List of Transformers Armada Mini-Cons

Below is a list of the Mini-Cons who appeared as part of the Transformers: Armada story and toyline.

Autobot aligned

"Sparkplug (Transformers)" redirects here. For Spike Witwicky's father, see Sparkplug Witwicky.

Comettor

Motto: "If you can't find what you're seeking inside, then look outside."

Comettor (known as Sonar^[1] in the Japanese series) transforms into a lunar rover and is partnered with Jetfire. A keen explorer, he choose Jetfire as his partner so he could have the chance to travel the universe.^[2] Unfortunately, the war with the Decepticons has kept Jetfire, as well as Comettor, stuck planetside.^[3] Comettor possesses above-average intelligence, but below-average physical abilities. He is an astute explorer with extensive scientific insights and technical knowledge. In vehicle mode, he is an effective all-terrain exploratory vehicle that can relay communications as far as 250,000 miles away; he can also act as Jetfire's front landing gear in this mode.^[2]

Comettor appeared in episodes #36 "Mars" and #40 "Remorse" of the Armada cartoon. He also appeared in several issues of the Dreamwave comic adaptation.

A version Comettor appears in the Transformers: Dark of the Moon toy line. This version transforms into a Desert Patrol Vehicle. His toy is a gray redeco of Deluxe Landmine from the 2007 film toy line, bundled with Voyager Class Optimus Prime (himself a re-release of the 2010 Battle Blades figure with his swords replaced with battle hooks) in a Walmart exclusive gift set.^[4]

Jolt

Jolt is partnered with Hot Shot, and transforms into a helicopter.

Liftor

Liftor is the partner of Smokescreen.

Longarm

Longarm in vehicle mode

Motto: "Complacency does not compute." (Dreamwave), "To save and protect life." (Hasbro)

Longarm (known as Hook in Japan) is the Mini-Con partner of Red Alert. He turns into a crane, however his vehicle mode is not the size of an actual crane, it is too small for a person to ride inside but is able to perform all the functions of an actual crane.^[5]

Longarm is a Mini-Con that whom Red Alert resuscitated from near-terminal stasis lock. The new Longarm still retains the same goodnatured personality circuits and compulsions of the original, but his memory banks are now in a blank slate. Possessing a logic-centric mentality, Longarm serves as Red Alert's "second brain." He is able to greatly enhance Red Alert's already impressive cognitive abilities during the Powerlink process, allowing the Autobot to "multi-task" in the truest sense of the word. While Longarm is able to analyze and diagnose technical problems, Red Alert can simultaneously solve other issues or perform completely separate tasks.

He first appeared in epidode #3 "Base", and made his last appearance in epidose #43 "Puppet'. Longarm also appeared among the Mini-Cons in issue #18 of the Transformers: Armada comic book. Here they aided Over-Run in using the Mini-Con Matrix in the defeat of Unicron.

Longarm is among the characters appearing in the 2004 Transformers video game for the Playstation.^[6]

Rollbar

Rollbar transforms into a dune buggy. In the cartoon continuity, he featured prominently in the Japanese Linkage DVD comic, which chronicles how he came to be partnered with Scavenger, as well as his short time alongside the Super Stunt Team.

Rollbar appeared among the Mini-Cons, in issue #18 of Dreamwave's Transformers: Armada comic book, who aided Over-Run using the Mini-Con Matrix in the defeat of Unicron. His biography portrayed him as being insanely brave to the point of stupidity. Even before the war broke out he was renowned for standing up to Megatron and the Decepticons. Teamed up with Scavenger, his strength and take-no-prisoners attitude mean the duo have become a force to be reckoned with.

Sparkplug

Motto: "We must all learn to live in peace!"

Sparkplug (Not to be confused with the father of Spike and a grandfather of Daniel, Sparkplug Witwicky) is the young Mini-Con partner of Optimus Prime. He bears a striking resemblance to Bumblebee from the G1 series. He transforms into a sports car and normally powerlinks with Optimus on his left shoulder. He is very open and outgoing, and quickly makes friends with Alexis, Carlos, and Rad. Sparkplug usually operates the mobile command base trailer when Prime is not using it in his Super Mode.^[7]

While he was essentially the "leader" of the Mini-Cons in the Armada cartoon, like many Mini-Cons, he played a much bigger role in the comics. He was discovered inside the Mini-Con ship along with the Street Action Team (Perceptor) by the kids, and quickly teamed up with Optimus.

