Sky-Byte
Encyclopedia
Sky-Byte is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes
. He is usually a Predacon
who turns in a mechanical shark
.
s who thwart his plans, it is the three fools he has under him - Slapper, Darkscream and Gas Skunk. Sky-Byte frequently manages to shunt the blame for his own failings onto them, although they have been known to do the same to him. That said, Megatron is largely above their blame games, and often takes his anger out on all of them. The Predacon
trio don't like or respect Sky-Byte and frequently disobey his orders: for his part Sky-Byte doesn't like them either, often using his threatening visage to cow them into submission and taking credit for their ideas. However, all four Predacons like the Decepticon
s even less, ensuring Gas Skunk, Darkscream and Slapper are actually willing to follow Sky-Byte's orders to discredit them.
His fierce outer appearance aside, there is also a softer side to Sky-Byte, he's an intellectual with great love of poetry. After an early defeat by humans he took to studying their literature in order to better understand them. While much of their classical literature was beyond him ("It was the Best of Times, It was the Worst of Times
? Best or worst, make up your mind! To Be or not to Be
? This guy can't make up his mind either!") Sky-Byte found poetry much easier, rapidly becoming somewhat of a poet himself (although his poems usually involve him ruminating over the destruction of his enemies).
. He first appeared in the second episode of the series, Explosive Situation, where he quickly established himself as the Predacon
second-in-command, being the most intelligent after Megatron, and would lead them in various schemes, including stealing the power of the Black Pyramid, kidnapping Side Burn
to lure in Optimus Prime and stealing an old train after mis-interpreting Dr Onishi's dream. Sky-Bytes' repeated failures would mean his position came under threat when Megatron was able to corrupt six Autobot
protoforms, creating the Decepticon
s: Scourge and the Commandos. Scourge quickly became Megatron's new favourite, leading to a rivalry between the two. They came to blows several times, and on one occasion Sky-Byte even convinced the other three Predacons to dress up as Autobots to thwart Scourge's plan and make Scourge look bad in Megatron's eyes. Like most of Sky-Byte's plans however, little actually came of it.
Sky-Bytes love of poetry would lead to a surprising softening of his attitude towards humans when he attacked a skyscraper
and held its inhabitants hostage in an attempt to force the Autobots to hand over the O-Parts(the parts needed to reanimate Fortress Maximus
) and, not incidentally, make him look good in his leader's eyes. But when his battle with the Autobots made the building fall over Sky-Byte, spurred on by the fact they had actually been cheering him, saved the humans' lives, an act that convinced the Autobots that there was some hope for Sky-Byte after all.
Subsequently Megatron was upgraded into Galvatron by the power of the pyramid containing the Orbs of Sigma. Around this time Sky-Byte began to have a rethink about his loyalties, especially when Galvatron's first act was to replenish his energy by draining the hapless Slapper, Gas Skunk and Darkscream, who had been nothing but loyal minions. Subsequently he was a lot less willing in his battles against the Autobots. When Galvatron was finally defeated by Omega Prime
, he and the other Decepticons and Predacons were transported back to Cybertron
for imprisonment, but Sky-Byte was allowed to remain on Earth. Ironically, Slapper, Gas Skunk and Darkscream regarded this as an even greater punishment.
In spite of the disgraces he has to endure in the cartoon, Sky-Byte is one of the most feared and respected Predacon warriors. He's a merciless warrior in battle, his powerful jaws can tear through an armored tank, and the anchor arm on his left side can crush even the thickest, strongest wall like a microchip in the jaws of a shark. He transforms into a biomechanical shark that is capable of flight (hence his name). In "Explosive Situation" he also displayed some sort of personal cloaking device, although it was never seen again. He is a formidable underwater combatant, once nearly killing Optimus Prime in an underwater battle, only losing when he found himself temporarily stranded on land.
comics Summer Special issue before the company went under, where he was allowed a rare victory. He was sent to steal a nuclear reactor alongside his rival Scourge. Predictably his hapless troops would get in the way of the efficiency obsessed Decepticons: however, when they were attacked by Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus Sky-Byte took advantage of the situation and had his Predacons take the generator, leaving the Decepticons to be pummelled by the two Autobots.
