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Overload (Transformers)
Encyclopedia
Overload is the name of four different fictional character
in the various Transformers universes
. They are seemingly unrelated besides sharing a name.
His bio described him as the ideal soldier, brave, daring and a gifted battlefield tactician. However, he is described as working with the Autobot transport system on cargo hauling missions, while his impulsiveness usually leads to him disobeying orders and joining the battle himself.
According to Roadjet's Takara biography he is a chief of over land combat, and treats his subordinates like he is their father. It is his responsibility to transport the patrol teams and weapons to their destination.
instructs Backstreet, Bumblebee
and Ruckus
on how to identify Autobots from Decepticons in battle using the Ark's computer. Overload is one of those he displays to the Autobots.
's team investigating anomalies at the Decepticon base - unaware it had been taken over by the Heralds of Unicron. Bludgeon
is still present and stalks the team from the shadows, killing and wounding several. Eventually destroying Bludgeon's Pretender shell, Overload and the others set charges to destroy the base - as the other Heralds arrived. Jetfire
orders them to flee, destroying the base himself. He is seen in the subsequent battle against Unicron
.
In the follow-up Energon comic, Overload appears as part of the crew of Base Site One alongside Ironhide
and Dropshot. Attacked by Scorponok
, Overload is easily defeated. Scorponok is then defeated by Megatron. As this is the final issue of Energon published by Dreamwave, it is unclear whether Overload would have appeared again.
According to San Diego's biography: "An engineer by nature, he busies himself daily with the maintenance of their metro base headquarters. With the help of the build team, he endeavours to power up the Autobots with the new items he produces in rapid succession. Deeply impressed by Earth culture, he's had an episode in which he was going to hold a wedding ceremony with Discharge."
According to the story with Sixtrain Red Mode, the Sixtrain turns red and becomes more powerful when empowered by a piece of the Maxtix.
. He stands about 30 feet tall, not counting the arm on his back.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the various Transformers universes
Transformers universes
is an entertainment franchise. It began with the Hasbro Transformers toy line, centered on two factions of warring alien robots which are called the Autobots and the Decepticons...
. They are seemingly unrelated besides sharing a name.
Transformers: Generation 1
The original Overload (called Bomber in Italy) was the name of an Autobot Micromaster who turned into a semi-truck. His trailer turned into a jet.His bio described him as the ideal soldier, brave, daring and a gifted battlefield tactician. However, he is described as working with the Autobot transport system on cargo hauling missions, while his impulsiveness usually leads to him disobeying orders and joining the battle himself.
According to Roadjet's Takara biography he is a chief of over land combat, and treats his subordinates like he is their father. It is his responsibility to transport the patrol teams and weapons to their destination.
Animated series
Although the US animated series was canceled before Overload was created, he did appear briefly in animated form in the commercial for his toy. Groundshaker was seen flying over a Micromaster city which was held in the palm of the hand of Powermaster Optimus Prime. In the city you can clearly see the Micromaster Overload, Erector and Hot House's base.Condor Verlag
In a story called "By their Blasters you shall know them ...!" from Transformers Comic-Magazin issue #12 by German comic publisher Condor Verlag Optimus PrimeOptimus Prime
Optimus Prime is a fictional character from the Transformers franchise. Prime is the leader of the autobots, a faction of transforming robots from the planet Cybertron. The autobots are constantly waging war against a rival faction of transforming robots called Decepticons...
instructs Backstreet, Bumblebee
Bumblebee (Transformers)
Bumblebee is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers universes. In most incarnations, Bumblebee is a small, yellow Autobot with the altmode of a compact car.- Transformers: Generation 1 :...
and Ruckus
Ruckus (Transformers)
-Transformers - Generation 1:He did not appear in an episode of any Transformers cartoon. His only appearance in fiction was in the Marvel comic but more so than his fellow Triggercons; Ruckus being the most interesting of the three...
on how to identify Autobots from Decepticons in battle using the Ark's computer. Overload is one of those he displays to the Autobots.
