Ironhide
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Ironhide is the name of five different characters in the Transformers universes.
Contents |
[edit] Transformers - Generation 1 (1984)
| Transformers character | |
 |
|
| Ironhide | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Autobot  |
| Sub-Group | Autobot Cars Deluxe Vehicles Go-Bots Power Masters |
| Function | Security Military Strategist |
| Motto | "High tech circuitry is no replacement for guts." "Being fast is an asset, but nothing replaces guts!" "I grind Decepticons into garbage any way I can." |
| Alternate Modes | Cybertronian Truck Nissan Onebox Cherry Vanette Ford Pick-Up Truck Hummer Cobra HiSS |
| Series | Transformers: Generation 1 Transformers: Generation 2 Transformers: Timelines |
| Voiced by | Peter Cullen (English) Sho Hayami (Japanese) |
Ironhide (Rhino in Canada, Falco in Italy) originated as a toy before the actual Transformers toyline began, in a line called Diaclone. As with many Diaclone toys, the vanette (the term mini-van would not be used until the first Dodge Caravans were sold in 1984) toy was released in 1984 as a new character called Ironhide. Not being designed to be a sentient robot in the Diaclone line (he was piloted by a tiny driver figure who sat in the driver's seat), the toy of Ironhide did not have a proper head, instead having a pilot's seat behind his windscreen. A sticker with a face on applied to the seat was to represent the head. This toy was not the most suited to be a Transformer but the character of Ironhide went on to become one of the best-known identities in Transformers. According to store listings there were plans to reissue Trailbreaker and Ironhide as a commerative toy in 2005, but due to poor sales of the line, they were never released.
Like his fellow Autobot Inferno, Ironhide speaks with a Southern drawl.
[edit] Animated series
The character designers for the cartoon redesigned Ironhide's body, which is now the best-known of all his appearances. Despite being known for being part of the Autobot security detail and Optimus Prime's bodyguard, Ironhide was most often seen in the capacity of a warrior, often fighting in battle without Optimus Prime, or a specific worksite/person/cargo to protect. He was also used as an officer, leading a team of Autobots just as would Optimus's advisors, Prowl and Jazz. Ironhide seemed to develop a bond with the Autobots' human allies, engaging with them on a friendly basis as much as protecting them.Ironhide was good friends with the female Autobot Chromia.
In the "More Than Meets The Eye" three parter that launched the animated series Ironhide was shown assisting Bumblebee in stopping a Rumble created flood. Later, tired of being constantly a step behind the Decepticons, Ironhide impetuously took off after them - only to be brought back down to Earth with a bump by a teleporting Skywarp. Ironhide's most prominent appearance was in the second season episode The Immobilizer. Distracted by the human Carly (who was a big fan of the Autobots)while on guard duty, Ironhide inadvertently allowed the Decepticons to steal Wheeljack's latest invention - a weapon that could freeze anything it fired at, including Transformers. Guilt-ridden and believing himself to be too old to be of any further use Ironhide resigned from active service, against the wishes of Optimus Prime. However, when Carly was captured by the Decepticons trying to make up for what had happened to Ironhide, the veteran Autobot went to her rescue and saved her from the Decepticon base. After been frozen and unfrozen by the Immolizer (after Carly and Brawn sabotaged it) Ironhide personally destroyed the device and returned to active duty.
In The Search for Alpha Trion, when Optimus Prime returned to Cybertron alone to save Elita One, Ironhide leads Inferno and Powerglide after him. On Cybertron the Autobots are briefly reunited with Chromia, Moonracer and Firestar, defeat the Decepticons and save Elita.
Ironhide is killed in The Transformers: The Movie, as the Decepticons invade an Autobot shuttle, in which Ironhide and several other Autobots are traveling to Earth. Despite his "heavily concentrated armor in his front section", he falls as result of several shots to the chest. When Megatron reveals to Starscream how he is going to attack Autobot City on Earth and wipe them out forever, a wounded Ironhide clutches at Megatron's leg and yells, "No!!!". Megatron answers with the famous words: "Such heroic nonsense", and kills Ironhide offscreen with a point-blank blast to the head from his fusion cannon. His recovered body was laid to rest in the Autobots' deep-space masusoleum, which was later destroyed.
It is speculated by some that Ironhide may have formerly been Dion, the best friend of worker robot Orion Pax, who was himself rebuilt into Optimus Prime by the ancient Autobot, Alpha Trion. Their apparent longstanding relationship could be seen to support this idea, but it was never officially touched upon. Ironhide was, at least, an established character at the time of the episode War Dawn (unlike Ultra Magnus who is also seen as a likely Dion). Still, Magnus has many points in favor of his being Dion as well (including an official recognition/homage to the idea in the second Dreamwave G1 miniseries) and in the end, the issue remains unresolved.
