Roadbuster
Encyclopedia
Roadbuster is the name of three fictional characters from the various Transformers universes
.
led by Impactor and later Springer
. He was part of the Wreckers
for many of the Marvel stories, taking part in such missions as Operation: Volcano, an Autobot resistance plan to remove some of the Decepticon's most lethal operatives (which was foiled by the presence of the future Decepticon's arrival on Earth Galvatron
Cyclonus
and Scourge
) and stopping the mad scientist Flame's plan to turn Cybertron into a warworld. It was during a later mission to stop Galvatron (at the centre of a rift in time and space) that the Wreckers encountered Galvatron and his ally - a clone of Megatron, and the elite squad was routed. Although Roadbuster managed to destroy half of Galvatron's face with an experimental weapon, he was killed when the weapon blew up in his face.
series, as the Micromaster
Hot Rod Patrol attempted to retrieve his remains.
Roadbuster appeared in the second volume of the Generation 1 comic and aided Ultra Magnus
in fighting the rampaging Menasor
. He later appeared again alongside Defensor and other Autobots to aid Grimlock
to defeat a Sentinel.
. His squad was hunting the operators of gladiatorial contests in the degenerate slums, particularly Megatron.
Roadbuster, in Cybertronian form, appeared in issue #2 of the Stormbringer
series by IDW Productions. He aided Springer
's Wreckers on the planet Varas Centralus in the Kol system when Optimus Prime
redeployed the Wreckers for a mission on Cybertron
. He fought the cultists under Bludgeon
and later fought Thunderwing
himself to provide covering fire for Twin Twist and Topspin
- but was taken out by Thunderwing's shockwave attack. He was later seen inspecting Thunderwing's inert body.
* Universe Roadbuster (unreleased) +
by Hasbro in Transformers: Energon.
Sprint Cup Series Chevrolet Impala stock cars; Roadbuster's alternate mode uses the AMP Energy/National Guard paint scheme of Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
's #88 car.
According to his bio, Roadbuster and his partners specialize in traveling across the galaxy to hunt down Decepticons. In the film, he speaks with a Scottish
accent. Roadbuster has a pair of shoulder rockets and some chain guns on his hands.
and feature a NASCAR holographic seal, making them official NASCAR merchandise.
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...
.
Transformers: Generation 1
Roadbuster's bio described him as happiest when he is in battle destroying Decepticons. While he is an inspiring presence and natural leader in battle, he doesn't adapt well to the quiet times between battles. He gets bored and restless easily and doesn't socialize well with his comrades.Marvel U.K. Comics
Roadbuster made several appearances in the Marvel U.K. comic as a member of the WreckersWreckers (Transformers)
The Wreckers are a sub-team of Autobots in the fictional Transformers universe, functioning essentially as a commando unit. They are not derived from the Transformers toyline but rather are the creation of Marvel UK writer Simon Furman, who introduces the Wreckers in the story arc Target:2006...
led by Impactor and later Springer
Springer (Transformers)
Springer is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers universes. For trademark reasons, many toys of the character are named Autobot Springer.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
. He was part of the Wreckers
Wreckers (Transformers)
The Wreckers are a sub-team of Autobots in the fictional Transformers universe, functioning essentially as a commando unit. They are not derived from the Transformers toyline but rather are the creation of Marvel UK writer Simon Furman, who introduces the Wreckers in the story arc Target:2006...
for many of the Marvel stories, taking part in such missions as Operation: Volcano, an Autobot resistance plan to remove some of the Decepticon's most lethal operatives (which was foiled by the presence of the future Decepticon's arrival on Earth Galvatron
Galvatron
Galvatron is the name of several fictional Transformers, most often the recreated version of Megatron, the Decepticon leader. He was voiced by Leonard Nimoy in the 1986 Transformers movie, and then by Frank Welker in season 3 and 4 of the animated television series. Since then, other Transformers...
Cyclonus
Cyclonus
Cyclonus is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers universes.-Transformers: Generation 1:The tech spec from the box art of the Cyclonus toy describes him as a compassionless Decepticon air warrior and saboteur...
and Scourge
Scourge (Transformers)
Scourge is the name of several fictional characters from the Transformers series. He first appeared as one of the central villains in the 1986 film The Transformers, voiced by Stan Jones. He also regularly appeared in the animated Transformers series and Transformers comic books. Since then other...
) and stopping the mad scientist Flame's plan to turn Cybertron into a warworld. It was during a later mission to stop Galvatron (at the centre of a rift in time and space) that the Wreckers encountered Galvatron and his ally - a clone of Megatron, and the elite squad was routed. Although Roadbuster managed to destroy half of Galvatron's face with an experimental weapon, he was killed when the weapon blew up in his face.
