Sparkabots
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sparkabots are a group of three Autobots in the Transformers toyline released in 1988. The Sparkabots have extremely simple transformations and no accessories, but their unique gimmick is that they shoot sparks from the rear ends of their vehicle mode when moved across a flat surface.
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[edit] Fizzle
Function: Military Strategist
"Planning a battle is ten times more important than fighting it."
Bio
(From Dreamwave's More Than Meets The Eye Profile Book)
If Fizzle were as good at his job as he claims to be, the Autobot/Decepticon war would've ended millennia ago. He rants loudly and arrogantly (especially when overindulging in cheap Energon) about all the grand designs he has for himself, belittling others while making himself out be a genius whose "big break" is just around the corner. Fizzle blames any failure of his battle plans on the inepitude of the soldiers involved. He drowns his regrets about a life wasted on pointless warfare by creating elaborate success fantasies for himself, which he smugly shares when inebriated. Fellow Autobots pity the tortured Fizzle; in moments of clarity, he inevitably feels guilty and embarrassed about his rash statements.
Fizzle is skilled in designing land-based combat strategies. He is equipped with advanced logistics analysis equipment and can instantly store and retrieve any terrain information in his geographical data banks for future reference when plotting an attack. In vehicle mode, Fizzle can go from 0 to 200 miles per hour in only 0.16 breems.
Fizzle's excesses lower his ability to plan effective strategy or perform in battle. He often stalls on left turns.
[edit] Guzzle
Function: Ground Assault
"It's better to have fought and lost than to have never fought at all."
Bio
(From Dreamwave's More Than Meets The Eye Profile Book)
Not trying is the worst crime as far as Guzzle is concerned. He started his combat career as a green soldier in the city-state of Polyhex, listening disapprovingly as other reluctant Autobots bemoaned their inexperience as warriors. To this day, Guzzle looks at such self-pity as a dangerous luxury. While those worried Autobots became paralyzed by fear in the face of the fierce Decepticon assaults and thus became casualties, Guzzle was concentrating on figuring our what he had to do in order to survive. He became a battle-tested veteran who hungers to keep testing his mettle in combat. His hard-edged, no-nonsense attitude doesn't make him many friends, but he is respected for his honesty and unpretentious attitude. Guzzle knows that he's not the best soldier in the Autobot army, but its not for lack of trying.
Guzzle possesses above-average strength. He is heavily armored in both mode. In tank mode, Guzzle is an expert marksman with his plasma cannon. He can his a microchip from 2.5 miles away. Tank mode has a defensive flame exhaust system that can incinerate solid steel. The exhaust ports are located in his feet, but they are awkward to use in robot mode.
Guzzle consumes fuel at a very high rate.
[edit] Sizzle
Function: Interceptor
"Life in the fast lane is the only life worth living."
Bio
(From Dreamwave's More Than Meets The Eye Profile Book)
In his function as interceptor, as well as everything else in life, all rules and limits are meaningless to Sizzle. He'll speed, drive recklessly, and endanger himself (as well as others, inadvertently) just to get the job done and give him a rush while doing it. If he's not enjoying himself, Sizzle rapidly loses interest in anything, including his work; he constantly pushes the envelope to keep himself excited. His enjoyment of the hunt is only exceeded by his thirst for battle; if he's not speeding then he's likely trying to slag some Decepticons with his flamethrowers or rifle. He gets into trouble more than almost any other Autobot, particularly when he whips an inebriated Fizzle into a frenzy, and the two tear off on some adventure.
Sizzle has above-average intelligence and endurance. In vehicle mode, his maximum speed is 220 mph with a range of 550 miles. His exhaust ports in this mode can create searing flames; they are useable in robot mode where they are located on his arms.
Sizzle has below-average strength. His tendency to get into fights directly correlates to his constant need for repairs.
[edit] Comic Book Appearances
The Sparkabots were regularly used in the Marvel comic after their debut, but this was mainly in the UK comic as followers of Ultra Magnus. In the U.S. comic, they rarely appeared and eventually forgotten about; possibly at a request from Marvel UK who were using the characters themselves. The Sparkabots usually appeared together as a trio. They were sometimes known as Sparkler Mini-Bots; possibly an early name for this sub-group.