[edit] Marvel Comics
Ironhide's first appearance in the comics resembled his toy but was soon updated to his more anthropomorphic animated form. In US #4, with the Autobots low on fuel and facing an imminent Decepticon assault, he was chosen alongside Optimus, Huffer, Bluestreak and Mirage to be given all the remaining fuel and stand against the Decepticons. While Megatron's soldiers collapsed at the last moment due to poisoned fuel, the Autobots were abruptly offlined and the Ark captured by Shockwave.
Once reactivated, he was part of the team sent on a failed mission to prevent the Decepticons contacting Cybertron and battled the Constructicons for the first time. He later worked alongside Jetfire in the Dinobot Hunt and learnt to trust him despite his Decepticon origins; and he fought the Constructicons again at a demolition derby while working as a bodyguard for Buster Witwicky. Things took a darker turn when, in Target: 2006, Galvatron arrived and Optimus Prime was sent to Limbo. Losing to the future Decepticon and having taken a humiliating beating, it was Ironhide who made the decision to dig up & reactivate Megatron and have him assume command against Galvatron.
Ironhide was sidelined as a character in subsequent issues, though he was drawn as fighting against Ratbat's forces on the moon and in the Time Wars. He was later deactivated, presumably during the Underbase battle, and reactivated by Grimlock using Nucleon.
In the latter-day black-and-white UK stories, he was one of five Autobots who Galvatron accidentally reactivated whilst trying to find Autobots with flaws that he could exploit to gain as troops. It was revealed Ironhide had once thwarted a terrorist siege only for the police to almost mess it up, leaving him feeling frustrated with humans. The five defeated him and Ironhide became part of the Autobot Earthforce, where he went on to thwart Decepticon attempts to create an Actionmaster Devastator and help Jazz prevent Megatron & Shockwave from uniting their two factions.
Ironhide appeared in the Marvel Generation Two comics in his G1 form, seemingly dying alongside Smokescreen.
[edit] Audio books
In the 1986 audio adventure Laserbeak's Fury Megatron had Soundwave send Laserbeak to learn more about the humans, despite Starscream's protests that humans were weak and insignificant. Observing a windmill, Laserbeak came into contact with power lines, became trapped in cassette form and was found by some humans. Both the Decepticons and Autobots monitored Laserbeak's radio report. Hound and Spike were sent to investigate. When they discovered the Decepticons observing the windmill, they called for backup. Optimus Prime assembled a battle unite of Ironhide, Sunstreaker, Windcharger and Cliffjumper, leaving Ratchet in charge of their headquarters. Meanwhile, Laserbeak was taken to a disco, where playing him re-energized his circuits and he flew off to rejoin the Decepticons. Sparkplug explained to the Autobots the windmill's technology, as Megatron was interested in a mechanical device that didn't generate a magnetic field. A battle broke out over the windmill, in which Starscream panicked when he learned the windmill was immune to his null rays. Rumble destroyed the windmill during the battle and the Decepticons retreated, with no new technology to take. Optimus Prime expressed his regrets over the destruction that occurred. In the accompanying story book Ironhide was drawn in a manner similar to his toy, not the animated series model.
[edit] Dreamwave Productions
Ironhide spent his peacetime years as a construction engineer fashioning the vast bridges that connect Cybertron's many city-states. When civil war broke out on the planet Cybertron between the Autobots and Decepticon factions, Ironhide joined the Autobot cause.
In the War Within stories, Ironhide was shown during the war often teamed with Grimlock. Ironhide was present under Grimlock's at the battle of Altihex, where they proved unable to save the city. When new leader Optimus ordered the evacuation of Cybertron by the Autobots, Ironhide was among those who reluctantly prepared for the evacuation; he was subsequently part of Grimlock's team sent to rescue Optimus in Cybertron's depths and fought to stop Starscream from mechaforming the planet. When Megatron and Optimus Prime temporarily disappeared in an accident with a space bridge and both sides split into multiple factions, Ironhide joined the Lightning Strike Coalition under Grimlock. Working with the LSC, he helped steal a shipment of energon from Starscream at the Moon Alpha Space Port.
Ironhide was among the Autobots on the Ark mission, who crashed on Earth and were awoken, reformatted into Earth forms, in 1984. After the Decepticons were defeated, the Autobots returned home in the Ark II, but the ship exploded shortly after takeoff and a deactivated Ironhide was one of those lost in the ocean. He was also one of those recovered by Lazarus and reprogrammed as slave war machines to be sold to the highest bidder. Megatron broke free and then freed his fellow Decepticons; the captured Autobots were abused, but eventually freed by Optimus Prime.
