Perceptor
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Perceptor is the name of two different fictional characters in the Transformers universes.
Contents |
[edit] Transformers: Generation 1 (1986)
| Transformers character | |
 |
|
| Perceptor | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance | Autobot |
| Function | Scientist |
| Motto | "One's ultimate truth lies in one's molecular structure." |
| Alternate mode | Microscope/Mobile Field Artillery Cannon Missile Truck |
| Series | Transformers: Generation 1 Transformers: Classics |
| Voice Actor | Paul Eiding (English) |
Perceptor (Percepto in France, Supervista in Italy) transforms into a microscope (which also functions as a telescope). The toy version of Perceptor actually contained a magnifying lens and could be used as a small, low-powered microscope.
[edit] Animated series
Perceptor made his first appearance in Dinobot Island Part 2 when he assisted Chip Chase at understanding some unusual phenomena occurring in that episode.
His first major role is in Microbots when Megatron acquired the Heart of Cybertron, which was decimating the Autobots. He used his shrinking device to shrink himself, Bumblebee and Brawn, so they could infiltrate Megatron's "body" and disable the Heart of Cybertron, which he later destroyed.
In the episode The God Gambit Cosmos collected data in space on a potential new power source, but was attacked by Astrotrain, Thrust and Starscream. Crashing on the moon Titan, the local priests worshiped the Decepticons as "Sky Gods", but rebels were able to reactivate Cosmos and call for aid from the Autobots. Optimus Prime sent Omega Supreme with Perceptor and Jazz. Astrotrain set himself up as the chief god of the moon and forced the natives to gather energy crystals. The trip to Titan drained Omega of most of his energy, but Perceptor and Jazz were able to gather enough crystals to reactivate Omega and defeat the three Decepticons. Vowing to not let the Autobots gain the crystals, Astrotrain set up a chain reaction destroying them. The Autobots aided the natives to escape the explosion and helped them settle in another area of the moon.
It was Perceptor who diagnosed that the wounds Optimus Prime had received in his battle with Megatron were fatal.
Perceptor would continue to appear throughout season 3, acting as Rodimus Prime's scientific advisor. Perceptor was one of the pre-1986 Autobots to survive The Transformers: The Movie, along with Jazz, Cliffjumper, Bumblebee, Blaster and the Dinobots. His role as chief Autobot scientist meant he could be used instead of either Ratchet and Wheeljack, whose toys were being discontinued; both were killed off in Transformers: The Movie.
In episode 78, Madman's Paradise, Spike and Carly hosted a banquet for a visiting ambassador. Daniel got bored and wandered off. Grimlock followed him, and they fell into a lost chamber where Quintessons banished their criminals to other dimensions. They slipped through to the sorcerous other-dimensional realm of Menonia, and were tricked into fighting on the Red Wizard's side, only to find out that he was the Quintesson criminal, who overthrew the Golden One. Ultra Magnus, Blaster, Eject, Rewind, Ramhorn, and Steeljaw followed, and using Blaster's amplification, they help the Golden One defeat the Red Wizard. With the help of Perceptor, the Autobots and Daniel are returned to Cybertron.
[edit] Transformers: Victory
Perceptor made an appearance in 1989, in Transformers: Victory in Japan. Wheeljack, along with Perceptor and Minerva were called upon to save God Ginrai, who they converted into Victory Leo.
[edit] Marvel Comics
Perceptor was originally part of an Autobot group in the "Dead End" region of Cybertron. Serving as the group's scientist, Perceptor would nonetheless lead a mission to save the captured Blaster from being executed by the local Decepticon commander Lord Straxus. Later, he was opposed to the plan to save the captive scientist Spanner, but was outvoted. Accompanying the others to blow up the Decepticon base, they were horrified to discover that the Decepticons had built Spanner into the Space Bridge itself. Destroying the Bridge as a mercy-killing, Perceptor and his comrades (Beachcomber, Blaster, Cosmos, Powerglide, Seaspray and Warpath), with no chance of escaping to Cybertron, crossed the bridge to Earth.
After an attack by Megatron, they were then captured by Circuit Breaker and her Rapid Anti-Robot Attack Team, taken to her lab and then dissected After capturing the Aerialbots she encountered a new problem - the Decepticon Battlechargers Runabout and Runamuck were causing mayhem across America. Using the parts from all the captured Autobots she created a giant Autobot with herself in control, striking a deal with them that if they would co-operate she would let them go. Circuit Breaker then used them to battle the two Decepticons, who were attacking the Statue of Liberty. After defeating the Decepticons with Circuit Breaker the Autobots were released.
After a side-adventure in the UK comics in which they encounterd (and were almost killed by) the future Decepticon Galvatron, Perceptor's group linked up with the main Autobots - only to learn of the death of Optimus Prime. Perceptor was considered important enough to be among the Autobots who decided Prime's successor. After an attack by the giant Decepticon Trypticon the leader was chosen - Grimlock. He soon regretted this, as Grimlock became more and more tyrannical. After Blaster returned (having gone rogue over Grimlock's leadership) Perceptor was one of those who welcomed him back. After Prime's return as a Powermaster, Perceptor continued to serve loyally, battling the Decepticons in the Arctic (and getting jumped by the Seacons in the process) - until he was deactivated by the Underbase powered Starscream.
