Tailgate (Transformers)

Tailgate is the name of a fictional character in the Transformers universes.

Transformers: Generation 1

Transformers character
name = Tailgate


caption =
affiliation = Autobot
subgroup = Mini-bots
function = Scout
partner =
motto = "Let my fellow mechanical beings go!."
alternatemodes = Pontiac Firebird
series =
voiceby = Ted Schwartz
Ken Shiroyama (Japanese)

His bio painted him as a racer, believing 55mph speed limits are a punishment for scouts like him - and cars, who he doesn't entirely realise aren't sentient beings.

Animated series

Tailgate was only shown once in the series in the episode, "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5". He was among the Earth-based Autobots forced to defend The Ark from Trypticon. The Autobots failed and Trypticon destroyed the entire volcano and The Ark as well.

Marvel Comics

Tailgate made his only Marvel appearance in issue 245 of the Marvel UK Transformers comic, along with fellow Autobot cadets Flattop and Subsea. Flattop had talked his two friends into braving the depths of Cybertron's disused sewer system - known as the Underworld - as part of an ancient (and outdated) Autobot initiation to prove their bravery. This quickly went wrong, as they encountered horribly deformed and sadistic mutant Transformers, who killed all bar Tailgate. Tailgate managed to kill the mutants, just as his fellow Autobot cadets Outback and Pipes arrived to rescue him. Although Tailgate's part in this story ended there, the battle had disturbed even worse creatures in the depths: demons, which the Autobot Classic Pretenders, Emirate Xaaron and the Firecons had to team up to deal with in the next two issues.

Dreamwave Productions

Tailgate had a brief cameo in Dreamwave's Generation One ongoing series, as a new recruit to the Autobots.

Toys

*Generation 1 Tailgate (1986):A remold of Windcharger.