Ironhide (RID)

Ironhide is anAutobotSpychangerfrom theRobots in Disguise continuity family.

"Go Bulls!"

Ironhideis normally a calm and reasonable bot, using his incredible strength and skill as the Autobots' transportation expert to keep the team well-supplied. The strongest of theSpychangers,in his powered-up form his strength even rivals that ofOptimus Prime.

However, anangryIronhide is a dangerous Ironhide. His temper runsveryhot, and he ends up using his strength to destructive ends. Perhaps experience will cool him down one day.

He's been friends withMiragea long time, despite them both being bull-headed types.

Fiction

Cartoon continuity

2001Robots in Disguisecartoon

Voice actor:Michael McConnohie(English),Ōsuke Yoda(Japanese),Jorge Ornelas(Latin American Spanish),Paulo Bernardo(Brazilian Portuguese)

Yosemite Sam decided to shave this week

When thePredaconsstole a plutonium energy generator and attempted to escape along a beach, they were confronted with Mirage, Ironhide andW.A.R.S.driving across the water towards them. Ironhide gave Mirage a piggy-back ride in order to undertake the Spychanger "cyber-jousting" manouvre. The Predacons eventually escaped with a fake generator which the Spychangers had swapped for the real one.Spychangers to the Rescue

AfterOptimuswas captured and tortured byMegatron,the Spychangers joined theAutobot Brothersin rescuing their leader and seeing off the Predacons.Sideburn's Obsession

Did you just call me"Arn-hahd"!?

Later, the team tried to protect a ruby from Predacon theft, but the mission failed—partly because of Mirage's unwillingness to fire at the Predacons and risk hitting a chemical tank. Ironhide was supportive of his friend, even when the other Spychangers considered dropping him from the team. Afterwards, Ironhide tried to persuade Mirage to come back and talk to the others but was rebuffed. Much to his shock and surprise, Mirage announced he'd be better off with the Predacons and Ironhide declared their friendship over. When Mirage lured the Spychangers to a location where the Predacons had built a "Mega-Laser Cannon",he revealed the fact that he'd been bugged to Ironhide, who finally understood his friend's odd behavior. After the destruction of the laser, Ironhide reaffirmed their friendship.Mirage's Betrayal

The Spychangers also took part in theInternational Grand Prixin an attempt to findSkid-Zand were momentarily blinded by Megatron.Skid Z's ChoiceOn another occasion, the Spychangers were called back to base to watch footage of various battles, but had to wrap up a fight with the Predacons first. Mirage rode on Ironhide again.Hope for the Future

The Spychangers accompanied Optimus Prime toMontrose Islandwhere Predacon activity was causing the volcano to become violent. They attempted to keepScourgeandSky-Bytebusy while Optimus went to use his blizzard storm on the volcano. When the volcano was ruptured and lava threatened the nearby resort, the Spychangers used theirInferno Blastto divert its path.Volcano

In between all their adventures, the Autobots still had to perform some of the more menial tasks, such as regularly testing out the global space bridge.Lessons of the Past

Sent to stop the Decepticons from findingFortress Maximus,the Spychangers jumped out in front of the foe and were soundly trounced byArmorhideandRollbar.Fortress Maximus

The Spychangers took part in the ambush of the Decepticons after the Autobot base was discovered. When the "Megastar"arrived at the battle, Ironhide opined that he thought they were in trouble.Surprise Attack!After Galvatron's defeat, they celebrated by racing withSkid-Z.The Final Battle

Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

Super Spychanger Lottery

WithGod Magnushaving departed Earth aboardBrave Maximus,the Autobots were unable to call upon his power when a new menace suddenly arose to challenge them. In order to combat this threat, a plan was put into motion to upgrade the Spychangers withSpark Engines,granting them Super Modes.

