Ramjet (Transformers)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ramjet is the name of four fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. All have been Decepticon aligned characters who turn into jets.
Contents |
[edit] Transformers: Generation 1 (1985)
| Transformers character | |
 Ramjet Box Art |
|
| Ramjet | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Decepticon  |
| Sub-Group | Seekers |
| Rank | 5 |
| Function | Warrior |
| Motto | "If it flies, crash it." |
| Alternate Modes | Cybertronian Jet Modified F-15 Eagle |
| Series | Transformers: Generation 1 Transformers: Generation 2 Transformers: Classics |
| Voiced by | Jack Angel (English) |
Ramjet (Statoréacto in Canada, Nibbio in Italy, Motor in Portugal) is a Decepticon from the Transformers series and has appeared in the related comics, cartoons and Transformers: The Movie. In the original Transformers, Ramjet was one of the six named Seekers.
Thrust, Ramjet and Dirge are part of a team dubbed by Transformers fans as the "Coneheads" for the way their animation models were drawn to make them visually distinct from the original Decepticon jets Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker despite their toys being modifications of the same mold used to create that original trio. The toys themselves use the nosecone of the jet to become the head of the robot, but on the original jets the nosecone points back, forming a seemingly normal head. To make the three newer jets distinctive, the show animators illustrated them with the nosecones pointing up in robot mode - despite the fact that this is not how their toy instructions or box art depict them.
[edit] The Character
The original Ramjet was described as an impulsive but brave warrior who enjoyed crashing into objects and enemies. He carried two cluster bombs and two automatic machine guns. Not given much to thinking before acting, Ramjet often crashed into neutral objects, thus collecting new enemies. These crashes often took their toll on Ramjet's body by causing internal damage.
[edit] Animated series
In the original Transformers series, Ramjet appeared in Season 2. He made his first appearance in episode #30, 'Dinobot Island Part 1.' How Ramjet came to Earth was not shown but as the Decepticons had already built the Spacebridge (a link between Cybertron and Earth), it was assumed that he came to Earth through the device.
Ramjet made regular appearances during the second season, most notably in episode #40, A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court where several Transformers characters were transported back in time. During this episode, Ramjet made good use of his name by head-butting a knight. He also participated in a jousting contest, with Rumble atop his nosecone wielding a lance against Spike Witwicky mounted atop Autobot Warpath's turret.
Ramjet made brief appearances in Transformers: The Movie - firstly as the Decepticon knocked to the ground during the battle of Autobot City, and secondly during Unicron's attempted destruction of Cybertron.
After the movie, Ramjet was thrown against a building and seemingly destroyed by Ultra Magnus, but returned to make small appearances throughout the third season.
His last appeared in Episode #10 Thief In the Night.
[edit] Marvel Comics
Although he would not appear personally in the Transformers comic until issue #17, Ramjet's vehicle mode, along with Thrust and Dirge's were being mass produced under slave labor when Shockwave assumed control of G.B. Blackrock Aircraft Assembly Plant #1 (issues #8-12; the planes seen in issues #11-12). This suggests that the planes were either F-15s redesigned by Shockwave for use as Decepticons or that they were already made from blueprints produced (on Earth) by the Blackrock company. This implies that this is how the three Seekers gained their Earth modes when they eventually came to Earth.
Ramjet first appeared chronologically in issue #17 of the US Marvel Transformers comic, acting as a bodyguard for Straxus. He had a much more important role in the Marvel UK storyline Target: 2006, where he was portrayed as one of the Decepticons' deadliest killers, and one that needed to be taken out by the Autobot commando group the Wreckers to signal a mass-Autobot uprising on Cybertron. The Decepticons had prepared a major offensive to wipe the Autobots out and capture Emirate Xaaron, unaware this was part of the Autobot trap. Megatron's summoning the Insecticons to Earth scuppered both sides plans.
Subsequently, he joined the Decepticons on Earth. He was seen entering Earth via the Spacebridge, alongside Thrust and Dirge around the same time as the Aerialbots were being created. Despite acquitting themselves well against the inexperienced Autobots they were eventually forced to flee when the Aerialbots formed Superion. Ramjet would serve as part of the Earthbound forces under first Shockwave, then Ratbat, battling both the Autobots and Scorponok's Decepticon faction. When Starscream seized the power of the Underbase, Dirge, Thrust and Ramjet were part of the forces sent against him. Although they were not shown to be deactivated by the villain, they were not seen again in the main continuity, although they would be seen in the UK Earthforce tales under the command of Megatron and Shockwave.
