Devastator (Transformers)
Devastator is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes.
Transformers: Generation 1
Template:Transformers character Devastator is the combined form of the six Constructicons.
The team's combined form of Devastator is brutality in its purest form—his sole purpose is to destroy anything and everything that gets in his way. It is ironic that the suitably intelligent Constructicons should sacrifice their thinking ability in their combined form, but simple-mindedness is a common limitation of the assorted other first-generation combining Transformers, due to the fact that Devastator's thoughts and actions are limited to what his six components can agree upon at any given time. Consequently, Devastator seems like a being of instinct, lashing out at everything around him before contemplating the consequences, but he is also slow and lumbering and very easy to trip up.
Marvel Comics
The origins of the Constructions in Marvel Comics' Transformers series was not nearly so complicated. Seeking to bolster the size of his forces on Earth in 1985, Decepticon Commander Shockwave arranged for the construction of six new Decepticon bodies, which were then infused with life by the power of the Creation Matrix, tapped from the head of the imprisoned Optimus Prime. Thus, the Constructicons were born, and were immediately put to work building a massive radio transmission dish that Soundwave used to beam a message to Cybertron. When the Autobots attempted to interfere, the Constructicons revealed their hidden power and merged into Devastator to fight them off, allowing the message to successfully go through.
The Autobots, intrigued by Devastator's unique combining power, attempting to replicate it with the construction of Omega Supreme, but as Omega was composed of only three (non-sentient) components, unlike the six Constructicons that made up Devastator, the Autobots conducted a raid on the Decepticon base, luring out Devastator so that they could gather data on him. This allowed them to accomplish the construction of the new combiner team, the Aerialbots, capable of forming Superion, whom Devastator battled during the Transformers' adventure alongside G.I. Joe.
A story published in issue 264 of the U.K.'s Transformers comic is often cited as an attempt to explain both releases, but since the "new" Constructicons wouldn't be released for another two years, the only toy the story could actually be based upon would be the Action Master version of Devastator. In the story, it was revealed that that the Constructicons had lost the ability to combine and were attempting to rebuild Devastator as a singular, separate entity. The Autobots Ironhide and Bumblebee arrived on the island to investigate, and Ironhide was able to bypass the security grid and plant explosives to destroy the site, and Devastator with it.
Fun Publications
Based on the Transformers Classics toy line, the Timelines 2007 story is set 15 years after the end of the Marvel Comics story (ignoring all events of the Marvel U.K. and Transformers: Generation 2 comics). Megatron survived the crash of the Ark on Earth, reformatted himself into a new form and now leads Ramjet, Skywarp, Soundwave, Starscream and the Constructicons. Optimus Prime has also returned to Earth commanding Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Grimlock, Jetfire, Mirage and Rodimus (formerly Hot Rod).
When the Cybertronians Skyfall and Landquake arrive on Earth unexpectedly Megatron attempts to destroy them, but Optimus Prime and his Autobots are able to drive Megatron away. The Constructicons merged into Devastator to stop the Autobots from gaining an energy source the Decepticons were attempting to find, but were defeated by Grimlock.
Toys
- Generation 1 Devastator (1985)
- The combined form of the six Constructicons. Based on Diaclone toys.
- Generation 1 Action Master Devastator with Scorpulator (1990)
- A non-transforming toy with a Targetmaster partner.
- In 1990, the final year of the Transformers toyline in the U.S., an Action Master figure of Devastator was released, with a transforming partner named Scorpulator. Two years later, in 1992, the Constructicons' toys were re-released (exclusive to Europe), now in a yellow, purple and grey color scheme, with no individual names for the individual toys and lacking the additional pieces that allowed their original releases to combine into Devastator.
- Generation 2 Yellow Devastator (1993)
- Redecos of the original toys in yellow for Generation 2.
- Generation 2 Orange Devastator (1993)
- Redecos of the original toys in orange for Generation 2.
- Classics Devastator (2007)
- A Walmart store exclusive gift set. A redeco of Energon Constructicon Maximus.
2007 Transformers film
In the film, Devastator appears as a separate character that transforms into a heavily-modified M1 Abrams tank. This character was listed as being renamed Brawl; however, in the final movie, the Decepticon clearly identifies himself as Devastator, although the character is credited as Brawl in the merchandise. According to writers Roberto Orci and Hasbro's Transformers team, this is an error and that he is supposed to be named Brawl. However when queried, director Michael Bay has stated that he has always preferred Devastator, as it "sounded more destructive and dangerous for a Decepticon" [1].
Video Game
Brawl/Devastator appears in the video game tie-in with the movie. However, in the video game the name of the character is correctly identified as Brawl. He appears in the Autobot campaign as a boss and in the Decepticon campaign as an ally you must escort. In the Nintendo DS version, he is a playable character.
Sequel
The film's producer, Tom DeSanto, states the possibility of adding the Constructicons in a sequel [2], though it is doubtful that Bonecrusher will actually be featured as one of them, nor the use of the name Devastator should they be able to merge, due to the "mistake" in the first film.