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Crankcase (Transformers)
Encyclopedia
Transformers: Generation 1
Crankcase is a wheezing, whining ingrate, only happy when things are bad. He also has an amazing data storage capacity. He is armed with two laser weapons.Marvel Comics
Crankcase first appeared in issue #48 of the Marvel Transformers comics, in a story called "The Flames of Boltax!" In this issue we see a flashback to millions of years ago on Cybertron where Megatron commanded Crankcase, Ruckus and Windsweeper in an attempt to capture the Underbase from Boltax. They were unsuccessful and the Underbase was lost in space.Crankcase appeared in issues #64 "Matrix Quest Part 1: Bird of Brey", #71 "The Void!", #77 "Exodus!", #79 "The Last Autobot?" and #80 "End of the Road!"
Crankcase made an appearance in the Decepticon forces under the command of Megatron in issue #7 of the Marvel Generation 2 comic series, in a story called "New Dawn." Megatron lead his Decepticons against Jhiaxus
Jhiaxus
Jhiaxus is a fictional character in the Transformers universes. He is an evil Decepticon jet.-Transformers: Generation 2:Unlike most of the notable characters in the Transformers comics, Jhiaxus is not based on a toy...
' second generation Cybertronians near the moon of Tykos. The Decepticons were defeated and Megatron left injured, presumed dead, but swearing revenge.
Crankcase appeared among the Decepticons under the command of Galvatron in the alternate future story "Aspects of Evil 2" from Marvel U.K. Transformers #224. In this story Rodimus Prime remembered how Galvatron, Crankcase, Ruckus and Windsweeper killed Blurr and then attacked Rodimus Prime, Kup, Arcee and the Battle Patrol. Enraged, Rodimus nearly Galvatron, but to keep the Matrix from being contaminated by hatred he relented. Oddly the Micromaster Battle Patrol was depicted as being full sized Autobots in this story.
Dreamwave Productions
Although Crankcase had a biography printed in Dreamwave ProductionsDreamwave Productions
Dreamwave Productions was a Canadian art design studio and comic book publisher founded in 1996 and is best known for their multiple Transformers comic book series...
More Than Meets The Eye series he did not appear in any of that company's fiction.
IDW Publishing
Crankcase appeared in Stormbringer #2 by IDW PublishingIDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
where he was part of the Decepticon infiltration unit on Nebulos commanded by Darkwing. They recorded the arrival of Thunderwing. In issue #3 he among the Decepticon troops fighting Thunderwing
Thunderwing
Thunderwing is the name of several fictional characters from the Transformers series. Introduced in 1989, he was a major villain in the Marvel Comics Transformers series. Although Thunderwing was created after the US Transformers television series ended, the character of Black Shadow did appear in...
.
Fun Publications
Crankcase, Ruckus and Needlenose were supposedly referenced in Around Cybertron by Fun PublicationsFun Publications
Fun Publications is a publishing company that runs the Transformers Collectors Club and G.I. Joe Collectors Club under licensefrom Hasbro. Besides releasing comics, Fun Publications releases exclusive toys and runs conventions for their clubs....
where they attacked a waste depot that they mistook for an energon refinery in Axion Nexus.
Battletrap, Crankcase, Gutcruncher and Stormcloud appear among Bludgeon's troops in the story At War's End by Fun Publications
Fun Publications
Fun Publications is a publishing company that runs the Transformers Collectors Club and G.I. Joe Collectors Club under licensefrom Hasbro. Besides releasing comics, Fun Publications releases exclusive toys and runs conventions for their clubs....
. They help remove Abominus after the Terrorcon combiner had been defeated by Piranacon when it is believed that Hun-Gurrr sold out Bludgeon to Megatron.
Transformers
Crankcase is one of two different Decepticons in the TransformersTransformers (film series)
Transformers is an American film franchise directed by Michael Bay, and based on the toys created by Hasbro and Takara Tomy. The first film, Transformers, was released in 2007, the second film, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, in 2009, and the third film, Transformers: Dark of the Moon in 2011...
live-action film series. The first version is an homage to the Generation 1 character.
IDW Publishing
In issue #3 of Transformers: Defiance, Crankcase is among the troops under the command of Starscream ordered by Megatron to bring in Optimus and kill his companions.Crankcase appears on Cybertron in the Reign of Starscream series where he is killed in an attempt to bring a duplicate of the Allspark cube online.
Titan Magazines
Note: Information in italics occure in the alternate storyline where Megatron won the battle for the Allspark.Crankcase would return in issue #22 of the Titan Transformers Magazine series in a story called "The Decepticon who Haunted Himself."
