Transformers: Generation 1

Rad is an Autobot Action Master. He has a Targetmaster

Targetmaster

Targetmaster is a subline of the Transformers toyline that include Nebulan sidekicks who can transform into the Transformers' weapons.-1987 Targetmasters:...

 partner named Lionizer.

With more moves than an all-pro halfback, this clever, cool-headed daredevil is equally adept at combating Decepticons or calculating the coefficient of friction for a rocket booster. Paired with Lionizer, a roaring raging bundle of overheated circuits who can change into an atom-smashing blaster at the drop of a microchip... unless Rad can cool his engines first.

According to the Power Plans for Rad, his body contains a Nucleon Tracking Device, Fiberoptic Input, Cyber Definition Translator, Attack Process Analyzer, Forward Motion Applicator, Phototronic Info Gatherer, Transducer Semiconductor and Bidirectional Weapons Systems.

Animated series

Although the animated series was canceled in the U.S. before Rad was released, he appeared among the Autobots in the animated segments of the U.S. toy commercials. In fact he even had a speaking part.

3H Enterprises

Rad's sole appearance in any comic series was in a flashback scene in issue #2 of the Transformers: Universe - Wreckers comic, where Rodimus Prime consulted Quickmix, Skids, Perceptor and Rad on his plans to send out ships to gather information on threats from space after the defeat of Unicron.

Note: In the first release of this comic Rad was colored green, but in later editions he was colored correctly.

Toys

• Generation 1 Rad with Lionizer (1990)

An Action Master packaged with his Targetmaster partner.

Dreamwave Productions

Although Rad and Lionizer did not appear in any stories by Dreamwave Productions, they did get a one page bio in their More Than Meets The Eye series.

Transformers: Armada

Rad is one of the human friends of the Autobots. In Transformers Micron Legend,his name is Raddo, which could be read either "Rad" or "Rod"-with-an-American-pronunciation; the English-language television series gives his full name as Bradley White, "Rad" for short.

In Transformers: Armada, Rad and his best friend Carlos Lopez reactivate the Mini-Con ship while exploring the caves outside their city. Soon joined by their friend Alexis (Alexa, last name not given), they befriend the Street Action Team Mini-Con

Mini-Con

Mini-Cons are a human-sized race and faction of power-enhancing transforming robots in the Transformers: Armada universe and its sequels, one of the assorted universes in Transformers fiction...

s as Megatron and Optimus Prime's forces arrive on Earth. This leads to their alliance with Optimus and the Autobot

Autobot

Autobot, a faction of sentient robots from the planet Cybertron, are usually the main protagonists in the fictional universe of the Transformers, a collection of various toys, graphic novels, paperback books, cartoons and movies first introduced in 1984. In all but one Transformer story, the...

s, as they frequently help them on missions, teaching them the ways of Earth.

Unfortunately, they were unable to keep their friendship with the Autobots a secret from the local bullies, Billy and Fred (Jim), but the two boys quickly softened and became friends with the trio, as they too became Autobot allies. An encounter with Sideways in cyberspace gave the kids their first glimpse of 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...

, and when Starscream joined the Autobots, they all became friends with him, even though Starscream himself could scarcely believe it. Alexis in particular became enamoured of the former Decepticon

Decepticon

The Decepticons are usually depicted as the antagonists in the fictional universes of the Transformers stoyline and related comics and cartoons, and the enemies of the Autobots and the University of California Davis Aggies...

, even crafting a portion of a rock he brought them back from Mars

Mars

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...

 into a pendant. After some protestations that were quelled by Perceptor

Perceptor

Perceptor is the name of several different fictional characters in the Transformers universes.-Transformers: Generation 1:Perceptor transforms into a microscope ....

, all five kids accompanied the Autobots to 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...

 when the Decepticons fled Earth with the Mini-Con weapons, and once on the planet, they were sent drifting through time and discovered that they had always played a role in the development of the Mini-Cons, and that their coming to Earth had been predestined. Starscream's subsequent death hit Alexis hard, and when the children were absorbed by Unicron, Rad was able to use his connection to High Wire through Unicron's communal mind to free the Mini-Cons from his thrall.

Transformers: Energon

Armada Rad appears as an adult in the Transformers: Energon comic and series. However, Rad's role isn't as large as it was in Armada.

Transformers: Energon #26 – Alexis and Rad witness the anti-robot protests in Los Angeles.

Transformers: Energon #27 – Rad and Alexis find shelter during the Terrorcon attack.

Transformers: Energon #28 – Rad and Alexis escape the Insecticons and try to get to Carlos at Alterenergy West Coast.

Transformers: Energon #29 – Rad pilots the Energon Volant Accumulator into Los Angeles. In Los Angeles Rad is able to use the E.V.A to charge up with Autobots with energon.

Transformers: Cybertron

An older adult version of Rad also makes an appearance in the final episode of North America's Transformers: Cybertron

Transformers: Cybertron

Transformers: Cybertron, known in Japan originally as , is the 2005-2007 Transformers toy line and animated series, another co-production between Hasbro and Takara...

 alongside Carlos and Alexis, waving goodbye to the Autobots as they leave to set up a Space Bridge. They are also seen in the end credits of the final episode being photographed at Coby and Lori's wedding. These scenes are not part of the same episode of Transformers: Galaxy Force, as Galaxy Force was not intended to be a continuation of the Armada/Energon story, while all three are parts of the Unicron Trilogy

Unicron Trilogy

The Unicron Trilogy is a series of television programs, comic books, and toy franchises in the Transformers maxi-series. It deals with the approach of the Transformer chaos-bringer Unicron and the aftermath of his destruction...

 in America.

Transformers: Cybertron

While Generation 1's Rad was not produced in Cybertron, his head was the basis of the one used by Crosswise

Crosswise

-Transformers: Robots in Disguise:Crosswise was the name of one of the Autobot Spy Changers. He is the science officer of the Spy Changers....

 (Autovolt) and Smokescreen

Smokescreen (Transformers)

Smokescreen is the name of several different fictional characters in the Transformers universes.-Transformers: Generation 1:Smokescreen is one of the second year Autobot Cars in the Transformers series. His toy was remolded from Prowl and Bluestreak, itself originating from an earlier Japanese line...

. When the Smokescreen repaint was sold, its appearance in robot mode shares some design cues from both Smokescreen and Rad. The head is based entirely on Rad's featuring a yellow panel in front and a translucent blue visor.

External links

• http://www.cliffbee.com/reviews/rad.php
• http://www.cobraislandtoys.com/tf/1990/rad.html
• http://www.unicron.us/tf1990/toypics/rad.htm