ALLEGIANCE: DECEPTICON
SUB-GROUP: TARGETMASTER
HUMAN COMPONENTS: ZIGZAG AND SUNBEAM

FUNCTION: AERIAL WARRIOR
FIRST APPEARANCE: TRANSFORMERS # 62

“Get hip or get hit!”

Profile: Needlenose was once the most renowned microchip designer on
Cybertron. His “Chic Chips” line of computer hardware accessories
became the fashion rage of its day. But, as with most fads, interest in Chic
Chips eventually waned. Its disappearance was hastened when some of the more
serious-minded Transformers, led by Optimus Prime, pointed out the frivolous
nature of Needlenose’s enterprise. Embittered by this experience, Needlenose
gladly joined the ranks of the Decepticons when they began their war with the
Autobots. He has since developed the reputation of being the coolest Decepticon
ever to crush an Autobot. But he is more interested in the style in which he
destroys Autobots than in their actual destruction. In fact, he is so fashion-conscious
that he rarely finds the time to even participate in battle. This is particularly
true when he is on Earth, where he is especially fascinated by the latest in
human fads. His current favorite is video games.

Needlenose is binary-bonded to the Nebulans, Zigzag and Sunbeam. Zigzag was
an unhappy hovercraft repairman on Nebulos. His inability to properly use a
laser welder made him particularly ill-suited for his job. Usually the vehicles
that he was assigned to repair were worse off after he worked on them. His fellow
workers ridiculed him for his ineptitude. They derisively called him “Ziggy”
rather than his real name. Seeing an alliance with the Decepticons as a way
to get even with his tormentors, he eagerly offered his services to the leader
of the Nebulos-based Decepticons, Scorponok, who happily accepted him into the
ranks of his warriors. After putting him through the bio-engineering process,
Scorponok paired him with Needlenose. The Nebulan gave himself the code name
“Zigzag,” which he thought sounded strong and put an ironic twist
to his insulting nickname. However, the Decepticons soon found his services
to be as wanting as had the Nebulans.

Sunbeam was an irresponsible beach bum on Nebulos before he
discovered the Decepticons. His greatest ambition was to go rocket-surfing on
the 50-foot tall waves that occurred annually on his home planet’s Magna Beach.
But, having accomplished that, he needed new challenges. So, for the opportunity
to rocket-surf on other worlds, he joined the Decepticons and underwent bio-engineering.
He was then paired with Needlenose and trained in aerial combat. He views the
warrior aspect of his job as a necessary nuisance. He says, “If I have
to scrap a few ‘Bots so I can ride the Mercury Breakers on Cybertron, well like,
hey, no problem, dude.”

Abilities: Needlenose transforms into a fusion-powered fighter jet.
His maximum flying speed is 2400 miles per hour, and his range is 4000 miles.
He is equipped with air-to-air proton missiles. Zigzag transforms into a twin
electrostatic overloader rifle, which can disable a mechanical opponent by flooding
his circuits with a surge of electricity, causing him to overload and shut down.
Some of his victims even explode. However, Zigzag’s accuracy is poor, so most
targets escape unscathed. Sunbeam converts to a solar-powered light-burst discharger.
A flash from his muzzle causes temporary blindness in all opponents except those
whose optical modules are properly shielded. Needlenose can use Zigzag and Sunbeam
in robot and jet modes. The two Nebulans can also combine to form a single weapon,
which retains the offensive capabilities of both its components.

Weaknesses: Zigzag often runs out of energy before he hits a target.
Sunbeam’s firepower is diminished in situations when the sun isn’t shining.

ALLEGIANCE: AUTOBOT

FUNCTION: CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER
FIRST APPEARANCE: TRANSFORMERS # 1

“Molecular structure is the key to success.”