In 2003, a Cybertronian task force under Shockwave announced that the war had ended on Cybertron and that Megatron and Optimus Prime's troops were all criminals for their violent acts. Ironhide was taken back to Cybertron, and after Shockwave was deposed he helped Prowl give combat training to the younger Cybertronian Autobots.
[edit] Devil's Due Publishing
In this alternate-continuity crossover between Transformers and G.I. Joe, the Ark was discovered by the terrorist group Cobra, and all the Transformers inside were reformatted into Cobra vehicles remotely controlled by Tele-Vipers (Cobra's communications officers). In this storyline, Ironhide turned into a Cobra HISS (HIgh Speed Sentry) tank.
Ironhide appeared in the second Devil's Due comic series, this time reformatted by Teletran-3 into a 1970s car and also in the third crossover, where he was part of the combined Autobot/G.I Joe force that attempted to rescue Optimus Prime. Although his alternate mode is not shown, his body resembles that of the classic G1 look, indicating his alternate mode is now the familiar Nissan.
[edit] IDW Publishing
In IDW Publishing's new The Transformers: Infiltration mini-series, Ironhide is part of an infiltration unit consisting of Ratchet, Wheeljack, Jazz, Bumblebee and Sunstreaker, led by Prowl. He first appears saving Ratchet from Thundercracker. He was also part of the expedition to the Decepticon base to watch the duel between Megatron and a super-powered Starscream. It is interesting to note here that it is Ironhide, not Prowl (who is in command) or Ratchet (who was arguing for it) who takes the decision to call in Optimus Prime. Although presented as Generation 1's Ironhide, he and Ratchet are shown transforming into full-sized Ford vans, as opposed to the Japanese-manufactured vanettes.
In the sequel series The Transformers: Escalation Ironhide was dispatched along with Sunstreaker to escort the humans back to their homes. Unfortunately Sunsteaker was attacked by the Machination, an organization dedicated to acquiring Transformer technology, and apparently destroyed as Ironhide tried to get to him. Forced to back off as the humans recovered his remains, Ironhide took Verity and Jimmy back to base. Later he suggested to Prime that he be allowed to look for Sunstreaker, but was overruled - leading to a confrontation with Prowl. After discovering that Ratchet, Verity and Jimmy planned to disobey orders again, Ironhide insisted on going with them. Locating the garage that had built the fake Sunstreaker, Ironhide was talked into letting Verity and Jimmy go in to have a look. When they failed to reappear, Ironhide went in peronally - only to discover their gassed bodies, as a timer ticked down past three minutes. The story is ongoing.
[edit] Evolutions: Hearts of Steel
An alternate version of Ironhide would appear in IDW's Hearts of Steel. When Starscream's plan is discovered Ironhide was one of those who followed Bumblebee's lead in following the Decepticon train convoy, shooting down Scourge, and was present at their defeat. Following this, he and the other Autobots went back into stasis.
[edit] Transformers: Timelines (2005)
A remold of the Energon Autobot Tow-Line, the original Ironhide makes his first appearance as a new toy in ten years as a BotCon exclusive. His body has been reconfigured by Optimus Prime and the Matrix into a form resembling a more advanced version of his old body.
In the accompanying comic, Descent into Evil, set in a possible future he leads a group of Autobots, including his old friend Ratchet. Sent to investigate Deathsaurus' activities, they discovered his plan to create a massive army of Insecticon clones. After his team had been captured Ironhide took on Deathsaurus himself, hoping to distract him long enough to allow Ratchet to free the others. He failed and was captured by the larger Decepticon. However, he and Ratchet were freed by Ricochet, who was in fact an agent of Bumblebee, and had infected the Insecticons with a virus that slowly destroyed their clones. Ironhide was then instrumental in leading Autobot reinforcements to victory over the Decepticons.
[edit] Toys
- Generation 1 Ironhide
- Based on a Diaclone toy. Remolded into Ratchet.
- Power Master Ironhide
- In Europe, Ironhide received a further upgrade as a "Power Master" (not to be confused with the Generation 1 Powermasters) where he now transformed into a Hummer. The European Power Masters (also called Powered Masters) were simple pull robots with pull back motors which propelled them in either form, like the Generation 1 Throttlebots, but they would only go forward when their weapons were inserted into their base.
- This version of Ironhide is described as being a battle-tested veteran with heavy armored plating.
- Transformers: Generation 2 Ironhide (1995)
- For Generation 2, Ironhide was reformatted into a silver Ford pickup truck. Although he received a new bio and motto, he still functions as security. The toy was a recolor of the Autobot Motormouth.