Ramjet would appear again in Marvel's Generation 2 comic, possibly revived by nucleon. He was part of the Decepticon forces under Bludgeon, and was seemingly restored to prominence in the Decepticon hierarchy after Megatron's return. He died while fighting the Swarm, consumed completely. Despite being one of the better-known Generation 2 characters, he appeared sparingly, and in his Generation 1 color scheme.
[edit] Convention Comics
Ramjet would also play a brief but important role in Alignment, writer Simon Furman's take on what happened after the Transformers: Generation 2 comic series ended. After Megatron's battered body was recovered by Soundwave after a duel with Galvatron, Ramjet was one of the conspirators (along with Soundwave, Ravage and Direwolf) who gave some of their spark energy to resurrect Megatron in a more powerful body, allowing him to defeat the forces of the Liege Maximo. This indicates that in some point in the G2 timeline he was resurrected after his death at the hands of the Swarm.
[edit] Dreamwave Productions
Ramjet was recruited as a Decepticon under the leadership of Megatron in his war against the Autobots on the planet Cybertron. Ramjet became a member of the elite Seekers under Aerospace Commander Starscream. He often worked with fellow Seekers Dirge and Thrust.
When Shockwave led the Decepticon attack on the Autobot capitol of Iacon 8.2 million years ago, Ramjet was among his troops along with Astrotrain, Blitzwing, Bludgeon, Brawl, Chopshop, Dirge, Frenzy, Octane, Onslaught, Tantrum, Venom and Vortex.
After the Great Shutdown ended, Ramjet was reformatted by Shockwave in the form of an Earth-style jet, becoming one of his bodyguards. After the Great War ended Ramjet was among the Decepticons under the command of Ultra Magnus who were sent on to Earth to capture Optimus Prime's Autobots and return them to Cybertron. When it was revealed that Shockwave was going to kill Optimus Prime and take over Cybertron for himself, Ramjet was among the Decepticons who sided with Shockwave.
Defeated by the Autobots on Cybertron, Shockwave was forced to set up a new secret headquarters in the wastelands of Cybertron, with Astrotrain, Blitzwing, Dirge, Ramjet and Thrust following him. Shockwave completed work on his new warrior, Sixshot. Megatron returned to Cybertron with three clone warriors and the Predacons and was able to defeat Shockwave. Shockwave was kept alive, but restrained. All Shockwave's warriors except Blitzwing, who was destroyed, joined up with Megatron in his plan to invade the Earth .
[edit] Devil's Due Publishing
Ramjet would appear again in the second Transformers/G.I Joe crossover from Devil's Due with Dirge, Thrust, Scourge and Cyclonus, acting as bodyguards for Shockwave. When the Dinobots returned from different a time period they routed Shockwave's troops. Ramjet was presumably killed either during this event, or when Cobra Commander detonated a store of explosives inside Starscream, killing everyone present. In this story, Ramjet had not received an Earthen mode and transformed into a Cybertronian jet.
[edit] Toys
- Generation 1 Ramjet (1985)
- A remold of the toy used for Starscream and other Seekers.
- Generation 2 Ramjet (1992)
- Ramjet was first re-issued in 1992, as part of Generation 2. This toy featured a predominantly-purple color scheme. It came with a sound box accessory. G2 Ramjet was also sold on card. A (relatively crude) 3-D model of G2 Ramjet battled with Optimus Prime in the opening credits of the Generation 2 animated series (which was actually the original series with new CGI bumpers).
- Transformers: Classics Ramjet (2007)
- On Sunday, September 10, 2006, pictures of resin prototypes for Classics Ramjet were discovered on the internet. The toy shares many of the same parts as Classics Starscream but with some alterations. These include a different nose cone which transforms into the character's signature "cone head", and new wings which feature extra jet boosters in back. This gives the toy the same look as his Generation 1 counterpart. The toy is now out as the second wave of Transformers Classics alongside Cliffjumper released in early 2007.
[edit] Transformers: Armada (2003)
The name Ramjet appeared again in 2003, as part of the Tidal Wave package in the Transformers: Armada series. This Ramjet was the Mini-Con that partnered Tidal Wave, and like the other Ramjets, was a jet. This toy featured a bright purple and orange color scheme.
