Ratbat
Encyclopedia
Ratbat is the name of several fictional characters who appeared in various Transformers universes
.
Wired Magazine once nominated him as one 12 most ridiculous Transformers of all time.
According to X-Entertainment Ratbat's toy was easily broken and did more in the comic book than cartoon.
, where he rose to the critical post of fuel auditor under Lord Straxus
. With a drive towards extreme efficiency, he would rarely countenance unnecessary risks. When the disembodied Straxus attempted to possess Megatron's body and the two minds battled for supremacy (in Transformers UK #103–4), Ratbat removed the newly multiple-personality'd Decepticon leader via the Space Bridge
back to Earth. When Straxus' possession attempt failed and ended in his death, Ratbat emerged as the most powerful Decepticon in Polyhex.
Ratbat grew increasingly dissatisfied with the inefficient use of fuel by the Earth-based Decepticons under the command of Shockwave
, and soon began to visit Earth personally to oversee their operations. He gradually began to exert more influence and control over the Earthen Decepticons, developing schemes to improve the planet's output and clashing with Shockwave. He dispatched hypnotizing machines disguised as car washes with the hope of taking over the minds of humans and using them to deliver fuel at minimum cost to the Decepticons, but this plan was disrupted by the intervention of the Autobots' ally Buster Witwicky.
When the Earthbound Autobot
s briefly left the planet in a repaired Ark
, Ratbat was at the forefront of a new Decepticon reign of terror. He was able to manipulate RAAT into executing the Throttlebots and kidnapped Buster Witwicky, taking him to the Decepticons' island base to use as a hostage. When the Autobot Headmaster
s and Targetmaster
s besieged the base, the Decepticons were forced to flee by deploying its rocket facility. In the process of departure, Shockwave was shot down in space and began to burn up in Earth's atmosphere. Ratbat declared that it would be inefficient to rescue him and instead, seized sole command of the Decepticons for himself.
Of all the leaders of the Decepticons on Earth, few came closer to outright victory than Ratbat. He tracked the Autobots under Fortress Maximus
when they set out to unite with those under Grimlock
and launched an all-out attack that resulted in huge casualties, leaving the Autobots briefly stranded on the Moon
, and retrieved several Decepticon prisoners of war.
Later, Ratbat promoted the newly-recovered Starscream
to the position of second-in-command, and set out to learn the truth about the legendary Underbase, which could seemingly make a Transformer supremely powerful. Ratbat was determined to attain its power for himself, but this ambition was shared with Starscream. The latter lured the separate Decepticon faction led by Scorponok
to a meeting with Ratbat's forces, which soon resulted in conflict between the two, allowing Starscream to seek the Underbase for himself. Both Decepticon factions allied with the Autobots in fighting against Starscream, suffering huge casualties in the process. However, both Ratbat and Scorponok independently suspected that the Autobot leader Optimus Prime
had plans to seize the power of the Underbase for himself, and they set out to stop them. Learning that the Underbase was nearby, Ratbat declared that he would possess the Underbase's power—and was shot in the back by Scorponok, killing him.
Ratbat would make an appearance in the Generation 2 comic in flashback
, shown in battle with Buster Witwicky as an example of the Autobots witnessing organic life fighting for its survival.
In the original Transformers series, Ratbat was one of several Transformers that transformed into cassette tapes (much like Ravage
, Buzzsaw, Laserbeak
, Rumble
, and Frenzy
). In the American series, like the other cassettes that turned into animals, Ratbat was not capable of speech
, and was likened more to a pet
than an equal member of the Decepticon forces. However, in the Japanese series, he and the other cassettes possessed the power of speech, though their roles seemed no different. Ratbat first appeared in The Transformers: The Movie
and in the third season of the series, he was often sent on spying missions. However, he also appeared in the OVA Scramble City, which takes place before the movie, but reportedly was made after the movie was made.
, who secretly plotted to rule the Decepticons. He was defeated by Searchlight while searching for mysterious energon-producing aliens.