Profile: Bumblebee says Huffer looks at the world “through sludge-colored
windshields.” Huffer is dour. He says very little and when he does speak,
it’s usually to grumble. Huffer’s pessimism extends even to his job specialty.
He’ll grumble that it can’t be done and then build the most complex mechanized
fortress imaginable. Sometimes it seems he can whip up a suspension bridge out
of bobby pins and glue. Huffer isn’t too sociable, but in any sort of difficulty
he is absolutely reliable. Optimus Prime knows that Huffer secretly misses Cybertron
and longs to return there.

Abilities: A complex system of sensors in his arms allows Huffer to
test various materials, some of which he uses in construction, for various properties
such as tensile strength, heat resistance, elasticity, etc. Although lacking
weapons, he is extremely strong and can lift 40,000 pounds. His mathematical
and geometrical abilities exceed those of all the other Autobots and help him
in his construction designs.

Weaknesses: Huffer is prone to severe bouts of depression as a result
of his homesickness. At these times he is often inconsolable and of little value
to the other Autobots.

ALLEGIANCE: NONE
SUB-GROUP: LITHONE

FIRST APPEARANCE: THE TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE # 1

“He who screams and runs away lives to run another day.”

Profile: Like Chicken Little, or the boy who cried wolf, Arblus is prone
to make rash statements before examining the facts or the consequences of his
actions. This has often gotten him into a lot of trouble with his fellow Lithones.
But because the Lithones are not by nature vengeful, he is never severely punished.

Arblus is a close friend of Kranix. In fact, one of Arblus’s foremost traits
is his loyalty. For Arblus, friendship is for life and he will willingly sacrifice
his own to save that of a friend’s – provided he isn’t immobilized by panic
first.

Weaknesses: Arblus possesses an unusually high concentration of emotional
circuits in his computer brain. As a result, Arblus can be thrown into a hysterical
tizzy over a relatively minor crisis and into a paralyzing panic during a true
disaster.

ALLEGIANCE: AUTOBOT
FUNCTION: ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE
FIRST APPEARANCE: –

“Clutch hitting is the key to an effective offense.”

Profile: Simple descriptive phrases are insufficient for a confirmed
Earthen sports fanatic like Eject. Sports cliches clutter his everyday conversation.
To him, a surprise attack on the Decepticons is “a fast break.” A
victory is a “touchdown.” Destroying an enemy is “hitting a grand
slam.” Few of the other Autobots understand anything Eject says, but they
all appreciate the enthusiasm with which he says it. Eject’s attention was first
drawn to Earthen sports by the competitive spirit that characterizes them. Where
he comes from, Cybertron, such a commitment of passion and energy is only known
in the field of war. He therefore found it both surprising and fascinating to
observe it in an entertainment. Now Eject is a devout follower, finding sports
to be an immensely enjoyable diversion (some would say “obsession”).
But more importantly, he views sports with the fervent hope that one day it
will forever replace war as the way for opponents to settle their differences.

Abilities: Eject has the talent to be a play-by-play announcer in most
major sports, but lacks the opportunity. In cassette mode, he is able to monitor
and record local radio and television broadcasts, although he is more likely
to tape Monday Night Football than a news bulletin on a Decepticon raid. He
can also decode scrambled signals and tap into telephone conversations. In robot
mode, he uses an overload gun, which temporarily disables its target by releasing
a powerful burst of electricity into its target’s neural circuitry.

Weaknesses: Many important broadcasts are overlooked by Eject because
of his preoccupation with monitoring sports. This sometimes results in disaster
not only for him but also for the Autobots who rely on him. At times his internal
tape snaps if he’s recording something that gets him particularly worked up
and tense, such as Nolan Ryan going for another no-hitter.

As was reported yesterday, Cybertron Metroplex is due out in the UK very soon. Well, to back the claim up, Toys R Us have him listed on their website, for £39.99, but he is not in stock yet.

Hasbro Action has uploaded episode 27 of Beast Wars. This marks the beginning of season 2 of Beast Wars, considered by many to be the best set of Transformers episodes ever!