Ramjet's background was explored in the Dreamwave More Than Meets the Eye series. In it he was portrayed as a coward he used his partner's sheer bulk to hide behind in battle, influencing his dimmer colleague to chaos and destruction. Ramjet linked up with his partner after a failed operation at an Energon plant left Tidal Wave at death's door. However the Mini-Con was able to forcibly recharge his colleague's systems, powering him up even further - although some believe the only enhancements Ramjet made were in Tidal Wave's mind... His motto is "Tell that to my friend!" He is immensely fast and maneuverable in jet form, but due to is light armour, he is vulnerable to a direct hit from anti-aircraft fire.
[edit] Transformers: Energon (2003)
Also in the same year, as part of the Transformers: Energon series, Ramjet again partnered Tidal Wave. This toy featured a grey color scheme.
[edit] Transformers: Universe (2004)
| Transformers character | |
 Universe Ramjet toy |
|
| Ramjet | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Decepticon |
| Sub-Group | Ultra Vehicles Micro Vehicles |
| Partner | Gunbarrel Terradive Thunderclash Thunderwing |
| Motto | "'Annihilation is ecstacy." |
| Alternate Modes | Cybertronian Jet |
| Series | Transformers: Universe |
In 2004, another Ramjet appeared as part of the Transformers: Universe series and this time was a large toy. It was a recolor of Armada Skywarp. The toy featured a white, blue and red color scheme and was sold along with four Mini-Cons: Gunbarrel, Terradive, Thunderclash and Thunderwing.
[edit] IDW Publishing
Ramjet appeared as one of the major character in the Transformers: Cybertron comic produced by the Transformers Collectors Club. In this continuity he was one of the Heralds of Unicron alongside Nemesis Prime.
Set free by the black hole created by Unicron's death in Transformers: Cybertron, Ramjet and Nemesis Prime journeyed to the nearly deserted Cybertron Attacking Alpha Trion, Vector Prime and their dimensionally displaced ally Sentinel Maximus, their sinister plan was soon revealed - they intended to use the Dead Matrix to drain the lifeforce of Primus himself and use it to revive their master Unicron.
Using the undead Dark Scorponok as a weapon against the damaged Alpha Trion and manipulating Skyfall to their side, Ramjet and Nemesis Prime led an attack on Primus' spark chamber, only to be confronted by Sentinel Maximus and Vector Prime. As Nemesis Prime entered the chamber, Ramjet and Vector Prime entered into a mighty duel high above Iacon City. Though he was badly wounded himself, Vector Prime defeated Ramjet and used his powers to exile him to another dimension entirely. With Nemesis Prime defeated by the unexpected inter-dimensional arrival of Omega Prime, it seemed that the Heralds' quest was a failure. Unbeknownst to all the Dead Matrix was stolen by Soundwave, who tossed it into the Unicron-created black hole. There what energy it had been able to siphon from Primus reacted with the dead spark of Unicron, and the Chaos-Bringer was born again.
[edit] Toys
- Universe Ramjet (2004)
- Universe Ramjet was a Spring Value Pack exclusive to Toys-R-Us. A redeco of Armada Skywarp and Thunderclash, but with three extra Mini-Cons, redecos of the Armada Air Military Team. Ramjet came with 2 missiles and a wing which turned into a sword.
- BotCon Ramjet (2005)
- This Ramjet was a redeco of the Legends of Cybertron version of Starscream, was a free giveaway at BotCon 2005. It was painted to resemble Transformers: Universe Ramjet. He had no biography or tech specs, but seems to be the character from the Universe toy line.
[edit] Transformers: Cybertron (2006)
| Transformers character | |
 Cybertron Ramjet toy |
|
| Ramjet | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Decepticon |
| Sub-Group | Mini-Con |
| Rank | 5 |
| Alternate Modes | Jet |
| Series | Transformers: Cybertron |
A Mini-Con named Ramjet was sold in the Cybertron line, a repaint of Energon Skyboom. Apparently not the same character as the Ramjet from Armada and Energon, this Ramjet was one of Thrust's recruits early in the war, helping to overthrow the Mini-Con council. Before this he was a tour guide of Mini-Con colonies on the moons of Cybertron - often dumping his charges in remote areas. During the events of Cybertron he put this skill to good use charhing exorbitant fees to Transformers desperate to escape Cybertron and the expanding black hole, only to dump them in Terrorcon infested areas or even into the black hole. Ramjet would pay the price for his ways in the accompanying club comic, however. When Unicron attacked Cybertron in the midst of the Mini-Con civil war, Ramjet was amongst those killed by the Chaos-Bringer.
Ramjet is a redeco of Energon Skyboom.
