Payload (Movie)

Payload is aDecepticon,and sometimesConstructicon,from themovie continuity family.

SWAT? Maybe more like SMITE.

Transforming into an exceptionally fast and powerful armored truck,Payloadis the one the Decepticons rely on to procure the money and energy they need to function on Earth. Whatever they need, wherever they need it, in their quest for theAllSparkit's Payload's job to get it to them, even if he has to smash right throughAutobotlines to do it.^[1]What can he say? It's theone job he has.

Though his allies would want him to choose between smashing through Autobot warriors or impressing his superiors delivering a heavy load of supplies in record-timing, Payload would prefer to do both because that option makes him the happiest. Other Decepticons would find his jobboring and tediouscompared to open fighting. Luckily, Payload not only understands how crucial his role is, he thoroughly enjoys it since it earns him praise for being a reliable soldier.^[2]

Payload shares a body-type with theClass Beta drone unitsused by both the Autobot and Decepticon armies as heavily-armored, brutal melee fighters.

Fiction

IDW movie comics

When Megatron first began his push for domination, Payload was one of the many Cybertronians who listened to Megatron as he rallied his soldiers to push back and slaughteralien invaders.Defiance #2

Payload was one of the Decepticons who took part in the Battle ofTyger PaxonCybertron.He was also withSwindleduring the interrogation of the survivingAutobotdefenders.Movie Prequel #1

"Keg coming through!"

Payload remained back on Cybertron, under the command ofDreadwing.When Starscream returned with the knowledge to build a new All Spark,Class Beta droneswere among those assigned to guard the Autobot slaves who were being forced to build the new Cube. They brutally punishedWarpathwhen he saw to the exhaustedGrindcore.Later, after the new All Spark was completed, Payload arrived leading a team of drones carrying the massive generators required to drain thelife forceout of the Autobot prisoners and put it into the Cube. He dissed Dreadwing's drone army for not being much help to them.The Reign of Starscream #3The Reign of Starscream #4

Unfortunately for Starscream, the Cube didn't work, and Dreadwing's forces betrayed him. During the battle between Starscream's loyalists,Arcee'sAutobots and Dreadwing's traitors, Payload grappled withStockade,who eventually got the better of him. Outmatched, Payload decided to flee, with Stockade chasing after him. His fate is unknown.The Reign of Starscream #5

Transformers: Beginnings

Transformers: Beginnings

The Veiled Threat

Payload came to Earth in response toStarscream's signal, sent out afterMegatron's death. When Starscream recruited theHuman Accessory Force,he joined in a battle to capture a dam construction site inZambia.He was skeptical of Starscream's claim that Megatron was truly dead, but acceptedMacerator's word that the recordings of the event clearly showed Megatron being killed. Once the Autobots had come to investigate the Decepticon activity, Payload, Macerator andDropkicklured them into the Zambezi River to fight. Though Payload managed to keep Ironhide distracted as they neared Victoria Falls, two humans,Kaminari IshiharaandPetr Andronovinterfered with the fight using strange hi-tech guns, and Payload was forced to retreat.

The three Decepticons proceeded to Kariba Dam, where Payload descended into the gorge and started blasting away at the bottom of the dam, with the intention of rupturing it. When the Autobots caught up with them, Ratchet started attempting to repair the dam, and Payload began firing at him instead. He inflicted heavy damage on Ratchet, however the humans released the floodgates on the dam. Unable to withstand the raging torrent, Payload was swept away.Optimus Primelater spoke of tracking down and terminating the Decepticon, but it's unclear if this was done.The Veiled Threat

Toy bios

You can't tell from the picture, but he's having a giggle fit right now.

During one of his transits, Payload foundRatchetgetting in his way. TheConstructicon Warriorwas amused that Ratchet would think he could stop him. However,Joltwas also present in the area. The younger Autobot messed with Payload long enough to tame him with his stunning electro-whips, allowing him and Ratchet to go in and take him down.Payload (Voyager)Electrostatic Jolt

Games

Battle for the Allspark

Payload units of both sides have a strong defense, good attack, but poor speed. Battle for the Allspark

Transformers The Game

Payloads show up inMission Cityto put the hurt on both Autobot and Decepticon alike. Their primary attack is an unstoppable running charge that can send even the likes of Optimus and Megatron reeling. The only way to break them out of this attack is to nail them with a thrown object or melee attack when they briefly pause between charges.

Payloads also appear in the bonusCybertronlevels on both sides.

Aside from the head design differences, the Decepticon versions are dark blue, while the Autobot versions are silver-white. Transformers The Game (console)

Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark(3DS)

Rise of the Dark Spark

Toys

Transformers(2007)

Easily detachable parts? "Battle Damage!"
Really long back plunger? "Accessible Action Feature!"Shelfwarming?"Easy and AffordableArmy-Building!"

