Direct-Hit

Direct-Hit is aDecepticonMicromasterfrom theGeneration 1continuity family.

Direct-Hitis a victim of the Peter Principle. As a low-ranking grunt in the Decepticon military, he was a skillful and tenacious warrior, bringing in the kill more often than not. Since his promotion to leader of theBattle Squad,his teammates have discovered that his long-term strategies... well, the problem is that Direct-Hit doesn'thaveany long-term planning skills to speak of. He's a decisive, powerful warrior in short-term engagements, swiftly crushing his foes in close-quarters combat. But all of this falls apart when he's asked to actuallyplana mission or campaign or what have you. At best, he can just about order his team to deal with whatever's going on around them, and then hope that it somehow works out for the best.

So incompetent is he in his new role, that news of Direct-Hit's failures have already started to circulate through the Decepticon ranks. Most Decepticons rightfully believe that the poor shmuck's been promoted far beyond his actual capabilities.^[1]Hiscombinerpartner isPower Punch.

Contents 1Fiction 1.1Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity 1.2Regeneration One 1.3Beast Wars: Uprising 1.4War for Cybertron Trilogymarketing material 1.52019 IDW continuity 2Toys 2.1The Transformers 2.2War for Cybertron: Siege 2.3War for Cybertron: Earthrise 3Notes 3.1Foreign names 4References

Fiction

Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

Direct-Hit was an Autobot and a member of Cannon Team portion of theCrane Cannon W Team,a group of mighty Micromasters. With their cranes and cannons, they were able to concurrently chop up enemies and send them afar.Return of Convoy bio

Regeneration One

Direct-Hit was a member ofSoundwave's group of Neo-Decepticons atFort ScykinPolyhex.Counterpoint

Beast Wars: Uprising

On a post-war Cybertron, Direct-Hit and Power Punch were among the fewBuilders of Cybertronwho maintained their mobility due to their more energy-efficientMicromasterbodies. The pair were posted to guardTesarus Arenain anticipation of aResistanceattack. They encountered theMaximalterroristGrimlockand his underlings sneaking into the arena, and attempted to bar their progress. Whenone of the intrudersshot Power Punch in the back, the psychic link between the two Micromasters caused Direct-Hit to reel in pain, giving Grimlock the opportunity he needed to overpower him. Direct-Hit was killed when Grimlock punched through his armor and ripped out his innards.Micro-Aggressions

War for Cybertron Trilogymarketing material

During the war for Cybertron, Direct-Hit was aGround Force Weapons Raider.Siegetoy packaging

2019 IDW continuity

Direct-Hit was part of a team of Decepticons who tried to melt their way into thePyramidusingAcid Storm's powers. Before they could finish the job, however,Optimus Primebroke through the wall and forced the Decepticons into retreat as he helped lead the evacuation efforts.TitansHe was later part of a large army deployed to theSea of RustunderSixshot's authority to capture theEnigma of Combination.Sea of Rust II

Toys

The Transformers

• Battle Squad(Micromaster Combiner Squad,1990)

Direct-Hit transforms into a powder blue wheeled armoured car which is intended to be the front half of a cannon transport which he forms with his combiner partnerPower Punch.He can, of course, be connected to any otherMicromaster Combiner.

Direct-Hit was only available in a six-pack with his squad mates Power Punch,Half-Track,Fireshot,Meltdown,andVanquish.

• More information on Direct-Hit at TFU.info

• Crane Cannon W Team(Micro Trailer team,1991)
  • ID number:C-368
  • Accessories:Micro Trailer #8

Direct-Hit is physically identical to theHasbro-release, transforming the front half of a cannon transport truck. He can, of course, be connected to any other Micromaster Combiner. Though Power Punch nominally forms the back half, Direct-Hit can combine with any other Micromaster Combiner,Combiner TransportorMicro Trailerin vehicle mode to form new weird vehicles.

He was only available in a complete set with Power Punch,StonecruncherandExcavator.The set also comes with Micro Trailer #8. Like allReturn of Convoycharacters, he was marketed as an Autobot instead of a Decepticon.

War for Cybertron: Siege

• Direct-Hit & Power Punch(Micromaster,2020)
  • Hasbro ID number:WFC-S47
  • TakaraTomy ID number:SG-44
  • TakaraTomy release date:February 22,2020

Part of wave 5 ofSiegeMicromasters, Direct-Hit is a member of theBattle Squadand transforms into the front half of the Cannon Transport vehicle along withPower Punchas the back end, which can be flipped upside down to be used as an over-the-shoulder weapon. As a part of theC.O.M.B.A.T. System,their weapon mode can be attached to any toy with a5 mm post-hole. "Fire Blasts" can also be attached to various hardpoints on the toys. They're painted and molded such to stay as separate vehicles. Instructions show to attach the barrel to Power Punch, however, it is packaged already attached.

Direct Hit comes packaged together with Power Punch.

Though designated for release in the first quarter of 2020, Direct-Hit's wave reached U.S. store shelves in late 2019.

This figure was redecoed intoEarthriseFireguardandMoonrock.

War for Cybertron: Earthrise

• Direct-Hit & Power Punch(Micromaster, 2020)
  • ID number:WFC-E40

Direct-Hit, along with Power Punch, received apackage refreshin the subsequent line,Earthrise.The two releases are virtually identical aside from the packaging.

Like allEarthrisetoys, the cardboard back of theEarthriseversion of the Battle Squad's package includes an exclusive cut-out collectible piece of a larger star map.

Notes

• The original Generation One box art of Direct-Hit has his head swapped withPower Punch.

Foreign names

• Japanese:Direct-Hit(ダイレクトヒットDairekuto Hitto)
• French:Touché(Canada)
• Italian:Omega

References