Millions of years ago, before the Transformers crash-landed on Earth
, Ratbat was the leader of a sub-faction of Decepticons called the Ultracons
during the time when Megatron had disappeared and believed to have died. Megatron's return saw the Ultracons reintegrated into the Decepticons. At this point in time, Ratbat possessed an original Cybertronian form, able to transform from robot mode to jet. However, sometime after the Great Shutdown, when Shockwave
established control of the planet, many Transformers, including Ratbat had their bodies reformatted into Earth-themed modes, leading to Ratbat's bat/tape body. Ratbat was not pleased with his new unimposing nature compared to his original structure. In the present, Ratbat was freed by Starscream from imprisonment and was given to Soundwave, implying a past connection—it is entirely possible that Shockwave may have viewed Ratbat as a threat to his control of the planet, and deliberately gave him a weak body and imprisoned him to keep him out of the way.
, who had managed to discover where they would strike next. The Joes ambushed the cassettes, and Ratbat was shot down by Bazooka, Rock N' Roll, and Roadblock
. Unlike the intelligent, scheming portrayals of the Marvel and Dreamwave comics versions, this Ratbat was more in line with the cartoon—a feral
but mostly mindless animal.
appearance in The Transformers: Megatron Origin
, where he is a senator (in robot mode) who observes the rise of Megatron. He shows distaste for the minor details of his job and is shown ordering various underhanded & corrupt business dealings (and appears bored by it). In his appearance, a partially obscured figure resembling Soundwave
was working for him; Soundwave later tried to broker an arms deal with Megatron, making it possible that Ratbat wants Megatron's rise to continue for some reason. However, in #3 he is watching a litany of Decepticon terrorist attacks and feels things are going too far, although he still has Soundwave freed. After Megatron's gladiators free themselves and massacre the Senate, Ratbat plans to flee to Iacon, but is betrayed by Soundwave, who implants his Spark in a cassette body.
Ratbat is seen in his familiar "bat" form in issue #1 of The Transformers: Devastation
(though he is redesigned as a personal CD player), where he observes the launch of the Ark-19
from Lake Michigan and reports it to Megatron and Sixshot
. One year later, he is part of the forces under Megatron's command in New York, killing a commando party attempting to cross the river. Here he is in his traditional cassette form once more (All Hail Megatron).
. He can generate powerful sonic bursts.
after he got back to normal. He is mostly used in keytar mode to control the Autobots. Ratbat, Soundwave, Laserbeak, and Optimus end up in a guitar/keytar battle and Soundwave gets dismantled after Optimus uses Laserbeak as an axe. as a result Ratbat is destroyed, Laserbeak carries Soundwave's most basic component away to parts unknown, but was not seen to be carrying any part of Ratbat.
This version of Ratbat is a motivational speaker
who writes self-help books, and is based on Tony Robbins
.
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...
.
Transformers: Generation 1
As is the case with many Transformers characters, the various continuities in which Ratbat has appeared have portrayed him widely differently in terms of size, personality, personal history and back story. Indeed, Ratbat has been portrayed as a mere spy or even pet at times, while in other instances he has risen to become one of the most successful Earthbound Decepticon leaders of all.Reception
Ratbat was voted the 4th top Transformer who was bad ass in the comics by Topless Robots.Wired Magazine once nominated him as one 12 most ridiculous Transformers of all time.
According to X-Entertainment Ratbat's toy was easily broken and did more in the comic book than cartoon.
Marvel Comics
Ratbat was one of the many Decepticons left on 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...
, where he rose to the critical post of fuel auditor under Lord Straxus
Straxus
Lord Straxus is a fictional character from the Transformers series. A toy based on his Marvel comic appearance was released in 2010 under the name Darkmount.-Marvel Comics:Straxus was the Decepticon governor of a province of Cybertron known as Polyhex...
. With a drive towards extreme efficiency, he would rarely countenance unnecessary risks. When the disembodied Straxus attempted to possess Megatron's body and the two minds battled for supremacy (in Transformers UK #103–4), Ratbat removed the newly multiple-personality'd Decepticon leader via the Space Bridge
Space Bridge
In Marvel Comics' Transformers comic and cartoon, the Space Bridge is a device used by the Decepticons to travel between different planets, usually between Cybertron and Earth.-Generation One:...
back to Earth. When Straxus' possession attempt failed and ended in his death, Ratbat emerged as the most powerful Decepticon in Polyhex.
Shockwave (Transformers)
Shockwave is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers series. Throughout his incarnations, he is usually distinguished by a laser cannon in lieu of one of his hands and his distinctive face, which is featureless save a single robotic eye...
, and soon began to visit Earth personally to oversee their operations. He gradually began to exert more influence and control over the Earthen Decepticons, developing schemes to improve the planet's output and clashing with Shockwave. He dispatched hypnotizing machines disguised as car washes with the hope of taking over the minds of humans and using them to deliver fuel at minimum cost to the Decepticons, but this plan was disrupted by the intervention of the Autobots' ally Buster Witwicky.
