History Characters / Transformers2023

A man of action and a [[Franchise/GIJoe Real American Hero]] who finds his life changed forever after an encounter with a flying robot.

* AFatherToHisMen: It's mentioned that Duke's turned down countless promotions as he feels his place is on the battlefield with his men rather than giving orders behind a desk.
* {{Determinator}}: His primary characteristic and why he's such a good soldier. Duke never gives up once he's made up his mind on something.
-->'''Hawk:''' "I thought Duke was just turning into a loose cannon. But now he has a mission. He'll never stop. Nothing will get in his way."
* FantasticRacism: As a result of the death of Frosting, Duke despises the Transformers and views all of them as a threat to humanity. In fairness, though he hasn't had a chance to learn there are good guys and bad guys. Nor does he have reason to believe that they are anything but advanced man made machines.
* ItsAllMyFault: While never outright stated, it's implied Duke blames himself for Frosting's death as he was only there because Duke had called in a favor to get a ride.
* ItBeganWithATwistOfFate: Duke ends up running into Starscream just because he had called in a favor from his friend Frosting for a ride to an airbase.
* RuggedScar: Has his signature scar over his left eye.
* WarHero: One of the most decorated soldiers in the US military.

* NobleDemon: Of all the Decepticons introduced so far, Thundercracker seems to be the one who has the strongest sense of mortality. He's the only one who seems to be bothered and appalled by what had been done to Skywarp.

* {{Determinator}}: His primary characteristic and why he's such a good soldier. Duke never gives up once he's mad up his mind on something.

* WeHardlyKnewYe: Yet another innocent human who died to Starscream's hands. The {{ComicBook/Duke}} miniseries would expand on some of his life, including that he had a wife and kid waiting for him back home.

* FantasticRacism: As a result of the death of Frosting, Duke despises the Transformers and views all of them as a threat to humanity. In fairness, though he hasn't had a chance to learn there are good guys and bad guys.
* HeroOfAnotherStory: The main protagonist of the ''Duke'' mini-series.

* FantasticRacism: As a result of the death of Frosting, Duke despises the Transformers and views all of them as a threat to humanity. In fairness, though he hasn't had a chance to learn their are good guys and bad guys.

A [[Franchise/GIJoe Real American Hero]] who finds his life changed forever after an encounter with a flying robot.

* HalfTheManHeUsedToBe: When Wheeljack is first brought online, he's only functional as the top half at first. He seems chipper enough about it.

The [[TokenGoodTeammate most honorable]] of the Decepticons and Soundwave's lieutenant. A warrior with the strongest sense of mortality among his monstrous comrades.

A Decepticon soldier with the ability to transform into two distinct vehicles. He seeks vengeance against Megatron.

!!Decepticons

An extremist faction that leads a brutal campaign to destroy those who are weaker and conquer distant lands to fuel their greed.

!!Autobots

[[folder:As A Whole]]
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_0518.jpeg]]
A rebellion who fights to defend the old ways of peace that their people once uphold. The Autobots had no choice but to abandon Cybertron to their oppressors. Yet a team led by Megatron himself pursued them to Earth.

* DeathByAdaptation: It is confirmed that most of the Autobots were killed in the war, the ones on the Ark are pretty much the last ones.
** Specific 'Bots include Beachcomber and Blaster, who were shown being gunned down by the Decepticons in issues #2 and #5 respectively.
* UndyingLoyalty: To Optimus Prime.

[[folder:Optimus Prime]]
[[quoteright:188:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cb2cdedc_d0f8_4550_99df_0111e3191d68.jpeg]]
'' [[caption-width-right:188: "I brought our war to this beautiful place... even if by accident. It is my duty to now defend it."]]''
The heroic and noble leader of the Autobots, bearer of the Matrix, and [[TheHero the main protagonist]] of the series. A gentle soul who vows to do whatever it takes to protect Earth and defeat his enemies.

!!Decepticons

[[folder:As a Whole]]
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_0517_6.jpeg]]
An extremist faction that leads a brutal campaign to destroy those who are weaker and conquer distant lands to fuel their greed.

