Blitzwing

Origin

Blitzwing’s exact origins are unknown. He is a member of the Seekers under Starscream‘s command. Blitzwing held the role of Sub-Commander under Starscream. He is also one of the few Triple Changers to be created. Like other Triple Changers he can make his alt-mode changes almost instantaneously.

Creation

Blitzwing was created by Hasbro for Season 2 of The Transformers (1984) Cartoon. He was first seen in 1987 Marvel Comics’ The Transformers issue #29 by writer Bob Budiansky and editors Don Daley and Jim Shooter.

Major Story Arcs

Generation 1 Continuity

Marvel Comics

Blitzwing G1
Blitzwing G1

Blitzwing, Astrotrain and Octane were commissioned by Ratbat to investigate the loss of his priceless cargo that had arrived on Earth, and hadn’t checked in as scheduled. Upon making contact with the crashed ship’s pilot, Blitzwing and his companions were infected with Scraplets.During a fight with the Decepticons, the Autobot Blaster, was also infected. Luckily Goldbug and his friends managed to discover water (H2O) can act as a cure. Blaster knew they would be unable to take the Scraplets alone, and refused to be cured unless the Decepticons were cured as well.

Blitzwing and the Triple Changers joined up with Ratbat and Shockwave, operating out of the Decepticons’ tropical island base. After the Ark had left Earth, the Decepticons increased their raids on Earth’s resources. He was later part of a major offensive against the Autobots on the moon, when the crews of the Ark and Steelhaven all gathered together as one big target. Blitzwing’s battled sword-to-sword with Grimlock and was overpowered by Grimlock’s energo-sword. Blitzwing was left in two pieces on the lunar landscape, where the Constructicons collected his pieces before fleeing.

Blitzwing later rushed into battle with Scorponok‘s Decepticons when conflict broke out between the two factions. Blitzwing cut Horri-Bull in two, slicing him through his mid-section. Soon after, during a battle with Starscream, the Triple Changers were all destroyed after Starscream got a power increase from the Underbase power.

IDW Publishing

Megatron had forged an army of zombies from the lobotomized remains of Blitzwing and the other dead Decepticons. They were deployed in California to track down any survivors after Megatron shot down the Wreckers’ ship. He and the other zombified Cybertronians were taken offline when Circuit Smasher fried the Ark‘s computer. After Megatron’s defeat, all of the deactivated Cybertronians were destroyed by the Autobots from orbit.

IDW Continuity

Blitwing was once a member of the Triorian Guard, the Senate’s elite unit of Triple Changers. They were once charged with guarding the Primal Basilica and killing anyone suspicious.

Autocracy

When Megatron wanted to talk to Orion Pax during the Decepticon revolt, Blitzwing and Astrotrain held Bumblebee hostage to make sure Orion didn’t try anything. Everything went well until Autobot reinforcements arrived, at which point Orion blasted Blitzwing’s arm off. Megatron and Orion Pax later formed an alliance to overthrow Zeta Prime, and Blitzwing participated in their combined attack on Prime’s Citadel.

With Zeta Prime dead, Megatron took control of Cybertron and had his Decepticons hunt down and arrest any Autobots who tried to resist. Blitzwing was part of a team who captured Bumblebee, Ultra Magnus, Ironhide and Hot Rod in Ultrix. Blitzwing was put in charge of an armored division and his subordinates were ordered by Megatron to contain the Autobot forces until he unleashed the vamparc annihilator. The plan failed and Blitzwing retreated with the rest of the Decepticons after the battle.

Infiltration

TF: Escalation #3 - cover
TF: Escalation #3 – cover

Blitzwing was part of a Decepticon infiltration unit that had operated covertly on Earth for at least four years, working to destabilize Earth’s governing organizations and create global anarchy. He and Skywarp were assigned to destroy all traces of the Nebraska operation, including Megatron. While he was guarding an abandoned bunker, Bumblebee, Ratchet, and their human companions came to investigate. Ratchet attempted to down him, but Blitzwing fired a direct shot from his tank-mode and then ran him over. Unfortunately, he and Skywarp were interrupted in their bombing when Megatron, erupted from the rubble. Blitzwing, then tried to actually fight Megatron but ultimately lost.

Escalation

Blitzwing rejoined Megatron after the attempted coup, and worked alongside the Decepticon leader in their Russian operation. His tank form playing a key role in their mission. He showed a new power to cloak himself and before he had a chance to take out Optimus, he was blasted by Optimus Prime’s Roller drone.