When the Earthbound 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 briefly left the planet in a repaired Ark
Ark (Transformers)
The Ark is an Autobot spacecraft in the Transformers Universe. It has appeared as a central fixture of the Transformers storyline ever since its creation, as the Autobots main method of transport to Earth and as a base once they arrive....
, Ratbat was at the forefront of a new Decepticon reign of terror. He was able to manipulate RAAT into executing the Throttlebots and kidnapped Buster Witwicky, taking him to the Decepticons' island base to use as a hostage. When the Autobot Headmaster
Headmaster (Transformers)
Headmasters are a sub-group of characters from the Transformers meta-series, distinguished by their ability to detach their heads when transforming into their alternate modes, with the heads then transforming themselves into a humanoid form...
s and Targetmaster
Targetmaster
Targetmaster is a subline of the Transformers toyline that include Nebulan sidekicks who can transform into the Transformers' weapons.-1987 Targetmasters:...
s besieged the base, the Decepticons were forced to flee by deploying its rocket facility. In the process of departure, Shockwave was shot down in space and began to burn up in Earth's atmosphere. Ratbat declared that it would be inefficient to rescue him and instead, seized sole command of the Decepticons for himself.
Of all the leaders of the Decepticons on Earth, few came closer to outright victory than Ratbat. He tracked the Autobots under Fortress Maximus
Fortress Maximus
Fortress Maximus is the name of several fictional characters from several of the various Transformers universes. Fortress Maximus appeared in the season 4 finale of the US Transformers animated series voiced by Stephen Keener. He was one of the stars of the Japanese Transformers: Headmasters...
when they set out to unite with those under Grimlock
Grimlock
Grimlock is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers universes. He is usually portrayed as a tough leader who turns into a mechanical dinosaur...
and launched an all-out attack that resulted in huge casualties, leaving the Autobots briefly stranded on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
, and retrieved several Decepticon prisoners of war.
Later, Ratbat promoted the newly-recovered Starscream
Starscream (Transformers)
Starscream is a fictional character in the Transformers franchise. He is one of the most prolific characters in the Transformers fictional work, appearing in almost all incarnations of the story. Starscream is usually portrayed with the same characterization...
to the position of second-in-command, and set out to learn the truth about the legendary Underbase, which could seemingly make a Transformer supremely powerful. Ratbat was determined to attain its power for himself, but this ambition was shared with Starscream. The latter lured the separate Decepticon faction led 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:...
to a meeting with Ratbat's forces, which soon resulted in conflict between the two, allowing Starscream to seek the Underbase for himself. Both Decepticon factions allied with the Autobots in fighting against Starscream, suffering huge casualties in the process. However, both Ratbat and Scorponok independently suspected that the Autobot leader Optimus Prime
Optimus 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...
had plans to seize the power of the Underbase for himself, and they set out to stop them. Learning that the Underbase was nearby, Ratbat declared that he would possess the Underbase's power—and was shot in the back by Scorponok, killing him.
Ratbat would make an appearance in the Generation 2 comic in flashback
Flashback (narrative)
Flashback is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point the story has reached. Flashbacks are often used to recount events that happened before the story’s primary sequence of events or to fill in crucial backstory...
, shown in battle with Buster Witwicky as an example of the Autobots witnessing organic life fighting for its survival.
Animated series
Ravage (Transformers)
Ravage is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers universes. Due to the inability to trademark the common word "ravage", he is sometimes called Battle Ravage, Command Ravage or Tripredacus Agent...
, Buzzsaw, Laserbeak
Laserbeak
Laserbeak is the name given to several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. He is almost always a mechanical bird, and is partnered with Soundwave.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
, Rumble
Rumble (Transformers)
Rumble is a fictional character in the Transformers universes. In order to trademark the name, Hasbro referred to the Alternators character as Decepticon Rumble.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
, and Frenzy
Frenzy (Transformers)
Frenzy is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. Wired Magazine once nominated him as one 12 most ridiculous Transformers of all time.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
). In the American series, like the other cassettes that turned into animals, Ratbat was not capable of speech
Interpersonal communication
Interpersonal communication is usually defined by communication scholars in numerous ways, usually describing participants who are dependent upon one another. It...