Animated series
Roadbuster was among those Transformers toys that did not appear in the Transformers animated series because the show was going to appear in Japan, where the toy was owned by Takara's rivals.Dreamwave Productions
Roadbuster appeared in the second War Within comic series by Dreamwave as a member of the Wreckers led by Springer. He later appeared in the Transformers: MicromastersTransformers: Micromasters
Transformers: Micromasters was a four-issue comic book limited series released in 2004 which takes place in between the War Within and the Generation 1 series. The main focus of the series is the Micromasters subline of Transformers, though it did have some cameos of notable G1 regulars...
series, as the Micromaster
Micromasters
Micromasters is a Transformers subline composed of small figures that came packaged in groups and with bases that interacted with the figures. They were sold at the peak of Galoob's Micro Machines craze and were packaged in groups of four just like Micro Machines...
Hot Rod Patrol attempted to retrieve his remains.
Roadbuster appeared in the second volume of the Generation 1 comic and aided Ultra Magnus
Ultra Magnus
Ultra Magnus is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers storylines.-Transformers: Generation 1:The greatest Transformer of them all. A commander could want no finer a soldier than Ultra Magnus...
in fighting the rampaging 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:...
. He later appeared again alongside Defensor and other Autobots to aid Grimlock
Grimlock
Grimlock is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers universes. He is usually portrayed as a tough leader who turns into a mechanical dinosaur...
to defeat a Sentinel.
IDW Publishing
Roadbuster appeared in issue #2 of Megatron Origin. In this story, set on ancient Cybertron he was a member of an Autobot security force in the city of KaonKaon
In particle physics, a kaon is any one of a group of four mesons distinguished by the fact that they carry a quantum number called strangeness...
. His squad was hunting the operators of gladiatorial contests in the degenerate slums, particularly Megatron.
Roadbuster, in Cybertronian form, appeared in issue #2 of the Stormbringer
The Transformers: Stormbringer
The Transformers: Stormbringer is a comic book mini-series, published by IDW Publishing.The series debuted in July, 2006 and is set during the same time frame as The Transformers: Infiltration...
series by IDW Productions. He aided Springer
Springer (Transformers)
Springer is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers universes. For trademark reasons, many toys of the character are named Autobot Springer.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
's Wreckers on the planet Varas Centralus in the Kol system when 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...
redeployed the Wreckers for a mission 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...
. He fought the cultists under Bludgeon
Bludgeon (Transformers)
Bludgeon is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers universes. For trademark reasons, he is now marketed by Hasbro as Decepticon Bludgeon. They are all Decepticon warriors who turn into tanks.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
and later fought Thunderwing
Thunderwing
Thunderwing is the name of several fictional characters from the Transformers series. Introduced in 1989, he was a major villain in the Marvel Comics Transformers series. Although Thunderwing was created after the US Transformers television series ended, the character of Black Shadow did appear in...
himself to provide covering fire for Twin Twist and Topspin
Topspin (Transformers)
Topspin is the name of several fictional characters from the Transformers universes. Due to legal issues, later incarnations of the character are called Autobot Topspin.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
- but was taken out by Thunderwing's shockwave attack. He was later seen inspecting Thunderwing's inert body.
Toys
- Generation 1 Roadbuster (1986)
- The toy company HasbroHasbroHasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
licensed a robot toy from the Japanese animeAnimeis the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series DorvackSpecial Armored Batallion Dorvackis an anime series aired from 1983 to 1984 in Japan and Hong Kong. There were 36 episodes. Other loosely translated names are "Dorvack", "Dolbuk", "Special Powered Armor Troop Dorvack", "Special Machine Army Dorvack", "Machine Corps Dorvack", "Armored Trooper Dorvack", "Tokusou Kihei Dorvack",...
(1983-1984) to sell under the new name Roadbuster. The original robot was "VV-54 AR Mugen Calibur", and Katsumi Itabashi and Nobuyoshi Haraba designed the mechanics in Dorvack. - The Deluxe Autobots were larger and more intricate than most of the other Autobot toys of 1985.
- In the 1980's Transformers were such a success that Hasbro wanted to get as much product out on the shelves with the Transformers name on it as possible. Since they were running out of old Takara molds to use, they obtained licences to use the molds of other companies' robot toys in the Transformers line. Roadbuster, ShockwaveShockwave (Transformers)Shockwave is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers series. Throughout his incarnations, he is usually distinguished by a laser cannon in lieu of one of his hands and his distinctive face, which is featureless save a single robotic eye...
, JetfireJetfireJetfire 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.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
, Omega SupremeOmega SupremeOmega 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:...
