Overload (Armada)

Overload is an Autobot from the Unicron Trilogy continuity family.

Hey guys, I'm totally in Armada, seriously!

Overload is an Autobot powerhouse. On his own, he's strong, massive, and covered with guns and artillery. On top of this, he can combine with Optimus Prime, forming an enormously powerful set of cannons for the Autobot leader.

Just who or even what Overload is depends on which universe one is in, or whatever source you find. Sometimes "Overload" is simply the name used by the Mini-Con Rollout when he combines with his armored trailer. And sometimes the trailer itself is Overload, a separate living entity or weapons platform... who uses someone else to form his robot-mode chest and head.

Fiction

Toy pack-in comics

Stop talking to yourself!

When Optimus Prime defeated Galvatron on Cybertron, Overload and Rollout accompanied Optimus in transporting Galvatron to prison. Tidal Wave attacked the duo, rescuing Galvatron. The two Decepticons combined, and Overload in robot mode was set to battle him, but then transformed into a battle platform manned by Rollout. His firepower was of little concern to Galvatron, who swatted the two away. Overload transformed into robot mode just in time to see Unicron take over the sky. Armada Volume 4

Cartoon continuity

Armada cartoon

Overload suddenly appeared as a trailer attached to the rear of Optimus Prime's container as the Autobot leader launched himself from the Axalon. Faced with the powerful Sideways-controlled clone Nemesis Prime, Overload Powerlinxed with Optimus's super mode to form a pair of massive, shoulder-mounted cannons. Together, Optimus and Galvatron destroyed the monstrous marionette. Puppet

Upon their arrival on Cybertron, Optimus Prime used Overload's combination firepower once more. Uprising

Realizing the threat of Unicron, Optimus Prime attempted to reach out to Galvatron and forge an alliance against the Chaos Bringer. As expected, the Decepticon leader refused, forcing Optimus to Powerlinx with both Jetfire and Overload. However, he did not engage in battle with the similarly Powerlinxed Galvatron, instead using his power to lead the Decepticon away from battle. Cramp

Hey! Over here! Behind the geek and the undead guy!

After the formation of an alliance between the Autobots and Decepticons, Overload, in robot mode, stood behind Side Swipe and Hoist during the mission briefing. Union

Ask Vector Prime

Overload was an Autobot who developed an addiction to Powerlinxing, to the point where he would forcibly merge with Mini-Cons who didn't want to join with him. Realizing that his addiction had turned self-destructive, he went into voluntary exile until he could overcome his problem. By the time that he sought refuge on Nebulon, his Spark had begun a fatal diminishment as a result of withdrawal from the Powerlinx process.

Fortunately, the Nebulan doctors Hi-Q and Arcana were treating another Cybertronian patient: Rollout, who had lost the ability to transform as a result of nucleon. The two doctors consulted the archives and discovered an ancient medical technique known as the Headmaster process, which could save both lives with a single operation. The new composite being would survive, but their mind and body could not accommodate two sparks simultaneously.

Seeking a Cybertronian physician, they found Rhinox, who brought them back to Cybertron and completely rebuilt them using the same techniques he had used when refitting Jetfire. The new Overload was deployed before he was completed to help Optimus Prime defeat an evil clone of himself.

Rhinox was killed in the battle against Unicron, and thus could never complete his upgrade. For many years, Overload never truly understood the mystery of his origins, until he discovered his original schematics. After upgrading himself again, he left Cybertron in search of clues. He eventually discovered Hi-Q, solving the mystery. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/18

Linkage

Cheesebot Spam-a-lot.

Overload, flanked by Tidal Wave, engaged the forces of Unicron with some heavy Powerlinx artillery, using Prowl and Kingbolt in their pistol modes, plus Quench in his missile launcher mode. Linkage Part 13

Universe toy bio

Overload used to be a partner to Optimus Prime himself. But those days were past: he left Cybertron years ago. With his origins and past a mystery, even to himself, Overload hunted for the answers to his past on the lost Cybertronian colony worlds. Overload's Universe toy bio

Dreamwave Armada continuity

Dreamwave Armada comic

I'm in the background a lot.