, and was likened more to a pet
Pet
A pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...
than an equal member of the Decepticon forces. However, in the Japanese series, he and the other cassettes possessed the power of speech, though their roles seemed no different. Ratbat first appeared in The Transformers: The Movie
The Transformers: The Movie
The Transformers: The Movie is a 1986 animated feature film based on the animated series of the same name. It was released in North America on August 8, 1986 and in the UK on December 5, 1986....
and in the third season of the series, he was often sent on spying missions. However, he also appeared in the OVA Scramble City, which takes place before the movie, but reportedly was made after the movie was made.
Blackthorne comics
In the short-lived series of 3-D Transformers comic books, Ratbat was the pet of GalvatronGalvatron
Galvatron is the name of several fictional Transformers, most often the recreated version of Megatron, the Decepticon leader. He was voiced by Leonard Nimoy in the 1986 Transformers movie, and then by Frank Welker in season 3 and 4 of the animated television series. Since then, other Transformers...
, who secretly plotted to rule the Decepticons. He was defeated by Searchlight while searching for mysterious energon-producing aliens.
Dreamwave Productions
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
, Ratbat was the leader of a sub-faction of Decepticons called the Ultracons
Ultracons
right|thumb|Ratbat and his Ultracons Ransack and Venom.The Ultracons are a fictional subfaction of Decepticon Transformers commanded by Ratbat in the Dreamwave comics.-History:...
during the time when Megatron had disappeared and believed to have died. Megatron's return saw the Ultracons reintegrated into the Decepticons. At this point in time, Ratbat possessed an original Cybertronian form, able to transform from robot mode to jet. However, sometime after the Great Shutdown, when Shockwave
Shockwave (Transformers)
Shockwave is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers series. Throughout his incarnations, he is usually distinguished by a laser cannon in lieu of one of his hands and his distinctive face, which is featureless save a single robotic eye...
established control of the planet, many Transformers, including Ratbat had their bodies reformatted into Earth-themed modes, leading to Ratbat's bat/tape body. Ratbat was not pleased with his new unimposing nature compared to his original structure. In the present, Ratbat was freed by Starscream from imprisonment and was given to Soundwave, implying a past connection—it is entirely possible that Shockwave may have viewed Ratbat as a threat to his control of the planet, and deliberately gave him a weak body and imprisoned him to keep him out of the way.
Devil's Due Publishing
In the first G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers crossover, Ratbat, along with Soundwave and the other Earthbound cassettes (bar Buzzsaw) were recovered from the Ark and used as weapons by the terrorist organization Cobra. Attacking an energy center for the technology needed to create Energon, the attack force met the G.I. JoeG.I. Joe
G.I. Joe is a line of action figures produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier , Action Sailor , Action Pilot , Action Marine and later on, the Action Nurse...
, who had managed to discover where they would strike next. The Joes ambushed the cassettes, and Ratbat was shot down by Bazooka, Rock N' Roll, and Roadblock
Roadblock (G.I. Joe)
Roadblock is a character from Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series of toys, comics and cartoons. He is one of the most prominent African-Americans in the series. His primary function in G.I. Joe is as a heavy machine gunner and a secondary function as a cook.-Fictional character...
. Unlike the intelligent, scheming portrayals of the Marvel and Dreamwave comics versions, this Ratbat was more in line with the cartoon—a feral
Feral
A feral organism is one that has changed from being domesticated to being wild or untamed. In the case of plants it is a movement from cultivated to uncultivated or controlled to volunteer. The introduction of feral animals or plants to their non-native regions, like any introduced species, may...
but mostly mindless animal.
IDW Publishing
Ratbat made his first IDWIDW 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...
appearance in The Transformers: Megatron Origin
The Transformers: Megatron Origin
The Transformers: Megatron Origin is a comic book limited series by IDW Publishing exploring the origin of Megatron in its rebooted G1 universe...
, where he is a senator (in robot mode) who observes the rise of Megatron. He shows distaste for the minor details of his job and is shown ordering various underhanded & corrupt business dealings (and appears bored by it). In his appearance, a partially obscured figure resembling Soundwave
Soundwave (Transformers)
Soundwave is the name of several characters in the various series Transformers series. His most famous disguise is that of a microcassette recorder and has an iconic voice done by a vocoder.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
was working for him; Soundwave later tried to broker an arms deal with Megatron, making it possible that Ratbat wants Megatron's rise to continue for some reason. However, in #3 he is watching a litany of Decepticon terrorist attacks and feels things are going too far, although he still has Soundwave freed. After Megatron's gladiators free themselves and massacre the Senate, Ratbat plans to flee to Iacon, but is betrayed by Soundwave, who implants his Spark in a cassette body.
