ALLEGIANCE: DECEPTICON
FUNCTION: WARRIOR
FIRST APPEARANCE: TRANSFORMERS # 17

“Fear is the element that unites all losers.”

Profile: The chilling rumble of Dirge’s engines as they approach from a distance is merely a prelude to the petrifying fear they induce in whomever is unlucky enough to hear as they pass overhead. And fear is something with which Dirge is quite familiar. He knows its all-consuming power; he understands how it can defeat even the mightiest of armies. He handles it with the same exacting proficiency that a concert pianist handles his piano’s keys. Even his fellow Decepticons are put off a bit by his mournful, silent manner. Ramjet sums up everyone’s feelings: “He gives me the creeps.”

Abilities: In jet mode, the sound from Dirge’s engines has the uncanny effect of producing spine-tingling (circuit-tingling, in the cases of other robots) fear in nearly everyone who hears it. Apparently, the engines emit a combination of frequencies that has a disorienting, fear-provoking effect on the nervous systems of all those within earshot. He also carries two air-to-air missiles and two automatic machine guns.

Weaknesses: In order to perform well as a warrior, Dirge needs to feel that he’s in control of a situation. When things get out of hand, Dirge is prone to suffer from the very weapon he himself wields so effectively – fear. Dirge’s usefulness evaporates under these conditions.

ALLEGIANCE: DECEPTICON
SUB-GROUP: CONSTRUCTICON

FUNCTION: SURGICAL ENGINEER
FIRST APPEARANCE: TRANSFORMERS # 10

“Strive for perfection even if others must suffer.”

Profile: With the care and precision of a fine jeweler, Hook performs
his job with a skill unparallelled among all the Transformers. It doesn’t matter
whether he’s reconnecting a damaged microchip or setting a two ton girder into
place – in each case perfection is his final goal. Perhaps because he is a perfectionist
he has a snobbish, supercilious attitude toward his fellow Constructicons, since
he considers them generally crude and dim-witted. Although Hook may not win
any popularity contests, there’s no denying his superior abilities and the important
role they have in the Decepticons’ evil schemes.

Abilities: In vehicular mode, Hook can use his crane to lift objects
weighing up to 20 tons. In positioning these objects, his error tolerance is
less than .00001%. In robot mode he shows equal precision repairing his comrades
as the Decepticon surgeon. He carries a rocket launcher in vehicular mode and
a laser pistol in robot mode. He serves as the shoulders and head module that,
when combined with his fellow Constructicons, forms the giant robot known as
Devastator.

Weaknesses: The extreme care Hook takes in performing his job often
slows down his work to the point of antagonizing his fellow Decepticons and
endangering whatever operation they are involved in. Overuse of his crane can
result in metal stress fractures.

ALLEGIANCE: DECEPTICON
SUB-GROUP: INSECTICON
FUNCTION: PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE
FIRST APPEARANCE: TRANSFORMERS # 17

“The mind is my playpen!”

Profile: Whether it refers to a robot’s or a human’s, Bombshell’s credo carries the same awful meaning – once he sinks his stinger into someone’s head, it’s unlikely that that someone will ever think for himself again. His ability to turn foes into helpless accomplices makes this Insecticon one of Decepticon Leader Megatron’s favorites. And Bombshell’s interest in his victim doesn’t end with mere control of his mind: Given his cruel sense or humor, Bombshell finds nothing more entertaining than to have his unwilling followers perform embarrassing and debasing acts, an amusement he eagerly shares with his evil comrades.

Abilities: In his insect form, Bombshell is particularly adept at using his tiny size to infiltrate human populations. He then uses his stinger to inject a tiny “cerebro-shell” into a human’s head. The micro-circuited device travels through the blood until it reaches the brain, whereupon it opens up and releases tens of thousands of connecting wires. The wires coil around nearby neural dendrites until the brain’s conscious functions are effectively rerouted through the cerebro-shell, which puts the mind of the victim under the remote control of Bombshell. He has a flying range of 5.7 miles in this form. In his larger robot form, Bombshell’s stinger is used in much the same way against other robots’ high-function mental circuitry. The major difference is that once the stinger is pressed against the metal casing of a victim’s head, the small laser torches on the side of the stinger rotate rapidly to carve a small hole in the casing, allowing the stinger to inject a cerebro-shell. He also carries a head-mounted mortar that can throw a 50-pound explosive shell 8 miles with very good accuracy.

Weaknesses: Successful removal of one of Bombshell’s cerebro-shells allows its possessor to use it against him by sending false signals back to him. Some tougher metals are impervious to his laser torches. Often, Bombshell will make the mistake of playing with his victim rather than paying more attention to more important matters, such as an Autobot assault.

ALLEGIANCE: AUTOBOT
SUB-GROUP: DINOBOT

FUNCTION: JUNGLE WARRIOR, DEMOLITIONS
FIRST APPEARANCE: TRANSFORMERS # 4

“Stomp your enemy, crush him under your feet.”

Profile: Sludge likes to make his presence known. A few steps of his
incredibly lumbering legs and everyone within a three-mile radius can hear –
and feel – that he’s around. But his awesome physical appearance belies his
unusually gentle and shy nature. Like his fellow Dinobot, Slag, he is not happy
with the leadership of Optimus Prime. He feels, however, the Autobot cause is
more important than any personal misgivings and so he rarely exhibits his feelings.
Such is not the case when Sludge is fired to battle – he then becomes a terrifying,
unstoppable force.

Abilities: In Dinobot mode, Sludge can exert pressure up to 40,000 pounds
per square inch with a single step, enough force to shatter a bridge or even
crack a mountain. Only a handful of his comrades can match his immense strength
and endurance. His armored hide can withstand all but the most powerful blasts.
He’s adept at operating in watery and swampy environments and in jungles.

Weaknesses: Sludge is often victim to the calamities he causes. Often
his fellow Autobots must dig him out of the rubble he’s brought down upon himself.
Perhaps if he were more clever he’d figure out ways to avoid these predicaments.
He’s very slow due to his huge bulk.