Scorponok

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Scorponok
Transformers character
Scorponok-art.jpg
Scorponok box art
Voiced by (English) Stephen Keener (Scorponok)
G. Stanley Jones
(Lord Zarak)
Voiced by (Japanese) Banjō Ginga
In-universe information
AffiliationDecepticon
Japanese nameMegazarak, Black Zarak
Sub-groupHeadmasters
FunctionHeadmaster Leader, Emperor of Terror, Emperor of Darkness
Rank10
PartnerLord Zarak, Fasttrack
Motto"Kindness is no virtue ... and cruelty is no vice."
Alternate modesMechanical scorpion/city or spaceship [1]

Scorponok is a name is shared by several fictional characters throughout the various Transformers universes. Characters with this name are usually Decepticon or Predacon antagonists that turn into robotic scorpions or have scorpion-shaped robot modes. Some versions of the character are also known as Megazarak or Black Zarak in Japan.

Contents

Transformers: Generation 1

Marvel Comics

Scorponok made an appearance in the U.K. comics. In a possible future (told from the perspective of an aged Rodimus Prime) Scorponok battled against Shockwave and Megatron for leadership of the Decepticons. Losing, and attacked by the Micromaster Air Strike Patrol, Scorponok surrendered to Hot Rod only to manipulate him and his comrades into defending a human settlement from the Decepticons while he escaped. This would be his last appearance in the Marvel timeline. [2]

Books

Scorponok appeared in the 1988 Ladybird Books story Decepticons at the Pole by John Grant. In this story he was the base for the Decepticons. [3]

Scorponok was among the Decepticons featured in the 1988 book and audio adventure Autobot Hostage by Ladybird Books. [4]

Mosaic

Scorponok appeared in the Transformers: Mosaic story "The Sting of Scorponok" by Josh "Richter" van Reyk. [5]

Beast Wars

Scorponok
Transformers character
Voiced by (English) Don Brown
Voiced by (Japanese)Masashi Endô
In-universe information
AffiliationPredacon
Japanese nameScorpos
Sub-groupMega Beasts, Transmetals
FunctionDesert Attack Commander
Rank6
Motto"The only true loyalty is to oneself."
Alternate modesCybertronian hovercraft, Scorpion

Scorponok was a recurring antagonist in the first season of the Beast Wars cartoon, as part of the Predacon crew who stole the Maximal relic known as Golden Disk before time-traveling and crash-landing on prehistoric Earth. He served as the Predacon criminal Megatron’s second-in-command, up until he fell into a lava pit at the start of the second season.

Toys

The Scorponok toy was repainted as Double Punch in Japan in 1998 and as Botcon Sandstorm in 1999. [6] The commercial for Scorponok referred to him as a "robot in disguise with a killer bee inside!"
A transmetal toy of Scorponok was released as McDonald's happy meal toy.

Transformers Cinematic Universe

Scorponok
Transformers character
Scorponok-moviepicture.jpg
Scorponok
In-universe information
AffiliationDecepticon
Sub-groupDeluxe Beasts, Legends
FunctionHunter, Tracker
Rank3
PartnerBlackout, Grindor
Motto"Autobots are dead as soon as they step in the sand." "The opportunity to destroy is the only reward I need."
Alternate modesGiant mechanical scorpion

Scorponok appears in the live-action Transformers film directed by Michael Bay. His machine form is a mechanized scorpion and is the only Decepticon in the film that does not transform into a humanoid robot (though a toy of him has a robot mode), but is able to dive under sand or other soft landforms and burrow under the surface to attack. Screenwriter Roberto Orci indicated that this Scorponok is conceptually closer to the Beast Wars character than the original; he does bear a noticeable resemblance to the McDonald's Transmetal Scorponok figure (see above). He is Blackout's partner, similar to the role that cassettes such as Ravage and Laserbeak served under Soundwave. [7]

Movie plot

In the film, he and his partner Blackout attack the SOCCENT Operations Base in Qatar. Scorponok chases eight Special Forces soldiers across the desert, eventually killing trooper Donnelly, wounding Figueroa, and killing several Qatari soldiers before being wounded in an attack by two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and an AC-130 Spectre gunship. With the tip of his tail blown off, Scorponok burrows under the desert sands, and is not seen again for the rest of the film. However, the survivors take the damaged tail and bring it aboard a transport plane en route back to the U.S. While examining the tail, it suddenly goes wild, but Lennox and Epps manage to restrain it. The soldiers also discover through the damage on the tail that while robot armor is impervious to bullets, it can easily be weakened by anti-tank sabot rounds.

In Revenge of the Fallen, Scorponok appears briefly once in Egypt with his tail repaired and participates in the final battle. He bursts out of the sand and disembowels Jetfire, who in turn kills him by smashing his head with his fist, avenging Donnelly and the Qatari soldiers. However, Scorponok's short-lived presence is instrumental towards Jetfire's death. Jetfire, being the eldest Transformer in the film, had been malfunctioning since his reawakening, and Scorponok's actions severely weakened Jetfire, who then sacrifices himself for spare parts to give Optimus Prime the means to defeat The Fallen.

Scorponok has a toy in the Transformers: Dark of the Moon toyline, but he does not appear in the film after his demise.

Toys

A non-poseable Scorponok mini-figurine comes with the Blackout toy and stores in Blackout's rear compartment in helicopter mode. [8]
A redeco of Deluxe Scorponok comes packaged in this mini-diorama with figurines of Capt. Lennox, Epps and Figueroa. [9]
A new type of Blackout and Scorponok which are Cyberverse molds. Scorponok can be placed into the back of the MH-53 Helicopter like the Voyager's from the previous movies. [10]

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References

  1. Nichol, John (1989). Bites & Stings: The World of Venomous Animals. David & Charles. ISBN   9780715393215.
  2. Marvel U.K. #223
  3. John Grant (1988). Decepticons at the Pole. Ladybird Books. ISBN   0-7214-1068-5.
  4. "Autobot Hostage". Archived from the original on 2009-09-12. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
  5. "THE STING OF SCORPONOK by Transformers-Mosaic on DeviantArt". 4 August 2008.
  6. Stalking The Prey: A Guide to Hasbro's Beast Wars by Nicholas R. Messina, Jr., Lee's Action Figure News and Toy Review #71, page 34-40, September 1998
  7. Ain't it Cool News
  8. GameAxis Unwired Jul 2007, p. 110
  9. Transformers Screen Battle: Desert Attack
  10. "Blackout with Scorponok". 2011-02-17.