Decepticon army, their next major role would be in the assault on Capital City, assisting Predaking and Piranacon
Seacons
This article is about the Transformers characters the Seacons. For the shopping mall, see Seacon Square. For the 1961 Worldcon in Seattle, Washington, Seacon, see 19th World Science Fiction Convention...

 in taking down Omega Supreme
Omega Supreme
Omega Supreme is the name of a fictional character from the Transformers franchise. He is always an Autobot and is often depicted as a gigantic transformer with vast strength and/or overwhelming firepower.-Transformers: Generation 1:...

. Breakdown and the Seacon Nautilator were the ones assigned to guard the human captives, but Snake-Eyes used his ninja powers to take control of Breakdown and had him shoot Nautilator, freeing them. Razorclaw and Motormaster were the ones who stopped Prime's attack on Serpentor, beating him near death, but were then killed by the Cobra Commander
Cobra Commander
Cobra Commander is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe franchise. He appears in the toyline, animated series , comic books, video games, and movie as the usual principal antagonist. He is the supreme leader of the terrorist organization Cobra, and archnemesis of the Joes...

-controlled Serpentor.

IDW Publishing

The Stunticons made their first IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...

 appearance in issue 3 of The Transformers: Megatron Origin
The Transformers: Megatron Origin
The Transformers: Megatron Origin is a comic book limited series by IDW Publishing exploring the origin of Megatron in its rebooted G1 universe...

, appearing amongst Megatron's gathering of gladiators that would eventually become the Decepticons. Breakdown has also appeared in previews for the first issue of the new ongoing series, with a design based on the Universe Sunstreaker/Sideswipe mold.

Video games

Breakdown appears in video game Transformers: War for Cybertron
Transformers: War for Cybertron
Transformers: War for Cybertron is a third-person shooter video game developed by High Moon Studios and published by Activision. It was released in North America on June 22, 2010 and in PAL regions on June 25, 2010 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. Two portable versions were released for the...

. He is a playable character in the last three chapters of the Decepticon campaign. He is a very capable Decepticon, though he is extremely paranoid and always believes that everyone else is staring at him. He assists Megatron and Soundwave in infiltrating Iacon, destroying Zeta Prime, and hunting down and defeating Omega Supreme.

Toys

  • Generation 1 Stunticon Breakdown (1986)
Breakdown was sold in 1986 by itself, and later with the other Stunticons as a gift package.
  • Generation 2 Stunticon Breakdown (1994)
Samples of redecos of all the Stunticons were made for the Generation 2 toy line, but they never made it to general release. The few that were produced are considered highly collectible. Breakdown was released in small numbers at BotCon
BotCon
BotCon, briefly known as "The Official Transformers Collectors' Convention" , is an annual convention for Transformers fans and collectors. BotCon has been held annually since 1994...

 1994.
In April of 2008, rare prototypes of this toy were sold on ebay and garnered bidding of over US$2,000.
  • Universe Spy Changer Breakdown (unreleased)
First announced in Previews magazine for January 2003 were a set of 5 Stunticon Spy Changers - Breakdown, Drag Strip, Motormaster, Dead End, and Wildracer. Although it is uncertain what mold he would have used, it seems likely he would have been a redeco of Generation 2 Firecracker, who had a similar vehicle mode.
  • Timelines Deluxe Breakdown (2010)
A BotCon 2010 exclusive and an homage to the BotCon 1994 toy, this figure is a redeco of Universe Classic Series Deluxe Sunstreaker
Sunstreaker
Sunstreaker is the name of two fictional characters from the various Transformers universes. The first is one of the main Autobot cars from the original Transformers series...

 (using Sideswipe's robot configuration) in Breakdown's Generation 2 turquoise
Turquoise
Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminium, with the chemical formula CuAl648·4. It is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gem and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hue...

 and lavender colors and a head sculpt similar to his original toy.


Transformers: Timelines

In Shattered Glass, Breakdown is a mirror universe version of the Generation 1 character as a scout of the heroic Decepticons.

Fun Publications

In Do Over, an unusual energy reading is detected in Alpha Trion's lab. The Decepticons send Breakdown to investigate, but is captured by Sky Lynx
Sky Lynx
Sky Lynx is the name of several different characters in the fictional Transformers universes.-Transformers: Generation 1:Sky Lynx consists of two separate components: a space shuttle that can transform into a bird-like creature , and a ground transport vehicle,...

 and presented to Alpha Trion as a gift.

Transformers: Prime

Breakdown is a playable Decepticon character in the 2010 video game Transformers: War for Cybertron
Transformers: War for Cybertron
Transformers: War for Cybertron is a third-person shooter video game developed by High Moon Studios and published by Activision. It was released in North America on June 22, 2010 and in PAL regions on June 25, 2010 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. Two portable versions were released for the...

. In the Decepticon campaign, he is an extremely paranoid young Decepticon that thinks everyone and everything is out to get him - especially Megatron, who refers to him as suicidal. He prefers to do his duties in anonymity.

In Transformers: Prime, Breakdown returns as an extremely young Decepticon bovver boy, who is the muscle for Megatron. He does retained much of his original G1 personality as well as his original G1 color scheme, but he is much taller, muscular, threatening, uncontrollable, violent, and angrier than his previous incarnations. His new vehicle mode for the Prime series is officially a blue monster armored van.

Animated series

Breakdown made his official cartoon debut on Episode 10: "Deus Ex Machina" to face his main enemy, Bulkhead
Bulkhead (Transformers)
Bulkhead is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. All incarnations of Bulkhead are Autobots and are green in color. He was introduced in Transformers: Energon as a Mega Vehicle and later redebuted in Transformers: Animated as a completely new character...

. He now works as the partner of Knock Out.

He also appeared in "Speed Metal" and "Out of His Head". In "Operation: Breakdown", he is captured by the human organisation M.E.C.H while fighting Bulkhead, and is eventually saved by his longtime foe. Though Breakdown is grateful, it does not stop him from attempting to carry out Starscream's command to destroy him (though after some initial hesistation). It is also noted that Breakdown's right eye was removed, and he wears an eye patch to cover where his optic used to be. In "Metal Attraction", Breakdown attempted to redeem himself in Megatron's eyes by recovering a magnetic weapon, only to meet resistance, not only from Bulkhead and Arcee
Arcee
Arcee is the name of a fictional character in the Transformers franchise. She is a female Autobot, usually pink in color. Being the most famous of the Female Transformers, she has two primary forms...

, but from the renegade Decepticon Airachnid. Breakdown failed to retrieve the weapon, but brought Megatron a "consolation prize"; Airachnid, who had been magnetically fused to his back during the fight.

Transformers: Timelines (2011)

Part of an exclusive set for Botcon
BotCon
BotCon, briefly known as "The Official Transformers Collectors' Convention" , is an annual convention for Transformers fans and collectors. BotCon has been held annually since 1994...

 2011, this version of Breakdown is from the Transformers Animated series. He is based on the Animated Deluxe Rodimus Minor mold with a new head, and colored to look like the Generation 1 Breakdown toy.

Toys

  • Timelines Animated Deluxe Breakdown (not yet released)
A BotCon 2011 exclusive white/blue/maroon redeco of Transformers Animated Deluxe Rodimus Minor with a different head sculpt.
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK