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Whirl (Transformers)
Encyclopedia
Whirl is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers universes
. All are blue Autobot helicopters.
licensed a robot toy from the Japanese anime
series Dorvack
(1983–1984) to sell in the Transformers line under the new name Whirl.
Whirl also appeared alongside Ultra Magnus and Roadbuster at the armory in Generation 1. He then appeared alongside Roadbuster again in a battle against Menasor
. The two was knocked down by Menasor, and whether Whirl survived was unknown.
Although Whirl has yet to be depicted in the comics, he did have a toy made for the line, which was the basis for his form when he appeared in the Classicverse Lithograph sold of BotCon 2007. In this art he was depicted with Generation 1 Whirl's head.
. His squad was hunting the operators of gladiatorial contests in the degenerate slums, particularly Megatron. Whirl appeared, in Cybertronian form, in issue #2 of the Stormbringer
series by IDW Publishing
. He aided Springer
's Wreckers on the planet Varas Centralus in the Kol system when Optimus Prime
redeployed the Wreckers for a mission on Cybertron
. They later defeated Bludgeon
and his acolytes. Whirl also participated in the battle against Thunderwing
and was later shown inspecting Thunderwing's inert corpse.
Whirl appeared in Spotlight: Doubledealer where he was among the Autobots fighting Thunderwing
on the planet Corata-Vaz.
who escaped with the help of Optimus Primal
in Transformers: Universe #2, but spoke no lines.
called Force of Habit. On the planet Combatron Whirl and his Mini-Cons are met by the Autobots Longrack
, Armorhide
, Blurr
and Checkpoint
. Together they defend a weapons bunker from Decepticons led by Brushguard. It should be noted in this story it is established that this Whirl is a different Whirl from the Generation 1 character. It also grants new names to his two Mini-Cons. Gunbarrel and Makeshift become Thunderstick
and Skysickle.
In the comic story found in issue #8 of the Transformers Collectors Club magazine Cybertron/Robots in Disguise Optimus Prime told the story of the last battle he was in, set in the Transformers: Universe storyline. Alongside 10th Anniversary Optimus Primal
they attacked the last of Unicron
's forces when Unicron suddenly disappeared, and they barely escaped. Among the Autobot forces was Universe Whirl and his commander King Atlas.
According to the bio on the box for Voyager class Bludgeon, Whirl won their first encounter.
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...
. All are blue Autobot helicopters.
Transformers: Generation 1
The toy company HasbroHasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
licensed a robot toy from the Japanese anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series Dorvack
Special Armored Batallion Dorvack
is an anime series aired from 1983 to 1984 in Japan and Hong Kong. There were 36 episodes. Other loosely translated names are "Dorvack", "Dolbuk", "Special Powered Armor Troop Dorvack", "Special Machine Army Dorvack", "Machine Corps Dorvack", "Armored Trooper Dorvack", "Tokusou Kihei Dorvack",...
(1983–1984) to sell in the Transformers line under the new name Whirl.
Marvel Comics
Whirl was a member of the elite Autobot commando unit known as the Wreckers. He was seen in action in the Target: 2006 storyline (issues 78-88 of the U.K. comic series). Future appearances were limited to background cameos and he did not feature at all in the decimation of the Wreckers in the Time Wars storyline (issues 199-205 of the U.K. comic).Animated series
Whirl was among those Transformers toys that did not appear in the Transformers animated series because the show was going to appear in Japan, where the toy was owned by Takara's rivals.Dreamwave Productions
Whirl appeared in the second War Within comic series by Dreamwave as a member of the Wreckers led by Springer.Whirl also appeared alongside Ultra Magnus and Roadbuster at the armory in Generation 1. He then appeared alongside Roadbuster again in a battle against Menasor
Menasor
Menasor is the name to several fictional characters in the Transformers universes. The original version was the combined version of the Stunticons. Since then, other characters have taken the name Menasor.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
. The two was knocked down by Menasor, and whether Whirl survived was unknown.
Fun Publications
Based on the Classics toy line, the Timelines 2007 story is set 15 years after the end of the Marvel Comics story (ignoring all events of the Marvel U.K. and Generation 2 comics).Although Whirl has yet to be depicted in the comics, he did have a toy made for the line, which was the basis for his form when he appeared in the Classicverse Lithograph sold of BotCon 2007. In this art he was depicted with Generation 1 Whirl's head.