Toys
- Transformers Deluxe Crankcase (2008)
- A Walmart exclusive redeco of Cybertron Red Alert and Cannonball. The figure was later remolded into Timelines KupKupKup is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers universe. All are older Autobots who are members of the Elite Guard. Wired Magazine once nominated him as one 12 most ridiculous Transformers of all time...
for BotConBotConBotCon, briefly known as "The Official Transformers Collectors' Convention" , is an annual convention for Transformers fans and collectors. BotCon has been held annually since 1994...
2009. - According to Hasbro officials at Botcon 2008, the Walmart exclusive redeco toys were originally planned to be sold under the Transformers: UniverseTransformers: UniverseTransformers: Universe is a line of toys that consists of re-painted and re-released toys from various Transformers lines of toys. For the comic book series see Transformers Universe .- Toy line :...
label, but Walmart requested them be part of the movie toy line; thus, they were repackaged in movie style packaging. This means this toy was originally intended to be an updated form for the Generation 1 character.
Transformers: Power Core Combiners
Crankcase is a Decepticon in the Transformers: Power Core CombinersTransformers: Power Core Combiners
right|250pxTransformers: Power Core Combiners is a 2010 toy line by Hasbro that combines elements of Combiners, Targetmasters and Mini-Cons...
toy line.
Toys
- Power Core Combiners
- A black redeco of Power Core Combiners Huffer. Comes with four drone vehicles: an armored car, a missile carrier, a gunshipGunshipThe term "gunship" is used in several contexts, all sharing the general idea of a light craft armed with heavy guns.-In Navy:In the Navy, the term originally appeared in the mid-19th century as a less-common synonym for gunboat.-In military aviation:...
and a radomeRadomeA radome is a structural, weatherproof enclosure that protects a microwave or radar antenna. The radome is constructed of material that minimally attenuates the electromagnetic signal transmitted or received by the antenna. In other words, the radome is transparent to radar or radio waves...
-equipped Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II - all of which combine with Crankcase to form a larger robot. - The Armored Car and Missile Carrier Drones are redecos of those from Bombshock with Combaticons, while the Combat Helicopter and Recon Plane Drones are redecos of those from Skyburst with Aerialbots.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Crankcase is one of two different Decepticons in the TransformersTransformers (film series)
Transformers is an American film franchise directed by Michael Bay, and based on the toys created by Hasbro and Takara Tomy. The first film, Transformers, was released in 2007, the second film, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, in 2009, and the third film, Transformers: Dark of the Moon in 2011...
live-action film series. The latest on the leader of the Dreads.
Development
Film concept art of Sentinel Prime by artist Josh Nizzi named the chatacter who would become Crankcase as "Hooligan".Books
Crankcase appears as a character in the Transformers: Dark of the Moon The Junior NovelTransformers: Dark of the Moon The Junior Novel
Transformers: Dark of the Moon: The Junior Novel is an adaptation of the 2011 film Transformers: Dark of the Moon written by Michael Kelly. For younger readers the violence featured in the movie is scaled down considerably and the book features a different ending than the one seen in the film to...
.
Movie plot
Crowbar, Hatchet and Crankcase are among the Decepticons hidden on the Moon in Transformers: Dark of the Moon. When the Autobots investigate the crashed ship on the moon containing Sentinel PrimeSentinel Prime
Sentinel Prime is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers series. First mention of Sentinel Prime was in issue #65 of the US Marvel Comics Transformers series, where he was mentioned to hold the Autobot Matrix of Leadership before Optimus Prime. Sentinel Prime has since...
the three Decepticons secretly return with the Autobots. Once on Earth they take on the disguise of Earth vehicles. The three Dreads chase the Autobots on a highway while they escort Sentinel Prime to NEST. Hatchet dies at the hands of Dino/Mirage and Bumblebee, while Crankcase and Crowbar survive and make there way to Ironhide. After a stand off, the Dreads attack Ironhide and Sideswipe. Crowbar is shot in the head by Ironhide while Crankcase is stabbed with an explosive dart and killed.
Video games
Crankcase is among the characters who appear in the TRANSFORMERS CVBERVERSE Battle Builder Game. He also appears in Transformers dark of the moon (video game) as a playable character in multiplayer only. Crankcase had his name swapped with Crowbar, so instead of calling him Crankcase he is called Crowbar. It caused confusion between the two.Toys
All toys of this character are officially licensed from General MotorsGeneral Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
.
- Dark of the Moon Cyberverse Legion Crankcase (2011)
- An all-new Legion (formerly Legends) mold of Crankcase.
- Dark of the Moon Deluxe Crankcase (2011)
- An all-new Deluxe mold of Crankcase, which transforms into a Chevrolet Suburban emergency vehicle. Comes with Mech Tech weapon that mounts on the roof of vehicle mode.