Overload was an Autobot under Jetfire on Cybertron. When the Autobots detected multiple space bridges opening at Decepticon Command HQ, causing disruptions in dimensional space, Jetfire led a team of Autobots to the Decepticon base to investigate. When they got there, they found carnage: All of the Decepticon inhabitants had been butchered and mutilated. As they wandered around the base, Overload questioned if they were going the right way, but they were soon attacked by the mysterious killer. Overload pulled the injured Jetfire out of further harm's way before being ordered to transform into vehicle mode to light up the cavernous base (as well as their attacker). After Jetfire emptied his weapons bays, Overload asked Jetfire if they got him, but the situation was bad, as they'd only succeeded in destroying the creature's outer shell. Worlds Collide, Part 3 of 4

Once they were in the Master Space-Bridge Nexus of the Decepticon base, the Autobots began setting detonation charges, intending to stop the damage to the fabric of space-time by destroying the Nexus. However, they were attacked, and Overload reported that it might have been their previous assailant, though it was difficult to know what was inside of that shell. Overload was glad to pull out when ordered, as all of his firepower was having little effect their opponent. He was pleased when the Nexus blowed up real good, until they noticed Jetfire was missing. However, both Jetfire and Optimus Prime returned in spiffy new colours with spiffy new powers. Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4

Overload was in the command center of Autobase: Cybertron as the Autobots readied their defenses against Unicron. The End

Energon comic

Ten years later, during the worldwide Terrorcon assault on Earth, Overload, Dropshot, and Ironhide were stationed at Base Site One in Canada's Yukon Territory, where their equipment included a planetary shield generator. Base Site 1 had lost contact with Cybertron, which would put the Autobots' countermeasures in jeopardy. While Overload suspected the Terrorcons may have something to do with their problem, Dropshot noted it could just as easily be an equipment malfunction. Multiplicity, Pt. 3

The arrival of Scorponok confirmed Overload's theory, and he was quickly taken out by a blast from the Terrorcon's tail-gun after having Dropshot thrown in his face. Multiplicity, Pt. 4 Left alone to face not only Scorponok but also Megatron, Ironhide tried desperately to rouse the unconscious Overload and Dropshot, to no avail. No Exit

Armada: More Than Meets The Eye

Overload was commissioned in the "Second year of the earthen conflict" by Optimus Prime to serve as a weapons platform, using Rollout as a Headmaster unit. More than Meets the Eye: Transformers: Armada

Energon toy bio

Overload was a traveling companion of Optimus Prime for thousands of years. Through time and battle, they developed the ability to combine into the mighty Mega Weapon mode of Optimus Prime. Costco exclusive Optimus Prime & Overload toy bio

Precursor World

A Warrior of the Seven Lights resembling a blue Overload was a member of the Blue Order of the Primus Vanguard. When the traitorous Straxus twins unleashed a rage virus to destroy the corps from within, he was slain in the ensuing brawl. Vanguard supreme leader Primus later loaded the Warrior's lingering spark into his Golden Noah in an attempt to ferry his soul to the next world. God Neptune comic 1 Unfortunately, this did not work. Finale

Toys

Armada

"I'm not really sure what I transform into, but it's good… right?" (Hasbro version pictured)

"Now I have splashes of dark red!"
(Takara version pictured)

• Overload with Rollout (Max-Con Class, 2003)

• Takara/Sonokong name: Ultra Magnus
• Takara/Sonokong ID number: MC-14
• Takara release date: September ??, 2003
• Accessories: 2 missiles
• Known designers: Eric Siebenaler (Hasbro), Joe Kyde (detailing)

Released in the fourth wave of Armada Max-Cons (the first wave with the "Unicron Battles" branding), Overload is a red and black Cybertronian weapons trailer capable of carrying Jetfire in his vehicle mode. He is nominally towed by his pack-in Mini-Con Rollout in his vehicle mode, but can also be towed by both the Super Base Optimus Prime and Super-Con Optimus Prime in vehicle mode, or towed behind Supreme Optimus's trailer thanks to a fold-out hook on his front end.