There was a contest in the issue as to whether RiD or Beast Wars
would be the next Dreamwave comic series. Beast Wars won.
to Earth. The Transformers included the original Tracks
, Ariel, Cosmos
and Megatron, Beast Wars Tarantulas
, Robots in Disguise Sky-Byte and Beast Machines Tankor
. Ever loyal to Megatron, any Megatron, Sky-Byte pledged himself to the original incarnation of his leader, and even dedicated a Haiku
to him. Eventually the Transformers were able to learn that the death of Unicron in 2005 was what created the repeat wave. They defeated Unicron by tricking him into Transforming and using up his power, then using the Key to Vector Sigma program (which Tankor had brought with him) to tap into the power of Vector Sigma
itself, and through it the Autobot Matrix of Leadership
. With Unicron severely drained the various Transformers faded back to their original timelines.
and Skyfall
arrive on a parallel Transtech
Cybertron
, in the city of Axiom Nexus. They are greeted by that world's Cheetor
and Silverbolt, and are worried that Cliffjumper
has gone missing. The arrivals are told that they are among many to arrive on this world and are brought to "processing." Among those waiting in processing are Autoceptor, Bad Boy, Charger with Fire Beast, Cosmos
, Cy-Kill
, Path Finder, Universe Repugnus
, Sky-Byte, Small Foot and Treds. After processing the three Autobots are greeted by the ancient Autobot Alpha Trion
and taught in the ways of outworlders in Axiom Nexus. Breakaway is then abducted by Transtech Shockwave
.
, where he worked with Clench's Decepticons on Earth.
2011.
His body design is based on that of Animated Lugnut.
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...
. He is usually a Predacon
Predacon
The Predacons usually refer to the name of several fictional Decepticon-like teams led by Megatron, however Transformers: Armada, Predacon is the name of a single character.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
who turns in a mechanical shark
Shark
Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
.
Transformers: Robots in Disguise
All Sky-Byte really wants is for Megatron to see him as the loyal and dependable warrior that he really is, and he goes to great lengths to prove his resourcefulness to him. Unfortunately for Sky-Byte, things seldom turn out as he has planned them - if it isn't the AutobotAutobot
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 who thwart his plans, it is the three fools he has under him - Slapper, Darkscream and Gas Skunk. Sky-Byte frequently manages to shunt the blame for his own failings onto them, although they have been known to do the same to him. That said, Megatron is largely above their blame games, and often takes his anger out on all of them. The Predacon
Predacon (Transformers)
The Predacons usually refer to the name of several fictional Decepticon-like teams led by Megatron, however Transformers: Armada, Predacon is the name of a single character.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
trio don't like or respect Sky-Byte and frequently disobey his orders: for his part Sky-Byte doesn't like them either, often using his threatening visage to cow them into submission and taking credit for their ideas. However, all four Predacons like the 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...
s even less, ensuring Gas Skunk, Darkscream and Slapper are actually willing to follow Sky-Byte's orders to discredit them.
His fierce outer appearance aside, there is also a softer side to Sky-Byte, he's an intellectual with great love of poetry. After an early defeat by humans he took to studying their literature in order to better understand them. While much of their classical literature was beyond him ("It was the Best of Times, It was the Worst of Times
A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities is a novel by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. With well over 200 million copies sold, it ranks among the most famous works in the history of fictional literature....
? Best or worst, make up your mind! To Be or not to Be
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
? This guy can't make up his mind either!") Sky-Byte found poetry much easier, rapidly becoming somewhat of a poet himself (although his poems usually involve him ruminating over the destruction of his enemies).
Animated series
Sky-Byte was a major character in Transformers: Robots in DisguiseTransformers: Robots in Disguise
Transformers: Robots in Disguise, known in Japan as , is a Japanese anime television series and serves as a self-contained universe separate from any of the other existing Transformers universes...
. He first appeared in the second episode of the series, Explosive Situation, where he quickly established himself as the Predacon
Predacon (Transformers)
The Predacons usually refer to the name of several fictional Decepticon-like teams led by Megatron, however Transformers: Armada, Predacon is the name of a single character.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
second-in-command, being the most intelligent after Megatron, and would lead them in various schemes, including stealing the power of the Black Pyramid, kidnapping Side Burn
Side Burn
Side Burn is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers series. The first Side Burn was one of the main character in the animated series Transformers: Robots in Disguise, voiced by Wally Wingert. He turns into a Dodge Viper. He was based on the Japanese anime character...
to lure in Optimus Prime and stealing an old train after mis-interpreting Dr Onishi's dream. Sky-Bytes' repeated failures would mean his position came under threat when Megatron was able to corrupt six 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...
protoforms, creating the 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...
s: Scourge and the Commandos. Scourge quickly became Megatron's new favourite, leading to a rivalry between the two. They came to blows several times, and on one occasion Sky-Byte even convinced the other three Predacons to dress up as Autobots to thwart Scourge's plan and make Scourge look bad in Megatron's eyes. Like most of Sky-Byte's plans however, little actually came of it.
Sky-Bytes love of poetry would lead to a surprising softening of his attitude towards humans when he attacked a skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
and held its inhabitants hostage in an attempt to force the Autobots to hand over the O-Parts(the parts needed to reanimate 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...
) and, not incidentally, make him look good in his leader's eyes. But when his battle with the Autobots made the building fall over Sky-Byte, spurred on by the fact they had actually been cheering him, saved the humans' lives, an act that convinced the Autobots that there was some hope for Sky-Byte after all.