Marvel UK #152 - #153: 'Enemy Action'
Marvel UK #160 - #161: 'Salvage'
The Sparkabots were sent to Earth to both investigate Galvatron and salvage Ultra Magnus. They swiftly came into conflict with the Firecons, who'd been sent to bring Galvatron to Cybertron, and they fought each other to a standstill until Galvatron arrived and made it clear he was remaining on Earth. Some weeks later, the Sparkabots were able to find Ultra Magnus and bring him back online; they also engaged Galvatron in battle and were viciously beaten until Magnus stepped in.
Marvel UK #164 - #165: 'City of Fear' Marvel UK #166 - #167: 'Legion of the Lost' Marvel UK #168 - #169: 'Meltdown'
On Earth, the Sparkabots were planning to return to Cybertron along with Ultra Magnus via a dimensional portal to make a report on Galvatron. Sizzle informs Ultra Magnus that the Autobots current headquarters is now located in the city of Kalis and that that is where they are going. Back on Cybertron, the Autobots found Kalis deserted with clear evidence of a battle taken place, and that the few Empties that remained fled at the sight of them. Sizzle found a decapitated head of a very old Transformer but with recent blaster damage - as he left the head behind when rejoining the others, he didn't notice that the head was still alive.
They decided to leave Kalis to see if the rest of Cybertron had suffered a similar fate, but on approaching the neighboring city-state of Tyrest they were attacked by Decepticons. Even in robot mode, the Sparkabots were no match for the Duocons Battletrap and Flywheels and were knocked out. Saved by Ultra Magnus, the Autobots returned to Kalis but the Decepticons refuse to follow. Magnus had been able to gun down Flywheels, who was terrified of being in Kalis - he was able to explain that the city was being plagued by the living dead, just in time for zombie Transformers to emerge from the ground!
Surrounded, the Autobots fight back but they were soon overwhelmed, especially when Magnus noticed the zombies were former Autobots and told them to cease firing in case they could be saved. Fizzle agreed with Magnus while Sizzle felt the zombies were beyond saving, but it became obvious that they needed to retreat and all five Transformers fled to an abandoned Autobot building. When it became clear the zombies were being animated by a radio signal from a nearby transmission station, the Sparkabots attempted to distract the zombies so that Magnus could shut down the signal. Later, after regrouping, Flywheels was sent to gain reinforcements, which caused Sizzle to argue with Magnus.
Marvel UK #170 - #171: 'Deadly Games'
The Sparkabots and Magnus, investigating Autobots gone MIA, discovered alien-run deathmatches were being held in an isolated part of Cybertron, pitting captured Autobots against alien warriors. They were able to shut this down.
Marvel U.S. #46: 'Ca$h and Car-nage'
Marvel U.S. #67: 'Rhythms of Darkness'
In the alternate post-apocalytic future, Guzzle is one of the few remaining Autobots and is killed in battle against Cyclonus & Scourge.
[edit] Japanese Sparkabots (1988)
There were repaints of the Sparkabots that were native only to Japan. Hardspark (C-313) was a recolor of Guzzle, Hotspark (C-314) was a recolor of Sizzle and Wildspark (C-315), the third Sparkabot was just Fizzle with a yellow face. The characters of these toys are not known. Hardspark's function is Fire Warrior, Hotspark's Fire Assault and Wildspark's function is Flame Field Combatant.
[edit] Generation 2 (1994)
Sizzle was remade in clear green plastic with a turquoise robot body. His function was now that of a scout and he had a new motto - ""I can smell the evil of a Decepticon. Wherever they are - I'll find them!"
There was also a new Sparkabot released who was a translucent green recolor of the original Sparkabot Fizzle with purple wheels. Little is known about him except that he functions as a Hit Man and that his motto is "You are only as good as your performance - and that can always be bettered." He made an appearance in a UK annual story released in 1991 but showed little characterisation.
[edit] External links
- Fizzle Toy Gallery
- Sizzle Toy Gallery
- Guzzle Toy Gallery
