Leobreaker

Leobreaker is fictional character in the Transformers Cybertron cartoon series. In "Galaxy Force", he is referred to as Liger Jack. Transformers character
name = Leobreaker
japanname =Ligerjack


caption = Leobreaker Toy
affiliation = Autobot
subgroup = Micro Beasts
Voyagers
rank = 9 (Hasbro)
7 (Takara)
function = Warrior
partner =
motto = "The power of Jishi will unite and give new life!"
alternatemodes = Giant robotic lion
series = ""
Cybertron Legends
engvoice = Blu Mankuma
japanvoice = Hisao Egawa

Transformers: Cybertron

Overhaul is the character's original identity, and he is later up-graded into Leobreaker (Liger Jack in Japan). In both forms, he is an Autobot.

In the English version, Overhaul's voice is provided by Paul Dobson, while "Beast Wars" veteran Blu Mankuma plays Leobreaker. In "Transformers: Galaxy Force", he is played by Hisao Egawa.

Originally, Overhaul's name was intended to be Trailbreaker, after a character from the original Transformers series. This would have made the transition to "Leobreaker" much smoother. Another name considered for Leobreaker was "Megalion."

As Overhaul, he transformed into an offroad SUV. As Leobreaker, he transforms into a mechanical lion (or liger in Japan). When he was Overhaul, his Cyber Key activated a pile-driving missile, and as Leobreaker, it deployed his forearm claws. Leobreaker also wields his tail as a whip.

Overhaul is often considered to be a Transformer-themed pastiche of the X-Men character Wolverine, due to (in both forms) his rough-and-tumble nature, forearm claws, and the structure of his helmet, which slightly resembles Wolverine's mask. Some also believe his Leobreaker form mirrors Wolverine's nemesis, Sabertooth.

Animated series

On Jungle Planet, Overhaul quickly befriended Backstop and Snarl. However, they were at odds with his violent nature and his inclination to solve problems with fighting. What's more, Overhaul would find that he hated what he saw of himself in the planet's dictator, Scourge. He confronted Scourge in an effort to acquire Jungle Planet's Cyber Planet Key.

The battle proved disastrous, and Overhaul found himself jumping to the defense of Snarl, who had been pulled into the fight. As he was pummeled by Scourge, Overhaul invoked the power of the Cyber Planet Key and was transformed into Leobreaker (episode 16). Later, in another battle, he found that he now had the ability to combine with Optimus into the powerful Savage Claw Mode (Liger Convoy in "Galaxy Force").

As the battle on Jungle Planet continued, Leobreaker sought a confrontation with Scourge, and was also manipulated by the shady trickster Sideways. It was only through re-learning how to find strength in his place on a team, and the fact that his companions trusted him, that he was able to rise above Scourge and finally come to terms with himself. Nevertheless, he again faced a period of self doubt, which Megatron would exploit to create , who was a dark clone of Leobreaker.

On Giant Planet, he confronted Scourge along with Snarl, in an attempt to convince the tyrant to rethink his position among the Decepticons and help them save their homeworld. They succeeded, and would later join up with Scourge to evacuate the populace of Jungle Planet to Cybetron, when they were unable to prevent the former from being sucked into the Black Hole (although it was later restored, after the Black Hole was destroyed).

In the final episode of a wrestling match is held to decide the new leader of the Jungle Planet. Scourge defeats Snarl, then Leobreaker in fair combat and is declared the king of the Jungle Planet by Backstop. Scourge declares he will lead the Jungle Planet into a new era of peace thanks to the example of Optimus Prime and the Autobots. Optimus Prime proposed a new Space Bridge project using the power of the four Cyber Planet Keys and the four great Cybertronian ships. Many Autobots and former Decepticons joined in the project. Leaving Jetfire in charge of Cybertron, Optimus Prime lead the Atlantis with the Earth Cyber Planet Key, joined by Red Alert, Safeguard, Scattorshot, Leobreaker, Menasor and Heavy Load.

In the toy-line, Overhaul has a cousin, a Decepticon botanist named Brushguard. Brushguard is a recolor of Overhaul, and is a US exclusive character, so he did not appear in the Japanese produced television series.

Toys

*Cybertron Leobreaker:The toy of Leobreaker was sold in the larger "Voyager" size and in a smaller "Micro" class. The Voyager sized toy was initially sold by itself, and later sold at Target stores with the Mini-Cons Sky Lynx and Thunderblast attached as a promotion.:Like most toys sold in the "Galaxy Force" toy line by Takara, then later in the "Cybertron" toy line by Hasbro, there are small paint differences between the two versions of the toy. The Hasbro version has a code number on the back of his Cyber Key, while the Takara version has no number on his Force Chip.:Voyager sized Leobreaker was repainted as Nemesis Breaker.:This figure was based on drawings by Hasbro designer Tim Bradley. [ [http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/content.php?/transformers-gallery/corporate-companies/286/corporate-companies/Tim+Bradley+-+Hasbro+Product+Design.html Transformers - More Than Meets The Eye, Robots In Disguise - Transformers @ The Moon - www.transformertoys.co.uk ] ]

*Legends of Cybertron Leobreaker:Although the Micro sized Leobreaker was not meant to combine with the Micro sized Optimus Prime, fan-made alternate modes have made this possible, although it's not a perfect fit. :Micro sized Leobreaker was repainted as Leo Prime.:In 2007 a series of bootleg Transformers toys were released at Dollar Tree stores called Morphobots. Among them was a variety of recolors of Leobreaker.

Trivia

*Leobreaker's design is homeage to Galeon and Gaigar from from the 1997 anime The King of Braves GaoGaiGar. Furthermore, the combination sequence with Optimus Prime into Savage Claw Mode is a reference to the stock Goldion Hammer sequence from the same series.

*Leobreaker's Japanese name "Ligerjack" could be named after the legendary Japanese wrestler Jushin Thunder Liger ("Lyger")

References