Starscream

Starscream is the Cybertronian leader of the seeker jets from the planet cybertron.

Biography
Starscream is one of the deadliest warriors ever to emerge from the early battles of the civil war. He allied himself early on with Darth Grievous, realizing that the Darth Grievous's Sith Legion way was the easiest path to absolute power. He takes joy in destruction, his shrill laughter echoing across any battlefield over which he flies. Despite his power, he is a coward at heart, a bully more than a tyrant. He lives to lord his strength over those weaker than him, but he lives in fear of anyone stronger.

Powers and Abilities
He is armed with Cluster bombs, missiles, gattling guns and lasers.

Toys


Generation 1


 * Starscream (Decepticon Jet, 1984/1985/1986, 1991, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007)
 * Japanese ID number: 22, TFC-09
 * Accessories: Left & right fists, 2 missile launchers, 2 null rays, 2 cluster bombs, left & right wings, left & right tail fins, left & right tail wings, landing gear
 * Period of activity: Cartoon, Marvel Comics (US) 1–50

Starscream's first toy was taken from the Diaclone line, transforming into an F-15 Eagle fighter jet. In this mode he is armed with two cluster bombs, essentially shortened projectiles made to resemble (somewhat) the drop tanks that a real F-15 might carry. There are numerous minor construction variations on this mold, common for most of the Diaclone-based Transformers.

To transform Starscream, one must essentially take most of his plane parts off and transform his body, then reattach his plane parts on again, although if you don't mind being fiddly, it certainly can be achieved with only the fists and weapons being actually removed. In robot mode, the cluster bomb projectiles are replaced with long 'null rays.

For some reason, the stats on Skywarp's, Starscream's and Thundercracker's Tech Specs were switched around. Starscream was given Skywarp's numbers.

The first reissue of Starscream was practically identical to the original toy and was released by Takara in Japan in 2001.

Starscream was reissued in normal colors for Hasbro's Commemorative Series in 2003. The release had remolded elongated missiles and launchers so as to comply with current US toy safety laws.

Starscream's T/F Collection reissue from 2003 featured show-accurate colors and retooled fists to hold a new miniature Megatron gun-mode accessory. An Optimus Prime fist that could hold the gun was also included, as was a DVD. He also featured painted Decepticon symbols, wing and vertical stabilizer stripes, and a canopy frame.

In 2007 Starscream was reissued for the Encore line. This release featured a light yellow window (instead of gray like the original or orange like the 2003 reissue) and painted symbols (reversed from the 2003 release).

This mold is notorious for having many missing pieces due to the... modular design of its transformation. As such, an intact set is hard to come by. While it is impossible for all the pieces to fit in any one form of the toy, the landing gear can fit in the cockpit for storage in robot mode. Still, only one set of missiles can be fit into the launchers at one time.

This mold is redecoed into Thundercracker, Skywarp, and Sunstorm. It is also retooled as Dirge, Ramjet, and Thrust.


 * Starscream (Deluxe, 2009)

Accessories: 2 missile launchers (left and right), 2 missiles

The second Universe Starscream toy is a redeco of Classics Starscream, in a colour layout quite similar to (but not the same as) the Henkei! Henkei! version of the mold but using the Hasbro Masterpiece colors.