Super Ox obtained strength greater than even that of Fire Convoy. However, he didn't rely on it, as his gentle nature hadn't changed.The Secret of the Birth of the Super Spychangers

Ask Vector Prime

According to a story heard byVector PrimeatAxiom Nexus,the threat wasChainsawand hisMutants.Super Ox used his strength to defeatWoodchipperwhen he menaced thePalenque.Later, when Chainsaw and the rest of his Mutants attempted to overrun the Autobot base, he helped repulse them. Using the power of teamwork, the Super Spychangers defeated and captured the villains. Though theGo-Brilliumwhich powered them was used up and they were no longer Super, they retainednew color schemes.Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/01

Legendscomic

WhenScourgeand hisCombatronsattacked theDimensional Patrol'sNeo Brave Maximusto rescueDevil Gigatron,the Super Spychangers were sent out to the front lines. Their damage to theCombatrons' shipled to it crashing into the base.LGEX Scourge Prologue

Prevenge

Voice actor:Michael McConnohie(English)

Ironhide and Hot Shot were fighting againstWind Sheerwhen Ironhide fell into a trans-dimensional portal and was transported to a labyrinth in another universe. There he encounteredSonar.Initially mistaking her for a Predacon, Ironhide begun attacking her. Sonar clarified that she was actually aMaximal,and Ironhide realized that he had been trapped in a heavy-handed scenario about the dangers of prejudice and presumption. The pair then proceeded to delve further into the labyrinth they were trapped in, fighting off somealloygatorsalong the way. They eventually met with six other Cybertronians who had similarly been abducted from their home universes:Blades,Snarl,Ultra Magnus,Ravage,Arcee,andSureshock.A menacing voice then made itself heard, declaring itself to be responsible for bringing everyone together. The voice ordered the group to fight one another to the death, but (for the most part) the abductees would have none of it. The architect behind the whole plot revealed itself to be theSkuxxoid,out for revenge after having been dismissed by the Transformers from his home dimension one too many times. The villain was easily disposed of, leaving the group to devise a way to get themselves back home. Ironhide suggested that everyone laugh together, as characters were prone to do in the cartoons Koji watched whenever an episode drew to a close. Strangely enough, this worked, and everyone was transported back to their point of origin.Prevenge

Spychanger continuity

Ask Vector Prime

InViron 1103.12 Gamma,Ironhide was one ofOptimus Prime's thirteen Autobots on Earth who all became Spychangers afterSky-Bytepoisoned Earth's energon supplies.Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/18

Universecomic

During theUniverse War,Ironhide and his cohorts Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, and Prowl were abducted byUnicron,but they, other abductees, and theChildren of Primusfought off Unicron'sMinions.^[1]Voice Actor Drama

Shell Game

The Ironhide ofViron 704.31 Epsilonwas pulled out of his home universe byUnicronto fight in theUniverse Waron the eve of a critical battle, leading toOptimus Prime's defeat at the hands ofMegazarak.Ask Vector Prime, 2015/07/30Thanks to the intervention ofRhinox,he wound up inAxiom Nexus.Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/13

Toys

Robots in Disguise(2001)

The hidden Autobot symbol means he'snotone of the hundreds of other cow-deco'd pickup trucks you see every day.

• Ox(Spychanger, 2000)

• ID number:C-009
• Release date:March??, 2000
• Accessories:"Shockwave Gun"
• Known designers:Masakatsu Saito(concept artist)

Released in the first wave ofCar Robotsproduct, "Ox" is aredecoof theGeneration 2Go-BotsMotormouthmold, transforming into a Ford F150 Flareside pickup truck. He features a through-axle wheel construction that allows him to zip quickly along smooth surfaces invehicle mode,and is compatible with many "Hot Wheels"and" Matchbox "racetracks. The black spot below his right window has heat-sensitive paint that reveals an Autobot insignia, in a method similar to the originalrubsigns.

This mold was also used to make theGeneration 2Go-Botversion ofGeneration 1 Ironhide.

• More information on Ox at TFU.info

• Spychanger DX 6-Piece Set(Multi-pack, 2000)

• ID number:C-011
• Release date:March??, 2000
• Accessories:"Shockwave Gun"

All six Spychangers were not only sold as individuals in Japan, but in a six-piece giftset as well. Each toy was identical to their normal individual release, plus all six bio cards were included.

Sonokongalso released this giftset inKoreanmarkets in new windowless packaging, with each member lacking the heat-sensitive insignia.