* AsskickingLeadsToLeadership: To the Decepticons, MightMakesRight and the strongest lead them. Normally it's Megatron, but with him MIA, Starscream steps up to lead, but his actions have costed their forces. [[spoiler:In issue 7, Soundwave challenges Starscream's position and the Decepticons all gather around to witness the trial by combat. Soundwave's victory places him in charge]].
* TheSocialDarwinist: Starscream and Skywarp express a lot of contempt at the humans and the Autobots for either being weak or protecting the weak.

[[folder:Starscream]]
[[quoteright:198:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/69b3e95a_14ae_4455_916a_c9f29fc7c2de.jpeg]]
''[[caption-width-right:198:"Do not say his name. I am leader of the Decepticons now."]]''
A cruel yet insecure Decepticon who seeks to destroy the Autobots and conquer Earth for its resources. But after his many failures to destroy the Autobots, Soundwave had challenge Screamer for the leadership over their faction, Starscream's seeming death places Soundwave in charge

** The first time he actually takes human lives, when he kills the survivors of an aircraft carrier he and Thundercracker destroyed, he only does it to avoid them reporting their existence to the government, which would make future missions much more difficult.

* SpyBot: Laserbeak serves as this for the Decepticons, scouting potential fuel sources and tracking down enemies. In issue #2, it begins hunting down Carly after spotting a picture of Optimus Prime she drew on her van earlier.

* DroppedABridgeOnHim: [[spoiler:Optimus obliterates him with a fusion cannon blast.]]
* EarlyBirdCameo: In issue #1, Reflector was briefly seen about to be revived by Teletraan 1, until Optimus destroyed the computer, preventing his reactivation. Reflector is later revived in issue #5 [[spoiler: but it doesn't last very long]].
* OhCrap: [[spoiler: Realizing his target sees him and is set to vaporize him, Reflector's last words and expression indicate his regret at having made himself an easy target]].

* WeHardlyKnewYe: [[spoiler:Shortly after being reactivated, he tries to jump Optimus...and is swiftly vaporized by laser fire.]]

!!Unaffiliated Cybertronians

[[folder:Jetfire (Spoilers!)]]
[[quoteright:241:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jetfire_headshot_7.PNG]]
[[caption-width-right:241:''"I have failed in my mission. Cybertron will die. Everything will die..."'']]
An old friend of Starscream and Optimus before the war who laid dormant for centuries. [[ComicBook/VoidRivals Having recently awakened]], he tracked them down to Earth and resurrected them, whereupon he soon realized he made a grave mistake in doing so.
----
* DeathByAdaptation: Unlike in the G1 cartoon, where he survived his apparent demise, Jetfire perishes at Starscream's hands.
* ItsAllMyFault: His last moments are spent apologizing to Optimus for unleashing the Decepticons on Earth.
* HeroicSacrifice: Despite being wounded, he still fights Starscream and Skywarp to allow the Autobots to escape, which gets him fatally injured in the process, and he dies not long after.
* LockedOutOfTheLoop: As he had been deactivated for centuries, he was unaware that the Autobot-Decepticon War occurred, and that Starscream had become a murderous tyrant.
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: As he was unaware of the war, he resurrected Starscream, who then proceeded to revive the other Decepticons.
* SmallRoleBigImpact: Dies after one issue (Two if you count ComicBook/VoidRivals) but his actions are what lead to the Autobots and Decepticons awakening on Earth.
* WeUsedToBeFriends: After Starscream reveals his true colors by executing Bumblebee, Jetfire immediately turns on him. Later, when the Autobots are fleeing, Jetfire provides cover fire for their escape and laments that he's forced to fight his former friend.
[[/folder]]

* PutOnABus: [[spoiler: As of Issue #5, Spike has been left in a coma after being caught in the crossfire of the humans firing upon Optinus and Skywarp.]]

* BodyHorror: His body's been stripped down to the skeleton, and it's implied he's still alive somehow.
* MentorOccupationalHazard: Whether he's alive or not, his old student Arcee thinks he's dead and blames herself for it.