Subsequently Megatron was upgraded into Galvatron by the power of the pyramid containing the Orbs of Sigma. Around this time Sky-Byte began to have a rethink about his loyalties, especially when Galvatron's first act was to replenish his energy by draining the hapless Slapper, Gas Skunk and Darkscream, who had been nothing but loyal minions. Subsequently he was a lot less willing in his battles against the Autobots. When Galvatron was finally defeated by Omega Prime
Omega Prime
Omega Prime is a fictional character from the Transformers toyline. He is the combined form of Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus.-Transformers: Robots in Disguise:...
, he and the other Decepticons and Predacons were transported back 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...
for imprisonment, but Sky-Byte was allowed to remain on Earth. Ironically, Slapper, Gas Skunk and Darkscream regarded this as an even greater punishment.
In spite of the disgraces he has to endure in the cartoon, Sky-Byte is one of the most feared and respected Predacon warriors. He's a merciless warrior in battle, his powerful jaws can tear through an armored tank, and the anchor arm on his left side can crush even the thickest, strongest wall like a microchip in the jaws of a shark. He transforms into a biomechanical shark that is capable of flight (hence his name). In "Explosive Situation" he also displayed some sort of personal cloaking device, although it was never seen again. He is a formidable underwater combatant, once nearly killing Optimus Prime in an underwater battle, only losing when he found himself temporarily stranded on land.
Dreamwave Productions
Sky-Byte made one appearance in the DreamwaveDreamwave 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...
comics Summer Special issue before the company went under, where he was allowed a rare victory. He was sent to steal a nuclear reactor alongside his rival Scourge. Predictably his hapless troops would get in the way of the efficiency obsessed Decepticons: however, when they were attacked by Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus Sky-Byte took advantage of the situation and had his Predacons take the generator, leaving the Decepticons to be pummelled by the two Autobots.
There was a contest in the issue as to whether RiD or Beast Wars
Beast Wars
Transformers: Beast Wars is a Transformers toyline released by Hasbro between 1995 and 2000, and a Daytime Emmy Award winning full-CG animated television series spawned by it that debuted in 1996...
would be the next Dreamwave comic series. Beast Wars won.
Voice actor plays
Sky-Byte appeared in the 2006 TransformersCon voice actor play. Voices in the play were performed by a variety of volunteers and the actual voice actors attending the convention. In this play various Transformers from different timelines and realities were swept up in a repeat wave and transported along with UnicronUnicron
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...
to Earth. The Transformers included the original Tracks
Tracks (Transformers)
Tracks is a character in the Transformers Universes. The name is now too generic to license in recent times; so the toys creator, Hasbro had to add a "modifier" - a prefix to the name in order to use it on their product, in this case the name became "Autobot Tracks" or "Turbo...
, Ariel, Cosmos
Cosmos (Transformers)
Cosmos is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. He is sometimes referred to as "Autobot Cosmos" for trademark purposes.Wired Magazine once nominated him as one of the 12 most ridiculous Transformers of all time....
and Megatron, Beast Wars Tarantulas
Tarantulas (Transformers)
Tarantulas is a Predacon in theBeast Wars series who turns into a tarantula. Due to problems in trade-marking the name, later releases of the character were called Predacon Tarantulus by Hasbro.-Beast Wars:...
, Robots in Disguise Sky-Byte and Beast Machines 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...
. Ever loyal to Megatron, any Megatron, Sky-Byte pledged himself to the original incarnation of his leader, and even dedicated a Haiku
Haiku
' , plural haiku, is a very short form of Japanese poetry typically characterised by three qualities:* The essence of haiku is "cutting"...
to him. Eventually the Transformers were able to learn that the death of Unicron in 2005 was what created the repeat wave. They defeated Unicron by tricking him into Transforming and using up his power, then using the Key to Vector Sigma program (which Tankor had brought with him) to tap into the power of Vector Sigma
Vector Sigma
In the fictional universe of the first Transformers animated series, Vector Sigma is the "mega-computer" that gives sentience to non-sentient robots, and is used by the Quintessons to endow their robotic creations with the true life that eventually leads to their rebellion...
itself, and through it the Autobot Matrix of Leadership
Autobot Matrix of Leadership
The Matrix of Leadership or Creation Matrix in the fictional Transformers universes is the Autobot talisman of legend, passed down from leader to leader. It consisted of an oval-shaped container, holding a glowing crystal. To open the Matrix is to release an unpredictable wave of power from the...
. With Unicron severely drained the various Transformers faded back to their original timelines.