Devastation

He and the other Decepticons were confused when Sixshot was called in and realized Megatron was losing it, but didn’t dare tell him. Instead they went with Astrotrain’s plan to bring back Starscream. When the Reapers attacked, Blitzwing gave Megatron a very lame report on what was going on and tried to cover for an absent Astrotrain, before joining the fight against the aliens. With Megatron now knowing they’d plotted behind his back, Blitzwing might have been killed by Megatron if Starscream hadn’t pointed out that Earth was now aware of them.

Spotlight: Mirage

Blitzwing accompanied Starscream’s small strike team to the Pegasus Star Cluster, hunting down the last pockets of Autobot resistance. Blitzwing and Astrotrain both attacked Optimus Prime after the mercenary Mirage destroyed the Autobot bunker’s security system, allowing the Decepticons in, but was swiftly defeated by Hound. He held Optimus Prime back when Mirage prepared to carry out Megatron’s order to kill the Autobot prisoners.

All Hail Megatron

When the Decepticons defeated the Autobots on Earth and planned to feed them to the Swarm on Cybertron, Optimus Prime punched Blitzwing and stole his gun, which allowed him to seal the Space Bridge before the other Decepticons could follow.

One year later, Blitzwing participated in the massive Decepticon attack on New York City, joining the other flying Decepticons in repelling an attack by human fighter jets. They then blew up the Brooklyn Bridge to prevent any humans from escaping. Blitzwing later approached Megatron in Israel, worried about his leader going off on his own without any Mini-Cassettes to disrupt human missiles. Megatron replied that he needed to think, and that human weaponry was of no concern to him.

As the Decepticons returned to New York, Blitzwing witnessed Starscream incite a rebellion against Megatron. He then fought back against European jets and the Autobots who returned from Cybertron inside Omega Supreme. After the Decepticon forces were defeated, Blitzwing and the others fled into space on Astrotrain.

The Transformers

Once Megatron was repaired from the injuries he had sustained in New York, the Decepticons returned to Earth and attacked a Skywatch base to free their captured comrades. Blitzwing participated in the attack, and hauled Scrapper‘s body out of the wrecked base. He was later among the Decepticons who watched the duel between Optimus Prime and Megatron, only to be caught in the blast when Prime dropped a satellite from orbit on them.

Chaos

Megatron would later use space bridge technology built into in his new body to summon Blitzwing and the rest of the Decepticons to him on Cybertron. They did battle with the Autobots, but were soon mind-controlled by Galvatron and D-void into combining with his army and forming a large construct. After the beast was defeated, the weakened Decepticons were rounded up and imprisoned by the Autobots. They were briefly released to help the Autobots stop a NAIL riot. In order for the Autobots to keep them in line they were implanted with I/D chips.

More Than Meets the Eye

Blitzwing and Astrotrain supported Shockwave‘s attempts to restart the war with the Autobots, but their plan was stopped when Starscream and Prowl had Arcee defeat the rebellious Decepticons and kidnap their leaders.

Powers & Weaknesses

As a jet fighter, Blitzwing can fly at Mach 2.7 with a range of 1500 miles. He is equipped with heat-seeking concussion missiles. As a tank, he can transverse most terrains and can achieve a speed of 28 mph. His track-mounted cannon can fire an explosive shell 3.5 miles and can level a 5-story building. In robot mode he uses his electron scimitar to short-circuit any electrical device. He also has a gyro-blaster rifle, that can disrupt the equilibrium of anyone for 30 minutes. If Blitzwing gets his circuits scrambled, it can results in him getting stuck mid-transformer between forms.

Characteristics

  • Allegiance: Decepticon
  • Sub Group: Seeker
  • Function: Ground & Air Commando
  • Alt-Modes: Cybertronian Tank/Jet, Double Barrel Cybertronian Tank, Commuter Jet, Soviet MiG-25 Jet/Japanese Type-74 Tank
  • Color Schemes: Tan/Pruple (G1, IDW) Gray/Pruple (Animated)

Alternate Versions

Marvel Comics

Generation 2

Blitzwing was seen rallying the troops by shouting Decepticon battle cries of “Rip!” and “Tear!”.

Marvel UK Future Timeline

2004 Timeline

Blitzwing joined Astrotrain and Shockwave in an assault on Autobot City, but they were driven away when Hot Rod interfered with Shockwave’s plans.

2004 Timeline

When Scourge and Cyclonus forced the Decepticons into an assault on Autobase, Blitzwing charged headlong into battle with. He survived the battle, and was part of the second major Decepticon offensive, acting as one of Soundwave’s sub-commanders. When the Quintesson Trident Attack Crafts ambushed the Decepticon on their way to Autobase, Blitzwing and his fellow Decepticons only survived because Ultra Magnus and the Autobots came to their rescue against the Quintessons.

