Transformers Character Guide: Autobots

One of the big movies of this summer is Transformers. Finally the Transformers are coming to the big screen and this time as a live action movie. Many things will be different about the movie. Some characters from the cartoon will be in the movie, some won’t and some will be in the Transformers movie but will look different. Regardless of whether they are in the movie or not I thought it would be a good time to refresh your memories on some of the Autobots (those are the good guys).

Blurr
Blurr turns into a futuristic car and is a racing veteran so obviously his strength is his speed. Blurr did not come to Earth with the rest of the Autobots but stayed behind to defend Cybertron against the remaining Decepticons. Blurr is not seen in the Transformers cartoon until the Transformers movie. Blurr also speaks just as quickly as he drives.

Grimlock and the Dinobots
The Dinobots are a group of Autobots that transformer into dinosaurs. Grimlock is the powerful leader and thrives on battle and takes the form of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Slag is the Triceratops, Sludge is a Brontosaurus, Snarl is the Stegosaurus and Swoop is the Pteranodon.

Ironhide
There are actually five different versions of Ironhide in the different Transformers universes. The most common one is the cartoon version. In the cartoon Ironhide is an Autobot bodyguard. He is most often the body guard of Optimus Prime but can often be found guarding other things as well.

Jazz
Jazz is a Martini Posche 935 Turbo and the right hand man of Optimus Prime. Jazz is the head of the Autobots Special Operations. Jazz has a roster of agents to dole out assignments too but he usually chooses to do the hardest missions on his own.

Kup
Kup is like the old grandfather veteran of the Autobots. During the Transformers movie Kup seems to have an anecdote about the war for just about every situation. Kup and Hot Rod butt heads a lot at first but eventually Kup becomes a mentor for Rodimus Prime.

Mirage
Mirage was one of my favorite Transformers as a kid because he is the sleek looking Formula 1 racecar. Mirage is a master hunter thanks in due part to his ability to turn invisible. Mirage also has excellent hand-to-hand combat skills, a rifle and armor-piercing darts.

Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime the semi-trailer truck and the leader of the Transformers. The cab part of the truck turns into Optimus Prime while the Trailer disconnects and turns into a mobile battle station. Optimus Prime holds within his chest a mystic talisman known as the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. All the Autobot leaders throughout the ages have had the Matrix of Leadership passed on to them.

Prowl
Prowl is very quiet but is loyal and one of the smartest Autobots. Prowl does not believe in estimations or guesses. Prowl only believes in proven fact everything must be explained in order for him to believe it. It is because of this obsession to facts that Prowl is a master strategist.

Ratchet
Ratchet was rarely seen partaking in the Autobots’ battles because he was the chief medic on Transformers. Most of the time Ratchet was seen back at the Autobot base where he was either creating or repairing Autobots.

Rodimus Prime
Rodimus Prime at first goes by the name Hot Rod but becomes Rodimus Prime when he becomes the leader of the Autobots in the Transformers movie. Rodimus and Optimus Prime are the typical old school vs. new school. Optimus is honorable and just while Rodimus is loud, cocky and brash.

Ultra Magnus
Ultra Magnus is one of the greatest soldiers the Autobots have ever had in Transformers. Ultra Magnus courage and fighting skills are unmatched. Unfortunately when Optimus Prime dies and the Matrix of Leadership is passed down to Ultra Magnus he is not a very good leader. Ultra Magnus is more comfortable with taking orders than giving them.

Wheeljack
Every cool hero whether it’s James Bonds or Maxwell Smart, needs a gadget guy. Wheeljack is a scientist and creates most of the weapons and gadgets that the Autobots wield when they are doing battle in Transformers.