Perceptor would appear in the Transformers: Generation 2 comics as one of the Autobot scientists studying the victims of the Swarm, indicating he was revived by Nucleon at some point.
[edit] Dreamwave Productions
Perceptor would make his first chronological appearance in the third volume of The War Within, as an Autobot scientist supporting the peace between the Autobots, Decepticons and Ultracons. Megatron's return with a massive army of Seeker clones forced Perceptor to seek a desperate solution - locating the missing Optimus Prime. Recruiting the Turbomasters, Perceptor hoped to use his equipment to find where Optimus had been transported to - but Flash interfered with it and was transported instead. Dreamwave's closure would prevent this story from being finished.
Later, he appeared in the second volume of the Generation One series as part of an Autobot resistance movement opposed to Shockwave. He appears pleading with the Cybertronian Council to investigate Shockwave's modifications to other Transformers, but would later join Prime's attack on Iacon.
[edit] Devil's Due Publishing
Perceptor featured in the second G.I Joe vs the Transformers tale from Devil's Due Publishing, as one of the resistance group under Ultra Magnus.
Perceptor returned in the third series of G.I. Joe vs. The Transformers. Grimlock, Arcee, Bumblebee and Perceptor were sent to Earth to aid G.I. Joe in removing the influence of Cybertonian technology on the planet. When Cobra attached the base, the Autobots helped repel the Cobra Battle Android Trooper armies, but were unable to stop the awakened Serpentor. Pursuing him to Cybertron (and unable to convince Hawk to stay behind) the group were quickly captured by Serpentor's new army, but were freed by Snake-Eyes and Scarlett. Wounded by the Cobra Commander possessed Serpentor, Perceptor later recovered, laughing at Roadblock's tales.
[edit] 3H Enterprises
Perceptor appeared in a flashback scene in issue #2 of the Transformers: Universe - Wreckers comic, where Rodimus Prime consulted Quickmix, Skids, Perceptor and Rad on his plans to send out ships to gather information on threats from space after the defeat of Unicron.
[edit] Transformers: Classics
A repaint of Micro class Cybertron Defense Red Alert in red is being sold as a companion to the Classics line as Perceptor.
[edit] Transformers: Armada (2002)
| Transformers character | |
 |
|
| Perceptor (Cliffjumper) | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance | Mini-Con allied with the Autobots |
| Function | Warrior |
| Motto | "Seek your true power." "Teamwork is the key to victory." (Hasbro) "Our powers lead to peace." (Takara) |
| Alternate mode | 3 Mini-Cons |
| Fiction Appearances | Transformers: Armada Transformers: Univerese Transformers: Energon Transformers: Cybertron |
The name Perceptor reappeared in the Transformers: Armada line, this time as the name of a Mini-Con combiner formed from the members of the Street Action Team.
Percptor's bio told how the three beings that make up Perceptor - Grindor, High Wire and Sureshock - are, despite the war raging over them, unflaggingly, unfailingly positive. They try to help all those they meet, and it is this common unity that explains why they work so well together as Perceptor. It stands as a symbol of Mini-Con unity, battling the Decepticons on their own terms, with their unbelievable coordination giving them an edge. However, this comes at a price - Megatron desires their abilities, and will stop at nothing to possess them.
[edit] Transformers: Universe (2004)
Armada Perceptor would be re-released in the Universe line in darker colors packaged alongside Universe Sunstorm and Inferno. His only appearance in the Transformers: Universe storyline was as one of the Decepticons under the command of Reptilion in the Botcon 2004 voice actor play. He battled Silverbolt, Rattrap and Waspinator in order to secure two groups of dimensionally displaced Autobots from the RiD universe. However, the three groups of Autobots, together with a time-lost Autobot shuttle from the Great War, were able to defeat the Decepticons.
In late 2005 Energon Perceptor was repackaged for the Transformers: Universe line. The toy was identical to the Energon version. This character has not appeared in any Universe story yet.
[edit] Transformers: Energon (2004)
Armada Perceptor (now called Cliffjumper in Japan) returned with a completely new mold for Energon.
His bio now indicated that while he had gained the admiration and respect of his comrades as a warrior, his greatest desire was to spend time with his human friends (Rad, Alexis, Carlos and especially Kicker) to learn as much as he could about Earth, its people and its culture. However, he will still battle against the odds to defend it from the Decepticons.
[edit] Transformers: Cybertron (2006)
Perceptor is a recolor of the Energon toy and does not appear in the TV cartoon series. The three members of the Street Action Team are now part of the Mini-Con 'versus' packs and were sold individually along with a member of the Decepticon Mini-Con Deep Space Team. Although each Mini-Con has a bio on their package; Perceptor, being a combined form, does not. He is described as the most powerful warrior among the Mini-Cons and the only one to defeat their Decepticon rivals.
[edit] IDW Publishing
Perceptor appeared in IDW's Transformers Collectors Club exclusive comic story, set during the evnts of Transformers: Cybertron. He appeared as one of the Mini-Cons loyal to the Mini-Con council, battling the rebel forces of Thrust and Sunstorm. However, when Unicron attacked Cybertron once again, Perceptor was one of those who battled Soundwave, forcing him to flee. However in Revelations part 6, Optimus Prime returned to Cybertron, bearing word of Vector Prime's death in battle. Perceptor was amongst those that mourned his loss.
[edit] Links
G1 Perceptor Toy Gallery
Armada Perceptor Toy Review and Gallery