His robot mode is incomplete by himself, needing Rollout plugged into the chest cavity to form the central torso and head. Once installed, pushing Rollout back into the cavity just a bit further activates the classic Generation 1 cartoon transformation sound effect. Each shoulder has a flip-up panel revealing (non-firing) multi-missile racks.

He also has a third mode (without Rollout), transforming into a dual spring-loaded missile-firing cannon pack. This mode can attach to Super Base Optimus Prime in Super Mode, forming "Optimus Prime Megaweapon". It can also be attached to Prime's trailer in its base mode, wrapping around the central tower. When combined with Optimus Prime, Prime's smokestacks have to be removed, so that his smaller robot forearms' 5 mm posts can plug into the designated ports on Overload. A neat feature not carried over in the cartoon stock footage transformation sequence, is that a rail is formed between Overload's forearm tips, and his knees for the lower legs to slide off and reattach to his arms simultaneously for combined mode, eliminating the need to partsform his legs entirely. However, to make Optimus Prime's Megaweapon mode match his cartoon model, Overload's legs have to be removed entirely and placed on the opposite sides, so that the yellow details are showing on the outside of the shoulder cannons (likely why the stock footage transformation shows them partsforming).

It appears that Overload wasn't entirely designed with the Jetfire combination in mind, as Jetfire's cockpit section interferes with Overload's speaker box, causing the cockpit to either pop off the friction hinge, or Overload to not sit properly in his designated spot with the 5 mm posts in Prime's smaller robot forearms, so one either has to remove the cockpit or leave Overload hanging "loosely" in the friction slots, without the 5 mm posts and ports lined up.

The Takara Legends of the Microns and Sonokong Eunha Yeongung: Cybertron versions of "Ultra Magnus" have all of his unpaintable plastic parts (his hips, trailer-cannons, arm-mounted ramps, tailer-hook, and a few other small joint pieces) cast in dark red plastic. These releases also have a large number of changes to both his paint colors and layouts from the Hasbro version, the most significant change being a silver face instead of blue.

Overload is also compatible (mostly) with the Legacy: Evolution Armada Universe Optimus Prime toy, released two decades later. In an undocumented feature, Overload can slot into a specially-designed port on Optimus's back to form "Megaweapon" Optimus similar to the original toy. Unfortunately, due to the connection point being on the Legacy toy's trailer base instead of on the cab like the original Super Base Optimus, Overload sits further back, making the combination extremely back-heavy. This changed position also leaves Overload's cannons further back, making the shoulder stocks sit behind Legacy Optimus's shoulders, negating their (faux) functionality. Additionally, because of how Overload's gun-feet are molded, the cannons won't sit horizontal due to clearance issues with Optimus's shoulder armor.

This toy was later retooled into Sentinel Maximus.

• More information on Armada Overload at TFU.info

Some day I'll be more than an accessory!

• Magna Convoy DX Set (Multi-pack, 2003)

• ID number: MC-XX
• Release date: November 19, 2003
• Accessories: 2 missiles

Legends of the Microns Ultra Magnus and Magnus were cast in colored-clear plastics as "Ultra Magnus Special Clear Version", and made available only in a Japanese Toys"R"Us-exclusive multi-pack.

This set also includes "Convoy Final Battle Color Version" (aka "Powerlinx Optimus Prime"), "Corona Prime", and an exclusive Exdimensions redeco of the Street Action Microns.

• More information on Ultra Magnus Clear Version at Transformers-Universe.com

Probably the best deco of this mold... But still just an accessory. A very expensive, rare accessory.