Dreamwave Productions
Although Overload did not appear in the Dreamwave storyline, he did get a biography in their More Than Meets The Eye title.Transformers: Armada
The second Overload is an Autobot/Mini-Con Headmaster unit who combines with Optimus Prime.Animated series
Apparently a non-sentient weapons platform crafted by the Mini-Cons at the same time as they recreated Optimus Prime's body, Overload can convert from vehicle mode into a set of cannons and combine with Optimus Prime for added firepower. He is also shown to possess a robot mode, seen only once in a crowd scene, but shows no signs of any intelligence or life. Overload's toy is packaged with the Mini-Con, Rollout (Magnus in Japan), who appears in the show in his role of Overload's cab and head, but in a capacity even more minimal that his larger partner's. Although the character was called Overload in English, there is one instance in "Union" where Optimus Prime wrongly refers to Overload as Ultra Magnus.Dreamwave Productions
Overload and Rollout were given more personality in the Dreamwave Armada comic book series. He first appears in issue #16 as part of JetfireJetfire
Jetfire is the name of several fictional characters from the Transformers universes. He is nearly always depicted as an Autobot with jet or space shuttle alternate mode.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
's team investigating anomalies at the Decepticon base - unaware it had been taken over by the Heralds of Unicron. Bludgeon
Bludgeon (Transformers)
Bludgeon is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers universes. For trademark reasons, he is now marketed by Hasbro as Decepticon Bludgeon. They are all Decepticon warriors who turn into tanks.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
is still present and stalks the team from the shadows, killing and wounding several. Eventually destroying Bludgeon's Pretender shell, Overload and the others set charges to destroy the base - as the other Heralds arrived. Jetfire
Jetfire
Jetfire is the name of several fictional characters from the Transformers universes. He is nearly always depicted as an Autobot with jet or space shuttle alternate mode.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
orders them to flee, destroying the base himself. He is seen in the subsequent battle against Unicron
Unicron
Unicron is a fictional character from the Transformers universe and toyline. Created by Floro Dery, he was introduced in the 1986 animated film The Transformers: The Movie as the film's main antagonist. Unicron is a prodigiously large robot whose scale reaches planetary proportions, and he is also...
.
In the follow-up Energon comic, Overload appears as part of the crew of Base Site One alongside Ironhide
Ironhide
Ironhide is the name of several different fictional characters in the Transformers universes. According to the original creator of the Transformers names, Bob Budiansky, Ironhide was named after the television series Ironside.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
and Dropshot. Attacked by Scorponok
Scorponok
Scorponok is the name shared by several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. All are Decepticons that turn into Scorpoins.- Transformers: Generation 1:...
, Overload is easily defeated. Scorponok is then defeated by Megatron. As this is the final issue of Energon published by Dreamwave, it is unclear whether Overload would have appeared again.
Toys
- Armada Overload with Rollout
- Armada Overload was recolored blue and released in the Energon line as Ultra MagnusUltra MagnusUltra Magnus is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers storylines.-Transformers: Generation 1:The greatest Transformer of them all. A commander could want no finer a soldier than Ultra Magnus...
.
- Energon Overload with Rollout
- Packaged with a redeco of Armada Optimus Prime and his Mini-Con. A CostcoCostcoCostco Wholesale Corporation is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States. it is the third largest retailer in the United States, where it originated, and the ninth largest in the world...
store exclusive.
- Universe Cybertron Series Voyager Overload
- A Voyager class toy, a redeco of Cybertron Cybertron Defense ScattorshotScattorshotScattorshot is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers universes. Initially spelled "Scattershot" it is believed that Hasbro changed the spelling for the character to more easily trademark the name.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
.
Transformers: Universe
The third Overload was a Micromaster who turns into a train, a member of the Railbots. He is the first U.S. release of the Japanese Generation 1 Micromaster named San Diego. He combines with the other Railbots to form Universe Rail Racer (Sixtrain in Japan).According to San Diego's biography: "An engineer by nature, he busies himself daily with the maintenance of their metro base headquarters. With the help of the build team, he endeavours to power up the Autobots with the new items he produces in rapid succession. Deeply impressed by Earth culture, he's had an episode in which he was going to hold a wedding ceremony with Discharge."
According to the story with Sixtrain Red Mode, the Sixtrain turns red and becomes more powerful when empowered by a piece of the Maxtix.
Toys
- Generation
- This toy was a redeco of Alan. A Takara exclusive.
- Generation 1 San Diego reissue (2003)
- Came with the head and gun of Sixtrain.
- Generation 1 San Diego red mode (2003)
- A red redeco of the toy. Came with the head and gun of Sixtrain Red Mode.
- Universe Micromaster Overload (2005)
- Swindle came with the thighs to Rail Racer.
- The Micromaster Railbots were released in Cybertron packaging in European countries, as they didn't have the Transformers: Universe line.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
The fourth Overload is one of the Constructicon models and part of Devastator. He transforms into an articulated dump truck and forms the torso of Devastator, along with ScavengerScavenger (Transformers)
Scavenger is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers universes. Scavenger is usually depicted as a villain who turns into a construction vehicle.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
. He stands about 30 feet tall, not counting the arm on his back.
Movie plot
Overload is seen when the Constructicons merge into Devastator. He never transforms into his robot mode and is seemingly killed when Devastator is destroyed by a rail gun round.Toys
- Revenge of the Fallen Legends Overload (2009)
- A new mold. Can form robot or vehicle modes or combine into Devastator.
- This toy was initially sold individually in Japan, then sold as a 7-pack of all the Constructicons in the U.S.