User:Mathewignash/Razorclaw

Razorclaw is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers series. The first Razorclaw was leader of the Predacons, a evil combiner group from the 1984 Transformers series, where he was voiced by Joe Leahy. He turned into a lion. His character was them homaged in the Beast Wars series with a Predacon who turned into a crab, but had a personality similar to his namesake. After that other characters reusied the name in later series, but only the Razorclaw from the Transformers: Timelines was a homage to the original character.

Transformers: Generation 1
Razorclaw is the name of the leader of the Decepticon sub-group called the Predacons. He transforms into a robotic lion and formed the body of the combiner warrior Predaking, one of the most feared Decepticon robots.

Marvel Comics
In the Marvel UK Transformers comics, the Predacons were summoned to Earth in 1987 and fitted with animal modes by Megatron in order to hunt Optimus Prime. Prime went against the Predacons alone (separated from the Autobots as part of a plan of his own to test their ability to function without him), using all his skill and ingenuity to survive, but as Megatron watched, the Predacons attacked him, having been ordered to do so by Megatron's rival for power, Shockwave. The Predacons then absconded, leaving Prime and Megatron to finish each other, but when Megatron transported them both to Cybertron, Shockwave dispatched the Predacons to find them. The team arrived back on Cybertron a little too late, as Megatron and Prime had returned to Earth, but an encounter with the Cybertron local Decepticon commander, Lord Straxus, had left Megatron with amnesia, unable to remember the Predacons' treachery.

The stage was now set for the Predacons' appearance in the US title, and appear they did, shortly after Optimus Prime perished in a virtual duel with Megatron. Megatron himself had begun to descend into paranoid insanity, and Shockwave summoned the Predacons back to Earth and had them pose as Autobots, planning to have them hunt Megatron as part of a scheme to once again seize command of the Decepticons from Megatron (the UK comic rewrote some of the dialogue in its reprint of this issue to make it appear to be the Predacons' second trip to Earth). The plan did not go smoothly, however, as Megatron defeated them all, even in their combined form of Predaking. Realizing that Shockwave was to blame, Megatron was about to kill him when he revealed that he had duplicated his mind to disc to guide the Predacons in their mission. Believing (accurately as it turned out) that this was how Optimus Prime had survived, Megatron apparently killed himself by blowing up the interdimensional spacebridge while standing on it. Shockwave was left as Decepticon commander, and the Predacons were absorbed into his Earth-based Decepticon army.

The UK title shone the spotlight on the Predacons again when they attacked a circus, and the news report covering it revealed to Swoop discovered that his old foe Divebomb was now on Earth. Divebomb himself was growing disenchanted with the lack of challenges on Earth, so when Swoop ambushed him, he relished the chance to have a battle that tested him. Neither he nor Swoop, however, were particularly pleased when the other Predacons and Dinobots intruded on their private conflict, but when Grimlock almost killed Divebomb, Swoop stopped him and allowed the Predacons to go, so that when they next met, it would be on his terms.

The Predacons and Constructicons were soon dispatched to collect rocket fuel and raw materials with which the Constructicons converted the Decepticons' island base into a spaceship. Not long after, the government organization the Intelligence and Information Institute (I.I.I.) captured a group of Autobots called the Throttlebots. In response to intensive Predacons raids ordered by Shockwave, I.I.I. publicly threatened to destroy the Throttlebots as a perceived ultimatum. Not realizing that their captives were in fact enemies of the attacking robots, they were forced to destroy their bodies as planned. Decepticon co-commander and fuel auditor Ratbat led the Predacons on a mission to inspect the corpses. Discovering that the Throttlebots brain modules had been placed in toy cars by Triple I's sympathetic operate, Walter Barnett, the Predacons pursued them, demolishing a mall in the process. Razorclaw and his team were also part of the Decepticon force that ambushed the Autobots on Earth's moon during Grimlock and Blaster's duel.

Later, when the treacherous Decepticon Starscream manipulated Ratbat's Decepticons in fighting the forces of Scorponok, Razorclaw the Predacons were at the forefront of battle. But when Starscream's scheming resulted in him acquiring the cosmic power of the interstellar databank, the Underbase, the Predacons aided in the defence of Tokyo, but were among the legions of Transformers deactivated by the villain.

The Predacons remained deactivated for the remainder of the US series, until it was rejuvenated as Transformers: Generation 2 a short time later. Although the Predacon toys were not re-released for the Generation 2 toyline, the characters were functional again for the comic book series - although that did not last long. Razorclaw - attempting to kill Decepticon-turned-Autobot Manta Ray - was destroyed by his fellow defector, Leadfoot.

Animated series
The Predacons made their dramatic debut in the year 2005, as the Decepticon/Quintesson alliance began its attack on the Autobots on both Earth and Cybertron. With the Autobots Blurr and Wheelie and the human Marissa Faireborn stranded on Io, one of Jupiter's moons, while attempting to deliver the transformation cog that would allow the Autobot battle station, Metroplex, to transform and fight back, communications officer Blaster attempted to contact Cybertron for reinforcements, revealing his allies' plight. The transmission was intercepted by the Quintessons, however, and upon learning the location of the cog, they dispatched the Predacons to Io to ensure it would not reach Earth. After an initially poor showing in their individual robot and animal modes, the team merged to form Predaking, but were confronted by the massive Autobot Sky Lynx and bested, leading to an enmity between the two.

The Predacons were in their element for their first mission in 2006, operating in the wilds of the planet Dredd, where they again battled Sky Lynx and several other Autobots, but were defeated when they were buried in an avalanche created by the planet's native Chaos monster. Later, they participated in the invasion of Paradron, with Razorclaw knocking the Autobot escapee Sandstorm into a crevice.

What was perhaps the Predacons' most prominent adventure came when the Quintessons struck at the Transformers by animating the dreams of Daniel Witwicky. Having penetrated Cybertron's defenses for an unspecified mission, the Predacons attacked Rodimus Prime, Ultra Magnus and Springer, but when the whole group were then attacked by monsters conjured from Daniel's subconscious, the two groups were unwillingly thrust together to survive. Razorclaw and Springer were captured by a dragon and were forced to team up to defeat the creature and escape, while the others faced the threat of a giant Galvatron who injured Headstrong. With Daniel rescued, the damage sustained by Headstrong prevented the team from combining into Predaking, forcing them to flee.

While en route to Chaar at a later date, Predaking intercepted an unusual Quintesson signal and tracked it to a jungle planet, where they came upon a group of Autobots who had done the same and discovered an electronic journal recording Quintesson military transactions. The team merged into Predaking, who immediately targeted Sky Lynx among the group, seeking revenge for his past defeats; Sky Lynx out-maneuvered the Decepticon, but, rather than best him in combat, had to get his fellow Autobots to safety. When the Decepticons then acquired the journal, Predaking was reluctant to retreat until having finished off Sky Lynx, but stood down in the face of Galvatron's wrath.

When the ancient genius Primacron unleashed his energy-absorbing creation, Tornedron, on the universe, Primacron's assistant sought to foil his former mentor by amassing a team of "Primitives" - Transformers with animal instincts that could hopefully thwart Primacron's complexities. The Predacons were among the Transformers summoned from a battle on Earth's moon to a dead world at the center of the universe, where Tornedron confronted them. Refusing to run from him, the Predacons formed Predaking and battled Tornedron, who took the shape of a giant warrior, absorbing all energy Predaking threw at them until he had been drained of life. Of all the Primitives, only Grimlock survived, and was subsequently able to stop Tornedron and Primacron, restoring the Predacons and the others to life.

After participating in the Decepticon attack on Japan, the Predacons were among the Transformers infected when the madness-inducing Hate Plague swept the universe, with Razorclaw being infected by his fellow Predacon, Headstrong. The animosity bred by the plague did not prevent the him from combining with the other Predacons into Predaking and pursuing the uncontaminated Galvatron, however, only to be forced to retreat by a squad of uninfected Autobots led by Optimus Prime. When Prime subsequently released the power of the Matrix, the plague was cured.

Razorclaw and his Predacons continued to put in short appearances in 1987's Japanese-exclusive spinoff series, Transformers: Headmasters, usually fighting alongside and against the other combiner teams in various battles.

In 1990's Transformers: Zone, Predaking was one of the nine Deception generals in the service of the mysterious insectoid Violenjiger, and met his end when Autobot leader Dai Atlas cleaved his body in two (somewhat bizarrely revealing what appeared to be an organic brain within him).

Dreamwave Productions
In Dreamwave Productions' Transformers universe, Razorclaw was one of five powerful Decepticon warlords known as the Predacons. The Predacons disappeared and were eventually found by Megatron on the planet Beast, reduced to a feral state with their memories and identities lost. Megatron captured them and reformatted them to be able to combine into the combiner warrior Predaking, planning to use him to return to leadership of the Decepticons.

