.gif){kind=spacer}
Obsidian (Transformers)
Encyclopedia
Obsidian is the name given to several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes
.
His biography indicates that he provide air support for Vehicon Tank-Drones, but oddly portrayed him as made to be a fairly mindless air-attack unit by Megatron, which contradicted his show history as a Cybertronian General.
The appearance of Obsidian is based on concept art provided to Hasbro by Draxhall Jump Studios, designed by artist Marvin Mariano.
. According to the Maximals in the episode "Sparkwar" they fought a thousand wars and won them all. The two were captured by Megatron
, along with the entire population of Cybertron
, who then eventually placed their sparks in Vehicon
bodies. Obsidian became a helicopter, leading the aerial forces in place of the fallen Jetstorm.
They first appeared in the episode "Sparkwar Part 1", where they immediately made an impact. Pretending to be dim and fairly weak, a'la Tankor, the two lured the Maximals into a trap, cutting off their every option with countless numbers of new Vehicon Drones. Cornering them underground, the Maximals only escaped due to Botanica
's intervention.
Unlike the previous generation of Vehicon generals (Tankor
, Jetstorm and Thrust), both Obsidian and Strika weren't given alternate personalities. They remained who they had always been. However, their prime directive was the protection of Cybertron, and they had been programmed to perceive Megatron and Cybertron as one and the same. To defend one was to defend the other. Unlike the previous Generals, Obsidian was willing to take the responsibilities of his own failures, making him perhaps the most honest of the Vehicon Generals. Obsidian and Strika were the first vehicons to address Megatron as "Lord Megatron"
Obsidian proved himself to be a tactical genius on the battlefield, given his past history as a supreme general. Despite his military brilliance, he was at a loss when without a certain directive. When Megatron was seemingly destroyed, he and Strika joined the Maximals, since their options had become limited. This alliance would turn out brief though, for when Megatron returned in the body of a Diagnostic Drone, Obsidian and Strika immediately return to his side.
In the final battle with the Maximals, Obsidian and Strika were tricked into standing on an antigravity unit by Cheetor
, who launched the pair into space, where neither were affected by the reformatting of Cybertron.
According to an F.A.Q. on Bob Skir's web site there was a scene with Obsidian and Strika cut from the final episode. "Obsidian and Strika had a MAGNIFICENT scene in which they return to Cybertron and decline an offer to be reformatted themselves (partly because they feel unworthy because of their role helping Megatron, and party because I wanted them to remain "pure" when I brought them back in the next series... which (as of this writing) I haven't been invited onto yet. Sadly, their finale got cut for time."
. However, this was an alternate universe version rather than the actually Obsidian from Beast Machines.
His bio indicated he that similar to the real Obsidian, had previously been a great general, captured and turned into a Vehicon by Megatron. Unlike the Obsidian from Beast Machines however, this Obsidian secretly plotted to overthrow his master. Lacking Strika in this universe and recognizing his own shortcomings, he teamed up with Tankor, who had not regained his Rhinox memories. Together they overthrew Megatron, taking control of Cybertron for themselves. Recognizing his leadership abilities, Unicron plucked him (along with Tankor) from his universe and made him one of his troops.
.
. Here Nemesis, Strika and Obsidian were both presumably destroyed with Unicron's defeat.
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...
.
Beast Machines
Oddly Obsidian's tech specs have little or nothing to do with the character as seen on the show, instead being described as a simple drone-general attaché.His biography indicates that he provide air support for Vehicon Tank-Drones, but oddly portrayed him as made to be a fairly mindless air-attack unit by Megatron, which contradicted his show history as a Cybertronian General.
The appearance of Obsidian is based on concept art provided to Hasbro by Draxhall Jump Studios, designed by artist Marvin Mariano.
Animated series
Obsidian is a legendary Cybertronian General who scored countless victories alongside his consort StrikaStrika
Strika is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers series. The first was one of the main villains in the animated Beast Machines television series, voice by Patricia Drake.-Beast Machines:...
. According to the Maximals in the episode "Sparkwar" they fought a thousand wars and won them all. The two were captured by Megatron
Megatron (Beast Wars and Beast Machines)
The Beast Wars and Beast Machines version of Megatron is the main antagonist from the aforementioned parts of the Transformers animated series, toy lines, and multiverse...
, along with the entire population of Cybertron
Cybertron
Cybertron is a fictional planet, the homeworld of the Transformers in the various fictional incarnations of the metaseries and toyline by Hasbro. In the Japanese series, the planet is referred to as "Cybertron" pronounced as セイバートロン Seibātoron...
, who then eventually placed their sparks in Vehicon
Vehicon
Vehicons are a faction in the fictional Transformers, appearing in the animated cartoon series Beast Machines. However, most Vehicons are non-sentient drones, controlled entirely by the will of Megatron or their respective general.-History:...
bodies. Obsidian became a helicopter, leading the aerial forces in place of the fallen Jetstorm.
They first appeared in the episode "Sparkwar Part 1", where they immediately made an impact. Pretending to be dim and fairly weak, a'la Tankor, the two lured the Maximals into a trap, cutting off their every option with countless numbers of new Vehicon Drones. Cornering them underground, the Maximals only escaped due to Botanica
Botánica
A botánica is a retail store that sells folk medicine, religious candles and statuary, amulets, and other products regarded as magical or as alternative medicine...