In the episode "Runaway", Optimus Prime sent Sparkplug to get the Mini-Cons Astroscope, Payload and Skyblast to talk about using their Requiem Blaster form as a weapon for the Autobots.

Sparkplug appeared among the Mini-Cons in issue #18 of the Transformers: Armada comic book who aided Over-Run using the Mini-Con Matrix in the defeat of Unicron.

Sparkplug appeared in Transformers Armada: First Contact by Chris Sarracini and James Raiz.

Sparkplug appeared in the text story from Fun Publications called "Force of Habit." This story explained where he was during the events of the Cybertron story. Ultra Magnus was the commander of various Autobot ships sent to other planets in search for the Cyber Planet Keys. Sparkplug served as captain of the Valiant which was sent to a region near Betelgeuse.

Sparkplug is among the characters appearing in the 2004 Transformers video game for the Playstation.^[8]

Decepticon aligned

Inferno

Motto: "The chosen exist to lead."

Inferno (known Thunder in Japan) transforms into missile truck and is partnered with Thrust. An antagonist, Inferno counters Thrust's role as a manipulator, picking up on some of his arrogance and grating on his fellow Mini-Cons and Decepticons. Despite this they still form a strong team.

Inferno appeared in two episodes in the Armada cartoon, the first of which was epidode #25 "Tactician", where he was chosen to partner Thrust. The second episode was #49 "Alliance", where he assists in the evacuation of Cybertron as its attacked by Unicron. In the Dreamwave comic adapatation of Armada, Inferno appeared in issue #18 aiding Over-Run in the use of the Mini-Con Matrix in the defeat of Unicron.

Inferno was initially released in 2003 alongside Thurst, to whom he connects to Thrust's rear compartment and firing a missile. They were later released as "Powerlinx" that same year though Inferno was recoloured white, blue, and black.

Toys

Each Mini-Con was released alongside their partner in 2003, with several being released as "Powerlinx" partners that same year. Some were again released as part of the "Built to Rule" gimmick in 2004.

The Mini-Con Rollbar in the cartoon was partnered with Scavenger, however as a toy he was released alongside Treadbolt

Sparkplug was released as four toys. The first was a fairly accurate representation that came with the Armada Optimus Prime figure. As with all Mini-Cons, it could powerlink on any of a number of ports studded over Prime.

Sparkplug's overall design was heavily inspired by the Generation 1 character, Bumblebee. While the final animated version has some minor design changes, the comic book version retained a lot of details making him very similar to Bumblebee. The Sparkplug toys released in the Armada toy line all take on the more Bumblebee-like design. ^{[9] [10]}

The second, Corona Sparkplug, was a slight redeco with a metallic gold vacuum-metalized paint job and came in a number of different sets, including with the recolored Powerlinx Optimus Prime figure.

The golden Corona Sparkplug figure released in later sets is most likely inspired by Bumblebee's metamorphosis into Goldbug. Both characters had slight robot-mode redesigns with a similar vehicle mode and change from a basic yellow to gold. The two characters also have other parallels, such as being Prime's so-called "side-kick".

There was also a green version exclusive to TV Boy magazine in Japan under its Japanese name, Prime.

References

1. ^ "Comettor". Seibertron Database. The Ultimate Transformers Resource. http://www.seibertron.com/database/character.php?char_id=933&view=appearances. Retrieved 2008-06-16. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Jetfire with Comettor". Transformers 2003. Lukis Bros. Transformers Collector Site. http://www.unicron.us/tf2003/toypix/jetfire.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-16. 
3. ^ "Comettor". Transformers Wiki. tfwiki.net. http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Comettor. Retrieved 2008-12-16. 
4. ^ TFW2005.com - Dark of the Moon Unmasked Battle Blades Prime Bundle Walmart Exclusive
5. ^ Furman, Simon (2004). Transformers: The Ultimate Guide. DK Publishing Inc.. p. 123. ISBN 1405304618. 
6. ^ Atari Begins the ``Ultimate Conflict with Worldwide Release of 'TRANSFORMERS' Video Game, Business Wire, May 12, 2004
7. ^ Furman, Simon (2004). Transformers: The Ultimate Guide. DK Publishing Inc.. p. 140. ISBN 1405304618. 
8. ^ Atari Begins the ``Ultimate Conflict with Worldwide Release of 'TRANSFORMERS' Video Game, Business Wire, May 12, 2004
9. ^ Sparkplug (2003) - Mini-Con - www.tfu.info
10. ^ Sparkplug - Transformers: Armada - Toy Gallery - Photos 1 - 25