- Ironhide's tech spec described him as a stubborn survivor and incredible strength. He's been upgraded from his old armored form to a lightweight alloy frame with a major boost in speed. Ironhide has never appeared in this form in any official fiction.
- Timelines Ironhide
- A BotCon exclusive remold of Energon Towline.
[edit] Transformers: Beast Wars (1997)
| Transformers character | |
 |
|
| Ironhide | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Maximal  |
| Partner | Prowl & Silverbolt |
| Alternate Modes | African elephant |
| Series | Beast Wars |
A new character, Ironhide is a Maximal elephant with the ability to combine with team-mates Silverbolt and Prowl; contributing his strength to form Magnaboss. Although Ironhide had no individual tech spec in his U.S. release, he was called Santon in Japan, and was a major character. He was a medic.
Santon appeared as a regular in the Beast Wars Second series.
[edit] 3H Enterprises
The Beast Wars Ironhide made appearance in Transformers: Universe #3 as part of Magnaboss. In this comic Optimus Primal pleads with Magnaboss and the Maximal High council (which oddly includes Bantor, Air Hammer, Corahda, Torca and Battle Unicorn) to take the threat of Unicron seriously, but they doubt his claims. Optimus Primal is detained, but Snarl breaks him out of the detention center.
[edit] IDW Publishing
According to the message board as IDW Publishing, the writers of their Beast Wars comics plan to make a profile of this Ironhide in their comics which will give the character a background. It is said that this background will include that he is not the same character as Beast Wars II Santon.
[edit] Toys
- Beast Wars Ironhide (1997)
- Packaged together with Beast Wars Prowl and Beast Wars eagle Superion Silverbolt.
[edit] Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001)
| Transformers character | |
 animated appearance |
|
| Ironhide (Ox) | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Autobot |
| Sub-Group | Spy Changer |
| Rank | 7 |
| Function | Transportation |
| Motto | "Let's move out!" |
| Alternate Modes | Ford F-Series Pick-up Truck |
| Series | Transformers: Robots in Disguise Transformers: Universe |
| Voiced by | Michael McConnohie (English) |
An American release of the Japanese Car Robots toy named Ox, Ironhide was the obvious choice of name for this toy, having previously been used on the mold before Generation 2. This toy was later recolored into a several clear versions, one of which was repackaged as the second Transformers: Universe Hoist. Like the original this Ironhide has a Southern accent.
Ironhide is the strongest of the Spy Changers. Usually a peaceful intellectual until he gets pushed to the limit, then stay out of his way. He's an expert in materials transport and carries a shockwave rifle.
[edit] Animated series
In the TV series, the Spy Changers received little characterization - usually acting in a group to attack or perform whatever mission they had been assigned. Ironhide's best friend was fellow Spy Changer Mirage which was the basis of one particular episode called "Mirage's Betrayal". After an incident where Mirage, fearing collateral damge, allowed the Predacons to get away, the others on the team accused him of failure. A furious Mirage walked out, realizing the Predacons had put a bug on him. Ironhide attempted to talk him out of it, but snapped and punched him when Mirage threatened to join the Predacons (unaware he was just doing it for show). Later, Mirage called the Spy Changers to Megatron's latest weapon, having ostensibly joined the Predacons. He managed to communicate his true intentions to the other Spy Changers, and they destroyed the laser. A guilty Ironhide demanded Mirage hit him to even things out between them - but Mirage simply prodded his friend, claiming they were now even before challenging him to a race back to base.
[edit] Transformers: Universe (2004)
Given the nature of Transformers: Universe and that there are two different characters named Ironhide who have used this mold in the past, the identity of this toy may be either the original or the RiD incarnation. However, because he comes packaged with the RiD Spy Changer Ultra Magnus (now in the large Universe Ultra Magnus's color scheme), it is widely believed that the personality used for Transformers: Universe Ironhide is RiD's Ironhide. However, his color scheme is an intentional homage to the G1 Autobot Trailbreaker who had a similar form. (It is possible that "Trailbreaker" (along with Prowl 2's "Red Alert") was intended to be a part of the "Generation 1 (homage) Spy Changers" earlier sold in Armada style packaging.
This Ironhide character made an appearance in the Botcon 2004 vocal play, where he was a member of two groups of Transformers from the RiD universe by Unicron for use in the gladitorial battles repowering him. However, a device built by Rhinox to stop this deflected them instead to a frozen asteroid. Both sides then dispatched teams to locate them. Alongside the future era Transformers Silverbolt, Rattrap and Waspinator, as well as the timelost G1 Autobots Bumblebee, Tracks and Cosmos, they battled and defeated Unicron's Decepticon servants.
