Quake (Transformers)

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Quake is the name of two fictional characters from the Transformers series. Both are Decepticons who turn into tanks. He should not be confused with FansProject Quake, a third-party Transformer homage to Generation 1 Shockwave.

Transformers: Generation 1

Transformers character
Quake-boxart.jpg
Generation 1 Quake box art
Name Quake
Decepticon
Series Transformers: Generation 1
Beast Machines
First appearance "Assault on the Ark!" Transformers #242, Marvel UK
Information
Alternate modes Leopard 2 A4 tank, Cybertronian Tank
Function Ground Assault
Gender Male
Motto "Nothing lasts forever... so why not destroy it now?"
Partner Tiptop and Heater, Chasm
Rank 5
Sub-group Double Targetmasters, Ultracons

The first Quake figure was a Decepticon Targetmaster with two transforming weapon-partners: Tiptop and Heater. He transformed into a Leopard 2 A4.

Fictional biography

Profile: Reason has never been known to slow the raging onslaughts of this destructive berserker. Quake attacks everyone and everything with a vengeance. Only persistent cries from his fellow Decepticons of "point your guns the other way" and "the Autobots are over there, you idiot" prevent him from blasting those on his own side. Otherwise, he doesn't stop shooting until everything around him lies in ruins or he runs out of ammo, whichever comes first. Quake gives Megatron sufficient reason to question one of his most cherished theories of military strategy: "I'd rather have a fool who shoots than ten trained warriors who hold their fire." As Megatron has learned, when that fool is Quake, the gun can be pointing at you.

Quake is teamed with two Nebulans, Tiptop and Heater. Tiptop worked as a strongman in the Traveling Three-Sphere Circus of Nebulos. He lost his job after the careless use of his strength caused injuries to several of his fellow performers. Embittered, he signed up with the Nebulan-based Decepticons to seek revenge against his former employer.

Heater was a smart-aleck street punk who spent most of his time hustling contraband pleasure pods in the back alleys of some of Nebulos's largest cities. When law enforcement officers began to close in on him, he underwent the same bio-engineering procedure as Tiptop and, like him, became binary-bonded to Quake.

Abilities: In tank mode, Quake is capable of leveling an entire Class 5 Autobot defensive installation in minutes. He has a maximum speed of 75 miles per hour and a range of 250 miles. His titanium-alloy treads are coated with a special adhesive that enables him to climb up sheer cliff surfaces. He is equipped with a powerful plasma cannon which has a range of 40 miles. Tiptop transforms into a gyroscopic destabilizer, which destroys the balance of any target it hits. Heater transforms into a double photon pistol. In either tank or robot mode, Quake can use the two Nebulans in their weapons modes either singly, together or combined into one weapon.

Weaknesses: Quake has a poorly designed cooling system. When attempting especially rigorous climbs, particularly up vertical walls, he often overheats and shuts down. Lacking common sense, in these situations he often pushes on anyway, which usually results in the meltdown of his transmission and fuel line systems.

Recepticon

Quake's transformation is well executed and his ability to climb walls impressive.[1]

Animated series

Although the animated Transformers series ended in the US before Quake was released, he appeared in animated form along with the only Double Targetmasters in commercials for the toys.

While an animated Transformers series continued in Japan at the time, the Double Targetmasters were not released in Japan, and therefore didn't make it to television there.

Comics

3H Enterprises

In the BotCon "Wreckers" comics, a Vehicon called Quake appears as a recolor of Tankor. He has the Generation 1 Quake's colors and is mentioned by Megatron as having worked along his "namesake", revealing him as the original Quake rebuilt as a Vehicon. His spark was taken by Megatron alongside that of Blastcharge and implanted in a Vehicon body. They were then sent to take care of Primal Prime's group of Wreckers. Their first encounter in the base of Arcee was inconclusive, although Blastcharge managed to kill the Maximal Fractyl. The two then tracked the Wreckers to the crashed Autobot shuttle that had brought Optimus Primal's group back to Cybertron, with Quake leading the Vehicon attack. However the Wreckers escaped the onslaught in the shuttle, with Quake being killed by the Vok enhanced Tigatron.

