Tracer (Targetmaster)

Tracer is anAutobot-alliedNebulanTargetmasterfrom theGeneration 1continuity family.

The world could always use more Targetmasters.

Community service is a strange way to end up in the middle of an alien war; nonetheless, that's what happened toTracer(akaCaliburst). Serving time in prison for a crime from his youth that he has regretted ever since, Tracer volunteered to become an AutobotTargetmasterin hopes of helping defend his world, doing good deeds and someday, maybe, earning an official pardon.

The connection betweenHolepunchand Tracer in their combined mode is less than perfect, sometimes misaligning and causing the pair to jam when fired. Their Autobot partner,Scoop,just has to make do.

Fiction

Marvel Comics continuity

MarvelThe Transformerscomics

Oi! This is no time for standin' around!

Scoopwielded Holepunch and Tracer, one in each hand, during a series of fuel raids onCybertronalongside the recently revivedPretendersGrimlock,JazzandBumblebee.Yesterday's Heroes!

Transformers Comic-Magazin

When the Decepticons stole threenuclear missilesfrom the United State Federation to hold the world to ransom,Optimus Primeput the entire burden of discovering their whereabouts on the shoulders of the Double Targetmasters. Scoop and his robotic guns discovered the Decepticon hideout. Scoop luredDreadwindandDarkwingaway, while Tracer and Holepunch investigated further before getting scared off by theFirecons.The little robot guns reported the events of the mission personally to Optimus Prime.Megatron's Ultimatum

Classics

Cheers, luv, the cavalry's here!

Tracer and Holepunch, partnered to Scoop, were under the command ofMetalhawkat the Autobots' baseIronworkswhen the evilUltra Magnusattacked. Scoop and his Nebulans were ignored by Ultra Magnus during the evil Autobot's demonstration of power. Moments later, the heroic Decepticons arrived and forced Ultra Magnus to retreat, the heroic Autobots only being able to watch, and then listened toTreadshot's story of how they came to arrive. Treadshot requested that one of Metalhawk's Autobots join the heroic DecepticonOctopunchin tracking down the evilWheeljack.Scoop and his Nebulans accompanied Octopunch underneath the Ironworks base where they met up with the evil DecepticonsSkullgrinandOctopunch.While the two Octopunches fought each other, Scoop fought against Skullgrin. Being a Targetmaster, Scoop's firepower easily defeated Skullgrin. The heroic Octopunch asked Scoop to shut down Wheeljack's device which Scoop delegated to his Nebulans. Tracer complained and the three partners had no luck in stopping the device. Even Octopunch couldn't do anything, so they left. After the battle with the evil Autobots, Cybertron, Nebulos, and other planets exploded due to the energy backlash from the device. Invasion

The refugees of Tracer's universe wound up in the negative polarity universe. Events unfolded that brought an end to the Autobot/Decepticon War in that universe, ushering in peace on Cybertron. Tracer and Scoop were seen enjoying a street fair after the war was over.The Future Buried...

The Transformerscartoon

Blasted time-travel experiments.

Many millions of years ago, on the planet Cybertron, life existed. But not life as we know it today. Intelligent robots that could think and feel inhabited the cities. Apparently among those robots were the AutobotsLandfill,Quickmix,andScoop,as well as their Targetmaster partners (including Tracer), who transformed from theirvehicle modesand shot at some unknown attackers.G2: More than Meets the Eye, Part 1

2005 IDW continuity

Holepunchand Tracer helped Quickmix fix up citizens ofIaconwho'd been injured in a Decepticon uprising.Three MonologuesThey were later present among a crowd of angry and desperateNAILswho pleaded forStarscreamto protect them from the suddenly-unleashedNecrotitanwho stood just outside of their city.Winners & LosersAs the Necrotitan began wreaking havoc in the city, Holepunch and Tracer aidedScoop's efforts to help the victims.Into the AbyssThe two may have been present during the celebrations in the wake of the Necrotitan's defeat, or maybe it was actuallyGroundpounderandTakedown.^[1]The Becoming

Commercial appearances

Tracer was among a group of Autobot-allied Nebulans being chased down byNeedlenoseandSpinister.Once their Autobot partners showed up, Tracer and the others transformed to their weapon modes to be wielded against the Decepticons.Scoopthen allowed Tracer andHolepunchto combine into a "superweapon" to better blast their opponents.Double Targetmasters commercial

Toys

The Transformers

Also known as "Inker"

• Scoop(Targetmaster, 1988)

Part of the fifth year ofThe Transformersproduct, Tracer transforms into a "twin laser-guided ion blaster" in basically one and a half steps. As a Targetmaster, his handle is a5 mm post,making him compatible with alotof toys throughout the entire franchise. His base also features a 5mm post-hole, nominally used to combine him with his pack-in partnerHolepunchto form a super-rifle.

Tracer and Holepunch were only available with the Autobot TargetmasterScoopin 1988.

No version of this character or mold was released in Japan.

• More information on Tracer at TFU.info

Generations

"Whoa ho ho! Nice one, Scoop!"

• Autobot Scoop(Deluxe Class, 2014)

• Series / Number:02 / #014
• Known designers:Joe Kyde(Hasbro)

Included as an accessory withGenerationsThrilling 30Deluxe ClassScoop,this version of Tracer (now named "Caliburst", fortrademarkreasons) was released as an accessory with theThrilling 30Deluxe ClassScooptoy. Now transforming into a triple-barreled gun, this version actually has some articulation in humanoid mode, with ball-jointed arms that fold up for transformation to gun mode, as well as a fold-away handle. He also retains the ability to combine with the includedHolepunchtoy to form a super-rifle, with either one forming the "front" part.

This mold was later used to makeAdventureTargetmaster,TimelinesDia,andCombiner WarsSingeandZputty.

• More information onGenerationsCaliburst (with Scoop) at TFU.info

References