[edit] Transformers: Armada (2003)
| Transformers character | |
| Ironhide | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Mini-Con  |
| Sub-Group | Female Transformers |
| Partner | Terrorsaur |
| Motto | "Alone is no way to live." |
| Alternate Modes | Dune Runner |
| Series | Transformers: Armada |
Although she doesn't look it, Ironhide is a female Transformer Mini-Con who has been captured by the Decepticon Terrorsaur for his own personal use. Ironhide is a repaint of fellow Mini-Con Dune Runner.
[edit] References
- http://www.unicron.us/tf2003/toypix/terrorsaur.htm - Fan page for Armada Terrorsaur and Ironhide.
- - Terrorsaur and Ironhide Image Gallery
[edit] Transformers: Energon (2004)
| Transformers character | |
 |
|
| Ironhide (Roadbuster) | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Autobot |
| Sub-Group | Ultra Vehicles |
| Motto | "If trouble doesn't find me, I'll find it!" |
| Alternate Modes | Modified Toyota Land Cruiser |
| Series | Transformers: Energon |
| Voiced by | Matt Hill (English) Mitsuo Iwata (Japanese) |
Ironhide is a young, reckless Autobot who idolizes Hot Shot. He's a good fighter, but lacks discipline. He most commonly powerlinx with Jetfire, becoming the lower (or upper) half of their combined form. Carries a laser cannon.
Ironhide's vehicular form resembles the then-unreleased Mini-Con, Reverb; both Transformers resembling the Ford Explorer Sport Trac.
Also note that the Japanese name for the Decepticon Demolishor was Ironhide.
The toy of the Autobot called Towline was an obvious homage to the design of the Generation 1 Ironhide and Ratchet toys.
[edit] Animated series
The youthful, impetuous Ironhide (Roadbuster) is the newest addition to Optimus Prime's team, and is desperate to prove himself to his commanders, particularly his idol, Hot Shot. Indeed, it is not generally the actions Ironhide performs on his own that define his character, but rather the actions taken in his relationships with others, the first such challenging being his partnership with the disagreeable human, Kicker. Neither Ironhide nor Kicker were happy about Optimus Prime's decision to force them together, but despite everything, the two eventually became good friends. Ironhide would also have to deal with the betrayal of Demolishor and the corruption of Scorponok, resulting in an emotional growth that saw him become the object of adoration himself, and leader of his own team. Ironhide transforms into an SUV with roof-mounted cannons, and possesses the Spark of Combination, allowing him to combine with other Transformers. During the battle against Unicron, Ironhide was evolved into a more powerful form by Primus (the cartoons continued to refer to him by his original name, while the toys were released as Energon Ironhide and Roadbuster W in the U.S. and Japan, respectively).
[edit] Dreamwave Productions
Ironhide would also appear in the Dreamwave Productions Energon comic series, where his backstory was expanded on. In the years of the civil war Ironhide was a prisoner of the Decepticons, most notably the sadistic Tidal Wave, who killed other Autobots whenever Ironhide refused his orders, forcing him to make weapons. Before the events of Energon he had come to Earth under the command of Jetfire. However, his past would come to the fore once again in Energon #24 when he was attacked by Tidal Wave - now a Terrorcon, a group of former Decepticons enhanced by Unicron - who threatened Cliffjumper's life to get what he wanted. Forcing Ironhide to take him to a store of planet-destroying warheads to obtain one for the Terrorcons, Tidal Wave underestimated his prisoner's resolve as he activated the warhead and attacked Tidal Wave. The Terrorcon easily defeated him, but was forced to flee by the arrival of Jetfire and the seemingly imminent detonation of the bomb - unaware that Ironhide had rigged it not to go off.
He was subsequently on Earth for the arrival of the Omnicons, and was one of the defenders of the Autobot base alongside Overload and Dropshot, but was easily defeated by Scorponok. After Megatron surprisingly arrived and defeated the Terrorcon leader, he confronted Ironhide - but instead of destroying him he merely gave Ironhide a message to give to the Autobots: that Megatron was back.
Dreamwave went out of business before the end of Energon could be reached, so any further tales of Ironhide would remain untold.
[edit] References
- http://www.seibertron.com/database/character.php?view=&char_id=2781 - Fan page for Energon Ironhide.
[edit] 2007 film
In the upcoming live action film Ironhide will appear as a GMC TopKick C4500 pickup truck. [1] He is replacing Arcee in the cast list. Even though Peter Cullen is cast as Prime, he will not be voicing Ironhide.[citation needed]