* DefiantToTheEnd: [[spoiler:Even while being barely alive, half-conscious, and at the Autobots' mercy as part of Teletraan-1, he still has the will to halt their efforts at reviving their comrades, all while cursing them.]]

* EvenEvilHasStandards: He is immediately horrified upon seeing Skywarp's current state as components for Teletraan 1.

* HumbleHero: Optimus is an incredible warrior, a skilled leader who has earned the undying loyalty of his men, and the wields the Matrix of leadership- a powerful mystic artifact. None of that matters to Optimus, though, as he is far more impressed with humanity and what they are capable of.
* MyGreatestFailure: Feels this way about failing to stop the war on Cybertron.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Feels ''immense'' guilt for not only failing to end the war on Cybertron, but in bringing it to Earth.

The chief medical officer of the Autobots and Optimus' closest ally in the ranks.

A smooth-talking Autobot soldier who likes to pepper his speech with musical terms.

The Autobots' friendly and eccentric gadgeteer.

An Autobot soldier back on Cybertron, part of Elita-1's team.

An Autobot soldier back on Cybertron, part of Elita-1's team.

Starscream's former lieutenant and the Spymaster of the Decepticons. But after Starscream's many leadership blunders cost them victory over the Autobots, Soundwave defeats him in single combat, and takes command of the Decepticons

Soundwave's minions, consisting of Laserbeak, Rumble, Frenzy, and Ravage. They are smaller Transformers who deploy from his chest to do his bidding.

The TokenGoodTeammate of the Decepticons and Soundwave's lieutenant.

* AFatherToHisMen: After Optimus shoots Ravage, Soundwave is clearly distraught, and spends the rest of the issue cradling Ravage's body. When the repair tech is ready, he seems eager to fix Ravage first. [[spoiler:In fact, Starscream's [[WeHaveReserves repeated stupidity in caring for their men]] when they are so few is what finally ''breaks'' Soundwave to [[TheStarscream usurp control]] of the Decepticons from him.]]

The true Lord of the Decepticons and it's most powerful warrior. A brutal and tyrannical madman who led his brethren to conquest. After finally escaping captivity, the Lord of the Decepticons seeks to destroy the one who betrayed him.

A rebellion fights to defend the old ways of peace that their people once uphold. The Autobots had no choice but to abandon Cybertron to their oppressors. Yet a team led by Megatron himself pursued them to Earth.

A rebellion who fights for the old ways of peace that their people once uphold.

An extremist faction that seeks to destroy those who are weaker and conquer distant lands to fuel their greed

The cruel yet insecure leader of the Earth-based Decepticons who seeks to destroy the Autobots and conquer Earth for its resources. But after his many failures to destroy the Autobots, Soundwave had challenge Screamer for the leadership over their faction, Starscream's seeming death places Soundwave in charge

* BigBad: Of the First Arc. Due to the absence of Megatron, Starscream became the new leader of the Decepticons. But despite being a powerful threat in his own right, [[BigBadWannabe Starscream is still Starscream]]

The cruel yet insecure leader of the Decepticons who seeks to destroy the Autobots and conquer Earth for its resources. But after his many failures to destroy the Autobots, Soundwave had challenge Screamer for the leadership over their faction, Starscream's seeming death places Soundwave in charge

Founder and former ruler of the Decepticons, who is mysteriously absent at the start of the comic.

* EyeScream: [[spoiler:[[AnArmAndALeg Among his many injuries]], either from what left him stranded and on ice in the first place or by the hands of Cobra Commander's experiments on him, Megatron is missing a significant chunk of his right eye leaving a skull-like impression where it once was.]]

* AdaptationalDumbass: While most iterations of the character get blindsided by their ego and treachery, many of them also tend to be rather pragmatic and often demonstrates surprising moments of cunning and are capable to at least tolerate anyone who serves his interests. This Starscream however let his bloodthirsty desires to [[EvilIsPetty make him willing to make pointless cruel raids for the sake of hurt the autobots]] [[StupidEvil over the general benefit of the Decepticons (and himself by proxy)]] and doesn't even have the usual silver tongue that usually saves him from many problems, the only attempt to talk his way out done in his duel against Soundwave [[GeneralFailure despite having nothing he cold use to bargain for his own life.]]