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 Prime instructs Backstreet, Bumblebee and Ruckus on how to identify Autobots from Decepticons in battle using the Ark's computer. Quake is one of those he displays to the Autobots.[2]

Dreamwave Productions

Quake's only appearance in the fiction from Dreamwave Productions was as a member of Ratbat's Ultracons in the first issue of the third War Within series. He was among the combined Autobot/Decepticon/Ultracon forces attacked by Starscream's Predacons. In this story he presumably had a Cybertronian tank alternate mode, but was never shown in vehicle mode. This was before he became a Targetmaster.

Quake and his partners did receive a full page biography in Dreamwave's More Than Meets The Eye series.

IDW Publishing

Quake appeared in The Transformers: Stormbringer #4. He was among the Decepticon forces sent against Thunderwing when the Wreckers were unable to stop him.[3]

Marvel Comics

Quake appeared as one of Thunderwing's Decepticons during the "Matrix Quest". He wasn't referred as a Targetmaster.

Quake is noted for his durability, having taken what should have been fatal damage from Unicron during the Chaos-Bringer's attack on Cybertron and lived to tell the tale. Optimus Prime ordered him to fire on Unicron's foot in order to reduce his mobility. Quake did so - and was stomped flat by the irate Chaos-Bringer.

Quake appeared in issue #79, "The Last Autobot!" He was among the Decepticon forces under the command of Bludgeon who slaughtered the natives of the planet Klo.

He turned up in the last issue of the Generation 1 comic as part of a hunter-killer group who ambush Grimlock's troops, taking out Blaster in his tank mode.

Quake popped up again, initially as one of Bludgeon's crew manning the Decepticon Warworld in Marvel's Generation 2 series. He was one of the Decepticons who attacked Earth, noting that Bludgeon "knew how to keep the troops smilin'" after ordering them to destroy everything in sight. He was either seriously injured or killed attempting to repel a boarding party of second generation Decepticons under the command of Jhiaxus.

Toys

  • Generation 1 Quake with Tiptop and Heater (1988)
An original mold. Turns from robot to tank. Quake transforms into a 1/82 scale Leopard 2 Mobile Battle Tank. Unlike the other "double" Targetmasters, Quake has a third non-Nebulan weapon; his removable turret cannon, which can be replaced in vehicle mode by any smaller Targetmaster partner. He comes with the Nebulans Tiptop and Heater.[4]
With the toy being 1/82 scale, the robot mode of Quake would stand about 11 meters (36 feet) tall.
  • Reprolabels Classic Quake (2010)
A custom label set made to make Universe Blast Off look more like Generation 1 Quake.[5]
  • Hasbro Transformers: Generations Titans Return Deluxe Chasm & Decepticon Quake (2017)
A recolor of Generations Hardhead.

Gallery


Shattered Glass

Transformers character
Name Quake
Decepticon
First appearance "Shattered Glass" by Fun Publications
Information
Alternate modes Tank
Gender Male

This Quake is an alternate version good of the Generation 1 character from the BotCon exclusive "Shattered Glass" comic, in which the Decepticons are on the side of good and the Autobots on the side of evil. His appearance is based on the Generation 1 character colored like the Generation 1 Autobot Hardhead. Like all Decepticons of his world, he is probably heroic and opposes to the evil Autobots.

Fun Publications

Quake appeared as a member of Megatron's forces in the "Shattered Glass" story.[6]

References

  1. Bellemo, Mark (2007). Transformers Identification and Price Guide. Krause Publications. p. 196. ISBN 978-0-89689-445-7. 
  2. Robert Mann (w). "By their Blasters you shall know them ...!" Transformers Comic-Magazin 12 (December 1990), Condor Verlag
  3. http://transfans.net/comics_guide_detail.php?id=667
  4. Alvarez, J.E. (2001). The Unofficial Guide to Transformers 1980s Through 1990s Revised & Expanded 2nd Edition. Schiffer Publishing Ltd.. p. 74. ISBN 0764313649. 
  5. http://www.reprolabels.com/Classics/quake.php
  6. Pete Sinclair & Benson Yee (w), Don Figueroa (p), Don Figueroa (i), Espen Grundetjern (col), Jesse Wittenrich (let), Pete Sinclair & Brian Savage (ed). "Shattered Glass" Transformers Timelines v2, 3 (Botcon 2008), Fun Publications

External links