• Korean blog post detailing the Sonokong release

• Ox(Original Spychanger, 2000)

• Release date:August??, 2000
• Accessories:"Shockwave Gun"

Anexclusive"Original Spychanger"redecoof Ox in clear-green and clear-orange plastics, this version was only available fromJUSCOstores in Japan as a direct-mail premium to members of their "Peppy Kids Republic" ( nguyên khí キッズ cộng hòa quốc,Genki Kidzu Kyōwakoku), a sort of subsidiary/offshoot for selling baby goods and children's clothing. Since membership was open only to kids 12 and under and this version was shipped blind-packed, getting the entire set of six was extremely difficult.

• More information on Jusco Ox at TFU.info

EET MOR CHIKIN

• Ironhide / Mirage(Basic Class two-pack, 2001)

• Accessories:Rifle

TheHasbroRobots in Disguiseversion of "Ironhide" was available only in a two-pack withMirage.This version replaces the heat-sensitive windshield insignia with a normal Autobot insigniatampographon the truck roof, changes his windshield to metallic blue, and paints the truck's cargo bed in red.

The initial releases of this set have Ironhide packaged inrobot modewith Mirage in vehicle mode, pointed straight upward. Later releases have both toys in vehicle mode, tilted to a 1 o'clock position.

• More information on Ironhide at TFU.info

Pick up truck, from the oooooold west!

• Ironhide(Spy Changer, 2002)

• Accessories:Rifle

All six original Spychangers were redecoed in colorless-clear plastics (keeping their normal paint applications, though), and released on individual cards throughKB ToysandTargetchains. This packaging was the first to identify the team as "Spy Changers" in Hasbro's markets.

• More information on KB clear Ironhide at TFU.info

• Ironhide(Spy Changer, 2003)

• Accessories:Rifle

A second round of KB Toys-exclusive "Spy Changers" was released on individualArmada-style cards. This time around, Ironhide was done in clear-blue, clear-orange and clear-colorless plastics, lacking his cow-pattern deco (making him look not unlike a clear incarnation ofMotormouth).

Thisexacttoy was later re-released as aUniverseincarnation ofGeneration 1 Hoist.

• More information on KB clear Ironhide #2 at TFU.info

• Ironhide(Tiny Tins, 2003)

• Accessories:Rifle, carrying tin

The normal Hasbro version of Ironhide was released as part of the first assortment ofTiny TinsTransformers, coming with a carrying tin.

Super Spychanger Lottery

• Super Ox(Spychanger, 2003)

• Release date:March??, 2003
• Accessories:"Shockwave Gun"

Three years after theCar Robotsline ended in Japan, Takara put out individually blind-boxed redecoes of the Spychangers, this time as part of theSuper Spychanger Lotteryline. These particular redecos representedSuper Modeversions of the Spychangers. Ox was given a black, white and deep-blue deco with shiny silver cow-spots, plus he retained the Hasbro deco's painted flatbed.

In each case of twelve Super Spychangers, two were all-clear-plastic versions (but keepingmostof their paint applications; clear Ox loses the flatbed paint). All six Spychangers had a clear variant, but there was no way to know what toys in the case were clear without opening the boxes and the opaque plastic bags within.

• More information on Super Ox at TFU.info
• More information on clear Super Ox at TFU.info

Universe(2003)

Spelling? I don't go in for that book-larnin' stuff.

• Ultra Magnus & Ironhide(Basic Class two-pack, 2004)

• Accessories:Rifle

Aredecoof theGeneration 2Go-BotMotormouth,UniverseIronhide transforms into a Ford F150 Flareside pickup truck. His truck deco is an obvioushomageto theGeneration 1characterTrailbreakerand the toy had initially been named "Trailbreaker" in Walmart computer listings; this was likely one of many aborted attempts to get the character on shelves again stymied bytrademarkissues. The largetampographon his vehicle mode's rear end sports the rather glaring typo "escort vehical".He was only available in aWalmartexclusivepack withUltra Magnus.

This toy was laterrepurposedasGeneration 1 TrailbreakerbyAsk Vector Prime.

• More information on Ironhide at TFU.info

Notes

• AtBotCon 2011,Michael McConnohie stated that he tried to homagePeter Cullenwhen voicing Ironhide.

Foreign names

• Japanese:Ox(オックスOkkusu)
• Korean:Ox(옥스Okseu)
• Russian:Krepysh(Крепыш, "Stalwart" )

References