Devils Due

G.I. Joe vs. Transformers

Teletran 3 sent both Autobot & Decepticons through the timeline, Blitzwing was one of the unfortunate victims. He was locked into the form of a private commuter jet in mid-70’s San Francisco until the Autobots and G.I. Joe located him. Having no idea what the slag was going on, Blitzwing’s first reaction was to attack the Autobots, but was transported back to present-day Cybertron. Upon arrival, he was overpowered and tied up by the other Autobots. He was eventually aved when the Autobots were defeated and captured by Shockwave.

After Serpent O.R. took control of the Decepticon army, Blitzwing joined Astrotrain, Sixshot and Buzzsaw in an attack on an Autobot peace ceremony.

Dreamwave Publications

War Within

Shortly after Optronix was upgraded into Optimus Prime, Blitzwing participated in Shockwave’s assault on Iacon where he demonstrated his triple-changing abilities. He was under Shockwave’s command when he declared victory in Iacon. Blitzwing and the other Decepticons forced to flee when Starscream destroyed the entire city-state.

After the disappearance of Optimus Prime and Megatron in a space bridge explosion, Blitzwing remained with Shockwave’s Decepticon forces, but was captured and imprisoned by the Autobots as an experiment too dangerous to be set free. Due to some unique property of his spark, Blitzwing was abducted from Autobase by the Fallen as part of the Unbinding, but was released back to the Decepticons after the temporary truce that resulted from the Fallen’s defeat.

Generation 1

No Caption ProvidedNo Caption Provided

Blitzwing made his way to Earth, where he was seen among the Decepticons captured and deactivated during Operation Liberation. He avoided becoming one of the Transformers recovered and controlled by Lazarus, returning instead to Cybertron where he fell once more under Shockwave’s command. During this time, Shockwave had unified the Autobots and Decepticons, and Blitzwing now served alongside his former enemies as part of a combined force. Alongside his fellow Triple Changers, Blitzwing accompanied Shockwave to Earth to capture the renegade forces of Optimus Prime and Megatron. During a fight with Megatron he was able to do some damage before he was bent out of shape by Grimlock.

When Shockwave returned to Cybertron with the captive Nemesis crew, Blitzwing remained behind on Earth to assist Security Team Dion in apprehending the Autobots. Despite his mutual antagonism with the team’s commander, they managed to capture Prime’s crew without incident. Blitzwing returned to Cybertron along with the prisoners aboard Sky Lynx.

When the Dinobots attacked Shockwave’s citadel Blitzwing fought against Grimlock again and Ultra Magnus took the Dinobot commander down, Blitzwing issued the last blow. During Optimus Prime’s uprising of the Autobot resistance, Shockwave ordered Blitzwing to rally the troops and activate the defenses. Blitzwing later joined Astrotrain on the front lines, and when he was going to take his shot on Hot Rod he was pummeled into the ground by a rejuvenated Grimlock and thrown at an approaching Omega Sentinel.

Shockwave, Blitzwing, Astrotrain and the Coneheads went to the Cybertronian wastelands, where they began operating out of a hidden base. When their perimeter alarm was tripped by a reanimated Seeker, Shockwave ordered Blitzwing and Astrotrain to investigate. The mindless drone was a distraction for a Predacon attack. Astrotrain surrendered and agreed to serve Megatron, but Blitzwing’s loyalty was still to Shockwave and the Predacons tore him to pieces.

His remains were later seen being examined by an unknown Transformer.

Micromasters

Following the departure of the Ark from Cybertron, Blitzwing served as Shockwave’s lieutenant, overseeing the introduction of Micromasters into the Decepticon ranks. Shortly before the return of Skystalker and Skyhopper, Blitzwing appeared to be undergoing some sort of mutation which Shockwave did not fully understand, but which was also affecting Astrotrain. Shockwave wanted to analyze the mutation but his plans were interrupted by the arrival of the two Micromasters and Blitzwing was knocked offline by Skyhopper, while Skystalker took control of Shockwave.

Fun Publications

Shattered Glass

In this Universe Autobots are the bad guys and Deceptions are good. Blitzwing was a member of the Decepticons selected for Starscream’s detachment on planet Earth.

IDW Publications

Transformers Animated: The Arrival

Animated BlitzwingAnimated Blitzwing
Animated Blitzwing

Blitzwing has three alt-modes (robot, jet, and tank), and three alternate personalities (“Icy” strategist, “Hothead”, “Random” nutcase). The only thing that keeps him in line is his fear of Megatron.

After Megatron’s disappearance, the Decepticons held a funeral at New Kaon. Blitzwing gave the eulogy, in which he vowed that they would destroy the Autobots responsible for their leader’s demise. Lugnut was upset with the service, declaring that Megatron was alive and would return. When Blitzwing pointed out evidence to the contrary, Lugnut destroyed the statue of Megatron that Blitzwing had built. An angered Blitzwing, began firing on Lugnut.