IDW Publishing
Whirl appeared in issue #2 of Megatron Origin. In this story, set on ancient Cybertron he was a member of an Autobot security force in the city of KaonKaon
In particle physics, a kaon is any one of a group of four mesons distinguished by the fact that they carry a quantum number called strangeness...
. His squad was hunting the operators of gladiatorial contests in the degenerate slums, particularly Megatron. Whirl appeared, in Cybertronian form, in issue #2 of the Stormbringer
The Transformers: Stormbringer
The Transformers: Stormbringer is a comic book mini-series, published by IDW Publishing.The series debuted in July, 2006 and is set during the same time frame as The Transformers: Infiltration...
series by IDW Publishing
IDW 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...
. He aided Springer
Springer (Transformers)
Springer is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers universes. For trademark reasons, many toys of the character are named Autobot Springer.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
's Wreckers on the planet Varas Centralus in the Kol system when 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...
redeployed the Wreckers for a mission on 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...
. They later defeated Bludgeon
Bludgeon (Transformers)
Bludgeon is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers universes. For trademark reasons, he is now marketed by Hasbro as Decepticon Bludgeon. They are all Decepticon warriors who turn into tanks.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
and his acolytes. Whirl also participated in the battle against 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...
and was later shown inspecting Thunderwing's inert corpse.
Whirl appeared in Spotlight: Doubledealer where he was among the Autobots 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...
on the planet Corata-Vaz.
Toys
- Generation 1 Deluxe Autobot Whirl (1985)
- The toy relicensed from the Japanese animeAnimeis the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series DorvackSpecial Armored Batallion Dorvackis an anime series aired from 1983 to 1984 in Japan and Hong Kong. There were 36 episodes. Other loosely translated names are "Dorvack", "Dolbuk", "Special Powered Armor Troop Dorvack", "Special Machine Army Dorvack", "Machine Corps Dorvack", "Armored Trooper Dorvack", "Tokusou Kihei Dorvack",...
. The original robot was the "VH-64 MR Oberon Gazzette," designed by Katsumi Itabashi and Nobuyoshi Haraba in 1983. - In the 1980's Transformers were such a success that Hasbro wanted to get as much product out on the shelves with the Transformers name on it as possible. Since they were running out of old Takara molds to use, they obtained licences to use the molds of other companies' robot toys in the Transformers line. Whirl, ShockwaveShockwave (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...
, JetfireJetfireJetfire is the name of several fictional characters from the Transformers universes. He is nearly always depicted as an Autobot with jet or space shuttle alternate mode.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
, Omega SupremeOmega SupremeOmega Supreme is the name of a fictional character from the Transformers franchise. He is always an Autobot and is often depicted as a gigantic transformer with vast strength and/or overwhelming firepower.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
, RoadbusterRoadbusterRoadbuster is the name of three fictional characters from the various Transformers universes.-Transformers: Generation 1:Roadbuster's bio described him as happiest when he is in battle destroying Decepticons. While he is an inspiring presence and natural leader in battle, he doesn't adapt well to...
, Chop Shop, Venom, Barrage and Ransack were among those molds. With the licences to those toys now expired Hasbro and Takara no longer have legal rights to those figures and cannot reissue them. - The Deluxe Autobots were larger and more intricate than most of the other Autobot toys of 1985.
- The same toy design was imported in the ConvertorsConvertorsThe Convertors were a line of action figures manufactured by Select in the 1980s.Often compared to the more famous Gobots and Transformers, the Convertors were a line of toys which came out at about the same time and featured robots who changed form....
toy line in the 1980s as the Defenders Chopper.
- Classics Legends Whirl (2007)
- A repaint of Micro Class Evac was released as a homage to Generation 1 Whirl in the Transformers classics toy line.
- The fusilage length of the actual helicopter Whirl is based on is 11.64 meters long. The Micro class version of the toy is only 10.5 centimeters long, giving it a scale of about 1:110. Using this information would indicate Whirl would stand about 23 feet tall in robot mode.
- A Chinese made bootleg of this toy was released in 2007 called "Super Change to United". This version of the toy was slightly redecoed and remolded so he could become the left arm of a Legends combiner with 4 other Legends bootlegs.
Transformers: Universe
This Whirl is from the planet Combatron and is partnered with Gunbarrel (aka Thunderstick) and Makeshift (aka Skysickle).3H Enterprises
Universe Whirl appeared among the many prisoners of 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...
who escaped with the help of Optimus Primal
Optimus Primal
Optimus Primal is a fictional character from the Transformers toyline, and the leader of the Maximal forces and the main protagonist in the Beast Wars television series. He is sometimes called Optimal Optimus...
in Transformers: Universe #2, but spoke no lines.