• Tokusei Ultra Magnus (Contest give-away, 2003)

• Accessories: 2 missiles

100 samples of this "sky blue" redeco of Ultra Magnus and Magnus were given away as prizes in a contest from the Japanese publication TV Magazine in October 2003.

Energon

Not yet, but someday! I swear it!

• Overload with Rollout & Optimus Prime with Corona Sparkplug (Multi-pack, 2004)

• Accessories: 2 missiles

For this Costco-exclusive set, Overload and Rollout were redecoed into a predominantly yellow color scheme with burgundy accents.

This set also came with a matching new-deco version of Armada Super Base Optimus Prime and an unchanged Corona Sparkplug. All this cost a whopping $29.99, ten dollars less than Optimus Prime by himself. Wow!

• More information on Energon Overload at TFU.info

Universe (2008)

Autonomy at last!

• Overload (Voyager Class, 2009)

• Series: Cybertron Series
• Accessories: 2 missiles, rifle, clear green Earth Cyber Key

Part of the fifth wave of 2008's Universe Voyagers, Overload is a redeco of Cybertron Cybertron Defense Scattorshot, transforming into a mobile multiple-launch rocket system… in a color scheme that looks nothing like any prior incarnation of Overload.

The halves of the (non-firing) launcher end up on his arms in robot mode. In either mode, inserting a Cyber Key in each half reveals a new weapon: the right side has a slide-out double spring-loaded missile launcher which ends up on his left robot arm, while the left has a flip-out non-firing cannon barrel which ends up on his right robot arm. Both key-activated weapons feature fake handles which end up being "held" by his hands in robot mode, although the missile launcher on his right arm needs to be slid forward for him to be able to reach the deployed blaster's handle. He also comes with an extra long green hand-held rifle that can be mounted in tank mode thanks to his Mini-Con-compatible Powerlinx plugs.

This mold was also used to make Universe Dropshot and Timelines Flak.

• More information on Universe Overload at TFU.info

Notes

• Overload's entry in Dreamwave's Armada: More Than Meets The Eye profile series claims that his combination with Rollout uses "Headmaster technology". The Fleer card for Rollout also makes mention of this.
• Overload's existence receives little explanation in the Armada cartoon. Hirofumi Ichikawa intended to have a sub-plot explaining just where the hell Overload came from in the Linkage comic, but didn't have the space to do so, so he dropped it in favor of focusing on the A-plot and cramming in what DVD-exclusive character moments he could.^{[citation needed]} Overload's whole "appearing out of nowhere without explanation" deal from the cartoon got a slight ribbing in the bio for his 2008 Universe toy, which established that he was now on a quest to discover the mystery of his origins. The Facebook edition of Ask Vector Prime would publish an origin for Overload, penned by Ichikawa and incorporating the Universe material.
• According to designer Aaron Archer (posting as Orson on the TFW2005 forums), any Ultra Magnus influence on Overload was Takara's doing—Hasbro was responsible for the head and surface details. Archer personally wasn't interested in revisiting Magnus as he liked the Robots in Disguise version of the character.^[1] The whole concept had originated from Takara as it something that would sell well in their market for Golden Week—combining upgrade characters in the tradition of Magnus right the way back to Godbomber. Archer thought that Captain Shark from Brave might have been an influence. The extensive play features in the toy and the types of plastic used to keep the combiner form sturdy meant that the figure ended up with very little paint, instead receiving especially intricate surface detail.^[2]
• It was Archer's intention that the "Overload" trailer/body was not sentient, and was instead piloted by Rollout.^[3]

Foreign names

• Japanese: Ultra Magnus (ウルトラマグナス Urutora Magunasu)
• Hungarian: Túltöltés
• Korean: Ultra Magnus (울트라매그너스 Ulteura Maegeuneoseu)
• Ukrainian: Perehriv (Перегрів, "Overheat")

References