Blitzwing hired a bounty hunter to eliminate Optimus Prime. When the bounty hunter Lockdown contacted Blitzwing, saying he had Prime, the conversation was cut short, when an enraged Lugnut slammed his face into the monitor for communicating with the bounty hunter. The pair began fighting again, and when Swindle arrived the fight intensified when he sold each of them a wide variety of weapons. Swindle ultimately sold them a pair of doomsday weapons and unbreakable nemesis shields. Realizing they were being played, Lugs and Blitzwing stopped fighting and turned on Swindle instead.

Infestation 2: Transformers

With his fellow Decepticons, Blitzwing fell under the thrall of an Elder God in 1888. As part of the Elder God’s forces, Blitzwing, with the other Decepticons, defended Port Cenotaph from intruders. He later defended the town against an international fleet, but was shot down.

Other Media

Television

The Transformers (1984)

No Caption ProvidedNo Caption Provided

Blitzwing joined Megatron’s forces on Earth, and was first seen on a mission to steal energon from Dinobot Island.

Episode Appearances

  • Dinobot Island; part 1 & 2
  • Desertion of Dinobot Island; part 1
  • The Golden Lagoon
  • Quest for Survival
  • Triple Takeover
  • Prime Target
  • Cosmic Rust
  • Five Faces of Darkness; part 3 & 5

Transformers: The Headmasters (1987) (Japan)

Blitzwing re-joined the Decepticons after he was banished by Galvatron.

Episode Appearances

  • Four Warriors Come Out of the Sky
  • The Great Cassette Operation
  • The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok
  • Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears
  • Return of the Immortal Emperor
  • The Final Showdown on Earth; part 2

Transformers Animated (2007)

Mentioned in the Allspark Almanac II; After the Great War ended the Decepticons went into hiding, Blackarachnia experimented on Blitzwing, rebuilding him into a Triple Changer and causing his split personalities.

Episode Appearances

  • Transform and Roll Out
  • The Thrill of the Hunt
  • Lost and Found
  • Megatron Rising; part 1 & 2
  • The Elite Guard
  • Mission Accomplished
  • Velocity
  • Rise of the Constructicons
  • Sari, No One’s Home
  • A Bridge to Close; part I & II
  • Five Servos of Doom
  • Decepticon Air

Film

Transformers: The Movie (1986)

Blitzwing was present during the assault on Autobot City, where he was at the head of the first attack. Together with Shrapnel, he battled Hot Rod and Kup at Lookout Mountain. Blitzwing is also participated in the general carnage at Autobot City later, and is one of the several Decepticons who ran into Optimus Prime. Unlike the other Decepticons, Blitzwing was able to avoid getting run over, and managed to shoot back before Prime beat him. Blitzwing made it through the entire battle, and went back to Cybertron. When Megatron was kicked into space, Blitzwing’s old desire for leadership overcame him and he joined in the battle for leadership. Ultimately Starscream won, and Blitzwing attended the coronation of the new Decepticon leader.

Bumblebee (2018 Film)

Blitzwing confronts BumblebeeBlitzwing confronts Bumblebee
Blitzwing confronts Bumblebee

Blitzwing arrives on Earth after having followed Bumblebee there. As Bumblebee is surrounded by several human soldiers led by Colonel Jack Burns, Blitzwing arrives in the form of an F-4 phantom which confuses the humans who believe the Air Force was called in but Bumblebee recognizes the Decepticon for what he really is. Blitzwing then bombards Bumblebee and the humans with several missiles and then proceeds to engage the Autobot in battle. As the battle ensued, Blitzwing attempted to interrogate Bumblebee to learn of his fellow Autobots’ locations but when Bumblebee refused to talk, Blitzwing ensured his permanent silence by tearing out his voice synthesizer. Blitzwing then prepared to finish him off but the Autobot played dead until he could grab one of Blitzwing’s arm rockets and stuck it into his chest. As Blitzwing tried to pry the rocket from himself, Bumblebee took the opportunity to blast it, detonating it and blowing the Decepticon seeker to pieces.

Video Games

Transformers Animated: The Game (DS)

As the Decepticon armies stood ready to invade Cybertron, two of Blitzwing’s three personalities were ready to bash in the Autobots. The third just wanted to do the Decepticon victory dance.

Transformers: Mystery of Convoy (Famicom)

Blitzwing was one of the many Decepticons who menaced Ultra Magnus on his journey.

The Transformers (PS2)

Books

Transformers Animated: Be the Hero #1: Prime Suspect

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