Defeated by the Autobots, Shockwave was forced to set up a new secret headquarters in the wastelands of Cybertron, with Astrotrain, Blitzwing, Dirge, Ramjet and Thrust under his command. Shockwave completed work on his new warrior, Sixshot but Megatron's return, accompanied by with three clone warriors and the Predacons, was able to defeat Shockwave. Shockwave was kept alive, but restrained and his loyal warrior Blitzwing was decapitated by Razorclaw, while his other warriors joined with Megatron in his plan to invade the Earth.

Devil's Due Publishing
Razorclaw also appeared in Devil's Due Publishing's third G.I Joe vs the Transformers crossover. Personally leading the hunt for Nautilator, he was interrupted by Serpent O.R., who recruited both Predacons and Seacons as part of his new army. Along with the other combiner leaders, Razorclaw became one of Serpentor's main lieutenants, and aided him when he was attacked by an escaped Optimus Prime, beating the Autobot leader near death. However, after Serpentor was reformatted into Serpentor Prime by the power of the Matrix of Leadership, his body was taken over by Cobra Commander using a special shell program. His first act was to kill Razorclaw and Motormaster.

IDW Publishing
Razorclaw would make his first IDW Publishing appearance in The Transformers: Stormbringer, informing Megatron on Earth of the reemergence of Thunderwing. Razorclaw seems to be in charge of the Decepticons in Megatron's absence. Impressed by the courage of the Wreckers in battling Thunderwing, he sent a team of Decepticons to aid them, and eventually aborted the plan to destroy Cybertron (and Thunderwing with it) when Optimus Prime stopped the monster. This version of Razorclaw seems to possess a sense of warrior's honor, respecting the courage of his Autobot enemies enough to send his forces to help them. He is still unwilling to defy a direct order from Megatron though.

Razorclaw was also present during Megatron's gladiatorial games, prior to his assent to Decepticon leader. So far, Razorclaw has not been reformatted into his lion mode. His alternate mode has not been revealed, although he possesses tank treads and a possible drill on his chest, indicating he may transform into a drilling vehicle.

Fun Publications
Razorclaw made a surprise appearance in the Transformers: Timelines tale "Dawn of Futures Past", which served not only as a prequel to the Beast Wars, but also as a sequel to Beast Machines. Working from behind the scenes, Razorclaw and the other original Predacons, especially Divebomb, would ensure the success of Megatron's theft of the Golden Disk artifact, viewing it as a possible way to change history in favor of the Decepticons. Later, after the events of Beast Machines, Razorclaw would be seen vowing to lead the Predacons to victory over the Maximals.

Toys
The origninal Razorclaw was released in 1986, and included a gun, sword and the head of Predaking. In 2008 a tiny Legends class Razorclaw was released as a Target store exclusive, a recedo of Cybertron Legends Leobreaker. A larger version of this figure was sold as a exclusive to Botcon 2009, packaged with Elita One. A Takara reissue of the five Predacons in metallic finish.

Beast Wars
There were two different characters name Razorclaw in the 'Beast Wars' line. The first Razorclaw was a basic sized Predacon who turned into a fiddler crab.

Animated series
Razorclaw's stasis pod was presumably among those who were launched into orbit around prehistoric Earth in the Beast Wars series pilot. He is an expert in ambush attacks.

IDW Publishing
Razorclaw appeared in the IDW Beast Wars: The Gathering series, where it was revealed Magmatron had turned him into a Predacon earlier.

Razorclaw had a biography printed in the Beast Wars Sourcebook by IDW Publishing.

3H Enterprises
Razorclaw appeared in the Primeval Dawn comic book storyline working for Tarantulas.

In the first Transformers: Universe comic, an unidentified character appeared to be Beast Wars Razorclaw, but since he was among the Maximals it may have been Rockbuster.

Toys
Beast Wars Razorclaw was recolored and released with a video tape as a promotional item in 1998. The video tape contained the episode "Aftermath" and "Coming of the Fuzors, Part 1". This Razorclaw was later recolored for the Beast Wars Neo line as the Maximal, Rockbuster.

Beast Wars (2000)
The second Razor Claw (with a space in the name) was a Mutant (a Transformer with two beast modes, but no robot mode) who transformed from a Velociraptor into a wolverine.

