Transmetal 2
From Transformers Wiki
ATransmetal 2(alternatelyTransmetal II;pluralTransmetals 2) is aTransformerwho has been mutated to a more advanced degree than theTransmetalsduring theBeast Wars.Where Transmetals are marked by a mode-based inversion of biological and mechanical elements, Transmetals 2 have had those elements blended in equal parts between both modes, the result being an asymmetrical, cybernetic patchwork jumble that is frequently rather monstrous.
Some Transmetals 2 exhibit a degree of "supernatural" power, such as rapid healing or telekinesis. Additionally, being a Transmetal 2 seems to provide a temporary resistance to the full effects ofMegatron'svirus,but at the cost of losing one's Transmetallization.
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Fiction
Beast Warstoy bios
Transmetals 2 were the result of Megatron's cloning experiments, a hyper-aggressive breed of warriors with advanced strength and speed but also more savage impulses. Some were Predacons and some were Maximals, but all struggled to control their own violent tendencies.[1]
Beast Warscartoon
Only Cheetor,Dinobot II,and Blackarachnia were explicitly described as Transmetals 2. Each of them was altered by an Enigma tic piece ofVoktechnology known as the "Transmetal driver",which appeared in Megatron's possession without explanation. Despite lacking the vehicle modes of the previous Transmetals, Transmetal-2-ness was generally viewed as an enviable upgrade. Cheetor, Blackarachnia and Dinobot II all displayed some degree of" supernatural "powers, the use of which was signified by conspicuous glows in their sparks and/or eyes: Cheetor showed vague visionary tendenciesGo with the Flow(which, admittedly, had happened before), enhanced healing abilities, and telekinesis;Feral Scream Part 2Blackarachnia demonstrated telekinesis;Master Blasterand Dinobot II showed enhanced healing (although this could also be attributed to him sharing a piece ofRampage's nigh-immortalspark).Proving Grounds
Beast Machinescartoon
When the Maximals returned toCybertronand encountered Megatron'svirus,both the Transmetals and Transmetals 2 among them had a strange reaction. Rather than become instantly paralyzed, as apparently happened to the majority of Cybertronians exposed, they simply lost their Transmetallization. Primal, Cheetor, Rattrap, and Blackarachnia reverted to their pre-Transmetal beast modes.The ReformattingThey were able to stay mobile, though glitching and amnesic, while Rhinox and Silverbolt immediately succumbed to paralysis.Revelations Part II: Descent
When the escaped Maximals recovered viareformattingand fought their way toMegatron's citadel,they found him still a Transmetal 2, though he fervently sought to rid himself of his organic elements. He was concealed within a bulky control suit, but in moments of rage he would fall out of it and transform seemingly uncontrollably into dragon mode.Master of the HouseThis body was eventually obliterated in adoomsdaystorm,End of the Linebut its biological and mechanical elements were somehow made manifest inSavage/Nobleand theGrand Mal.Prometheus Unbound
3H comics
Ravagewas reborn in a Transmetal 2 body.Primeval Dawn Part 1
Iguanus,Primeval Dawn Part 1Spittor,andSonarPrimeval Dawn Part 2were obtained byTarantulasfrom stasis pods left behind and were Transmetals 2.
Megatron's dragon body was Transmetal 2.Cryotekobtained the technical data of his dragon beast form and transferred it to his body, becoming a Transmetal 2 himself.[2]
Ain't No Rat
Optimus Minorwas a Transmetal 2.Ain't No RatIt is unknown how he became one.
2006 IDWBeast Warscontinuity
Ramulus,Optimus Minor,The Gathering #1Scourge,Stinkbomb,Prowl,Night Glider,Sonar,The Gathering #2andScaremThe Gathering #4were Transmetals 2, despite only existing asprotoformsbeforehand. Ravage was reborn into a Transmetal 2 body.The Gathering #3
Ask Vector Prime
Galaxy Convoytransformed into a Transmetal 2klud.Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/08
Toys
Beast Wars
The Transmetals 2 were sold at multiple price points as the dominant subline ofBeast Warsin 1999. Like their predecessors the Transmetals, they featurevacuum metallizingas a dominant aesthetic feature, but their designs are more irregular and patchwork, featuring skeletal elements and lacking the smooth contours of the Transmetals.
Unlike the Transmetals, most Transmetals 2 did not have a third mode. Only the largest Transmetal 2 toys, Tigerhawk and Megatron, were designed to have more than two modes, but Megatron's was never featured in the cartoon and Tigerhawk's was dropped entirely even from the toy. Neither vehicle mode was especially well-implemented.
Early on in the release of Transmetal 2 toys, the packaging used a Roman numeral "II", but arunning changein the packaging was made to the Arabic number "2", which is generally considered the "correct" spelling of the term.
Transmetals 2(1999)
| Basic Class | Deluxe Class | Mega Class | ||||||||
| Ultra Class |
Exclusives
| Walmart(2001) | BotCon 2001
|
Legacy
| Leader Class |
Notes
- The packaging blurb that described the Transmetals 2 as "infused with ultra-aggressive tendencies that they must struggle to control" was reinforced in more than one toy bio, including Megatron's. Beyond Cheetor's first proper transformation in "Feral Scream", this was never in evidence in theBeast Warscartoon, but it may have been a factor inBeast Machines:As mentioned above, Megatron displayed the strange tendency to convert to dragon mode (apparently against his own will) when enraged.
- Several Transmetal 2 characters, including Optimus Minor, Sonar, Scarem, and Tigerhawk, appear to have an oddball ability to acquire more limbs in their robot modes by shifting around a few parts. Though this might not normally be noteworthy, as several characters from the beast era have animal limbs going all over the place due to complex transformation schemes, there is evidence that this was a conscious decision from the designers: Scarem, Sonar, and Tigerhawk are all portrayed as having their extra limbs deployed in their packaging art, and Optimus Minor's multiple limbs having nothing to do with his transformation. In any case however, this feature was never portrayed in fiction for any of these characters.
- Despite there being no overt involvement of the Transmetal Driver in the cartoon, Megatron's dragon-form andTigerhawkwere sold as a Transmetal 2 toys. While Tigerhawk definitely had extraordinary powers, this could be explained as the result of his unique origin as the "ultimate weapon" of the Vok; Megatron's only enhanced powers seemed to be an ability to breathe fire and ice, which might have been inherent in his mode of choice and were not shown to be involved with any supernatural glowing spark powers.Cryotek's3Hbiodescribed Megatron and Cryotek as Transmetals II. But "Optimal Optimus", who was upgraded in the same fashion (one body holding two sparks), was sold as a vanilla Transmetal.
Foreign names
- Japanese:Transmetals 2(トランスメタルス2Toransumetarusu Tsū)
- French:Transmétaux 2
- Spanish:Transmetales 2
References
- ↑Transmetal 2 packaging blurb
- ↑Cryotek's 3H bio, found online and in the Director's Cut edition of "Betrayal".