Ratbat is seen in his familiar "bat" form in issue #1 of The Transformers: Devastation
The Transformers: Devastation
The Transformers: Devastation is a six-issue comic book miniseries, published by IDW Publishing, based on the Transformers and following on from The Transformers: Escalation. Issue 1 of Devastation was released on October 3, 2007, with issue 2 following on the 24th of October and was published...
(though he is redesigned as a personal CD player), where he observes the launch of the Ark-19
Ark (Transformers)
The Ark is an Autobot spacecraft in the Transformers Universe. It has appeared as a central fixture of the Transformers storyline ever since its creation, as the Autobots main method of transport to Earth and as a base once they arrive....
from Lake Michigan and reports it to Megatron and Sixshot
Sixshot
Sixshot is the name of two fictional characters from the various Transformers series. Introduced in 1987, Sixshot appeared in the last few episodes of the original US Transformers animated series, voiced by Neil Ross. His defining gimmick was that he had six different forms, not two like a normal...
. One year later, he is part of the forces under Megatron's command in New York, killing a commando party attempting to cross the river. Here he is in his traditional cassette form once more (All Hail Megatron).
Toys
- Generation 1 Ratbat (1986)
- Ratbat's toy transformed from a purple, black, and gold batBatBats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
into a cassette. His toy, when in microcassette form, could fit inside SoundwaveSoundwave (Transformers)Soundwave is the name of several characters in the various series Transformers series. His most famous disguise is that of a microcassette recorder and has an iconic voice done by a vocoder.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
, a cassette player. He was packaged with Frenzy and released in 1986.- Universe War Within Series Springer vs. Ratbat (2008)
- A redeco of Cybertron Sideways. A Target store exclusive.
Transformers: Timelines (Transtech)
A new character named Ratbat appeared in the Transtech storyline. This character is a purple humanoid Decepticon councilman.Fun Publications
After Shockwave discovered that certain systems in the Autobot Breakaway were unique and might be useful Megatron requested permission from Transtech Ratbat to take the Autobot apart, even if it may kill him.Transformers Animated
Ratbat is a minion of Soundwave, and is able to transform into a KeytarKeytar
A keytar is a relatively lightweight keyboard that is supported by a strap around the neck and shoulders, similar to the way a guitar is supported by a strap. Keytars allow players a greater range of movement compared to conventional keyboards, which are placed on stands...
. He can generate powerful sonic bursts.
Animated series
Ratbat first appeared in "Human Error" (part one), albeit only in his Keytar mode. He was used by Soundwave to initiate the final phase of his plot to reprogram the Autobots into Decepticons. In part 2, he uses his bat mode for the first time to attack ProwlProwl (Transformers)
Prowl is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers series. "Prowl" is one of the most re-used American names in the assorted Transformers series, and its use has become almost synonymous with Autobots who possess a police car alternate mode...
after he got back to normal. He is mostly used in keytar mode to control the Autobots. Ratbat, Soundwave, Laserbeak, and Optimus end up in a guitar/keytar battle and Soundwave gets dismantled after Optimus uses Laserbeak as an axe. as a result Ratbat is destroyed, Laserbeak carries Soundwave's most basic component away to parts unknown, but was not seen to be carrying any part of Ratbat.
Toys
- Animated Deluxe Electrostatic Soundwave with Ratbat (2009)
- Ratbat comes with this gray redeco of Deluxe Soundwave. Like Laserbeak, Ratbat can mount on Soundwave's roof (in car mode) or forearms (in robot mode).
Transformers: Timelines (Shattered Glass)
This version of Ratbat is good mirror universe version of the Generation 1 character.This version of Ratbat is a motivational speaker
Motivational speaker
A motivational speaker or inspirational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. In a business context, they are employed to communicate company strategy with clarity and help employees to see the future in a positive light and inspire workers to pull...
who writes self-help books, and is based on Tony Robbins
Tony Robbins
Anthony "Tony" Robbins is an American self-help author and motivational speaker. He became well known through his infomercials and self-help books, Unlimited Power: The New Science Of Personal Achievement and Awaken The Giant Within...
.