Fun Publications
In "Transcendent" Breakaway, LandquakeLandquake
Landquake is the name to two different fictional characters in the various Transformers universes.-Transformers: Energon:In the animated series, Landmine was evolved by Primus into a new form. In Japan, this was an upgrade which was reflected in the show, where he was called Landmine Supermode. ...
and Skyfall
Skyfall (Transformers)
Skyfall is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. In some cases the name Skyfall is used as a substitute for Skyjack.-Transformers Generation 1:...
arrive on a parallel Transtech
Transtech
Transtech is an unreleased line of toys under the Transformers umbrella.-History:After the Beast Machines line ended, Hasbro planned a follow-up series called Transtech. The Transtech concept was a line intended to take Transformers to their most futuristic looking bodies and more plausible designs...
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...
, in the city of Axiom Nexus. They are greeted by that world's 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...
and Silverbolt, and are worried that Cliffjumper
Cliffjumper
Cliffjumper is the name of several characters from the Transformers line of toys. His name is usually associated with an Autobot whose toys are often red repaints of Bumblebee toys.- Transformers: Generation 1 :...
has gone missing. The arrivals are told that they are among many to arrive on this world and are brought to "processing." Among those waiting in processing are Autoceptor, Bad Boy, Charger with Fire Beast, Cosmos
Cosmos (Transformers)
Cosmos is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. He is sometimes referred to as "Autobot Cosmos" for trademark purposes.Wired Magazine once nominated him as one of the 12 most ridiculous Transformers of all time....
, Cy-Kill
Cy-Kill
Cy-Kill is the name of several fictional characters from the Gobots, Robo Machines and Transformers toy line and fiction. Introduced as a toy in 1983, he is leader of the Renegade Gobot faction and the main antagonist of the animated series, where he was voiced by Bernard Erhard...
, Path Finder, Universe Repugnus
Repugnus
Repugnus is the name of three fictional characters from the Transformers series. The original Repugnus is an Autobot counter-intelligence expert who turns into a monster bug.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
, Sky-Byte, Small Foot and Treds. After processing the three Autobots are greeted by the ancient Autobot Alpha Trion
Alpha Trion
Alpha Trion is a fictional character in the various Transformers universes. Alpha Trion is one of the Thirteen Primes, thus all his portrayals are considered to be the same individual. He is generally depicted as an ancient mechanoid with a link to Optimus Prime...
and taught in the ways of outworlders in Axiom Nexus. Breakaway is then abducted by Transtech 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...
.
Toys
- Car Robots Gelshark (2000)
- A chrome silver/dark blue repaint of transmetal IITransmetalsTransmetals are a subgroup of the Beast Wars and Beast Machines characters in the fictional Transformers universe. Ordinary Transformers in the Beast Wars universe have a mechanical robot form and a techno-organic animal form, also known as a "beast mode"...
Cybershark from the Beast WarsBeast WarsTransformers: Beast Wars is a Transformers toyline released by Hasbro between 1995 and 2000, and a Daytime Emmy Award winning full-CG animated television series spawned by it that debuted in 1996...
toyline, released by TakaraTakaraTakara Co., Ltd. was a Japanese toy company founded in 1955, that merged with another prominent Japanese toy company, Tomy Co., Ltd., on March 1, 2006 to form Takara Tomy, also known in English as TOMY Company Ltd....
.- Robots in Disguise Sky-Byte (2001)
- The Hasbro version of the figure is virtually identical to the Takara version.
Transformers: Timelines (Generation 1)
Sky-Byte is a Predacon by design, but, like his Quintesson creators, works with the Decepticons from time to time when it's profitable to do so. He leads the new-generation Sharkticons into battle, ruthlessly shredding all cars and robots on his way. He sees himself as a sophisticated warrior poet, the self-proclaimed "greatest shark around", composing haiku about the robots in disguise he's about to deactivate. Exposure to forestonite has given Sky-Byte a devastating new ability; he can unleash a "Tsunami Blaster" freeze attack from his chest, paralyzing his foes. Combined with an already impressive arsenal, air speed, and his Sharkticon hordes, he's a menace to everything in the air, land and sea. Were he more competent and less given to overblown theatrics that leave him vulnerable, he'd be one of the Autobots' greatest threats.Fun Publications
Sky-Byte appeared in the story Generation 2: Redux 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 he worked with Clench's Decepticons on Earth.
Toys
- Timelines Deluxe Sky-Byte (2010)
- A 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...
2010 exclusive and part of the Generation 2 Redux boxed set, this figure is a Deluxe EnergonTransformers: EnergonTransformers: 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...
Sharkticon with a new head mold and painted to look like the Robots in Disguise character.
Transformers: Timelines (Animated)
The Sky-Byte in the Animated story is a homage to the previous Sky-Bytes, although he is depicted as a Decepticon. His tech spec appeared on a lithograph sold at BotconBotCon
BotCon, briefly known as "The Official Transformers Collectors' Convention" , is an annual convention for Transformers fans and collectors. BotCon has been held annually since 1994...
2011.
His body design is based on that of Animated Lugnut.