* GhostMemory: After [[spoiler: Sparkplug sacrifices himself to heal Optimus by climbing into the Matrix]], Optimus begins to experience warped flashbacks to events he did not experience, such as [[spoiler: a memory of holding an infant Spike, only it's his hands in the memory rather than Sparkplug's.]]

* BrokenBird: Carly's heart hardens after Starscream killed her father and she watched Cliffjumper fail to kill him due a moment of emotional weakness, resulting in her becoming much more dour and focused on training with firearms. Arcee tries to befriend and console her but Carly just ignores her attempts.

* ItNeverGetsAnyEasier: When he has Starscream at his mercy and prepare to end him to avenge his clan and Carly's father, he's suddenly overcome with a sense of tiredness of the killing he's done, inadvertently allowing the Seeker the opportunity to escape before he could pull the trigger.

* AppendageAssimilation: [[spoiler:After Optimus loses his right arm, Ratchet attaches Megatron's to him as a substitute, [[ArmCannon Fusion Cannon]] and all. He is still able to transform even with the replacement, with his new weapon ending up where his smokestack would be in truck mode.]]

* HeWhoFightsMonsters: Optimus fears that he'll lose sight of his ideals in the ever-continuing war against the Decepticons, especially after having [[spoiler:Ratchet transplant Megatron's cannon arm onto him)]].

* CompositeCharacter: Has Bluestreak's backstory of losing his home to the Decepticons and joining the war soon after, as well as a reluctance to fight as seen when [[spoiler:he can't bring himself to kill Starscream]].

* NotSoAboveItAll: While he is the calmest and most rational Decepticon he's still the one who suggests [[spoiler:ruthlessly tearing apart Skywarp for parts, to fix Teletraan 1. Although, given the desperation of their situation as Skywarp was left in such a critical state at Optimus's hands to begin with (cutting their active number by a very significant portion), it is probable he was being [[PragmaticVillainy ruthlessly pragmatic to even their odds]] than simply [[EvilIsPetty the blatant cruelty the other Decepticons are shown to indulge in]].]]
* PragmaticVillainy: Unlike his comrades, Soundwave prioritizes finding a stable fuel source first and foremost, and doesn't see the point in needlessly killing humans.
* ShootTheDog: Compared to his allies committing random acts of violence for the hell of it, Soundwave's first major act of violence, [[spoiler:using a wounded Skywarp as raw material to repair Teletraan 1]], was done to help his allies overall.

* CruelAndUnusualDeath: [[spoiler:Nothing more cruel than [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GDpV-UtX0AAmm7S?format=jpg&name=orig being ripped apart by your own allies]] with their bare hands just for spare parts. Subverted later when, it's revealed that Skywarp is [[NotQuiteDead still technically alive]] as a part of Teletraan]].

* HumanResources: [[spoiler:Starscream and Soundwave tear him to shreds to obtain the necessary parts to repair Teletraan-1.]]
* OhCrap: [[spoiler:He understandably freaks out as soon as Starscream and Soundwave start tearing him apart for parts to fix Teletraan-1 with.]]

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: [[spoiler:Or rather, he's more useful as dead spare parts than he is alive, as Starscream and Soundwave conclude in issue #4.]]

* AvengingTheVillain: [[spoiler:Thundercracker is dead set on avenging his fellow Seeker, unaware it was Starscream and Soundwave, not the Autobots]].

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Upon being reactivated, he is horrified to see [[spoiler:Skywarp's remains installed into Teletraan 1]] and asks what "evil Autobot" did this to him, showing him to have a stronger moral compass than his allies but still on the wrong side of the war.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: He is immediately horrified upon seeing [[spoiler:Skywarp's current state as components for Teletraan 1]].
* NobleDemon: Of all the Decepticons introduced so far, Thundercracker seems to be the one who has the strongest sense of mortality. He's the only one who seems to be bothered and appalled by [[spoiler: what had been done to Skywarp]].

* CoolCar: Instead of the usual alien/futuristic car, Arcee's vehicle mode is a Lamborghini.