Fun Publications
Whirl appeared in the text story from 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....
called Force of Habit. On the planet Combatron Whirl and his Mini-Cons are met by the Autobots Longrack
Longrack
Longrack is the name of several fictional characters from Transformers series.-Beast Wars Neo:Longrack is the gabby, annoying class committee member of the group. He is quite serious about following rules to the letter, and will butt in and aggressively complain to others about it. His Arm Shot...
, Armorhide
Armorhide
Armorhide is the name of several fictional characters from various Transformers universes.-Transformers: Robots in Disguise:Dangar is sometimes also spelled 'Danger'. Armorhide's animated appearance in the TV series is based on the Takara version...
, Blurr
Blurr
Blurr is the name given to five different fictional characters in the Transformers universes. He frequently appears as a blue Autobot who transforms into a swift car...
and Checkpoint
Checkpoint (Transformers)
-Transformers Energon:Checkpoint was a part of an Autobot S.W.A.T. team along with Prowl who he was sold with. Checkpoint is a mainly black and white six-wheeled futuristic truck of a fictional make. He is able to 'powerlinx' with any other Powerlinx toy from Energon. His hand-held weapon is a...
. Together they defend a weapons bunker from Decepticons led by Brushguard. It should be noted in this story it is established that this Whirl is a different Whirl from the Generation 1 character. It also grants new names to his two Mini-Cons. Gunbarrel and Makeshift become Thunderstick
Thunderstick
Thunderstick, real name Barry Graham Purkis, is an English drummer who wore various masks and used to perform on-stage closed in a cage. He was in the popular cult-band Samson which his name is most associated with....
and Skysickle.
In the comic story found in issue #8 of the Transformers Collectors Club magazine Cybertron/Robots in Disguise Optimus Prime told the story of the last battle he was in, set in the Transformers: Universe storyline. Alongside 10th Anniversary Optimus Primal
Optimus Primal
Optimus Primal is a fictional character from the Transformers toyline, and the leader of the Maximal forces and the main protagonist in the Beast Wars television series. He is sometimes called Optimal Optimus...
they attacked the last 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...
's forces when Unicron suddenly disappeared, and they barely escaped. Among the Autobot forces was Universe Whirl and his commander King Atlas.
Toys
- Universe Mega Whirl with Gunbarrel and Makeshift (2004)
- A repaint of TurbomasterTurbomasterTurbomasters were an Australian, Canadian, and European exclusive range of Transformers toys, released in 1992 as part of their final year of products for the original franchise. A subgroup of the Autobots, there were six Turbomasters: Thunder Clash, Rotorstorm, Boss, Hurricane, Flash, and Scorch...
Rotorstorm was released as a homage to Generation 1 Whirl in the Transformers: Universe toy line. He came with two Mini-Con partners, but had no Mini-Con points to connect them.
- Attacktix Whirl (2007)
- Announced for the second wave of Transformers Attacktix figures is Whirl, based on his Universe vehicle mode.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Like all his Generation 1 and Universe namesakes this Whirl is a blue Autobot helicopter. He is portrayed as a martial artist and as a rival to the Decepticon Bludgeon.According to the bio on the box for Voyager class Bludgeon, Whirl won their first encounter.
Toys
- Transformers 3D Battle-Card Game Whirl (2007)
- Produced by Wizards of the CoastWizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
, wave 2 of their Transformers 3D Battle-Card Game included a Whirl card, who was a redeco of Blackout from wave 1.
- Revenge of the Fallen Voyager Autobot Whirl (2009)
- A blue redeco of Voyager Evac, which is essentially Voyager Blackout/Grindor with a rescue raft/gun in place of the Scorponok figurine. Sold with Deluxe Decepticon Bludgeon in the Toys "R" Us exclusive "Master of Metallikato" gift set.
- This toy's fuselage is 25 centimeters long, while an actual Pave Low helicopter is 2235 centimeters long. This gives it a scale of about 1/89. With a robot toy height of 19 centimeters, Whirl should stand about 55 feet tall.
- Dark of the Moon Human Alliance Basic Autobot Whirl with Sparkplug (2011)
- An all-new mold of Whirl with a 2-inch Sparkplug action figure. As with all Basic Human Alliance figures, Whirl is a triple-changer; he transforms from a mini helicopter into a robot or a Mech Tech gatling cannon that can be used with any Voyager or Leader Class figure.