A warrior first and foremost, Razor Claw regards himself as a crusader for the Mutants, battling Predacons with the utmost zeal in both his alternate modes. He dislikes Maximals, especially their "normal" transformation, but considers them necessary for a total organic existence. As a wolverine, his tremendous speed borders on teleportation. As a Velociraptor, he is impervious to firepower.

Animated series
Razor Claw's stasis pod was presumably among those who were launched into orbit around prehistoric Earth in the series pilot.

3H Enterprises
In Transformers: Universe - The Wreckers the Mutants traveled to Cybertron and sought the guidance of the Oracle computer, seeking a cure for their condition. What they didn't know is that the Oracle was under the influence of the Quintessons. The Mutants were sent to the outer Orion Cluster. Once there, they were captured by the Quintessons, found in contempt by the five-faced aliens, and destroyed in an attack by a swarm of Sharkticons.

IDW Publishing
Razor Claw had a biography printed in the Beast Wars Sourcebook by IDW Publishing.

IDW Publishing
Razor Claw had a biography printed in the Beast Wars Sourcebook by IDW Publishing. The Beast Wars Sourcebook stated he trained at the Maximal Military Academy.

Toys
Beast Wars Mutants Razor Claw was released in 2000. This figure was based on drawings by Hasbro designer Tim Bradley.

3H Enterprises
In the Transformers: Universe comic and toy line, Unicron selects a Tigerhawk from another dimension as one of his generals. This version of Tigerhawk wasn't prevented by Optimus Primal from destroying Megatron, which presumably had catastrophic affects on the timeline. Razorclaw was pulled from his home dimension and reprogrammed, his only real weaknesses being the distracting dual nature of Tigatron and Airazor's Sparks struggling to regain control and his intense hatred of Optimus Primal's moral standards.

Although 3H Enterprises losing the Transformers license would forestall the conclusion to the Universe storyline, an explanation of sorts would be found in issue #8 of the Transformers Collectors Club magazine, Cybertron/Robots in Disguise, where RiD Optimus Prime told the tale of how Unicron's forces were defeated in one last battle by Optimus Primal's forces, as Unicron disappeared due to the black hole opened in Transformers: Energon. Here, Razorclaw was presumably destroyed with Unicron's defeat.

Toys
Universe Razorclaw was releaed in 2003, a black and purple redeco of Beast Wars Tigerhawk as a Decepticon. This toy was among a dozen chosen to avoid for it's violence by a parents group in 2003.

Transformers: Cybertron
Razorclaw is the name of a Mini-Con aligned with the Decepticons in the Transformers: Cybertron toy line. He is a black repaint of Armada Thunderwing and packaged together with Cybertron Steamhammer.

His tech specs describe Razor Claw as having a passion for destruction, preferring to strafe ground targets rather than bombing them from high altitude. He enjoys crushing his enemies and hearing their lamentations. He takes great pleasure in destroying a great city and razing its cultural institutions — libraries, museums and schools — knowing that ignorance is the seed of chaos, and it is in chaos he feels most comfortable.

Toys
Cybertron Razorclaw was released in 2006, packaged with Cybertron Steamhammer.

Transformers: Timelines
A Botcon 2008 exclusive toy, Razorclaw is a member of the heroic Decepticon forces who oppose the evil Autobots.

Razorclaw was once a professor at the Tyrest University, one of the primary institutions of knowledge and science on Cybertron.

Although he is a redeco of the Mini-Con mold, this character was never called a Mini-Con in his biography, and it was stated on the Transformers Collectors Club message board that the Shattered Glass Predacons were actually Micromasters.

Reception
The Botcon 2008 set was chosen as the "Action Figure Digest Hot Pick."

Fun Publications
Razorclaw appeared in the 2008 April Fool's comic Shattered Expectations by Fun Publications.

Razorclaw appeared as a member of Megatron's forces in the Shattered Glass story. During Megatron's attack on the Autobot Ark the Predacons teamed up to attack Grimlock. It should be noted that in this story Razorclaw was sometimes depicted as standing as tall as Starscream, but this was later stated to be an error by the creative team.

In Do Over the Predacons and Whisper were sent to rescue Megatron when he had been captured by the Autobot Targetmasters Ricochet, Scoop and Crosshairs. The Predacons fought Ricochet, Crosshairs and Optimus Prime.

Toys
Timelines Razorclaw is a redeco of Classics Overbite. He was packaged together with Timelines Starscream, available only at Botcon 2008.