Tattoo

Once in a blue, your dreams come true
If someone's looking out for you
So party on dude, let's buy some booze
Go downtown and get tattoos

Atattoois a form of body art where images and/or words are inked on an individual's skin. This practice is reasonably commonplace amongst bothhumansandTransformers.

Fiction

MarvelGeneration 2comic

Perhaps because it was the '90s,Grimlockhad the words "BIG GRIM" tattooed on his shoulder.Total War!

DreamwaveGeneration Onecontinuity

AtThe Burn Outs,Mudslingergot a tattoo of theBlentroninsigniafromRoad Hugger.The Gray Race

2005 IDW continuity

Believers inPrimalismwould often sport aMatrixtattoo on their cheek to show their devotion. Examples includeSpringarm,Chaos Theory #1andSkids,An Intimate Beheadingalthough Skids later had his tattoo removed after he lost his faith.Hangers On

Verity Carlogot a tattoo of a green alien head in memory of her friendHunter O'Nion.Last Stand of the Wreckers #1Similarly, when he learned thatDai Atlashad been killed,Driftbegan sporting facial tattoos in honour of the deceased.Your Fierce Tears

OnChosen One Day,to celebrate their friendship and shared name, "Tall Tankor"and"Fat Tankor"got matching tattoos.Choose Me

The "Firstborn",Scorponok's experiment in creating organic Transformers, had aDecepticoninsignia tattooed across its face.Kill All 'Cons

Revenge of the Fallen

Plotting to find any other relics or even AllSpark fragments, Starscream had tattoos done that were packed with superconductive materials and symbiotic nano-machines to enhance his sensors, as well as extend his range and power in the air. When his sensor net detects any ancient artifact from Cybertron, they glow softly, charging his weapons and boosting his engine output!Nebular Starscream

Robert EppsrecognizedStarscream's jet mode by it being covered in "alien tattoos".Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)

Rescue Botscartoon

Mayor Luskeyhas a tattoo reading "Rosebud".Double Villainy

Transformers vs. G.I. Joe

AfterG.I. Joeallied with theAutobots,Gung-Hogot an Autobot tattoo fromCutter.Everybody Hates Metroplex

2015Robots in Disguisebooks

Denny Clayattempted to convinceJoey,Johnny,andStevethatGrimlockwas a movie prop, but his ruse was rumbled when theDinobotfreaked out at Steve's tattoo of acatin a spacesuit.Sideswipe Versus Thunderhoof

Games

Transformers Online(2017)

Before every battle,Jazzwould decorate himself with tattoos to remind himself that no matter where he is, he's always a Cybertronian.Transformers Online

Merchandise

Comics

Over the years a number ofTransformerscomics have offered temporary tattoos as free gifts, because marketing real tattoos to children is problematic.

• Marvel UK #233— torn flesh with robot details beneath
• Marvel UK #234— Autobot and Decepticon insignia
• Micro-Comic Fun Pack: Grimlock— cropped version ofRage of the Dinobots#1cover RIA
• Micro-Comic Fun Pack: Drift— cropped version ofDrift#1'sstandard cover
• Transformers Comic#2
• Transformers Comic#8
• Animated Comic#2

Collections

• Transformers Animated Tattoo Activity Book
• 34 Valentines With 35 Tattoos
• 34 Valentines With 35 Tattoos (AOE)
• 34 Valentines with 35 Tattoos (RID 2015)

Real life

Ouch.

A number of contributors to theTransformersfranchise haveTransformers-related tattoos:

• Bill Forsterfamously had a tattoo ofVictory Leo(with full licensing fromHasbro) on the TV showLA Ink.
• Tyrese Gibsonhas an Autobot insignia on his arm.
• Conversely,Mark Maherhas a Decepticon insignia over his heart.

Notes

• Many Transformers sport markings, such asHot Rod's flames on his chest, which may or may not be interpreted as being equivalent to human tattoos. InMore than Meets the Eye,Rodimus'sholomatteravatar has a flame tattoo covering most of his right arm, which lends credence to the idea.
• Bug Bitehas purple markings evoking "tribal" tattoos, designed byLanny Lathem.