Grindcore (G1)

Grindcore is aDecepticonor unalignedTransformerfrom theGeneration 1continuity family.

Onslaughtcalled, he wants his look back.

Grindcoreis a bruiser. He likes to get up close and personal due to his physical prowess. He's a bit of a braggart, often boasting of the beatings he's capable of handing out.

As part of theMaster Chaossub-group, he operates under the codenameTankmaster(タンクマスターTankumasutā), and is partnered with theTargetmasterWheezel.

Fiction

2005 IDW continuity

No, really. He's got a C&D letter for you.

Grindcore was a crewman on the maiden (and only) voyage of the originalArkexploratory vessel millions of years ago. Lost in the depths of theBenzuli Expanse,he and his crewmates were sucked into theDead Universeand became undead servants of its evil will.

In the present day, Grindcore stood by his commanderNemesis Primeas their plans came to fruition and theExpansionbegan, spreading the influence of the Dead Universe across the living one.Spotlight: CyclonusAs the forces of the Dead Universe began their attack onEarth,Grindcore accompaniedStraxusto the Jiangxi province ofChina,where he went to work assembling a space bridge and bickering with his partner.Spotlight: DoubledealerPresently, anAutobotsquad arrived, and Grindcore was singled out bySideswipeas his "designated whipping bot." Though he warned the Autobot of biting off more than he could chew, Sideswipe managed to overpower the Dead Universe Cybertronian, and moved on to fight Straxus. Powered by the Dead Universe's strange energies, Grindcore got up again to resume his attack as Straxus fell, only to be put down again... just in time for Straxus to recover... and rise again as Straxus went down... ad nauseum. But when the Benzuli Expanse anomaly was sealed off, both Grindcore and Straxus finally ceased functioning, leaving Sideswipe the victor by default.Spotlight: Sideswipe

United EX

Onslaught's happy with the settlement, but nowBrawlwants to have a talk...

A loyal servant ofMegatron,Grindcore joined theMaster Chaossub-group under the command of the Decepticon High RegentScrashto investigate the mysterious commander's true motives. Refitted with a new body capable of interacting with thePower Core Dronesdeveloped by theAutobotsthat Scrash's forces would soon steal, Grindcore took on the codename "Tankmaster".

Tankmaster hid amongst the debris of a landfill to watchGrimmasterandRoadmasterbattle, emerging to ambush Grimmaster when he gained the upper hand. Prepared to execute the former Decepticon without hesitation, Tankmaster was foiled at the last second by the surprise appearance ofMarinemaster,whose lightning speed on sea and land quickly overcame Tankmaster's defenses. Marinemaster proposed that the fallen Tankmaster offer up some information in exchange for his life; although not immediately convinced that the young Autobot had a killing streak in him, Tankmaster soon recognized his resolve, and revealed that Scrash was not his true leader, cluing the Autobots in to the factionalization that had sprung up in the Decepticon ranks.Ocean Encounter

Precursor World

Tankmaster was under the command of the two Straxuses headquartered atDarkmount,and stood by the disembodied head of Straxus when he taunted the intrudingMagna Convoy.Cybertron Magna Convoy prequel comic

Toys

United EX

OK! Since Onslaught has a problem with me being his doppelganger, how about letting me keep the ability to be a torso? Deal?

• Tankmaster vs Marinemaster(Vs pack,2012)

• ID number:EX-P3
• Release date:November 17,2012

Released in the third and final wave of TakaraTomy'sUnited EXtoyline, Tankmaster is aredecoof thePower Core CombinersHeavytreadtoy, transforming into aMerkavamain battle tank. Tankmaster also has a secondary "Prime Mode" configuration in which he forms a super robot torso that can be equipped with anyPower Core Combinersdrone limbs.

He comes with hisMini-ConTargetmaster partnerWheezel,who combines with Tankmaster in vehicle mode to form a clawedmine plowsimilar to theUS Marine Corps Assault Breacher Vehicle.

He was only available in a set withMarinemaster.

Notes

• Simon Furmanrevealed on his blogthat the creation of Grindcore sprang from his likingthe name,as well as wanting a few new characters in the cast.