's intervention.
Unlike the previous generation of Vehicon generals (Tankor
Tankor
Tankor is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers universes.-Transformers: Generation 1:This version of Tankor, initially called Octane, is the Decepticons' fueler, in charge of storing and distributing fuel among Decepticons with vehicle modes. He is characterized as...
, Jetstorm and Thrust), both Obsidian and Strika weren't given alternate personalities. They remained who they had always been. However, their prime directive was the protection of Cybertron, and they had been programmed to perceive Megatron and Cybertron as one and the same. To defend one was to defend the other. Unlike the previous Generals, Obsidian was willing to take the responsibilities of his own failures, making him perhaps the most honest of the Vehicon Generals. Obsidian and Strika were the first vehicons to address Megatron as "Lord Megatron"
Obsidian proved himself to be a tactical genius on the battlefield, given his past history as a supreme general. Despite his military brilliance, he was at a loss when without a certain directive. When Megatron was seemingly destroyed, he and Strika joined the Maximals, since their options had become limited. This alliance would turn out brief though, for when Megatron returned in the body of a Diagnostic Drone, Obsidian and Strika immediately return to his side.
In the final battle with the Maximals, Obsidian and Strika were tricked into standing on an antigravity unit by Cheetor
Cheetor
Cheetor is several fictional characters from various Transformers universes.- Beast Wars :Cheetor's original tech spec indicated he was a seasoned and confident warrior always in search of battle with the Predacons, seemingly in contrast to his youthful and impulsive portrayal in the original show...
, who launched the pair into space, where neither were affected by the reformatting of Cybertron.
According to an F.A.Q. on Bob Skir's web site there was a scene with Obsidian and Strika cut from the final episode. "Obsidian and Strika had a MAGNIFICENT scene in which they return to Cybertron and decline an offer to be reformatted themselves (partly because they feel unworthy because of their role helping Megatron, and party because I wanted them to remain "pure" when I brought them back in the next series... which (as of this writing) I haven't been invited onto yet. Sadly, their finale got cut for time."
Fun Publications
Obsidian and Strika appeared together in the story Wreckers: Finale Part II by the Transformers Collectors Club in 2007. During the invasion of Cybertron the Quintessons believed the orbital defenses were deactivated, but thanks to Obsidian and Strika, some of them were brought back online and used against a Quintesson ship.Other media
Obsidian appears among the characters in Re-Unification, the 2010 TFCon voice actor play prelude comic.Toys
- Beast Machines Basic Obsidian (2000)
- Although the Hasbro toy of Obsidian was not colored like the character in the animated series, when released in Japan's Beast Wars Returns toy line it was recolored to match the show.
- The Transformers: Universe character of Rotorbolt was a redeco of Obsidian as a Predacon, but although prototypes of this figure was made, it was never released.
Transformers: Robots in Disguise
Due to the RiD universe not being remotely connected to the original series, Beast Wars and Beast Machines universe, and the fact that this Obsidian did not appear in the TV show or in any other fiction, nor did he receive any sort of biography from Hasbro; it can only be presumed that he was a completely different character.Toys
- Robots in Disguise Obsidian (2002)
- A gray/black redeco of the Beast Machines Obsidian figure.
Transformers: Universe
Once again a Decepticon, he is released with TankorTankor
Tankor is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers universes.-Transformers: Generation 1:This version of Tankor, initially called Octane, is the Decepticons' fueler, in charge of storing and distributing fuel among Decepticons with vehicle modes. He is characterized as...
. However, this was an alternate universe version rather than the actually Obsidian from Beast Machines.
His bio indicated he that similar to the real Obsidian, had previously been a great general, captured and turned into a Vehicon by Megatron. Unlike the Obsidian from Beast Machines however, this Obsidian secretly plotted to overthrow his master. Lacking Strika in this universe and recognizing his own shortcomings, he teamed up with Tankor, who had not regained his Rhinox memories. Together they overthrew Megatron, taking control of Cybertron for themselves. Recognizing his leadership abilities, Unicron plucked him (along with Tankor) from his universe and made him one of his troops.
3H Enterprises
In the comics, he said that he was from the reality where Unicron conquered CybertronCybertron
Cybertron is a fictional planet, the homeworld of the Transformers in the various fictional incarnations of the metaseries and toyline by Hasbro. In the Japanese series, the planet is referred to as "Cybertron" pronounced as セイバートロン Seibātoron...
.
Fun Publications
Although 3H Enterprises' loss of the license would forestall the conclusion to the Universe storyline, an explanation of sorts would be found in issue 8 of the Transformers Collectors Club magazine Cybertron/Robots in Disguise. Optimus Prime told the tale of how Unicron's forces were defeated in one last battle by Optimus Primal's forces, as Unicron disappeared due to the black hole opened in Transformers: EnergonTransformers: Energon
Transformers: Energon, known in Japan as , is the 2004–2005 Transformers toyline, animated series and comic book series, another co-production between Hasbro and Takara and a direct sequel to Transformers: Armada...
. Here Nemesis, Strika and Obsidian were both presumably destroyed with Unicron's defeat.
Toys
- Universe Tankor with Obsidian (2003)
- A two pack with Tankor and Obsidian contained redecos of the Beast Machines toys.