, WhirlWhirl (Transformers)Whirl is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers universes. All are blue Autobot helicopters.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
, Chop Shop, Venom, Barrage and Ransack were among those molds. With the licences to those toys now expired Hasbro and Takara no longer have legal rights to those figures and cannot reissue them. - The same toy was imported in the ConvertorsConvertorsThe Convertors were a line of action figures manufactured by Select in the 1980s.Often compared to the more famous Gobots and Transformers, the Convertors were a line of toys which came out at about the same time and featured robots who changed form....
toy line in the 1980s as the Defenders Wheels.
* Universe Roadbuster (unreleased) +
- A remold of Energon Strongarm was planned as a BotCon exclusive and as a homage to Generation 1 Roadbuster, but it never made it past concept art. This toy was supposed to represent an upgrade of Roadbuster in the Transformers: Universe story.
- A redeco of Cybertron Cybertron Defense Hot Shot. Part of a TargetTarget CorporationTarget Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
Exclusive Two-Pack with DirgeDirge (Transformers)Dirge is the name of several different fictional characters from the Transformers series. He was first introduced in 1985 as a villain in the Transformers series, appearing in the comic book by Marvel Comics and voiced by Bud Davis in the animated television series. Since then the name Dirge was...
dubbed "Autobot Ambush".
Transformers: Energon
Roadbuster was the Takara name for the character called IronhideIronhide
Ironhide is the name of several different fictional characters in the Transformers universes. According to the original creator of the Transformers names, Bob Budiansky, Ironhide was named after the television series Ironside.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
by Hasbro in Transformers: Energon.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
In Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Roadbuster is one of the Autobot Wrecker trio. All three Wreckers transform into NASCARNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup Series Chevrolet Impala stock cars; Roadbuster's alternate mode uses the AMP Energy/National Guard paint scheme of Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
* NOTE: References to "Earnhardt", "he", and "him" refer to the subject of this article, unless otherwise specified. References to his father will include "Sr."...
's #88 car.
According to his bio, Roadbuster and his partners specialize in traveling across the galaxy to hunt down Decepticons. In the film, he speaks with a Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
accent. Roadbuster has a pair of shoulder rockets and some chain guns on his hands.
Movie plot
Roadbuster, Leadfoot and Topspin are a team of Autobot engineers called the Wreckers, who came to Earth in their ship the Xantium which carried other Autobots, including Sideswipe. NASA took possession of their ship and Director Mearing mentioned they were rarely let off base due to their behavior. When Sentinel expelled the Autobots, the Wreckers prepared the Xantium for launch, but Starscream destroyed their ship as it was leaving. In the battle in Chicago, Roadbuster and the other Wreckers killed the pilot of a Decepticons fighter, and revealed to Sam that they had hid in a booster rocket which detached before Starscream attacked. When Shockwave attacked their convoy and Optimus lost his trailer, they created a diversion so that Optimus could retrieve it. Later they helped Optimus untangle himself and were among the surviving Autobots at the end of the film.Toys
All toys of this character are officially licensed from General MotorsGeneral Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
and feature a NASCAR holographic seal, making them official NASCAR merchandise.
- Dark of the Moon Cyberverse Legion Roadbuster (2011)
- A new mold. His car mode is depicted as fully armored, with robot parts and weapons sticking out of the car body.
- Dark of the Moon MechTech Deluxe Roadbuster (2011)
- A new mold of Roadbuster. His MechTech weapon is a blaster with a retractable chainsaw. The head sculpt is designed to resemble a stereotypical RedneckRedneckRedneck is a historically derogatory slang term used in reference to poor, uneducated white farmers, especially from the southern United States...
NASCAR fan, sporting a MulletMullet (haircut)The mullet is a hairstyle that is short at the front and sides, and long in the back. . The mullet began to appear in popular media in the 1960s and 1970s but did not become generally well-known until the early 1980s...
and a baseball cap. Due to licensing limitations, Amp Energy and National Guard are the only sponsor logos on the figure, as the quarter panel and deck lid sections. However third party sticker sheets have been produced that give Roadbuster all his correct sponsorship decals for a more screen-accurate appearance.- Dark of the Moon MechTech Deluxe Track Battle Roadbuster (2011)
- A Walmart exclusive orange and white redeco of the Deluxe figure based on the 2010 Amp Energy Juice paint scheme.
- Dark of the Moon Human Alliance Roadbuster with Sergeant Recon (2011)
- A new Human Alliance mold, with his car mode depicted as fully armored. Comes with 2-inch Sergeant Recon figure, which is dressed in a green and white racing suit similar to that of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. For reasons unknown, the "88" on the roof and sides is printed in a generic font instead of the actual logo used in the real stock car. A second release has the actual "88" decal and sponsor logos printed on the car panels.