• Payload(Deluxe Class,2007)

• Takara ID number:MD-17
• Known designers:Eric Siebenaler(Hasbro),Takio Ejima(TakaraTomy),Joe Kyde(deco artist)

Part of the fifth wave ofTransformersDeluxe figures, Payload transforms into an unlicensed approximation of aBulldog II Armored Truck.His robot mode is based on the mono-eyed Decepticon version of the armored truck drones seen inTransformers The Game.

In robot mode, his maingimmickis a large spring-guided capture claw that extends several inches out of his stomach. However, when the claw-shaft is retracted, it sticks equally far out of his lower back. His head featureslight-pipingfor his lens-face.

Several pieces on Payload tend to pop off easily: his brush guard, midriff-plate/claw-center, and even his upper shoulder/head assembly. The mold was later retooled to include larger pegs for the shoulder/head assembly and an added tab on the brush-guard, to connect to the new slot in the claw plunger. While this was intended to give the pieces a better fit, it actually puts more pressure on the parts and causes them to pop off even more easily. The chest piece, however, fits fairly well on either version, but is still easy to remove.

Payload had a tendency tosit on shelvesfor weeks, with some examples of end displays filled completely with Payload figures. This has led to some fans affectionately renaming himPegload.

The mold was later retooled intoMovie Advanced SeriesDispensor.This toy can also berepurposedas theClass Beta drone units.

• More information on Payload at TFU.info

Transformers(2010)

• Payload(EZ Collection, 2010)

Released in "Vol.5" of TakaraTomy'sEZ Collection(not the fifth wave of product, the fifth iteration of the cross-franchise line), sold under theAutobot Alliancebanner, Payload is a yellow-and-gray redeco of the non-combining Legends classLong Haulfrom Hasbro's2010Transformerstoyline,transforming into a yellow dump truck.

Takara's stock photos of Payload made it seem like his plastic was more of an orange color, but the actual toy is positively yellow.

This toy can also be repurposed as the genericConstructicon Warriorsfrom theRevenge of the Fallengame.

.

He'll easily popyourparts off.

• Payload(Voyager Class, 2010)

• Known designers:Andrew Scribner(deco artist)

Part of the first wave of2010'sTransformerstoyline,Payload is aredecoof theRevenge of the FallenVoyager-class Long Haul,transforming into a genericized "earth mover" dump truck with a functional truck bed. In robot mode, he has three "Mech Alive"gimmicks: turning his head also turns a cog in his chest, bending his elbows moves some pistons, and finally, moving his feet also moves the" springs "connected to them inwards. Only the piston gimmick is advertised on the packaging. Meanwhile, each forearm houses a spring-loaded, flip-out axe.

Payload has a mildvariant,where the purple paint on his head and chest can be very dark and flat or extremely deep and shiny. The latter version seems to be the harder to find, although exact quantities of each are unknown.

Much like the above toy, this figure can be repurposed as the Constructicon Warriors.

• More information on Payload at TFU.info

Merchandise

3D Battle-Card Game

• Payload(3D Battle Card, 2007)

• Card number:

In the3D Battle-Card Game,the Payload is on the Decepticon side. Pieces punched out from two different cards can be assembled to form a SWAT truck or a robot, while a third double-sided card gives its stats and attacks for each mode. He uses the same piece layout asRatchet,though his lens-head peeking up over the back end of his vehicle mode looks less doofy than Ratchet's does. This layout was later also used forTrailbreaker.Payload's card art was done byLucio Parrillo.

Notes

• ArtistKen Christiansendesigned Payload (and the subsequentClass Beta drone units), along with the other new characters in theTransformers- The GameandTransformers: Revenge of the Fallen- The Gamevideo games. The security company logos on his design and the toy, "Armored Security Systems", spells out "ASS". Christiansen says this wasnot intentional.
• A variant of Payload, crudely textured with a shoddily compressedPepsilivery, can be found in the internal files forTransformers The Game.It was most likely cut early in development.
• Payload's altmode as a Decepticon anti-aircraft tank inThe Veiled Threatgives him a form similar to that of the unreleasedGunbarreltoy, who appeared unnamed in the Transformers: Alliance comic at the same time. Whether they were meant to be the same character is unknown.
• 2010 Payload's packaging bio describes him as an armored transport vehicle and has the sameTech Specnumbers as 2007 Payload. Sneaky Hasbro, making them thesame guy!
• Hasbro has stated in theMarch 2010 Q&A sessionthat 2010 Payload is one of the Constructicon Warriors appearing in theRevenge of the Fallenvideo games.Guess he moonlights as an armored truck.
• The stock photography for both EZ CollectionSkipjackand Payload depict them in shades that hew closer to orange than the yellow they came out in. Whether this was an artifact of the photographic process or an intentional plastic color-change is uncertain.

Foreign names

• Japanese:Payload(ペイロードPeirōdo)

External links

• Payload conceptsandfinal renderingon artist Ken Christiansen's blog.
• 3D Battle Card Game at Wizards of the Coast

References

1. ↑TransformersDeluxe Class Payload packaging bio
2. ↑The Reign of Starscreamtrade paperback bonus material